Neurotransmitter Systems and Social Behavior

Crowley, William R.; O’Connor, Lynn H.; Feder, Harvey H.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-73827-2_4

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 402 publications

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“…Noradrenaline was one of the first neurotransmitters to be implicated in female sexual behavior by neurochemical and pharmacological experiments (15,91). Both activating and inhibiting actions of noradrenaline on lordosis have been reported (18). It is not clear, however, how the previously mentioned sex differences in noradrenergic systems contribute to the sex difference in female sexual behavior; neither are there anatomical data on a sexually dimorphic distribution of monoamines in the ventromedial hypothalamus.…”

Section: Facilitation Of Female Receptivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not all of these differences can easily explain why males are more likely to display male sexual behavior than females. Dopamine, for example, might facilitate as well as inhibit male sexual behavior (IS, 16,18). The dopaminergic innervation of the POA, however, appears to facilitate male sexual behavior.…”

Section: Male Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies indicate that serotonin inhibits male sexual behavior (15,16,18). If the MPN is one of the sites where serotonin inhibits male sexual behavior, the lower density of serotonin fibers found in the lateral division of the MPN in males, compared to females, might point at a lower inhibition of male sexual behavior in males (68).…”

Section: Male Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper will review morphological studies of sexually dimorphic neurotransmitter systems emphasizing those systems that have been implicated in the regulation of gonadotropin release and sexual behavior in rats. For more complete reviews on pharmacological and neurochemical evidence that implicate the discussed, and other neurotransmitters in reproductive functions, see references (14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex Differences in Neurotransmitter Systems

Vries

1990

J Neuroendocrinology

199

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Section: Facilitation Of Female Receptivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Male Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Male Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex Differences in Neurotransmitter Systems

Vries

1990

J Neuroendocrinology

199

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“…In sub-primate mammals both these behaviours are strongly regulated through the feedback actions of ovarian steroids on the brain, and even in primate species, where receptivity occurs throughout their menstrual or ovarian cycles, peaks of both proceptivity and receptivity have often been reported to occur around the time of ovulation (Dixson, 1983). The majority of work investigating the influence of neurotransmitters on female sexual behaviour has been carried out in rodents and noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5HT), glutamate (GLU) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have all been implicated, together with a number of neuroactive peptides (review by Crowley et al, 1989), although their precise functional roles and how they interact still remain unclear. Of the classical neurotransmitters, NA probably has the widest support for having an important role in neuroendocrine control of female sexual behaviour (Etgen ei aZ., 1992).…”

Section: ' Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Faces and Odours Evoke Differential Patterns of Neurochemical Release in the Mediobasal Hypothalamus of the Ewe During Oestrus: An Insight Into Sexual Motivation?

Fabre-Nys

Ohkura

Kendrick

1997

Eur J of Neuroscience

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During behavioural oestrus female sheep, like females of many species, become both attracted to and sexually receptive towards males, whereas at other times they will avoid them. The mediobasal hypothalamus is the main site for the feedback action of sex steroids to induce sexual behaviour in the sheep and in previous studies we have shown that noradrenaline and serotonin are released in this region during sexual interactions with males. The current study investigated whether such changes are specific to interactions with males and if visual or olfactory cues or somatosensory stimulation during mating are critical. In vivo microdialysis sampling was carried out in the mediobasal hypothalamus of ovariectomized ewes submitted to artificial oestrous cycles. Release of monoamines and amino acid transmitters was first measured in animals during and after oestrus when they were exposed to interactions with either males or females or presentation of food. Noradrenaline concentrations only increased significantly when the females were in oestrus and interacted with males irrespective of whether intromissions were permitted. Females were then exposed to visual (faces) or odour (a home pen) cues from males or to the males themselves. Slide images of male faces increased concentrations of amines, glutamate and GABA during early oestrus, when females spent most time looking at them. During late oestrus noradrenaline, glutamate and GABA concentrations also increased in response to the male faces but no transmitter changes were seen during the luteal phase or at any time where the females were exposed to female faces, or inverted male faces. Exposure to male odour produced a lower increase in noradrenaline concentrations when females were in early oestrus but marked increases 20 and 30 min after exposure to male odours in late oestrus. No other transmitters were affected. Exposure to a male and mating with him when females were in early or late oestrus produced increased noradrenaline concentrations similar to those seen with face stimuli alone although other neurotransmitters were unaffected. These results show that noradrenaline, and to a lesser extent dopamine, serotonin, glutamate and GABA release in the mediobasal hypothalamus, can be modulated specifically in the oestrous female by sensory information coming from the male during oestrus. The differential effects of male cues during early and late oestrus suggest their involvement in (i) proceptive or anticipatory sexual responses shown by the female to male cues, and (ii) receptive sexual responses, and suggest that the mediobasal hypothalamus plays a key role in the integration of hormonal action on sexual motivation and processing of sensory information during oestrus.

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