beta-adrenergic modulation of male sexual behavior elicited from the medial preoptic area in rats

This study was aimed at investigating the role of the adrenergic mechanism in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) in sexual arousal and copulatory performance. Saline, norepinephrine (NE), phenoxybenzamine (PBZ) and propranolol (PROP) were injected into the mPOA in different groups of rats. NE application (3 micrograms) facilitated the male sexual behavior by increasing sexual arousal and copulatory performance. On the other hand, application of PROP and PBZ produced inhibition of male sexual behavior. Effects produced by low doses of PROP were more significant than PBZ. The results, viewed in the light of other available reports, suggest that the mPOA beta-adrenergic mechanism is important in the elaboration of male sexual behavior.