Title: | Oestrogen's masculine side: mediation of mating in male mice |
Author(s): | Scordalakes EM; Imwalle DB; Rissman EF; |
Address: | "Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1470-1626 (Print) 1470-1626 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "This review focuses on the role of oestrogen in male sexual behaviour using oestrogen receptor alpha and beta knockout (ERalphaKO and ERbetaKO) mouse models. ERbetaKO mice are capable of mating and producing offspring, whereas ERalphaKO mice are unable to do either. When ERalphaKO males are treated with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), < 50% display mounting behaviour, few intromit and none ejaculate. However, concurrent treatment with testosterone and a dopamine agonist instates masculine sexual behaviour in both male and female ERalphaKO mice. Dopamine content in the preoptic area and associated regions is not affected by oestrogen receptor alpha gene disruption. However, expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity is severely reduced in ERalphaKO males compared with wild-type males. These findings, together with studies conducted in aromatase knockout mice, are at odds with the dogma that oestrogen is required during development for expression of male sexual behaviour in adults. However, they do support a role for oestrogens, mediated by oestrogen receptor alpha, in regulation and production of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, which in turn may control dopamine agonist release. As has been shown in male rats, in mice dopamine agonist release is likely to be an essential component of the neural pathway that mediates male sexual behaviour" |
Keywords: | "Animals Copulation/*physiology Dopamine/physiology Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogens/*physiology Male Mice Mice, Knockout Nitric Oxide Synthase/physiology Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I Receptors, Estrogen/physiology Sexual Behavior/*physiology;" |
Notes: | "MedlineScordalakes, Elka M Imwalle, Dennis B Rissman, Emilie F eng HD 072323/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ K02 MH01349/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 MH 57759/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review England 2002/08/31 Reproduction. 2002 Sep; 124(3):331-8. doi: 10.1530/rep.0.1240331" |