Decrease in ERɑ within the BNST of sexually naïve male rats following an encounter with a novel female.

Autor: Bembenek BM; Ripon College, Ripon, WI 54971, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN 55905, USA., Meyers-Manor JE; Ripon College, Ripon, WI 54971, USA., Forbes-Lorman RM; Ripon College, Ripon, WI 54971, USA. Electronic address: forbesr@ripon.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Behavioural brain research [Behav Brain Res] 2023 Oct 02; Vol. 454, pp. 114626. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 16.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114626
Abstrakt: Testosterone and its metabolites facilitate male-typical social behaviors in sexually experienced animals. The metabolite estradiol acts on estrogen receptors (ERs) within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to facilitate socio-sexual behaviors. While circulating testosterone does not increase in naïve males, aromatase-expressing neurons within the BNST of naïve males are necessary for sex recognition, suggesting that local estradiol production may be responsible. In the present study, we examined ERɑ-immunoreactive (ir) cell number within the brain of sexually naïve male rats 24 h after an encounter with a novel animal. As expected, males investigated females more than males. Additionally, males that encountered females had fewer ERɑ-ir cells within both anterior and posterior BNST compared to those who encountered a novel male or a non-social control. There were no changes within the AVPV, MPN, or MeA. The decrease in ERɑ-ir cell number within the posterior BNST only occurred in males that encountered estrus females whereas the decrease in the anterior BNST occurred only in males that encountered non-estrus females. Additionally, anogenital investigations were correlated with fewer ERɑ-ir cells in the posterior BNST, while cage sniffing correlated with the number ERɑ-ir cells in the anterior BNST. There were no differences in serum testosterone 45 min or 24 h after the encounter, suggesting changes in ERɑ were due to local changes in estradiol levels. Our results expand upon previous research regarding the role of estradiol within the subregions of the BNST in naïve male rat socio-sexual behavior.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: