| Title: | Conspecific odor exposure predominantly activates non-kisspeptin cells in the medial nucleus of the amygdala |
| Author(s): | Lima LB; Haubenthal FT; Silveira MA; Bohlen TM; Metzger M; Donato J; Frazao R; |
| Address: | "Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: rfrazao@usp.br" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.05.023 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1872-7972 (Electronic) 0304-3940 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "A small neuronal subpopulation in the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA), expressing the Kiss1 gene, is now considered an important mediator that integrates socio-sexual behavior and odor information in order to modulate the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis. Previous studies demonstrated that exogenous kisspeptin administration or selective activation of Kiss1-expressing neurons in the MeA modulates the onset of puberty, LH secretion and sexual behavior. These functions are supported by the known MeA neuronal connections. In the MeA, as well as in the hypothalamus, Kiss1 mRNA expression mostly depends on sex steroids levels. However, the percentage of Kiss1-expressing cells that co-express estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in the MeA is currently unknown. Additionally, whether MeA kisspeptin neurons show Fos expression due to pheromone exposure is still undisclosed. In the present study, we used adult male and female mice that express a reporter protein under the Kiss1 promoters to determine the percentage of Kiss1-expressing neurons that co-express the ERalpha in the MeA and, whether those cells are activated by olfactory cues. We found a high percentage of Kiss1-expressing neurons in the MeA co-expressing the ERalpha. The proportion of co-expression was similar between male and female mice in diestrus. Interestingly, a low percentage of Kiss1-expressing neurons in the MeA co-express Fos after conspecific odor exposure, despite a significant increase of Fos positive cells in the MeA. Additionally, odor exposition leads to a sexually dimorphic change in Kiss1 expression in the posterior subdivision of the MeA. Our findings suggest that olfactory signals predominantly activate non-kisspeptin cells in the MeA to modulate responses to pheromones and therefore the HPG axis" |
| Keywords: | "Amygdala/*cytology/drug effects/*metabolism Animals Female Kisspeptins/*biosynthesis Male Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Transgenic Neurons/metabolism Odorants Sex Attractants/*administration & dosage Amygdala Fos Kisspeptin Pheromone Steroid receptors;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLima, Leandro Bueno Haubenthal, Fernanda Tais Silveira, Marina Augusto Bohlen, Tabata Mariz Metzger, Martin Donato, Jose Jr Frazao, Renata eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Ireland 2018/05/18 Neurosci Lett. 2018 Aug 10; 681:12-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.05.023. Epub 2018 May 21" |
