Evidence that Neural Aromatization of Androgen Regulates the Expression of Sexual Behaviour in Female Musk Shrews

Rissman, Emilie F.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.1991.tb00301.x

Cited by 25 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Across the menstrual cycle, sexual interest is linked to changes in daily estradiol concentrations, and no associations with testosterone are found after adjusting for estradiol levels (Roney and Simmons, 2013). This fits with the extensive data from other mammals showing that estradiol, not testosterone, promotes female-initiated sexual behavior (Rissman, 1991; Wallen and Zehr, 2004; Zehr et al, 1998). …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Environmental exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is associated with low interest in sexual activity in premenopausal women

Barrett

Parlett

Wang

et al. 2014

Hormones and Behavior

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Phthalates, a ubiquitous class of environmental chemicals, may interfere with typical reproductive hormone production both in utero and in adulthood. Although they are best known as anti-androgens, increasingly, evidence suggests that phthalates, particularly di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), may also suppress estrogen production. Given that both androgens and estrogens are essential for sexual function, particularly sexual interest, it is plausible that adult exposure to phthalates alters sexual function. To this end, we used data from 360 women participating in a pregnancy cohort study (the Study for Future Families) to examine whether urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with two dimensions of self-reported sexual dysfunction in the months prior to conception: lack of sexual interest and vaginal dryness. Women in the highest quartile of urinary concentrations of mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate, a DEHP metabolite, had 2.58 (95% CI 1.33, 5.00) times the adjusted odds of reporting that they almost always or often lacked interest in sexual activity, and results were similar for mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (aOR: 2.56, 95% CI 1.32, 4.95), another DEHP metabolite. Self-reported vaginal dryness was not associated with any phthalate metabolite concentration. This study is novel in its focus on sexual function in relation to environmentally relevant (rather than occupational) exposure to phthalates in adult women and these preliminary findings merit replication in a large, prospective study. Better understanding how adult exposure to phthalates may affect reproductive health, including sexual function, is of public health interest given that virtually all Westerners are exposed to phthalates.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Environmental exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is associated with low interest in sexual activity in premenopausal women

Barrett

Parlett

Wang

et al. 2014

Hormones and Behavior

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“…Aromatase is also important for the expression of female behaviours. Inhibitors of this enzyme decrease female canary sex behaviours and aromatizable androgens facilitate copulatory behaviour in female musk shrews (3, 7). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aromatase mRNA in the Brain of Adult Green Anole Lizards: Effects of Sex and Season

Cohen

Wade

2011

Journal of Neuroendocrinology

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Neural testosterone (T) metabolism, particularly the synthesis of oestradiol (E2) via the aromatase enzyme, is important for sexual behaviours in many vertebrates. In green anole lizards, E2 metabolized from T facilitates female receptivity and increases sexual motivation in males. T treatment increases aromatase activity in whole brain homogenates of gonadectomized male, but not female, anoles, which is an effect limited to the breeding season (BS). To investigate the potential for local effects of this enzyme in reproductive behaviour, we used in situ hybridization for aromatase mRNA to examine expression during the BS and non-breeding season (NBS) in areas of the brain that control male sexual behaviours (preoptic area and amygdala; POA and AMY), as well as one regulating female reproductive behaviours (ventromedial hypothalamus, VMH). Males had a greater total number of aromatase-expressing cells in the POA than females, and the density of aromatase-expressing cells (number per unit volume) was greater in the VMH and AMY of females. This density was also higher during the BS than NBS in the POA. Expression of aromatase in the AMY appeared lateralised, as trends were detected for the left side to have more total cells and more cells per unit volume than the right. These results suggest that, similar to other vertebrates, regional aromatization of T may be important for control of sex-specific reproductive behaviours.

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“…Aromatase activity, on the other hand, is increased during the BS in male green anoles, and they have higher levels of activity than females in this season (Rosen and Wade, 2001). In female green anoles, aromatization of T facilitates receptivity (Winkler and Wade, 1998), similar to what is seen in musk shrews (Rissman, 1991). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Testosterone selectively affects aromatase and 5α-reductase activities in the green anole lizard brain

Cohen¹,

Wade²

2010

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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Testosterone (T) and its metabolites are important in the regulation of reproductive behavior in males of a variety of vertebrate species. Aromatase converts T to estradiol and 5α-reductase converts T to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Male green anole reproduction depends on androgens, yet 5α-reductase in the brain is not sexually dimorphic and does not vary with season. In contrast, aromatase activity in the male brain is increased during the breeding compared to non-breeding season, and males have higher levels than females during the breeding season. Aromatase is important for female, but not male, sexual behaviors. The present experiment was conducted to determine whether 5α-reductase and aromatase are regulated by T. Enzyme activity was quantified in whole brain homogenates in both the breeding and non-breeding seasons in males and females that had been treated with either a T or blank implant. In males only, T increased 5α-reductase activity regardless of season and up-regulated aromatase during the breeding season specifically. Thus, regulation of both enzymes occurs in males, whereas females do not show parallel sensitivity to T. When considered with previous results, the data suggest that aromatase might influence a male function associated with the breeding season other than sexual behavior. 5α-Reductase can be mediated by T availability, but this regulation may not serve a sex- or season-specific purpose.

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Evidence that Neural Aromatization of Androgen Regulates the Expression of Sexual Behaviour in Female Musk Shrews

Cited by 25 publications

References 55 publications

Environmental exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is associated with low interest in sexual activity in premenopausal women

Environmental exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is associated with low interest in sexual activity in premenopausal women

Aromatase mRNA in the Brain of Adult Green Anole Lizards: Effects of Sex and Season

Testosterone selectively affects aromatase and 5α-reductase activities in the green anole lizard brain

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