Involvement of nitric oxide in sexual learning via action in the medial preoptic area: theoretical comment on Lagoda et al. (2004).
Repeated exposure to female-related stimuli causes functional alterations in the neural circuitry mediating male rat sexual behavior. In a study published in the current issue of this journal, G. M. Lagoda, J. W. Muschamp, A. Vigdorchik, and E. M. Hull (2004) provide interesting new evidence as to the mechanisms responsible for this effect, namely via activity of nitric oxide (NO) in the medial preoptic area. Given the history of NO in mediating neural plasticity in other systems, the results point to common mechanisms of plasticity between the processes underlying acquisition of sexual experience and those involved in learning and memory.
Coolen
Lique M
LM
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0521, USA. lique.coolen@uc.edu
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide