title: A nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor in the medial preoptic area inhibits copulation and stimulus sensitization in male rats.
abstract: Dopamine in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) facilitates copulation in male rats, and nitric oxide (NO) regulates basal and female-stimulated MPOA dopamine release. Microinjection of L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an NO synthesis inhibitor) into the MPOA blocked copulation in naive rats and impaired copulation in sexually experienced males. In other naive rats, L-NAME or saline was microinjected into the MPOA before each of 7 daily exposures to a receptive female placed over their cage. In a drug-free test on Day 8, copulation by L-NAME-treated rats was similar to that of unexposed controls and was impaired relative to saline-treated males. Therefore, NO in the MPOA is important for copulation and stimulus sensitization in male rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lagoda
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Muschamp
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vigdorchik
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hull
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003307:Copulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester