Sexual responses of the male rat medial preoptic area and medial amygdala to estrogen I: Site specific suppression of estrogen receptor alpha

► Synthesis of ERα was blocked in the medial preoptic area (MPO) or medial amygdala (MEA). ► ERα blockade in the MPO significantly depressed male rat sexual behavior. ► ERα blockage in the MEA did not interfere with male rat sexual behavior. ► Estrogen acts differently in different regions of the brain.