Preoptic area

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Preoptic area
Preoptic area is 'PO', at left, in blue.
Preoptic area of the mouse brain
Details
Identifiers
Latinarea praeoptica
Acronym(s)POA
MeSHD011301
NeuroNames377
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_1706
TA98A14.1.08.407
TA25710
FMA62313
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The preoptic area is a region of the hypothalamus. MeSH classifies it as part of the anterior hypothalamus. TA lists four nuclei in this region, (medial, median, lateral, and periventricular).

Functions

The preoptic area is responsible for

thermoreceptors in the skin, mucous membranes, and hypothalamus itself.[1]

Nuclei

Median preoptic nucleus

The median preoptic nucleus is located along the midline in a position significantly dorsal to the other three preoptic nuclei, at least in the crab-eating macaque brain. It wraps around the top (dorsal), front, and bottom (ventral) surfaces of the anterior commissure.

The median preoptic nucleus generates

noradrenaline release in the median preoptic nucleus.[2]

Medial preoptic nucleus

Main article: Sexually dimorphic nucleus

The medial preoptic nucleus is bounded laterally by the lateral preoptic nucleus, and medially by the preoptic periventricular nucleus. It releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), controls copulation in males, and is larger in males than in females.

Parental behavior

The medial preoptic area (mPOA) has been implicated in parental care in both males and females. In rats,

c-fos, in experienced rat mothers or fathers when compared to controls. Also in fathers, studies have shown that when they receive ultrasonic or pheromone cues from their mates, their c-fos expression in the mPOA further increased, suggestive that rat paternal behavior is mediated through the mPOA but activated by direct interactions with a mate.[5] Large lesions of the mPOA disrupt the onset of maternal behavior, nest-building, and pup retrieval, with the lateral projections being especially critical.[6]

Sexual behavior

The mPOA is sexually dimorphic, that is, it differs in function between males and females. In females, studies have examined the influence of the mPOA on precopulatory and appetitive behaviors. Precopulatory behaviors involve several brain areas, including the mPOA as well as the medial

ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) enhances DA transmission in mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways, it has been shown that infusions of ascorbic acid into the mPOA increases appetitive behaviors compared to controls.[8]

In male rats, the mPOA affects the consummatory phase of sexual behavior, and possibly motivation, with lesions causing a complete loss of copulatory behaviors.[9] Conversely, electrical stimulation of this area triggers male copulatory behavior, as measured by decreases in the latency to ejaculate.[10] Furthermore, testosterone implanted into the mPOA of castrated males completely restores mating, as long as aromatase is not inhibited.[11]

Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus

The ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, or intermediate nucleus, is adjacent to the medial preoptic nucleus. It also mediates non-REM sleep onset.

Preoptic periventricular nucleus

The preoptic periventricular nucleus is located along the midline and is medial to the medial preoptic nucleus.

References

  1. ^ Martin JH (2003). Neuroanatomy: Text and Atlas. McGraw-Hill Professional.
  2. S2CID 46018164
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  3. S2CID 5286826
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  4. S2CID 45305790
    .
  5. PMID 25208928
    .
  6. S2CID 5928669
    .
  7. PMID 23415835
    .
  8. S2CID 9515707
    .
  9. PMID 12914583
    .
  10. PMID 5134017
    .
  11. PMID 1204576
    .
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