Neuroendocrine Regulation of Male Sexual Behavior

The major brain areas that control males' sexual motivation and performance include the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), the medial preoptic area (MPOA), and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, as well as the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. The MPOA, PVN, and brain stem and spinal nuclei control the genital reflexes. Sensory and motor aspects are integrated and elicited by the amygdala, BNST, MPOA, PVN, and the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA tracts, which are integral for other social behaviors, as well. Developmental hormonal effects organize the network to elicit specific behaviors, which are activated by those hormones in adolescence and adulthood. Steroid hormones primarily work through slow genomic mechanisms that increase enzymes, receptors, or structural proteins, although they may also activate membrane receptors for rapid effects. © 2019 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 9:1383-1410, 2019.