Skip to main content

Sexually Dimorphic Hypothalamic Cell Groups and a Related Pathway that are Essential for Masculine Copulatory Behavior

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 73))

Abstract

For researchers interested in the neural control of male sexual behavior, few observations have generated more excitement than the discovery that the anatomy of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is different in males than in females. The existence of sexually dimorphic cell groups (Allen et al.,1989; Bleier et al., 1982; Commins and Yahr, 1984a; Gorski et al., 1978; Hines et al., 1985; LeVay, 1991; Swaab and Fliers, 1985; Tobet et al., 1986; Viglietti-Panzica et al., 1986), synaptic contacts (Raisman and Field, 1971, 1973), dendritic arbors (Ayoub et al., 1983; Greenough et al., 1977) and other phenotypes (De Vries et al., 1984) in an area known to be essential for the display of male sexual behavior (Sachs and Meisel, 1988) raised the hope that we might soon be able to recognize the cells that control male behavior, to determine their projections and to specify the intracellular changes that occur in response to testosterone (T).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allen, M. S., Hines, M., Shryne, J. E. and Gorski, R. A. (1989). Two sexually dimorphic cell groups in the human brain. J. Neurosci., 9: 497–506.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arendash, G. W. and Gorski, R. A. (1983). Effects of discrete lesions of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area or other medial preoptic regions on the sexual behavior of male rats. Brain Res. Bull., 10: 147–154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayoub, D. M., Greenough, W. T. and Juraska, J. M. (1983). Sex differences in dendritic structure in the preoptic area of the juvenile macaque monkey brain. Science, 219: 197–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balthazart, J. and Surlemont, C. (1990). Copulatory behavior is controlled by the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the quail POA. Brain Res., 25: 7–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, M. J. and Everitt, B. J. (1992). Increased expression of c-fos in the medial preoptic area after mating in male rats: role of afferent inputs from the medial amygdala and midbrain central tegmental field. Neurosci., 50: 627–646.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bleier, R., Byne, W. and Siggelkow, I. (1982). Cytoarchitectonic sexual dimorphisms of the medial preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas in guinea pig, rat, hamster, and mouse. J. Comp. NeuroL, 212: 118–130.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, G. J. and Gorski, R. A. (1988). Cytoarchitectonic analysis of the SDN-POA of the intact and gonadectomized rat. J. Comp. Neurol., 275: 604–612.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brackett, N. L. and Edwards, D. A. (1984). Medial preoptic connections with the midbrain tegmentum are essential for male sexual behavior. Physiol. Behay., 32: 79–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brackett, N. L., Luvone, P. M. and Edwards, D. A. (1986). Midbrain lesions, dopamine and male sexual behavior. Behay. Brain Res., 20: 231–240.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Commins, D. and Yahr, P. (1984a). Adult testosterone levels influence the morphology of a sexually dimorphic area in the Mongolian gerbil brain. J. Comp. Neurol., 224: 132–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Commins, D. and Yahr, P. (1984b). Acetylcholinesterase activity in the sexually dimorphic area of the gerbil brain: sex differences and influences of adult gonadal steroids. J. Comp. Neurol., 224: 123–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Commins, D. and Yahr, P. (1985). Autoradiographic localization of estrogen and androgen receptors in the sexually dimorphic area and other brain regions of the gerbil brain. J. Comp. Neurol., 231: 473–489.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, B. J., De Vries, G. J. and Yahr, P. (1992). AVP innervation of sexually dimorphic structures of the gerbil forebrain under various hormonal conditions. J. Comp. Neurol., 322: 589–598.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Jonge, F. H., Louwerse, A. L., Ooms, M. P., Evers, P., Endert, E. and van de Poll, N. E. (1989). Lesions of the SDN-POA inhibit sexual behavior of male Wistar rats. Brain Res. Bull., 23: 483–492.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Vries, G. J., De Bruin, J. P. C., Uylings, H. B. M. and Corner, M. A. (1984). Sex Differences in the Brain, Progress in Brain Research, Vol. 61,Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York and Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vries, G. J., Gonzales, C. L. and Yahr, P. (1988). Afferent connections of the sexually dimorphic area of the hypothalamus of male and female gerbils. J. Comp. Neurol., 271: 91–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorski, R. A., Gordon, J. E., Shryne, J. E. and Southam, A. M. (1978). Evidence for a morphological sex difference within the medial preoptic area of the rat brain. Brain Res., 148: 333–346.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenough, W. T., Carter, C. S., Steerman, C. and DeVoogd, T. J. (1977). Sex differences in dendritic patterns in hamster preoptic area. Brain Res., 308: 172–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, M. H., Winn, P. and Dunnett, S. B. (1985). Neurotoxic amino acid lesions of the lateral hypothalamus: a parametric comparison of the effects of ibotenate, N-methyl-d,l-asparate and quisqualate in the rat. Brain Res.,360: 248–256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hennessey, A. C., Wallen, K. and Edwards, D. A. (1986). Preoptic lesions increase the display of lordosis by male rats. Brain Res., 370: 21–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, M., Davis, F. C., Coquelin, A., Goy, R. W. and Gorski, R. A. (1985). Sexually dimorphic regions in the medial preoptic area and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the guinea pig brain: a description and an investigation of their relationship to gonadal steroids in adulthood. J. Neurosci., 5: 40–47.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, C., Suda, S., Smith, C. B., Miyaoka, M., Ito, M. and Sokoloff, L. (1981). Changes in protein synthesis underlying functional plasticity in immature monkey visual system. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 78: 3950–3953.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LeVay, S. (1991). A difference in hypothalamic structure between heterosexual and homosexual men. Science, 253: 1034–1037.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paxinos, G. and Watson, C. (1986). The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powers, J. B., Newman, S. W. and Bergondy, M. L. (1987). MPOA and BNST lesions in male Syrian hamsters: differential effects on copulatory and chemoinvestigatory behaviors. Behay. Brain Res., 23: 181–195.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, J. B. and Valenstein, E. S. (1972). Sexual receptivity: facilitation by medial preoptic lesions in rats. Science, 175: 1003–1005.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preslock, J. P. and McCann, S. M. (1987). Lesions of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area: effects upon LH, FSH and prolactin in rats. Brain Res. Bull., 18: 127–134.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisman, G. and Field, P. M. (1971). Sexual dimorphism in the preoptic area of the rat. Science,173: 731–733

