SYSTEMIC AND INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR INJECTIONS OF VASOTOCIN INHIBIT APPETITIVE AND CONSUMMATORY COMPONENTS OF MALE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN JAPANESE-QUAIL

The authors investigated the behavioral actions of vasotocin (VT) in c astrated testosterone-treated male Japanese quail. The appetitive and consummatory components of Sexual behavior as well as the occurrence f requency of crows were inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, by injec tions of VT. The authors observed opposite effects after injection of the V1 receptor antagonist, dPTyr(Me)AVP. Lower doses of VT were more active after central than after systemic injection, and effects of sys temic injections of VT were blocked by a central injection of dPTyr(Me )AVP. The behavioral inhibition was associated with a modified diuresi s after systemic but not central injection. These results provide dire ct evidence that VT affects male sexual behavior in quail by a direct action on the brain independent of its peripheral action on diuresis.