"Unlocking the Secrets of Male Desire: Brain Circuit Discovery in Mice"
Researchers at Stanford University have identified a specific brain circuit in male mice that controls sexual recognition, libido, mating behavior, and pleasure. This circuit involves neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) producing Substance P, which connects to neurons with Substance P receptors in the preoptic hypothalamus. Stimulating these neurons can trigger mating behavior and even override the refractory period in male mice. The findings suggest that similar brain circuits may exist in humans and could lead to the development of drugs to manage sexual drive. The study's insights into this fundamental brain circuitry could have broader implications for understanding mammalian, including human, sexuality.