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Dynamic increases in dopamine during paced copulation in the female rat

Dynamic increases in dopamine during paced copulation in the female rat The role of dopamine in the rewarding aspects of sexual behaviour in female rats was investigated. This is a unique model because sexual behaviour is only rewarding when copulatory stimuli are experienced at the preferred rate of copulation for a female rat. In addition, increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens occur during sexual behaviour only when the female achieves this preferred rate of copulation. In this study, minute‐by‐minute changes in nucleus accumbens dopamine were monitored using in vivo microdialysis. We report here that extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens increases before coital stimulation only when sexual behaviour is occurring under conditions that are rewarding to the female rat. We conclude that increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens are involved in anticipation, not consummation, of sexual behaviour in the female rat. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png European Journal of Neuroscience Wiley

Dynamic increases in dopamine during paced copulation in the female rat

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References (50)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0953-816X
eISSN
1460-9568
DOI
10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02923.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The role of dopamine in the rewarding aspects of sexual behaviour in female rats was investigated. This is a unique model because sexual behaviour is only rewarding when copulatory stimuli are experienced at the preferred rate of copulation for a female rat. In addition, increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens occur during sexual behaviour only when the female achieves this preferred rate of copulation. In this study, minute‐by‐minute changes in nucleus accumbens dopamine were monitored using in vivo microdialysis. We report here that extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens increases before coital stimulation only when sexual behaviour is occurring under conditions that are rewarding to the female rat. We conclude that increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens are involved in anticipation, not consummation, of sexual behaviour in the female rat.

Journal

European Journal of NeuroscienceWiley

Published: Oct 1, 2003

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