Functions of habenula in reproduction and socio-reproductive behaviours

Ogawa, Satoshi; Parhar, Ishwar S.

doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100964

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 343 publications

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“…Indeed, studies of steroid receptor expression and steroid hormone concentration published up to recently validate this rationale: in lizards the habenula is depicted as being devoid of such expression [Morrell et al, 1979;Halpern et al, 1982;Young et al, 1994;Rhen and Crews, 2001;Tang et al, 2001;Rosen et al, 2002]. Furthermore, although functional studies in other vertebrate groups have linked the habenula with reproductive behaviours [Ogawa and Parhar, 2021], no such studies exist for reptiles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Smaller Habenula is Associated with Increasing Intensity of Sexual Selection

2022

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The habenula is a small structure in the brain that acts as a relay station for neural information, helping to modulate behaviour in response to variable and unpredictable stimuli. Broadly, it is evolutionarily conserved in structure and connectivity across vertebrates, and is the most prominent bilaterally asymmetric structure in the brain. Nonetheless, comparative evolutionary studies of the habenula are virtually nonexistent. Here, we examine the volumes of the medial and lateral habenular subregions, in both hemispheres, across a group of Australian agamid lizards in the genus Ctenophorus. In males, we found bilaterally asymmetrical selection on the lateral habenula to become smaller with increasing intensity of sexual selection, possibly as a mechanism to increase aggressive responses. In females, we found bilaterally symmetrical selection on both the medial and lateral subregions to become smaller with increasing sexual selection. This is consistent with sexual selection increasing motivation to reproduce and the habenula’s well characterized role in controlling and modifying responses to rewarding stimuli. However, as there are currently no studies addressing habenular function in reptiles, it is difficult to draw more precise conclusions. As has happened recently in biomedical neuroscience, it is time for the habenula to receive greater attention in evolutionary neuroscience.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Smaller Habenula is Associated with Increasing Intensity of Sexual Selection

2022

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“…Unlike rodents and humans, more than one form of kisspeptin and kisspeptin receptor paralogs have been identified in many fish species. For instance, zebrafish possess two kisspeptin genes ( Kiss1 and Kiss2 ) and two corresponding cognate receptor genes ( Kiss1r and Kiss2r ) ( 16 ). While both Kiss1 and Kiss1r are co-expressed in the ventral habenula, Kiss2 expressing neurons reside in the hypothalamic preoptic area and are implicated in gonadotropin secretion ( 17 , 18 ).…”

Section: Kisspeptin: An Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intracranial administration of kisspeptin to zebrafish increases the number of top-to-bottom transitions during a novel tank diving test, indicating stimulatory exploratory behaviour and attenuated anxiety ( 96 ). Moreover, this was associated with a significant increase in c-fos mRNA expression in the ventral habenula ( 96 ), an evolutionarily conserved structure in the brain of vertebrates implicated in emotional decision-making ( 16 ). Regarding rodents, selectively stimulating MePD kisspeptin neurons in male mice using the pharmacosynthetic DREADDs approach has been observed to enhance social interaction between the test mouse and a same sex juvenile conspecific during a 5-minute study period by >50% ( 57 ).…”

Section: Mood and Emotionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Perspectives on Kisspeptins Role in Behaviour

et al. 2022

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The neuropeptide kisspeptin is now well-established as the master regulator of the mammalian reproductive axis. Beyond the hypothalamus, kisspeptin and its cognate receptor are also extensively distributed in extra-hypothalamic brain regions. An expanding pool of animal and human data demonstrates that kisspeptin sits within an extensive neuroanatomical and functional framework through which it can integrate a range of internal and external cues with appropriate neuroendocrine and behavioural responses. In keeping with this, recent studies reveal wide-reaching effects of kisspeptin on key behaviours such as olfactory-mediated partner preference, sexual motivation, copulatory behaviour, bonding, mood, and emotions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on the current animal and human literature highlighting the far-reaching behaviour and mood-altering roles of kisspeptin. A comprehensive understanding of this important area in kisspeptin biology is key to the escalating development of kisspeptin-based therapies for common reproductive and related psychological and psychosexual disorders.

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