Motor System
it has been suggested that the rise in estrogen followed by the rise in progesterone may play a role in sensorimotor gating in the cerebellum--influencing how the cerebellum responds to sensorimotor input and its role in controlling motor output
the increases in estrogen and proesterone occur during late proestrus to early estrus and are associated with changes in proceptive and receptive (lordosis) responses; it is possible that changes occurring in Purkinje cell firing rates are associated with proceptive and receptive behaviors; although, how this occurs is not known
of interest, progesterone can bind to GABA-A receptors to potentiate the effects of GABA at its receptor
- GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts to increase chloride (Cl-) conductance into the cell, with a net effect of increased inhibition
- the binding of progesterone to the GABA-A receptor is thought to mediate the decrease in Purkinje cell firing that occurs when progesterone levels are high