CHANGES IN MONOAMINE TURNOVER IN FOREBRAIN AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH MASCULINE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR - A MICRODIALYSIS STUDY

This report compares the changes in the main dopamine (DA) and seroton in (5-HT) metabolites, respectively dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in three relatively close br ain regions, namely he nucleus accumbens (ACB), the medial preoptic ar ea, and the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), as well as DA in the ACB, of opulating male rats. All these neurochemicals remained fairly stab le when the animals were exposed to non sexual social stimuli (castrat ed females), and they increased during mating with receptive females. There were regional differences in these copulation-related changes, h owever, with those in the MBH being shorter-lived. There were also dif ferences in the time-course of the changes in DOPAC and 5-HIAA the lat ter being slower. It is suggested that they reflect the involvement of the DA and 5-HT innervation of diencephalic structures in, respective ly the appetitive and consummatory/ satiation mechanisms of sexual beh avior. The physiological relevance of these neurochemical changes is s upported by the lack of differences between the standard measures for sexual behavior recorded before surgery and during the dialysis sessio n.