Abstract
1. We examined whether oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) were activated by estrus female odor and sexual contact in sexually naïve and experienced Long-Evans rats.
2. Male rats were not presented to anesthetized estrus females (control) or presented to the females without (exposure to the female odor without sexual contact) or with direct contact (exposure to the female odor with sexual contact).
3. Exposure to the female odor with sexual contact significantly increased OT neurons with Fos-ir in both males. Exposure to the female odor without contact increased OT neurons with Fos-immunoreactive cells (Fos-ir) in sexually experienced males but not in naïve males, suggesting that the female odor without sexual contact activated the oxytocinergic neuronal system in the PVN in the experienced males.
4. Therefore, exposure to the estrus female odor itself may exert different effects on sexually naïve and experienced males.
REFERENCE
Argiolas, A., and Melis, M. R. (1995a). Oxytocin-induced penile erection. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 395: 247-254.
Argiolas, A., and Melis, M. R. (1995b). Neuromodulation of penile erection: An overview of the role of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Prog. Neurobiol. 47: 235-255.
Arletti, R., Bazzani, C., Castelli, M., and Bertolini, A. (1985). Oxytocin improves male copulatory performance in rats. Horm. Behav. 19: 14-20.
Brown, E. R., and Sawchenko, P. E. (1997). Hypophysiotropic CRF neurons display a sustained immediate-early gene response to chronic stress but not to adrenalectomy. J. Neuroendocrinol. 9: 307-316.
Buijs, R. M., De Vries, G. L., and Van Leeuwen, F. W. (1985). The distribution and synaptic release of oxytocin in the central nervous system. In Amico, J. A., and Robinson, A. G. (eds.), Oxytocin: Clinical and Laboratory Studies, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 77-103.
Carter, D. A., and Lightman, S. L. (1987). Oxytocin responses to stress in lactating and hyperprolactinaemic rats. Neuroendocrinology 46: 532-537.
Covenas, R., de Leon, M., Cintra, A., Bjelke, B., Gustafsson, J. A., and Fuxe, K. (1993). Coexistence of c-Fos and glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivities in the CRF immunoreactive neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of the rat after acute immobilization stress. Neurosci. Lett. 149: 149-152.
Dornun, W., and Malsbury, C. (1989a). Coexistence of c-Fos and glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivities in the CRF immunoreactive neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of the rat after acute immobilization stress. Neurosci. Lett. 149: 149-152.
Dornun, W., and Malsbury, C. (1989b). Neuropeptides and male sexual behavior. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 13: 1-15.
Edwards, D. A., and Davis, A. B. (1997). Deafferentation of the olfactory bulbs of male rat reduces erection to remote cues from females. Physiol. Behav. 62: 145-149.
Fewell, G. D., and Meredith, M. (2002). Experience facilitates vomronasal and olfactory influence on Fos expression in medial preoptic area during pheromone exposure or mating in male hamsters. Brain Res. 941: 91-106.
Flanagan, L. M., Pfaus, J. G., Pfaff, D. W., and McEwen, B. S. (1993). Induction of Fos immunoreactivity in oxytocin neurons after sexual activity in female rats. Neuroendocrinology 58: 352-358.
Hart, B. L. (1968). Sexual reflexes and mating behavior in the male rat. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 65: 452-460.
Higuchi, T., Honda, K., Fukuoka, T., Negoro, H., and Wakabayashi, K. (1985). Release of oxytocin during sucking and parturition in the rat. J. Endocrinol. 105: 339-346.
Hillegaart, V., Alster, P., Uvnas-Moberg, K., and Ahlenius, S. (1998). Sexual motivation promotes oxitocin secretion in male rats. Peptides 19: 39-45.
Kelliher, K. R., and Baum, M. J. (2002). Effect of sex steroids and coital experience on ferrets' preference for the smell, sight and sound of conspecifics. Physiol. Behav. 76: 1-7.
Kondo, Y., Sudo, T., Tomihara, K., and Sakuma, Y. (2003). Activation of accessory olfactory bulb neurons during copulatory behavior after deprivation of vomeronasal inputs in male rats. Brain Res. 962: 232-236.
Kondo, Y., Tomihara, K., and Sakuma, Y. (1999). Sensory requirements for noncontact penile erection in the rat. Behav. Neurosci. 113: 1062-1070.
Melis, M. R., Argiolas, A., and Gessa, G. L. (1986). Oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawing: Site of action in the brain. Brain Res. 398: 259-265.
Melis, M. R., Spano, M. S., Succu, S., and Argiolas, A. (1999). The oxytocin antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)2-Orn8-vasotocin reduces non-contact penile erections in male rats. Neurosci. Lett. 265: 171-174.
Richard, P. H., Moos, F., and Freund-Mercier, M. J. (1991). Central effects of oxytocin. Physiol. Rev. 71: 331-370.
Sachs, B. D. (1997). Erections evoked in male rats by airborne scent from estrus females. Physiol. Behav. 62: 921-924.
Sagar, S. M., Sharp, F. R., and Curran, T. (1988). Expression of c-fos protein in brain: Metabolic mapping at the cellular level. Science 240: 1328-1331.
Witt, D. M., and Insel, T. R. (1994). Increased Fos expression in oxytocin neurons following masculine sexual behavior. J. Neuroendocrinol. 6: 13-18.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nishitani, S., Moriya, T., Kondo, Y. et al. Induction of Fos Immunoreactivity in Oxytocin Neurons in the Paraventricular Nucleus After Female Odor Exposure in Male Rats: Effects of Sexual Experience. Cell Mol Neurobiol 24, 283–291 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CEMN.0000018622.44317.14
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CEMN.0000018622.44317.14