title: Lesions of the periaqueductal gray block the medial preoptic area-induced activation of the urethrogenital reflex in male rats.
abstract: The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is important for male sexual behavior, including erections and ejaculation. Stimulation of the MPOA evokes urethrogenital reflex-like responses. However, the descending pathways mediating this response are unknown. We examined the effect of bilateral lesions of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) on the MPOA-induced response. Electrical stimulation of the MPOA was used to induce rhythmic motor patterns of the bulbospongiosus muscle, discrete regions of the PAG were lesioned and the response to MPOA stimulation re-examined. These studies demonstrate that the descending pathway mediating the MPOA-induced activation of the urethrogenital reflex-like responses travel through and may relay in the PAG.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of North Carolina, 2330 MBRB, CB 7052, 103 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill 27599-7052, USA. lmarson@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000528:radiation effects; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors