Hyperexcited limbic neurons represent sexual satiety and reduce mating motivation

Transient sexual experiences can have long-lasting effects on behavioral decisions, but the neural coding that accounts for this change is unclear. We found that the ejaculation experience selectively activated estrogen receptor 2 (Esr2)-expressing neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)-BNSTEsr2-and led to persistent decreases in firing threshold for days, during which time the mice displayed sexual satiety. Inhibition of hyperexcited BNSTEsr2 elicited fast mating recovery in satiated mice of both sexes. In males, such hyperexcitability reduced mating motivation and was partially mediated by larger HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated) currents. Thus, BNSTEsr2 not only encode a specific mating action but also represent a persistent state of sexual satiety, and alterations in a neuronal ion channel contribute to sexual experience-dependent long-term changes to mating drive.

Automated summary

Transient sexual experiences can lead to long-lasting effects on behavioral decisions. This study found that ejaculation experience selectively activates Estrogen Receptor 2 (Esr2)-expressing neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), resulting in persistent decreases in firing threshold for several days and sexual satiety in mice. Inhibition of hyperexcited BNSTEsr2 leads to fast mating recovery in satiated mice of both sexes, with larger HCN currents playing a role in reducing mating motivation in males.