Prenatally stress-exposed male rats present lower theta prefrontal activity during attention behaviors to receptive females

Stress. 2021 Sep 16:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2021.1976140. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPrenatal stress affects brain functionality and sexual behavior. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) participates in the integration and processing of sexual stimuli. Electroencephalographic (EEG) theta activity has been associated with attention as well as rewarding and sexually motivated states. Considering that the induction of sexual motivation requires attention to, and the adequate processing of, sexual stimuli, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to stress during the prenatal period on EEG activity in the mPFC during nose pokes in adulthood, actions which are indicators of attention to a receptive female. Eighteen sexually experienced male rats were used, nine stressed prenatally by immobilization during days 14-21 of gestation (stress-exposed group). The other nine formed the control group. All rats were implanted bilaterally in the mPFC (specifically in prelimbic areas) and were allowed one intromission with a receptive female to induce a sexually motivated state before the experimental session. During this session, both nose pokes and non-contact erections in the male rats were evaluated in the presence of an inaccessible receptive female. EEGs were recorded only during nose pokes. The stress-exposed group presented lower nose poke duration, fewer non-contact erections, and lower relative power of the theta band (4-7 Hz) in both prefrontal areas. Considering t...

Source: Stress - September 16, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Marisela Hern ández-González Rodrigo Maldonado Enrique Hern ández-Arteaga Miguel Angel Guevara Source Type: research