The role of the estrogen receptor α in the medial preoptic area in sexual incentive motivation, proceptivity and receptivity, anxiety, and wheel running in female rats

Spiteri, Thierry; Ogawa, Sonoko; Musatov, Sergei; Pfaff, Donald W.; Ågmo, Anders

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2012.01.048

Cited by 92 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Oestrogen regulates many aspects of female reproduction (reviewed in Hewitt et al, 2005), including various sexual and maternal behaviours (Ghiraldi et al, 1993;Spiteri et al, 2012). We found that oestrogen levels were higher in returners than in communal and solitary breeders (with or without relatives).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: Solitary breeders have lower corticosterone levels than communal breeders

Hill

Pillay

Schradin

2015

Hormones and Behavior

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Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs), where members of the same sex and population show distinct reproductive phenotypes governed by decision-rules, have been well-documented in males of many species, but are less well understood in females. The relative plasticity hypothesis (RPH) predicts that switches between plastic ARTs are mediated by changes in steroid hormones. This has received much support in males, but little is known about the endocrine control of female ARTs. Here, using a free-living population of African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) over five breeding seasons, we tested whether females following different tactics differed in corticosterone and testosterone levels, as reported for male striped mice using ARTs, and in progesterone and oestrogen, which are important in female reproduction. Female striped mice employ three ARTs: communal breeders give birth in a shared nest and provide alloparental care, returners leave the group temporarily to give birth, and solitary breeders leave to give birth and do not return. We expected communal breeders and returners to have higher corticosterone, owing to the social stress of group-living, and lower testosterone than solitary breeders, which must defend territories alone. Solitary breeders had lower corticosterone than returners and communal breeders, as predicted, but testosterone and progesterone did not differ between ARTs. Oestrogen levels were higher in returners (measured before leaving the group) than in communal and solitary breeders, consistent with a modulatory role. Our study demonstrates hormonal differences between females following (or about to follow) different tactics, and provides the first support for the RPH in females.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: Solitary breeders have lower corticosterone levels than communal breeders

Hill

Pillay

Schradin

2015

Hormones and Behavior

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“…Global knockouts of Tac1 or the SP receptor (NK-1) exhibit improved glucose homeostasis (Karagiannides et al, 2011a) and resistance to diet-induced obesity (Karagiannides et al, 2011b); unfortunately both studies only report data from male mice. ERα + , Tac1 + VMH neurons may project to MPOA neurons, which have been linked to estrogen-induced running in rats (Fahrbach et al, 1985; Spiteri et al, 2012). Other VMH projections relevant to locomotion might include those to the subthalamic and mesencephalic locomotor regions (SLR and MLR)(Cheung et al, 2012), areas that when activated increase controlled movement in rats (Skinner and Garcia-Rill, 1984) or when lesioned in humans lead to deficits in locomotion (Hathout and Bhidayasiri, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Estrogen-Responsive Module in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Selectively Drives Sex-Specific Activity in Females

et al. 2015

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Estrogen-receptor alpha (ERα) neurons in the ventrolateral region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHVL) control an array of sex-specific responses to maximize reproductive success. In females, these VMHVL neurons are believed to coordinate metabolism and reproduction. However, it remains unknown whether specific neuronal populations control distinct components of this physiological repertoire. Here, we identify a subset of ERα VMHVL neurons that promotes hormone-dependent female locomotion. Activating Nkx2-1-expressing VMHVL neurons via pharmacogenetics elicits a female-specific burst of spontaneous movement, which requires ERα and Tac1 signaling. Disrupting development of Nkx2-1+ VMHVL neurons results in female-specific obesity, inactivity, and loss of VMHVL neurons co-expressing ERα and Tac1. Unexpectedly, two responses controlled by ERα neurons, fertility and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, are unaffected. We conclude that a dedicated subset of VMHVL neurons marked by ERα, NKX2-1, and Tac1 regulates estrogen-dependent fluctuations in physical activity and constitutes one of several neuroendocrine modules that drive sex-specific responses.

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“…These changes occurred in mice lacking ERα in the CNS despite the fact that circulating E 2 was elevated, suggesting that ERα signaling in peripheral tissues did not compensate for the suppression of ERα signaling in the CNS. Silencing of ERα in the medial preoptic area also resulted in a decrease in locomotor activity 36 . In contrast, deleting ERα in pro-opiomelanocortin neurons resulted in increased energy intake and increased, rather than decreased, energy expenditure 20 .…”

Section: Basic Researchmentioning

confidence: 97%

Regulation of Body Composition and Bioenergetics by Estrogens

Pelt

Gavin

Kohrt

2015

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America

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SYNOPSIS Evidence from basic, preclinical, and clinical research points to an important role of estradiol (E2) in the regulation of body composition and bioenergetics. There is consistent evidence from basic and preclinical research that the disruption of E2 signaling, through either genetic manipulation (e.g., estrogen receptor deletion) or surgical intervention (e.g., ovariectomy), accelerates fat accumulation, with a disproportionate increase in abdominal fat. Clinical evidence for the regulation of body composition and bioenergetics by E2 is less consistent. Evidence exists both for and against menopause as the mediator of changes in body composition. This is likely related to the prolonged nature of the menopause transition in women and the associated complexities of distinguishing effects of the loss of gonadal function from other phenomena of aging. However, a need remains to better understand the metabolic actions of estrogens in women because of the potential impact on health after the menopause.

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The role of the estrogen receptor α in the medial preoptic area in sexual incentive motivation, proceptivity and receptivity, anxiety, and wheel running in female rats

Cited by 92 publications

References 88 publications

Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: Solitary breeders have lower corticosterone levels than communal breeders

Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: Solitary breeders have lower corticosterone levels than communal breeders

An Estrogen-Responsive Module in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Selectively Drives Sex-Specific Activity in Females

Regulation of Body Composition and Bioenergetics by Estrogens

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