Rapid control of male typical behaviors by brain-derived estrogens

Abstract

Beside their genomic mode of action, estrogens also activate a variety of cellular signaling pathways through non-genomic mechanisms. Until recently, little was known regarding the functional significance of such actions in males and the mechanism that control local estrogen concentration with a spatial and time resolution compatible with these non-genomic actions had rarely been examined. Here, we review evidence that estrogens rapidly modulate a variety of behaviors in male vertebrates. Then, we present in vitro work supporting the existence of a control mechanism of local brain estrogen synthesis by aromatase along with in vivo evidence that rapid changes in aromatase activity also occur in a region-specific manner in response to changes in the social or environmental context. Finally, we suggest that the brain estrogen provision may also play a significant role in females. Together these data bolster the hypothesis that brain-derived estrogens should be considered as neuromodulators.

Male fidelity expressed through rapid testosterone suppression of ultrasonic vocalizations to novel females in the monogamous California mouse

“…The transient nature of the T administration mimicked natural-occurring pulses seen in intersexual rodent social encounters (James et al, 2006;Macrides et al, 1975) and in the current study, this pulse inhibited acoustic communication with a novel female within 30 min, which is considered rapid for steroid hormones (Cornil et al, 2012;Remage Healy, 2012;Wu et al, 2001). The precise mechanism through which T is acting cannot be determined in the present study, but recent research has identified intriguing rapid effects of steroid hormones achieved by non-genomic mechanisms (Cornil et al, 2013;Mangiamele and Thompson, 2012), including effects on acoustic communication (RemageHealey and Bass, 2010;Remage-Healey and Joshi, 2012).…”

How to contribute to the progress of neuroendocrinology: New insights from discovering novel neuropeptides and neurosteroids regulating pituitary and brain functions

“…GnIH receptor is also expressed in the POA Yin et al, 2005) and PAG . These brain areas are known to regulate aggressive behavior (Absil et al, 2001;Cornil et al, 2012). Because GnIH decreases aggressive behavior in male birds , we hypothesized that GnIH may decrease aggressive behavior of male birds by regulating P450arom activity and neuroestrogen synthesis in the brain.…”

The estrogenic retina: The potential contribution to healthy aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases of the retina

“…Recent findings indicate that E2 synthesis in the hippocampus is regulated by gonadotropinreleasing hormone [111]. Indeed, there is a general agreement on the prompt response of aromatase activity as a consequence of the fast synaptic functions and quick requirement of E2 for brain utilization [112]. Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, glutamate, and GABA modulate aromatase activity and, in turn, E2 may act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator [15].…”