The medial amygdala (MeA) is a sexually dimorphic brain region that integrates sensory information and hormonal signaling, and is involved in the regulation of social behaviors. Lesion studies have shown a role for the MeA in copulation, most prominently in the promotion of ejaculation. The role of the MeA in sexual motivation, but also in temporal patterning of copulation, has not been extensively studied in rats. Here, we investigated the effect of chemogenetic inhibition and stimulation of the MeA on sexual incentive motivation and copulation in sexually experienced male rats. AAV5-CaMKIIa viral vectors coding for Gi, Gq, or no DREADDs (sham) were bilaterally infused into the MeA. Rats were assessed in the sexual incentive motivation test and copulation test upon systemic clozapine N-oxide (CNO) or vehicle administration. We report that MeA stimulation and inhibition did not affect sexual incentive motivation. Moreover, both stimulation and inhibition of the MeA decreased the number of ejaculations in a 30 min copulation test and increased ejaculation latency and the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation, while leaving the temporal pattern of copulation intact. These results indicate that the MeA may be involved in the processing of sensory feedback required to reach ejaculation threshold. The convergence of the behavioral effects of stimulating as well as inhibiting the MeA may reflect opposing behavioral control of specific neuronal populations within the MeA.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113206 | DOI Listing |
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
December 2024
Evolutionary Genetics Department, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Rationale: The sexual behavior of the female rat is highly motivated, and the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system -involved in psychostimulants effects- has been implicated in its regulation. Female rats begin to express sexual behavior during adolescence, a period during which this system is not yet mature.
Objective: To examine the impact of cocaine on sexual motivation and behavior of adolescent and adult female rats, and to determine the dopamine receptors binding in mesocorticolimbic areas of these females.
Womens Health (Lond)
December 2024
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Wollaga University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.
Background: Women's empowerment is essential for achieving sustainable development goals. It involves enabling women to take control of their lives by giving them the agency, resources, and opportunities they need to make their own choices and reach their full potential. If more women are empowered to use modern contraceptives, greater reductions in maternal mortality will follow.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrauma Violence Abuse
December 2024
This systematic review synthesized evidence from parental child maltreatment (CM) interventions by reviewing intervention evaluation studies on potentially effective intervention components and delivery techniques as well as identifying differences in the presence of these components based on maltreatment type. Quantitative intervention evaluations with an explicit parental CM outcome published in a peer-reviewed journal were considered for inclusion. This resulted in 60 final studies for the systematic review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Sex Behav
December 2024
Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
From the evolutionary perspective, maintaining a committed relationship is beneficial for reproductive success but involves risks such as losing a partner or infidelity. People typically prefer partners with similar mate value (MV) to avoid rejection. However, when a mate value discrepancy (MVD) arises, the partner with lower MV might employ mate retention strategies to maintain the relationship.
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