Stimulation of the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus in the rat elicits increases in intracavernous pressure

Penile erection can be elicited by various stimuli integrated in the spinal cord and/or higher central nervous structures. The medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus is known to play a key role in the regulation of male sexual behavior. In anesthetized male rats we performed MPOA stimulation via stereotaxically implanted electrodes or canulae delivering L-glutamate. An erectile response, assessed by an increase of intracavernous pressure (ICP), was recorded during electrical stimulation of the MPOA. Stimulating the posterior region of the MPOA elicited a greater erectile response than stimulation applied to the anterior region. Microinjections of L-glutamate also elicited an ICP increase. Stimulation of MPOA neurons therefore elicits activation of neural pathways controlling penile erection.