Endocrine Abstracts

Central dopamine and oxytocin have been shown in many studies to facilitate aspects of male sexual function. However, it is poorly understood how these two neuromodulators interact to mediate sexual behaviour or which receptors are involved. Much evidence has recently implicated a role for the dopamine D2 receptor in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) in regulating aspects of male sexual behaviour. Using Sprague-Dawley male rats (225–250 g), we...

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to stress are attenuated perinatally in mother rodents. We have now investigated the peripheral sympathetic and adrenal medulla responses to stress in pregnancy by measuring noradrenaline and adrenaline secretion after stress. Virgin and pregnant rats were blood sampled before and after exposure to airpuff startle stress in their home cages, and samples analysed for adrenaline, noradrenaline and ACTH concentration by RIA. Airp...