Microinjection of the dopamine antagonist cis-flupenthixol into the MPOA impairs copulation, penile reflexes and sexual motivation in male rats

Warner, Robert K.; Thompson, James T.; Markowski, Vincent P.; Loucks, Julie A.; Bazzett, Terence J.; Eaton, Robert C.; Hull, Elaine M.

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(91)90505-p

Cited by 111 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Pharmacological manipulations of the dopaminergic system in the mPOA similarly confirm its involvement in the control of appetitive sexual response [111]. It has, for example, been shown that microinjections of a dopaminergic antagonist within the POA decrease measures of sexual motivation such as the preference of a male for the female arm in a maze [95,148]. In summary, it appears that mPOA lesions diminish but do not eliminate sexual motivation suggesting that the mPOA plays a role in the control of this aspect of sexual behavior but this role is less apparent than is the case for copulatory behavior.…”

Section: The Medial Preoptic Area Is Also Implicated In the Control Omentioning

confidence: 89%

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Balthazart

Ball

2007

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

191

168

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several studies have suggested dissociations between neural circuits underlying the expression of appetitive (i.e. sexual motivation) and consummatory components (i.e., copulatory behavior) of vertebrate male sexual behavior. The medial preoptic area (mPOA) clearly controls the expression of male copulation but, according to a number of experiments, is not necessarily implicated in the expression of appetitive sexual behavior. In rats for example, lesions to the mPOA eliminate maletypical copulatory behavior but have more subtle or no obvious effects on measures of sexual motivation. Rats with such lesions still pursue and attempt to mount females. They also acquire and perform learned instrumental responses to gain access to females. However, recent lesions studies and measures of the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos demonstrate that, in quail, subregions of the mPOA, in particular of its sexually dimorphic component the medial preoptic nucleus, can be specifically linked with either the expression of appetitive or consummatory sexual behavior. In particular more rostral regions can be linked to appetitive components while more caudal regions are involved in consummatory behavior. This functional sub-region variation is associated with neurochemical and hodological specializations (i.e. differences in chemical phenotype of the cells or in their connectivity), especially those related to the actions of androgens in relation to the activation of male sexual behavior, that are also present in rodents and other species. It could thus reflect general principles about POA organization and function in the vertebrate brain.

show abstract

Section: The Medial Preoptic Area Is Also Implicated In the Control Omentioning

confidence: 89%

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Balthazart

Ball

2007

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

191

168

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This drug has been widely used to investigate the involvement of DA in the control of male sexual behavior in mammals [1,35,42] …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopaminergic modulation of reproductive behavior and activity in male zebra finches

Rauceo

Harding

Maldonado

et al. 2008

Behavioural Brain Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We previously demonstrated that hormone treatments which stimulate female-directed singing increased levels and turnover of dopamine (DA) in brain areas controlling the motor patterning of song. To help determine how DA affects singing, we quantified the effects of treating adult male finches with the D 1 /D 2 receptor antagonist cis-flupenthixol. Adult males were given subcutaneous silastic implants of androgen, in case drug treatment interfered with androgen secretion. One week later, they were tested with females. Males were divided into three groups matched for levels of courtship singing. Males were then subcutaneously implanted with osmotic minipumps containing either saline, a low, or a high dose of cis-flupenthixol. Each male was tested with a different female 5 and 10 days after implantation to determine how this D 1 /D 2 receptor antagonist affected behavior. Both drug doses affected female-directed singing 5 days after initiation of treatment. High-dose males sang to females significantly less often than males in the other two groups. Low-dose males showed fewer high-intensity courtship displays in which males dance towards females as they sing. These effects on courtship singing were not seen at day 10, though other behavioral effects were seen at this time. Male beak wipes, rocks, following females and female withdrawals from males were also affected by drug treatment. General activity in the home cage was decreased by day 11. These data demonstrate that singing and several other female-directed behaviors are sensitive to perturbations in DA receptor function.

