In the mood for sex: neural circuits for reproduction

Lenschow C(1), Lima SQ(2).

Author information:
(1)Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília,
1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
(2)Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília,
1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address:
.

Sex is pervasive in nature. Yet, despite its importance for species maintenance
and evolution, sex is unnecessary for the survival of the individual, it can
have a negative impact on fitness and is performed by most species (except our
own) without awareness of its consequences: fertilization. A myriad of
mechanisms has evolved to promote its fruitful execution, such that sex it
promoted when fertilization is most likely to occur and inhibited otherwise. In
this review we present recent advances in our knowledge of the neuronal circuits
underlying sexual behaviour. We discuss flies, rats and mice to underline the
breadth of existing neuronal strategies used to accomplish the appropriate
execution of this behaviour, while still highlighting shared principles across
such distinct taxa.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.12.001
PMID: 31901622 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus