DREADD-induced inhibition of the medial amygdala and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus affect experience-induced enhancement of paced mating behavior in female rats.

DREADD-induced inhibition of the medial amygdala and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus affect experience-induced enhancement of paced mating behavior in female rats. | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL European Journal of Neuroscience This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 27 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on DREADD-induced inhibition of the medial amygdala and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus affect experience-induced enhancement of paced mating behavior in female rats. Authors : Sarah Meerts 0000-0003-2526-1955 [email protected] , Antao Shao , Gabrielle Reynaga , and Claudia d'Auria Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176425263.35990041/v1 Published European Journal of Neuroscience Version of record Peer review timeline 267 views 228 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract The acquisition of sexual experience leads female rats to return to the male more quickly after intromissions, receive intromissions at a faster rate, spend more time with the male during mating, and exhibit more proceptive behaviors during paced mating tests, suggesting heightened sexual motivation. Brain areas critical for sexual experience-enhanced paced mating behavior are unknown. Here designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) were used to test the hypothesis that silencing the medial amygdala (MeA) or ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) across four paced mating tests would disrupt not only the display of paced mating behavior, but the acquisition of sexual experience. Sexually naive, ovariectomized rats received bilateral infusion into the MeA or VMN of a viral vector containing the gene for an inhibitory G-protein coupled receptor (hM4Di) three weeks before behavioral testing. Rats were hormone primed with estradiol benzoate + progesterone and received either 1 mg/kg clozapine n-oxide (CNO) or vehicle 30 minutes before each of four 15-intromission tests of paced mating behavior. CNO given to rats lacking DREADD infusions did not exhibit disruptions to paced mating behavior. CNO-induced inhibition of the MeA altered paced mating behavior beginning with the first test whereas inhibition of the VMN only led to changes in paced mating behavior on Tests 2-4. Thus, the MeA and VMN each contribute to the display of paced mating behavior and are important for experience-enhancing effects of repeated mating, albeit in different ways. Supplementary Material File (meerts et al manuscript.docx) Download 4.00 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 27 November 2025 Peer review timeline Published European Journal of Neuroscience Version of Record 6 Mar 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection European Journal of Neuroscience Keywords chemogenetics lordosis sex behavior vaginocervical stimulation Authors Affiliations Sarah Meerts 0000-0003-2526-1955 [email protected] Carleton College View all articles by this author Antao Shao Carleton College View all articles by this author Gabrielle Reynaga Carleton College View all articles by this author Claudia d'Auria Carleton College View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 267 views 228 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Sarah Meerts, Antao Shao, Gabrielle Reynaga, et al. DREADD-induced inhibition of the medial amygdala and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus affect experience-induced enhancement of paced mating behavior in female rats.. Authorea . 27 November 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176425263.35990041/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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