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisman, G. and Field, P. M. (1973). Sexual dimorphism in the neuropil of the preoptic area of the rat and its dependence on neonatal androgen. Brain Res., 54: 1–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, B. D. and Meisel, R. L. (1988). The physiology of male sexual behavior. In: Knobil, E. and Neill, J. (Eds.), The Physiology of Reproduction, Raven Press, New York, pp. 1393–1485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simerly, R. B. and Swanson, L. W. (1986). The organization of neural inputs to the medial preoptic nucleus of the rat. J. Comp. NeuroL, 246: 312–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simerly, R. B. and Swanson, L. W. (1988). Projections of the medial preoptic nucleus: a Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin anterograde tract-tracing study in the rat. J. Comp. NeuroL, 270: 209–242.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simerly, R. B., Swanson, L. W. and Gorski, R. A. (1984). Demonstration of a sexual dimorphism in the distribution of serotonin-immunoreactive fibers in the medial preoptic nucleus of the rat. J. Comp. NeuroL, 225: 151–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swaab, D. F. and Fliers, E. (1985). A sexually dimorphic nucleus in the human brain. Science, 228: 1112–1115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tobet, S. A., Zahniser, D. J. and Baum, M. J. (1986). Sexual dimorphism in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area of ferrets: effects of adult exposure to sex steroids. Brain Res., 364: 249–257.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turkenburg, J. L., Swaab, D. F., Endert, E., Louwerse, A. L. and van de Poll, N. E. (1988). Effects of lesions of the sexually dimorphic nucleus on sexual behavior of testosterone-treated female Wistar rats. Brain Res. Bull., 21: 215–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulibarri, C. and Yahr, P. (1988). Role of neonatal androgens in sexual differentiation of brain structure, scent marking, and gonadotropin secretion in gerbils. Behay. Neur. Biol., 49: 27–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vigletti-Panzica, C., Panzica, G. C., Fiori, M. G., Calcagni, M., Anselmetti, G. C. and Balthazart, J. (1986). A sexually dimorphic nucleus in the quail preoptic area. NeuroscL Lett., 64: 129–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yahr, P. (1988). Pars compacta of the sexually dimorphic area of the gerbil hypothalamus: postnatal ages at which development responds to testosterone. Behay. Neur. Biol., 49: 118–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yahr, P., Commins, D., Jackson, J. C. and Newman, A. (1982). Independent control of sexual scent marking behaviors of male gerbils by cells in or near the medial preoptic area. Horm. Behay., 16: 304–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yahr, P., Newman, A. and Stephens, D. R. (1979). Sexual behavior and scent marking in male gerbils: comparison of changes after castration and testosterone replacement. Horm. Behay., 13: 175–184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yahr, P. and Stephens, D. R. (1987). Hormonal control of sexual and scent marking behaviors of male gerbils in relation to the sexually dimorphic area of the hypothalamus. Horm. 8ehay., 21: 331–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Yahr, P. (1993). Sexually Dimorphic Hypothalamic Cell Groups and a Related Pathway that are Essential for Masculine Copulatory Behavior. In: Haug, M., Whalen, R.E., Aron, C., Olsen, K.L. (eds) The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior. NATO ASI Series, vol 73. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1709-8_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1709-8_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4749-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1709-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics