Central Mechanisms--Dopamine

Data from lesions and dopamine release during behavior provide insight into functional roles of various brain regions to sex behavior:

• dorsal striatum:

  • lesions of dopamine neurons in substantia nigra produce Parkinsonism symptoms: difficulty initiating movements, slowness of actions and tremor
  • DA levels increase significantly during the act of copulation
  • dorsal striatum is thought to play a role in sensorimotor coordination (pursuit of female)

• MPOA:

  • lesions of MPOA block display of mounts, intromissions and ejaculations
  • administration of DA antagonists into the MPOA can inhibit display of copulation
  • DA levels increase prior to, and during, the act of copulating with a receptive female
  • MPOA is thought to play a role in both sexual motivation and copulation
  • MPOA receives pheromone-associated information from CMA; this information provides one source of excitatory information linked to both sexual motivation and performance

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