Assessment of Male Sexual Behavior in Mice

Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among patients with poor emotional health and has been strongly associated with antidepressant medications. This chapter provides an overview of the general experimental approaches for assessing male sexual behavior (MSB) in male mice. One of the most common procedures to assess MSB is the pairing of a male mouse with an ovariectomized female mouse that has been hormonally primed to be receptive in either the male’s home cage or in an enclosed arena. The more common outcomes of interest include measures of male sexual performance behaviors (also referred to as consummatory behaviors), which can include latencies and frequencies of mounts, intromissions, and ejaculation. A brief historical background and a recommended experimental protocol are presented as well as caveats that can be considered when conducting these experiments.