Delayed c-fos expression in sensory cortex following sexual learning in male rats.
An elevated expression of c-fos protooncogene, encoding transcription factor Fos, is known to serve as a useful marker of neuronal activation. In the studies reported in this communication we have used Northern and dot blot techniques to analyze c-fos mRNA levels in male rat brain during the learning of the copulatory behavior. The animals were trained (single ejaculation in a training/testing session) for up to 7 sessions. C-fos mRNA levels have been found to increase in the sensory cortex area following the third and fifth session but not after the first and the last one.
Bialy
M
M
Department of Physiology, Medical Academy of Warsaw, Poland.
Nikolaev
E
E
Beck
J
J
Kaczmarek
L
L
D000818:Animals; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000235:genetics*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*