Mating-induced Fos and aromatase are not co-localized in the preoptic area

MALE sexual behavior is determined by the interaction of endocrine and envi ronmental stimuli originating from the female, yet it is unknown how and wh ere these stimuli are integrated within the brain. Activation of copulatory behavior by testosterone is limited by its central aromatization into an e strogen in the preoptic area. We investigated whether mating-induced neuron al activation as identified by the expression of the immediate early gene F os occurs in aromatase-immunoreactive (ARO-ir) cells of the male quail preo ptic area. Fos-immunoreactive (ir) cells were observed within and lateral t o these ARO-ir cells groups but few ARO-ir cells contained Fos-ir indicatin g that mating-related stimuli do not directly affect estrogen-synthesizing cells. NeuroReport 10:907-912 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.