Olfactory preference in the male rat depends on multiple chemosensory inputs converging on the preoptic area

► Lesion in the preoptic area eliminated olfactory preferences for conspecifics. ► Fos experiment suggested the conspecific odors received in the olfactory epithelium. ► Medial, but not cortical, amygdala lesion suppressed copulatory behavior. ►Both medial and cortical amygdala lesions impaired olfactory preferences. ► Large lesion including both areas failed to produce complete loss of the preference.