Sexual Behavior

The medial preoptic area modulates cocaine-induced locomotion in male rats

“…Similarly, as the mPOA is essential for sexual [11] and maternal behaviors [12], contains one of the highest concentrations of cells expressing sex-steroid hormone receptors [13], and contains robust connections with the mesolimbic system [14], it is not surprising that it should also modulate cocaine-induced behavioral activity. Dopamine in the NAc increases locomotion [2, 3], removing a source of inhibition into the mesolimbic dopamine system, namely the mPOA [8, 9], should then facilitate locomotion, as is evidenced in our present findings.…”

“…Maternal care and male sexual behavior, two behaviors heavily regulated by the mPOA [11, 12], also induce dopamine release in the NAc [15, 16], suggesting a functional link between the mPOA and the NAc. However, anatomical studies suggest few neurons project directly from the mPOA to the NAc [14].…”