# Neuronal and genetic imprints of male mating experience

> **NIH NIH F32** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $69,080

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Understanding the mechanisms and behavioral relevance of synaptic plasticity has been an active area of
research for decades. However, how neural plasticity modulates innate behaviors, such as mating behaviors, is
largely unexplored. In addition, cellular and molecular mechanisms of presynaptic neural circuit plasticity remain
elusive. Both knowledge gaps will be addressed in this proposal, which focuses on the mechanisms of
presynaptic plasticity of a hypothalamic circuit that governs male sexual behavior. Male mice improve in their
mating performance after sexual experience, but the underlying neural circuit mechanisms are poorly understood.
We observed a dramatic increase of presynaptic axonal termini in the projection from bed nucleus of stria
terminalis (BNST) neurons expressing tachykinin 1 (BNSTTac1) to preoptic hypothalamus (POA), a circuit that is
essential for male mating behavior. We hypothesize that this structural plasticity in BNSTTac1àPOA projections is
critical for the enhancement of mating behavior following sexual experience. We will first characterize the cellular
(presynaptic bouton dynamics) and electrophysiological (synaptic transmission efficacy) mechanisms of this
plasticity with chronic in vivo imaging and slice recording. Further, we aim to dissect the molecular pathways
underlying this plasticity with deep RNA sequencing and genetic manipulations. Lastly, we will perform
behavioral tests to study how this plasticity modulates the display of male sexual behaviors. Our results will
uncover the specific mechanisms modulating a key brain circuit for controlling mating behavior, which may
inspire potential therapeutic approaches to alleviate low libido in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10752146
- **Project number:** 1F32HD113431-01
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Renzhi Yang
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $69,080
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-07-15 → 2026-07-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10752146

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10752146, Neuronal and genetic imprints of male mating experience (1F32HD113431-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10752146. Licensed CC0.

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