Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 580.8 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Medial prefrontal cortex is essential for conditioned aversion to sexual behavior. |
| Authors: |
Davis, J. F.*1
; Loos, M.1
; Coolen, L. M.1
1Dept Cell Biol, Univ Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Addiction and Drugs of Abuse -- Neurobiology of reward |
| Session: |
580. Drugs of Abuse: Neurobiology of Reward II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, October 25, 2004 4:00 PM-5:00 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # FFF12 |
| Keywords: | conditioning, limbic, impulsivity, frontal cortex |
Several components of the limbic system are activated during male sexual behavior, as reflected by increased expression of the immediate early gene c-fos. In particular, mating or mating-associated environmental cues induce Fos in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Previously, data from our lab demonstrated that the mPFC is not necessary for the expression of sexual motivation or performance (Davis et al, SFN 2003). Instead we hypothesized that the mPFC is necessary for the formation of conditioned aversion associated with male sexual behavior. The current study investigated the hypothesis that the mPFC is necessary for the acquisition of copulation contingent aversive conditioning to Lithium Chloride (LiCl). Ibotenic acid was used to lesion both the prelimbic and infralimbic components of the mPFC in sexually experienced males. Lesioned and sham (mPFC vehicle injected) animals were then subjected to 10 consecutive conditioning sessions during which 0.15M LiCl (20ml/kg) was paired with ejaculation by systemic i.p. injection, while control animals were injected with saline. This dose of LiCl is sufficient to produce visceral illness and the paradigm has previously been shown to cause inhibition of sexual behavior. Indeed, sexual behavior in LiCl treated sham animals was significantly reduced by session 6 as compared to saline treated sham males. However, LiCl treated mPFC lesioned males continued to copulate throughout the entire experiment. These data suggest that the mPFC is essential for establishment of associations between sexual reward and malaise and the subsequent inhibition of sexual motivation. Hence, these results support a role for mPFC in the control of impulsive behaviors, specifically related to sex behavior.
Supported by NIHDK59803 (JFD), and MH60781, DA14591 (LMC).
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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