Evidence for a morphological sex difference within the medial preoptic area of the rat brain

Gorski, Roger A.; Gordon, John H.; Shryne, James E.; Southam, A. M.

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(78)90723-0

Cited by 1,174 publications

(466 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The effect on locomotor activity is mediated via the estrogen receptor α (Ogawa et al., 2003). Moreover, morphological sex differences have been shown in the volume of the SCN (Gorski, Gordon, Shryne, & Southam, 1978). In an important way, gender differences in the 3 H‐AFDX‐384 binding sites have been found using autoradiography in striatum, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercle (Fragkouli, Stamatakis, Zographos, Pachnis, & Stylianopoulou, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

et al. 2018

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ObjectivesM4 muscarinic receptors (MR) presumably play a role in motor coordination. Previous studies have shown different results depending on genetic background and number of backcrosses. However, no attention has been given to biorhythms.Material and MethodsWe therefore analyzed biorhythms under a light/dark cycle obtained telemetrically in intact animals (activity, body temperature) in M4 KO mice growth on the C57Bl6 background using ChronosFit software. Studying pure effects of gene knockout in daily rhythms is especially important knowledge for pharmacological/behavioral studies in which drugs are usually tested in the morning.ResultsWe show that M4 KO mice motor activity does not differ substantially from wild‐type mice during light period while in the dark phase (mice active part of the day), the M4 KO mice reveal biorhythm changes in many parameters. Moreover, these differences are sex‐dependent and are evident in females only. Mesor, night–day difference, and night value were doubled or tripled when comparing female KO versus male KO. Our in vitro autoradiography demonstrates that M4 MR proportion represents 24% in the motor cortex (MOCx), 30% in the somatosensory cortex, 50% in the striatum, 69% in the thalamus, and 48% in the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL). The M4 MR densities were negligible in the subparaventricular zone, the posterior hypothalamic area, and in the suprachiasmatic nuclei.ConclusionsWe conclude that cholinergic signaling at M4 MR in brain structures such as striatum, MOCx, and probably with the important participation of IGL significantly control motor activity biorhythm. Animal activity differs in the light and dark phases, which should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

et al. 2018

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“…Neurochemical studies and analysis of connectivity have revealed clearly defined sub-regions within this nucleus (medial, central and lateral parts; e.g., [41,128,129]) but the specific implication of these sub-regions in the control of different aspects of male sexual behavior is still not well understood. A central subdivision of the MPN in rats that is larger in volume in males than in females was shown to be sexually differentiated by the action of steroids during embryonic life (the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the mPOA or SDN-POA; [41,72]). Several experiments were therefore designed to investigate whether this cell group plays a role in the control of copulatory behavior but, despite the fact that large mPOA/MPN lesions severely disrupt copulatory behavior (as reviewed previously), more discrete lesions specifically destroying the SDN-POA do not seem to affect copulatory behavioral expression in the male [9] (see [143] for review).…”

Section: The Preoptic Neuronal Circuit Controlling Male Sexual Behavimentioning

confidence: 99%

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Balthazart

Ball

2007

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

193

168

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Several studies have suggested dissociations between neural circuits underlying the expression of appetitive (i.e. sexual motivation) and consummatory components (i.e., copulatory behavior) of vertebrate male sexual behavior. The medial preoptic area (mPOA) clearly controls the expression of male copulation but, according to a number of experiments, is not necessarily implicated in the expression of appetitive sexual behavior. In rats for example, lesions to the mPOA eliminate maletypical copulatory behavior but have more subtle or no obvious effects on measures of sexual motivation. Rats with such lesions still pursue and attempt to mount females. They also acquire and perform learned instrumental responses to gain access to females. However, recent lesions studies and measures of the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos demonstrate that, in quail, subregions of the mPOA, in particular of its sexually dimorphic component the medial preoptic nucleus, can be specifically linked with either the expression of appetitive or consummatory sexual behavior. In particular more rostral regions can be linked to appetitive components while more caudal regions are involved in consummatory behavior. This functional sub-region variation is associated with neurochemical and hodological specializations (i.e. differences in chemical phenotype of the cells or in their connectivity), especially those related to the actions of androgens in relation to the activation of male sexual behavior, that are also present in rodents and other species. It could thus reflect general principles about POA organization and function in the vertebrate brain.

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“…A second preoptic brain region that is neonatally imprinted by steroid hormone exposure is the SDN-POA [66], which is approximately 5-fold larger in male than female rats [67,68,137]. The medial preoptic nucleus, which contains the SDN-POA, also expresses nuclear hormone receptors, making these regions direct targets of hormone imprinting via ERα [25], ERβ [93], AR [97] and PR [123].…”

Section: Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus Of the Preoptic Area (Sdn-poa)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental programming and endocrine disruptor effects on reproductive neuroendocrine systems

Gore¹

2008

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

231

122

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The ability of a species to reproduce successfully requires the careful orchestration of developmental processes during critical time points, particularly the late embryonic and early postnatal periods. This article begins with a brief presentation of the evidence for how gonadal steroid hormones exert these imprinting effects upon the morphology of sexually differentiated hypothalamic brain regions, the mechanisms underlying these effects, and their implications in adulthood. Then, I review the evidence that aberrant exposure to hormonally-active substances such as exogenous endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), may result in improper hypothalamic programming, thereby decreasing reproductive success in adulthood. The field of endocrine disruption has shed new light on the discipline of basic reproductive neuroendocrinology through studies on how early life exposures to EDCs may alter gene expression via non-genomic, epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation. Importantly, these effects may be transmitted to future generations if the germline is affected via transgenerational, epigenetic actions. By understanding the mechanisms by which natural hormones and xenobiotics affect reproductive neuroendocrine systems, we will gain a better understanding of normal developmental processes, as well as to develop the potential ability to intervene when development is disrupted.

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Evidence for a morphological sex difference within the medial preoptic area of the rat brain

Cited by 1,174 publications

References 23 publications

The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Developmental programming and endocrine disruptor effects on reproductive neuroendocrine systems

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Evidence for a morphological sex difference within the medial preoptic area of the rat brain

Cited by 1,174 publications

References 23 publications

The deletion of M4 muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

The deletion of M4 muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

Topography in the preoptic region: Differential regulation of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviors

Developmental programming and endocrine disruptor effects on reproductive neuroendocrine systems

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Product

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The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase

The deletion of M₄ muscarinic receptors increases motor activity in females in the dark phase