Neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of sexual behavior

性行为的神经解剖学和神经化学

• 批准号: 349702-2007
• 负责人: Pfaus, James
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Concordia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=431066
• 关键词: Neuroanatomy; neurochemistry; sexual; behavior

The objectives of the research proposed in this application are to continue our identification of specific neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems that underlie appetitive and consummatory aspects of sexual behavior in female and male rats. A combination of neuropharmacological and molecular techniques will be used to examine the role of monoamines (dopamine and serotonin), small molecules (glutamate and GABA), and neuropeptides (opioids, melanocortins, oxytocin) within mesolimbic and hypothalamic brain regions in response to different types of sexual stimulation. These stimuli will include pheromonal cues and genitosensory stimulation. In vivo microdialysis will be used to characterize dopamine, glutamate, GABA (or different neuropeptides) in mesolimbic and hypothalamic regions during sexual interactions. The research will focus on the mechanisms that control sexual arousal, desire, reward, inhibition, and disinhibition, and will focus on solicitation and pacing behaviors in female rats, and sexual anticipation and chasing behaviors in male rats, in addition to traditional consummatory measures of lordosis and mounting behavior. The development and maintenance of appetitive sexual behaviors appear to require the activation of sexual reward systems following ejaculation in male rats or paced vaginocervical stimulation in female rats. Our previous work has indicated an interaction between the medial preoptic area and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain, and several amygdala nuclei in generation of sexual reward expectancies. In addition to studies of appetitive sexual behavior, the neural systems that underlie sexual inhibition will begin to be elucidated by pairing sexually active rats with nonreceptive partners, by examining the mechanisms of sexual refractoriness or estrus termination, and by examining the effects of sexual nonreward during an animal's first sexual experiences. This work will provide new insights into the neural control of appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors in rats, behaviors that can be viewed as models of human sexual arousal, desire, and copulatory performance.

本申请中提出的研究的目的是继续识别雌性和雄性大鼠性行为的食欲和完成方面的特定神经解剖学和神经化学系统。 将结合神经药理学和分子技术来研究单胺（多巴胺和血清素）、小分子（谷氨酸和 GABA）和神经肽（阿片类药物、黑皮质素、催产素）在中边缘和下丘脑大脑区域对不同类型性刺激的反应中的作用。 这些刺激将包括信息素线索和生殖感觉刺激。体内微透析将用于表征性互动过程中中脑边缘和下丘脑区域的多巴胺、谷氨酸、GABA（或不同的神经肽）。 该研究将重点关注控制性唤起、欲望、奖赏、抑制和去抑制的机制，除了传统的脊柱前凸和骑乘行为的完善措施外，还将重点关注雌性大鼠的引诱和踱步行为，以及雄性大鼠的性期待和追逐行为。性欲行为的发展和维持似乎需要雄性大鼠射精后或雌性大鼠有节奏的阴道宫颈刺激后激活性奖励系统。 我们之前的工作表明，内侧视前区和下丘脑腹内侧核、中脑腹侧被盖区和几个杏仁核之间存在相互作用，以产生性奖励期望。 除了对性欲行为的研究之外，通过将性活跃的大鼠与不接受性的伴侣配对，通过检查性不应或发情终止的机制，以及通过检查动物第一次性经历期间性无奖赏的影响，将开始阐明性抑制背后的神经系统。 这项工作将为大鼠性行为的神经控制提供新的见解，这些行为可以被视为人类性唤起、欲望和交配表现的模型。