Mas M, Fumero B, González-Mora J L
Department of Physiology, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Behav Brain Res. 1995 Nov;71(1-2):69-79. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(95)00043-7.
The monoamine neurotransmitters have long been ascribed important modulatory actions on male sexual behavior by a wealth of pharmacological studies. Methodological developments have now made possible the assessment of the extracellular levels of amine transmitters and their metabolites in discrete brain areas of sexually behaving animals using in vivo voltammetry and microdialysis. Studies in our and other laboratories consistently show increased dopamine release in forebrain structures known to be involved in mating activity, including the nucleus accumbens and the medial preoptic area, during both the appetitive (i.e., non-contact exposure to sexual stimuli) and consummatory phases of this behavior. Serotonin utilization seems to be mainly related to consummatory events. These findings are consistent with the pharmacological evidence as well as previous ex vivo work. The state of sexual inactivity that follows unrestricted mating associates with increased dopamine turnover in the preoptic area. According to the available information, it could reflect some blockade of dopaminergic receptors, possibly involving prolactin. No disturbance of ongoing sexual behavior was observed during the neurochemical monitoring sessions with either methodology. These studies show voltammetry and microdialysis as powerful complementary tools for the assessment of sociosexual interactions.
长期以来，大量药理学研究认为单胺类神经递质对雄性性行为具有重要的调节作用。随着方法学的发展，现在可以使用体内伏安法和微透析技术，评估性行为活跃动物离散脑区中胺类递质及其代谢产物的细胞外水平。我们实验室和其他实验室的研究一致表明，在性行为的求偶期（即非接触性接触性刺激）和性行为完成期，已知参与交配活动的前脑结构（包括伏隔核和内侧视前区）中的多巴胺释放都会增加。5-羟色胺的利用似乎主要与性行为完成事件有关。这些发现与药理学证据以及先前的体外研究结果一致。无限制交配后的性静止状态与视前区多巴胺周转率增加有关。根据现有信息，这可能反映了多巴胺能受体的某种阻断，可能涉及催乳素。在使用这两种方法进行神经化学监测期间，均未观察到正在进行的性行为受到干扰。这些研究表明，伏安法和微透析技术是评估社会性行为相互作用的有力互补工具。
