Waldherr, Martin and Neumann, Inga D. (2007) Centrally released oxytocin mediates mating-induced anxiolysis in male rats. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 104 (42). pp. 16681-16684. ISSN 0027-8424,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Sexual activity and mating are accompanied by a high level of arousal, whereas anecdotal and experimental evidence demonstrate that sedation and calmness are common phenomena in the postcoital period in humans. These remarkable behavioral consequences of sexual activity contribute to a general feeling of well being, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sexual activity and mating with a receptive female reduce the level of anxiety and increase risk-taking behavior in male rats for several hours. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to exert multiple functions in male and female reproduction, and to play a key role in the regulation of emotionality after its peripheral and central release, respectively. In the present study, we reveal that oxytocin is released within the brain, specifically within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, of male rats during mating with a receptive female. Furthermore, blockade of the activated brain oxytocin system by central administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist immediately after mating prevents the anxiolytic effect of mating, while having no effect in nonmated males. These findings provide direct evidence for an essential role of an activated brain oxytocin system mediating the anxiolytic effect of mating in males.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ANXIETY-RELATED BEHAVIOR; SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR; PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS; CENTRAL AMYGDALA; SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR; BRAIN OXYTOCIN; STRESS; VASOPRESSIN; SYSTEM; NEUROBIOLOGY; |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 570 Life sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Tierphysiologie/Neurobiologie (Prof. Dr. Inga Neumann) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Dec 2020 14:41 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Dec 2020 14:41 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/32075 |
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