小柯机器人

美国斯坦福大学Nirao M. Shah研究组发现雄性性行为和奖励的神经回路。该研究于2023年8月11日发表于国际一流学术期刊《细胞》杂志上。

他们发现了一个发育中的神经回路，这是雄性交配所必需和充分的。该回路将化学感觉输入连接到BNSTprTac1神经元，后者支配POATacr1神经元，POATacr1神经元投射到调节运动输出和奖励的中心。上位性研究表明，BNSTprTac1神经元位于POATacr1神经元的上游，BNSTprTac1在配偶识别后释放P物质，通过Tacr1激活POATacr1神经元，从而启动交配。POATacr1神经元的实验激活触发了交配，即使在性满足的雄性中也是如此，这是有益的，引发了多巴胺的释放和这些细胞的自我刺激。

他们共同发现了一个控制先天雄性性行为关键方面的神经回路——运动显示、驱动和奖励。

据介绍，雄性的性行为是天生的，而且是有益的。尽管它在生殖中处于中心地位，但控制先天雄性性行为和奖励的分子特定神经回路仍有待研究。

附：英文原文

Title: A neural circuit for male sexual behavior and reward

Author: Daniel W. Bayless, Chung-ha O. Davis, Renzhi Yang, Yichao Wei, Vinicius Miessler de Andrade Carvalho, Joseph R. Knoedler, Taehong Yang, Oscar Livingston, Akira Lomvardas, Gabriela J. Martins, Ana Mafalda Vicente, Jun B. Ding, Liqun Luo, Nirao M. Shah

Issue&Volume: 2023-08-11

Abstract: Male sexual behavior is innate and rewarding. Despite its centrality to reproduction, a molecularly specified neural circuit governing innate male sexual behavior and reward remains to be characterized. We have discovered a developmentally wired neural circuit necessary and sufficient for male mating. This circuit connects chemosensory input to BNSTprTac1 neurons, which innervate POATacr1 neurons that project to centers regulating motor output and reward. Epistasis studies demonstrate that BNSTprTac1 neurons are upstream of POATacr1 neurons, and BNSTprTac1-released substance P following mate recognition potentiates activation of POATacr1 neurons through Tacr1 to initiate mating. Experimental activation of POATacr1 neurons triggers mating, even in sexually satiated males, and it is rewarding, eliciting dopamine release and self-stimulation of these cells. Together, we have uncovered a neural circuit that governs the key aspects of innate male sexual behavior: motor displays, drive, and reward.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.021

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00798-5