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Physiol Behav

Title:		Disruption of urinary odor preference and lordosis behavior in female mice given lesions of the medial amygdala
Author(s):		DiBenedictis BT; Ingraham KL; Baum MJ; Cherry JA;
Address:		"Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States"
Journal Title:		Physiol Behav
Year:		2012
Volume:		20110917
Issue:		2
Page Number:		554 - 559
DOI:		10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.09.014
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-507X (Electronic) 0031-9384 (Print) 0031-9384 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Previous research showed that axonal inputs to both anterior and posterior subdivisions of the medial amygdala from the main and accessory olfactory bulbs of female mice, respectively, process volatile and non-volatile pheromonal signals from male conspecifics. In the present study we found that bilateral electrolytic lesions that included posterior portions, but not the anterior subdivision alone of the medial amygdala (Me) blocked the preference of estrous female mice to investigate volatile urinary odors from testes-intact vs. castrated males. Similar results were obtained in separate tests in which nasal contact with urinary stimuli was permitted. In addition, total time investigating volatile urinary stimuli was reduced in subjects with posterior Me lesions. Subjects were able to discriminate volatile urinary odors from testes-intact vs. castrated male mice, suggesting that this disruption of odor preference did not result from the inability of females given amygdaloid lesions to discriminate these male urinary odors. Bilateral lesions of the Me that were either restricted to the anterior or posterior subdivisions, or included areas of both regions, caused significant reductions in the display of lordosis behavior in estrous female mice. Our results suggest that the Me is a critical segment of the olfactory circuit that controls both mate recognition and mating behavior in the female mouse"
Keywords:		"Amygdala/*injuries/physiology Analysis of Variance Animals Discrimination, Psychological/drug effects/*physiology Estradiol/pharmacology Female Male Mice *Odorants Olfactory Pathways/drug effects/*physiology Orchiectomy Ovariectomy Posture/*physiology Sex;"
Notes:		"MedlineDiBenedictis, Brett T Ingraham, Kaitlin L Baum, Michael J Cherry, James A eng R01 DC008962/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 DC008962-01A2/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ DC008962/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2011/09/29 Physiol Behav. 2012 Jan 18; 105(2):554-9. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.09.014. Epub 2011 Sep 17"