Dra. Gabriela Rodríguez Manzo - The endogenous cannabinoid system modulates male sexual behavior expression

31 de Mayo de 2023

Invitamos a leer el artículo: “The endogenous cannabinoid system modulates male sexual behavior expression”, en la que colaboró la Doctora Gabriela Rodríguez Manzo, Investigadora de Cinvestav Sede Sur

Autores: Gabriela Rodríguez Manzo y Ana Canseco Alba

Felicitamos al estudiantado y profesorado que contribuyeron en esta investigación por su arduo trabajo.

Abstract: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a key neuromodulatory role in the brain. Main features of endocannabinoids (eCBs) are that they are produced on demand, in response to enhanced neuronal activity, act as retrograde messengers, and participate in the induction of brain plasticity processes. Sexual activity is a motivated behavior and therefore, the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (MSL) plays a central role in the control of its appetitive component (drive to engage in copulation). In turn, copulation activates mesolimbic dopamine neurons and repeated copulation produces the continuous activation of the MSL system. Sustained sexual activity leads to the achievement of sexual satiety, which main outcome is the transient transformation of sexually active male rats into sexually inhibited animals.

Keywords: Endocannabinoids, male rat sexual behavior, sexual satiety, animal models of sexual dysfunction, mesolimbic circuit, sexual motivation, dopamine, brain plasticity