Sexual excitation induces courtship ultrasonic vocalizations and cataplexy-like behavior in orexin neuron-ablated male mice

Abstract

Kuwaki and Kanno examine courtship behavior in orexin neuron-ablated mice (ORX-AB), which are a model of narcolepsy/cataplexy. They find that ORX-AB mice showed cataplexy-like behavior during both dark and light periods in response to a female encounter, however this behavior was predominantly present during dark periods when exposed to chocolate. Studying cataplexy-like behavior in narcoleptic mice is useful for understanding mechanisms behind positive emotions, such as those associated with chocolate and courtship.