[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

of mate choice copying and the “trust” that female mice have in the mate choice decisions of
others.
Disclosures: M. Kavaliers , None; E. Choleris, None; S. Ogawa, None; D.W. Pfaff, None.
Poster
297. Social Recognition and Partner Preference
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 297.12/TT30
Topic: F.03.a. Sexual behavior
Title: The role of the medial amygdala in mate preference of female rats
Authors: K. SICILIANO 1 , K. LEE 1 , K. VONDERHEIDE 1 , R. J. FROHARDT 2 , *F. A.
GUARRACI 1 ;
1 Psychology, Southwestern Univ., Georgetown, TX; 2 Psychology, St. Edward's Univ., Austin,
TX
Abstract: Female rats display a marked preference for one male rat over another when given the
opportunity to mate with two male rats simultaneously (Lovell et al., 2007). Pheromonal
information, processed by the vomeronasal organ and projected to the medial amygdala (MeA),
may provide one source of sensory information that female rats use to discriminate between
potential mates. To evaluate the role of the MeA in mate preference, ovariectomized, hormoneprimed,
female Long-Evans rats received either ibotenic acid lesions of the MeA or sham
lesions. One week following surgery, the female rats were given the opportunity to mate with
two male rats simultaneously. Female rats with sham lesions preferred one male over another
during the test and returned to their preferred mate faster than their nonpreferred mate following
intromissions. Although female rats with MeA lesions also preferred one male over another, they
returned to their preferred mate at the same rate as their nonpreferred mate after receiving
intromissions. One week later, all of the female rats (MeA and sham lesioned) were given the
opportunity to spend time in the vicinity of bedding soiled by two gonadally intact male rats.
Female rats displayed a weak preference for the bedding of one male rat over another,
independent of lesion condition. Although we hypothesized that mate preference would depend
on an intact MeA, we found that the MeA may instead be critical for discriminating the quality
of sexual stimulations that a female rat receives when mating with two males simultaneously.
Disclosures: K. Siciliano, None; F.A. Guarraci , None; K. Lee, None; K. Vonderheide,
None; R.J. Frohardt, None.