7/n: First, the tonic firing rates of AVPV/PVpo dopamine neurons decrease after satiety but recover within 2 days. Second, the capacity of these neurons to synthesize and release dopamine is reduced and gradually returns over ~7 days.

5/n: We next asked if the ability of these neurons to synthesize and release dopamine had been altered. Sure enough, we found that the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis) within these neurons decreased after satiety and gradually returned over a week.

4/n: Electrophysiology revealed that these dopamine neurons in the AVPV/PVpo have diminished spontaneous firing after satiety. However, their firing rates recovered within 2 days, suggesting that firing rates weren’t the full story.

2/n: Thus, we first used 2-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging to measure changes in absolute dopamine concentrations in this brain region. After satiation, dopamine in the MPOA plummets, then gradually returns over 7 days.

1/n: After a successful mating, male mice have a greatly reduced motivation to mate, which gradually returns over a week —but what controls how long this refractory period lasts? We and others have shown that dopamine transmission in the MPOA is critical for controlling this mating drive.