Changes in multiunit activity pattern in cerebellar cortex associated to olfactory cues during sexual learning in male rats

Abstract The cerebellum is a structure of the central nervous system which has been previously studied with different techniques and animal models and even humans, so it is associated with multiple functions such as cognition, memory, emotional processing, balance, control of movement, among others. Its relationship with sensory systems has already been explored, however, the role it plays in olfactory processing in the cerebellum is unclear. Several hypotheses have been proposed from work done in humans and animal models with neuroimaging and immunohistochemical techniques. Everything seems to indicate that the cerebellar function is of vital importance for the olfactory perception, being able to be controlling not only the olfactory aspect, but also the olfactory processing. In this study we analyzed the multiunit activity in the granular layer of the cerebellar vermis during olfactory stimulation: a session being sexually naive and during four sessions of sexual behavior learning. The amplitude was compared between male naive and sexual experts, as well as between olfactory stimuli. The amplitude of the sexually experienced rats showed the highest values compared to naive ones. Odor of receptive female causes the greatest amplitudes, however, in the control group the amplitude increased when they were sexually experts. The motor, sensory and associative learning generated by the acquisition of sexual experience modifies the activation pattern in the cerebellum by presenting neutral odors or associated with a reward.