Chronic social stress in puberty alters appetitive male sexual behavior and neural metabolic activity

摘要: Repeated social subjugation in early puberty lowers testosterone levels. We used hamsters to investigate the effects of on male sexual behavior and metabolic activity within neural systems controlling motivational behaviors. Subjugated animals were exposed daily aggressive adult males for postnatal days 28 42, while control placed empty clean cages. On day 45, they tested presence receptive female. Alternatively, mate choice after placement at base a Y-maze containing sexually female one tip maze an ovariectomized other. Social did not affect capacity with females. Although fast approach females preferred individuals, subjugated stayed away from them showed no preference. Cytochrome oxidase was reduced preoptic area ventral tegmental hamsters. In addition, correlation these areas bed nucleus stria terminalis anterior parietal cortex changed significantly positive controls negative animals. These data show that mid-puberty, are capable mating, their appetitive is fully mature this aspect responsive subjugation. Furthermore, coordination brain related motivation altered by