title: Copulation increases dopamine activity in the medial preoptic area of male rats.
abstract: Dopamine (DA) metabolites in microdialysates from the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of male rats increased during copulation. These increases were not observed during eating of a highly palatable food, or if the animal failed to copulate, or if the microdialysis probe was anterior or dorsal to the MPOA. The only two animals with measurable serotonin (5-HT) levels while the female was present were also the only two that either failed to copulate or copulated but failed to ejaculate. These data are consistent with previous evidence for a facilitative role of MPOA DA in the control of male sexual behavior; however, 5-HT activity in the MPOA may impair copulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Buffalo 14260.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorrain
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid