Microlesions of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus: Effects on sociosexual behaviors in male rats.
- 1 January 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Vol. 119 (5) , 1227-1234
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.119.5.1227
Abstract
Electrolytic microlesions aimed at the dorsomedial portion of the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus were generated, and effects on copulation, 50-kHz vocalizations, scent marking, and sexual motivation were measured. Male rats were tested before and after lesions, after castration, and after testosterone replacement. Three control groups were used: One received sham surgery, another received no surgery or testosterone replacement, and a 3rd received lesions primarily outside the VMN. VMN lesions produced impairments in testosterone's ability to restore ultrasonic vocalizations and scent marking, assessed with 2 different test methods. Copulation, sexual motivation, and weight gain were largely unaffected, although some differences were observed in copulatory efficiency. The authors conclude that the integrity of the VMN is important for full expression of sociosexual behaviors in male rats.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Androgen receptor blockade in the MPOA or VMN: effects on male sociosexual behaviorsPhysiology & Behavior, 2004
- Time course of VMN lesion effects on lordosis and ultrasound production in hamsters.Behavioral Neuroscience, 1998
- Hypothalamic Grafts Induce the Recovery of Lordosis in Female Hamsters with Lesions of the Ventromedial HypothalamusHormones and Behavior, 1997
- Inhibition of male sex behavior by androgen receptor blockade in preoptic area or hypothalamus, but not amygdala or septumPhysiology & Behavior, 1996
- Hormonal control of precopulatory sebaceous scent marking and ultrasonic mating vocalizations in male ratsHormones and Behavior, 1991
- Time-courses of the appearance/disappearance of nuclear androgen + receptor complexes in the brain and adenohypophysis following testosterone administration/withdrawal to castrated male rats: Relationships with gonadotropin secretionThe Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990
- In vitro measurement of cytosol and cell nuclear androgen receptors in male rat brain and pituitaryBrain Research, 1983
- Urine marking and sexual behavior in the rat (Rattus norvegicus)Behavioral and Neural Biology, 1979
- Hypothalamic Obesity: The Myth of the Ventromedial NucleusScience, 1973
- Hypothalamic lesions and adiposity in the ratThe Anatomical Record, 1940