| First Author | Troconis EL | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Curr Biol | Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 22 | Pages | 4926-4936.e4 |
| PubMed ID | 37865094 | Mgi Jnum | J:351843 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7567132 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.071 |
| Citation | Troconis EL, et al. (2023) Serotonin neurons in mating female mice are activated by male ejaculation. Curr Biol 33(22):4926-4936.e4 |
| abstractText | Sexual stimulation triggers changes in female physiology and behavior, including sexual satiety and preparing the uterus for pregnancy. Serotonin (5-HT) is an important regulator of reproductive physiology and sexual receptivity, but the relationship between sexual stimulation and 5-HT neural activity in females is poorly understood. Here, we investigated dorsal raphe 5-HT neural activity in female mice during sexual behavior. We found that 5-HT neural activity in mating females peaked specifically upon male ejaculation and remained elevated above baseline until disengagement. Artificial intravaginal mechanical stimulation was sufficient to elicit increased 5-HT neural activity but the delivery of ejaculatory fluids was not. Distal penis expansion ("penile cupping") at ejaculation and forceful expulsion of ejaculatory fluid each provided sufficient mechanical stimulation to elicit 5-HT neuron activation. Our study identifies a female ejaculation-specific signal in a major neuromodulatory system and shows that intravaginal mechanosensory stimulation is necessary and sufficient to drive this signal. |
