Neuroscience Faculty

Our research program investigates the neuroendocrine control of male rat sexual behavior. We have shown that dopamine is released in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) as soon as a male rat encounters a receptive female; release is further increased during copulation. Stimulation of dopamine receptors in the MPOA controls genital reflexes and sexual motivation. This brain area is essential for male sexual behavior in all vertebrate species that have been studied, from fish through humans. Testosterone promotes both basal and female-elicited dopamine release in the MPOA, in part, by up-regulating nitric oxide synthase. We have also shown that serotonin is released in the anterior lateral hypothalamus at the time of ejaculation and contributes to the postejaculatory sexual quiescence, in part by decreasing mesolimbic dopamine release.

Muschamp, J.W., Dominguez, J.M., Sato, S.M., Shen, R-Y, Hull, E.M. (2007) A Role for Hypocretin (Orexin) in Male Sexual Behavior, The Journal of Neuroscience, 27: 2837-2845.

Hull, E.M. & Dominguez, J.M. (in press) Hormonal control of male sexual behavior in rodents. Invited review for a special issue of Hormones and Behavior on Reproductive Behavior in Farm and Laboratory Animals, edited by Gabriella Gonzalez-Mariscal and Charles Rosseli.

Sato, S.M., Wersinger, S.R., & Hull, E.M. (in press) The effects of nitric oxide-cGMP pathway stimulation on dopamine in the medial preoptic area and copulation in DHT-treated castrated male rats. Hormones and Behavior.

Dominguez, J.M., Brann, J.H., Gil, M., & Hull, E.M. (2006) Sexual experience increases nitric oxide synthase in the medial preoptic area of male rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 120: 1389-1394.

Hull, E.M. & Dominguez, J.M. (2006) Getting his act together: Roles of glutamate, nitric oxide, and dopamine in the medial preoptic area. Invited review for a special issue of Brain Research on Sex, Genes, and Steroids, edited by Jill Becker, 1126: 66-75.

Dominguez, J. M., Gil, M, & Hull, E.M. (2006) Preoptic glutamate facilitates male sexual behavior. The Journal of Neuroscience, 26: 1699-1703.

Sato, S. & Hull, E.M (2006) The nitric oxide-cGMP pathway regulates dopamine efflux in the medial preoptic area and copulation in male rats, Neuroscience, 139: 417-428.

For a more complete list of publications and other information, please see CV.