Hormone-neurotransmitter interactions in the control of sexual behavior

Hull, Elaine M.; Lorrain, Daniel S.; Du, Jianfang; Matuszewich, Leslie; Lumley, Lucille A.; Putnam, Susan K.; Moses, Jason

doi:10.1016/s0166-4328(99)00086-8

Cited by 306 publications

(225 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…However, as noted before, studies on dopaminergic effects on sexual motivation in female rats revealed conflicting results, which are often attributed to possible interactions of dopamine with the hormonal treatments that are used to induce estrus in female rats. Since there is evidence for steroid-dopamine interactions (eg Balthazart et al, 2002;Becker, 1999;Giuliano and Allard, 2001;Hull et al, 1999), the gender difference in the effect of levodopa in the present study might be due to differences in sex steroid levels in the brain. Becker (1999) provided evidence for an enhancing effect of estrogen and progesterone on dopamine release and dopamine-mediated behaviors in female rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Effect of a Single Dose of Levodopa on Sexual Response in Men and Women

Both

Everaerd

Laan

et al. 2004

Neuropsychopharmacol

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From animal research, there is ample evidence for a facilitating effect of dopamine on sexual behavior. In humans, little experimental research has been conducted on the inter-relation between dopamine and sexual response, even less so in women than in men. We investigated the effect of levodopa (100 mg) on sexual response in men and women following a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Genital and subjective sexual responses were measured as well as somatic motor system activity by means of Achilles tendon (T) reflex modulation. Genital and subjective sexual arousal were not affected by levodopa. However, the drug increased T reflex magnitude in response to sexual stimulation in men, but not in women. These results support the view that dopamine is involved in the energetic aspects of appetitive sexual behavior in men. The observed gender difference in the effect of levodopa is discussed in the perspective of possible dopamine-steroid interaction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Effect of a Single Dose of Levodopa on Sexual Response in Men and Women

Both

Everaerd

Laan

et al. 2004

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…The effects of GALP administration are reminiscent of those seen following activation of dopaminergic pathways in male rats (see Hull et al, 1999 for review; Melis and Argiolas, 1995). On one hand, it seems plausible that GALP acts through dopamine neurons to facilitate sexual behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimulation of sexual behavior in the male rat by galanin-like peptide

Fraley

Thomas-Smith

Acohido

et al. 2004

Hormones and Behavior

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Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a recently described neuropeptide, which shares a partial sequence identity with galanin but is derived from a separate gene. Central injections of GALP stimulate the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and induce the expression of Fos in several brain areas known to regulate male sexual behavior in the rat. We postulated that GALP may also stimulate sexual behavior in concert with its stimulatory effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. To test this hypothesis, we administered GALP, galanin, or the vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid, aCSF) alone to sexually experienced male rats and assessed the effects of these agents on sexual behavior. We observed that compared to aCSF alone, GALP significantly increased all aspects of male-typical sexual behavior, whereas galanin inhibited all of these same behaviors. To examine whether the stimulatory effects of GALP on sexual behavior were mediated by GALP's stimulatory effects on the HPG axis, we castrated the same male rats and repeated the behavioral experiment. We found that GALP maintained its inductive action on male-typical sexual behaviors in the castrated animals, suggesting that the effects of GALP on sexual behavior are not the result of GALP's ability to stimulate testosterone secretion. These observations suggest that GALP neurons are part of the hypothalamic circuitry controlling sexual behavior in the male rat. D

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“…We also determined the effects of neonatal ATD on sex differences in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the anteroventral periventricular preoptic area (AVPV) and estrogen receptor alpha (ER α ) expression in the medial preoptic area (mPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), and medial amygdala (MeA). These systems have been reported to be sexually dimorphic in prairie voles (Cushing et al, 2004;Hnatczuk et al, 1994;Kramer et al, 2006;Lansing and Lonstein, 2006), are influenced by neonatal gonadal hormones (Cushing and Kramer, 2005;Lansing and Lonstein, 2006), and are associated with the display of copulatory behaviors in rodents (Clancy et al, 2000;Huddleston et al, 2006;Hull et al, 1999;Simerly and Swanson, 1987;Simerly et al, 1985;Wersinger et al, 1997). …”

Section: Nih Public Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences and effects of neonatal aromatase inhibition on masculine and feminine copulatory potentials in prairie voles

Northcutt

Lonstein

2008

Hormones and Behavior

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Copulatory behaviors in most rodents are highly sexually dimorphic, even when circulating hormones are equated between the sexes. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are monomorphic in their display of some social behaviors, including partner preferences and parenting, but differences between the sexes in their masculine and feminine copulatory behavior potentials have not been studied in detail. Furthermore, the role of neonatal aromatization of testosterone to estradiol on the development of prairie vole sexual behavior potentials or their brain is unknown. To address these issues, prairie vole pups were injected daily for the first week after birth with 0.5 mg of the aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) or oil. Masculine and feminine copulatory behaviors in response to testosterone or estradiol were later examined in both sexes. Males and females showed high mounting and thrusting in response to testosterone, but only males reliably showed ejaculatory behavior. Conversely, males never showed feminine copulatory behaviors in response to estradiol. Sex differences in these behaviors were not affected by neonatal ATD, but ATD-treated females received fewer mounts and thrusts than controls, possibly indicating reduced attractiveness to males. In other groups of subjects, neonatal ATD demasculinized males' tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the anteroventral periventricular preoptic area, and estrogen receptor alpha expression in the medial preoptic area. Thus, although sexual behavior in both sexes of prairie voles is highly masculinized, aromatase during neonatal life is necessary only for females' femininity. Furthermore, copulatory behavior potentials and brain development in male prairie voles are dissociable by their requirement for neonatal aromatase. Keywordsaromatase; estradiol; Microtus; neonatal; sexual behavior; sexual differentiation; voles Masculine and feminine copulatory behaviors are highly sexually dimorphic in many rodent species, even when levels of steroid hormones are equated in adult males and females (see Wallen and Baum, 2002). Indeed, treating male rats or mice with ovarian hormones rarely results in high levels of feminine sexual behaviors (Dominguez-Salazar et al., 2002;Edwards and Burge, 1971;Kudwa et al., 2005;Parsons et al., 1984;Whalen et al., 1986;Whalen and Olsen, 1981). Furthermore, although female rats treated with testosterone may mount other females, the frequency is often low compared to males, and intromissive and ejaculatory behaviors are rarely displayed in either rats or mice given testosterone Dominguez-Salazar et al., 2002;Edwards and Burge, 1971;Gladue and Clemens, 1980;Levine and Mullins, 1964;Whalen and Olsen, 1981). 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, Phone: (517) FAX: (517) 432-2744, northcu2@msu.edu . Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are an interesting species to study sex differences in behavioral potentials because they are relatively monomorphic in some of their social behaviors, as both se...

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Hormone-neurotransmitter interactions in the control of sexual behavior

Cited by 306 publications

References 98 publications

Effect of a Single Dose of Levodopa on Sexual Response in Men and Women

Effect of a Single Dose of Levodopa on Sexual Response in Men and Women

Stimulation of sexual behavior in the male rat by galanin-like peptide

Sex differences and effects of neonatal aromatase inhibition on masculine and feminine copulatory potentials in prairie voles

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