Medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area and sociosexual behavior of male dogs: A comparative neuropsychological analysis.

Abstract

Performed large bilateral lesions of the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic (MP-AH) continuum on 20 mixed breed adult male dogs in 2 experiments. These lesions, which eliminate copulatory behavior in male rats and cats, immediately abolished or greatly impaired the Ss' copulatory behavior. MP-AH lesions interfered with critical aspects of the mediation of sexual behavior aside from any alteration of gonadotrophin secretion or removal of forebrain androgen target tissue. The behavioral effects of the lesions could not be attributed to suppression of erectile or ejaculatory responses. The lesions also abolished or greatly impaired male urine-marking behavior, but did not influence aggressive behavior as observed in dominance-subordination relationships. (21/2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)