M. Yokosuka et al., Female-soiled bedding induced Fos immunoreactivity in the ventral part of the premammillary nucleus (PMv) of the male mouse, PHYSL BEHAV, 68(1-2), 1999, pp. 257-261
Previous studies have indicated that the ventral part of the premammillary
nucleus (PMv) of rodents is involved in the regulation of aggressive and ma
le mating behavior, although the precise physiological function of the PMv
is still unclear. To analyze the physiological role of the PMv in male mati
ng behavior, the effects of exposure to bedding soiled by female mice on Fo
s immunoreactivity (Fos-ir), an early marker of neuronal activation, were s
tudied in the PMv and some sex-related nuclei. We observed that exposure to
female-soiled bedding induced Fos-ir expression in the PMv of the male mou
se. Although Fos-ir positive cells were found in the posterodorsal part of
the medial amygdaloid nucleus and in the posteromedial cortical amygdaloid
nucleus, which are terminals of the neuronal projections from the main and
accessory olfactory bulbs, the numbers of Fos-ir cells in those nuclei were
not affected by exposure to female-soiled bedding. Moreover, Fos-ir was no
t detected in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. It is well established
that soiled bedding is useful as a source of chemosensory substances, whic
h include "pheromones," Thus, our findings, in agreement with previous beha
vioral and anatomical data, suggest that the PMv plays a role in initiating
male copulative behavior that is induced by a female mice pheromone(s). (C
) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.