Role of the lateral septal noradrenergic system in the elaboration of male sexual behavior in rats

The study was aimed at investigating the possible involvement of noradrenergic mechanisms in the lateral septum (LS) for elaboration of male sexual behavior in rats. In this study, norepinephrine (NE), yohimbine (YOH), isoproterenol (ISOP), propranolol (PROP), saline (SAL) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were injected bilaterally in the LS in six different groups of sexually active male rats, and various components of sex behavior were recorded. The application of NE (3 mug) and alpha(2)-antagonist YOH (1 mug) produced a stimulation of most of the components of male sexual behavior, and there was increase in sexual arousal as well as performance. The microinfusion of nonspecific beta-agonist ISOP (2 mug) also produced a stimulation of copulatory behavior whereas beta-antagonist PROP (2 mug) produced an inhibition. The stimulation of male sexual behavior by YOH application at the LS could be due to an increased release of NE by its blocking effect on presynaptic alpha(2)-receptors. These results suggest that the noradrenergic system in the LS has stimulatory effect upon male sexual behavior, probably acting through beta-receptors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.