| Title: | Female sexual behavior in mice is controlled by kisspeptin neurons |
| Author(s): | Hellier V; Brock O; Candlish M; Desroziers E; Aoki M; Mayer C; Piet R; Herbison A; Colledge WH; Prevot V; Boehm U; Bakker J; |
| Address: | "GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium. Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany. NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA. Center for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand. Reproductive Physiology Group, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK. Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Inserm U1172, F- 59000, Lille Cedex, France. Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany. ulrich.boehm@uks.eu. GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium. jbakker@uliege.be. Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jbakker@uliege.be" |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-017-02797-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Sexual behavior is essential for the survival of many species. In female rodents, mate preference and copulatory behavior depend on pheromones and are synchronized with ovulation to ensure reproductive success. The neural circuits driving this orchestration in the brain have, however, remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that neurons controlling ovulation in the mammalian brain are at the core of a branching neural circuit governing both mate preference and copulatory behavior. We show that male odors detected in the vomeronasal organ activate kisspeptin neurons in female mice. Classical kisspeptin/Kiss1R signaling subsequently triggers olfactory-driven mate preference. In contrast, copulatory behavior is elicited by kisspeptin neurons in a parallel circuit independent of Kiss1R involving nitric oxide signaling. Consistent with this, we find that kisspeptin neurons impinge onto nitric oxide-synthesizing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Our data establish kisspeptin neurons as a central regulatory hub orchestrating sexual behavior in the female mouse brain" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism Kisspeptins/genetics/*metabolism Male Mating Preference, Animal Mice, Knockout Neurons/*physiology Nitric Oxide/metabolism Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism Odorants Posture Sexual Behavior, Animal/*;neuroscience;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineHellier, Vincent Brock, Olivier Candlish, Michael Desroziers, Elodie Aoki, Mari Mayer, Christian Piet, Richard Herbison, Allan Colledge, William Henry Prevot, Vincent Boehm, Ulrich Bakker, Julie eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2018/01/28 Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 26; 9(1):400. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02797-2" |
