Iovino Michele, Messana Tullio, Iovino Emanuela, De Pergola Giovanni, Guastamacchia Edoardo, Giagulli Vito Angelo, Triggiani Vincenzo
Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy.
Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2019;19(4):472-480. doi: 10.2174/1871530319666190131155310.
The aim of this narrative review was to analyze the role played by brain areas, neurohormones and neurotransmitters in the regulation of emotional and sexual behavior in the male.
We analyzed the currently available literature dealing with brain structures, neurotransmitters and neurohormones involved in the regulation of emotional and sexual behavior in the male.
A common brain pathway is involved in these two aspects. The Hippocampus seems to control the signals coming from the external environment, while the amygdala and the hypothalamus control the response to social stimuli. Stimulation of amygdala in the animal models increases sexual performance, while it triggers violent emotional responses. Stimulation of the hypothalamus causes reactions of violent anger and increases sexual activity. Catecholaminergic stimulation of the amygdala and hypothalamus increases emotional and sexual behavior, while serotonin plays an inhibitory role. Cholinergic inhibition leads to a suppression of copulatory activity, while the animal becomes hyperemotive. Opioids, such as β-endorphin and met-enkephalin, reduce copulatory activity and induce impotence. Gonadal steroid hormones, such as estrogen in female and testosterone in male, which play a major role in the control of sexual behavior and gender difference have been highlighted in this review. Vasopressin, oxytocin and their receptors are expressed in high density in the "social behavior neural network" and play a role as signal system controlling social behavior. Finally, the neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptors, located in the limbic structures, mediate olfactory control of the gonadotropic axis.
Further studies are needed to evaluate possible implications in the treatment of psychosexual and reproductive disorders.
本叙述性综述旨在分析脑区、神经激素和神经递质在男性情绪和性行为调节中所起的作用。
我们分析了目前现有的关于参与男性情绪和性行为调节的脑结构、神经递质和神经激素的文献。
这两个方面涉及一条共同的脑通路。海马体似乎控制来自外部环境的信号，而杏仁核和下丘脑控制对社会刺激的反应。在动物模型中刺激杏仁核可提高性行为表现，同时引发强烈的情绪反应。刺激下丘脑会引起强烈愤怒反应并增加性活动。对杏仁核和下丘脑的儿茶酚胺能刺激会增加情绪和性行为，而血清素起抑制作用。胆碱能抑制会导致交配活动受到抑制，同时动物变得情绪过度激动。阿片类物质，如β-内啡肽和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽，会降低交配活动并导致阳痿。性腺类固醇激素，如女性体内的雌激素和男性体内的睾酮，在性行为控制和性别差异中起主要作用，本综述对此进行了强调。血管加压素、催产素及其受体在“社会行为神经网络”中高密度表达，并作为控制社会行为的信号系统发挥作用。最后，位于边缘结构中的神经肽 kisspeptin 及其受体介导对促性腺轴的嗅觉控制。
需要进一步研究以评估其在治疗性心理和生殖障碍方面的潜在意义。