show abstract

“…Although a variety of neurotransmitters in MPOA have been implicated in the control of male sexual behavior, there is considerable evidence that DA plays a key role (Melis and Argiolas, 1995). Treatment with DA receptor antagonists into MPOA (Warner et al, 1991) or lesions of MPOA DA neurons and terminals with 6-hydroxydopamine (Bazzett et al, 1992;Dhawan et al, 1998) impair copulation in male rats. Conversely, stimulation of DA receptors in MPOA with the DA agonist, apomorphine, enhances the rate of copulation in male rats (Hull et al, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neurotoxic lesions of MPOA DA neurons with 6-hydroxydopamine impaired copulation as well (Bazzett et al, 1992;Dhawan et al, 1998) Moreover, copulation in male rats is stimulated by DA agonists in MPOA (Hull et al, 1986), and inhibited with DA antagonists (Warner et al, 1991). Sexual motivation, measured as choice of a female in an X-maze, is also inhibited by DA antagonists (Warner et al, 1991;Moses et al, 1995). As measured by in vivo voltammetry (Louilot et al, 1991) or microdialysis in male rats, noncontact exposure to a female elicits DA release in MPOA; copulation further stimulates MPOA DA release.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In males of most species, lesions of MPOA severely impair male sex behavior (Hull et al, 2002). Neurotoxic lesions of MPOA DA neurons with 6-hydroxydopamine impaired copulation as well (Bazzett et al, 1992;Dhawan et al, 1998) Moreover, copulation in male rats is stimulated by DA agonists in MPOA (Hull et al, 1986), and inhibited with DA antagonists (Warner et al, 1991). Sexual motivation, measured as choice of a female in an X-maze, is also inhibited by DA antagonists (Warner et al, 1991;Moses et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Chemosensory Cues are Essential for Mating-Induced Dopamine Release in MPOA of Male Syrian Hamsters

Triemstra

Nagatani

Wood

2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is crucial for male sex behavior. Dopamine (DA) is released in MPOA during copulation, and contributes to the reinforcing effects of mating. The aim of the present study was to identify sensory stimuli responsible for matinginduced DA release. Specifically, we determined if chemosensory cues are essential for mating-induced MPOA DA release using in vivo microdialysis in male Syrian hamsters. Hamsters were used because chemosensory cues from the olfactory mucosa and vomeronasal organ are essential for sexual behavior in this species. Sexually experienced adult male hamsters were implanted with a microdialysis guide cannula over MPOA. At the same time, males received sham olfactory bulbectomy (Sham Bx, n ¼ 11), bilateral bulbectomy (Bibx, n ¼ 6), or unilateral bulbectomy (Ubx) ipsilateral (Ipsi Ubx, n ¼ 9) or contralateral (Contra Ubx, n ¼ 8) to the microdialysis probe. This model takes advantage of the predominantly ipsilateral projections of the olfactory bulbs. Microdialysis samples were collected from the MPOA during baseline, exposure to a receptive female, and after removal of female. Extracellular DA was measured using highperformance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. During mating, DA increased in MPOA of Sham Bx males (to 146.7717.5% of baseline). Bibx males did not mate, and MPOA DA did not increase (96.1715.8% of baseline). Although both groups of Ubx males mated to ejaculation, MPOA DA increased significantly only in Contra Ubx males (to 161.8735.3% of baseline), and not in males with Ipsi Ubx (107.6711.5% of baseline). The results demonstrate that chemosensory cues are essential for MPOA DA release during mating in male Syrian hamsters.

show abstract

Microinjection of the dopamine antagonist cis-flupenthixol into the MPOA impairs copulation, penile reflexes and sexual motivation in male rats

Cited by 111 publications

References 26 publications

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Dopaminergic modulation of reproductive behavior and activity in male zebra finches

Chemosensory Cues are Essential for Mating-Induced Dopamine Release in MPOA of Male Syrian Hamsters

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About