Previous sexual experience alters the display of paced mating behavior in female rats

The present study tested whether the display of paced mating behavior in female rats over four weekly tests is affected by sexual experience and whether test parameters, i.e., ending the test based on time or number of stimulations received, influence behavioral changes. In Experiment 1A rats with nonpaced sexual experience returned to the male more quickly overall compared to sexually naïve rats in a 30-min test of paced mating behavior. In Experiment 1B, rats received four weekly 30-min tests with one, different, male rat partner each week. Over the four tests, rats returned to the male significantly more quickly after intromissions, but significantly more slowly after ejaculations. Experiment 2A tested whether sexual experience would influence paced mating behavior in tests with a 15-intromission end criterion and the male replaced after ejaculation. Rats tested weekly under 15-intromission test conditions returned to the male significantly more quickly after intromissions, but no behavioral change was observed after ejaculations. When those same rats were given a 30-min test of paced mating behavior (Experiment 2B), they returned to the male significantly more slowly after ejaculations. Collectively, these data show that sexual experience influences the display of paced mating behavior in female rats and that the test parameters interact with sexual experience to influence the nature of the changes. Sexual experience may facilitate behaviors that promote reproductive success in female rats.