INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE AND OLFACTORY BULB LESIONS IN MALE RAT COPULATION

Experiment 1 measured the effects of unilateral and bilateral olfactory bulb ablations in male rats with limited prior copulatory experience. Bilateral lesions produced gross prolongations of first and second series ejaculation latencies. When a second female was introduced to the males, however, bilaterally lesioned animals were not at a copulatory disadvantage. In Experiment 2 virgin males were tested for copulatory behavior following olfactory bulb lesions. The probability of ejaculation, but not of intromission, was significantly reduced for bilaterally lesioned males. © 1969.