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Cerbantez-Bueno V, Viñuela-Berni V, Muñoz-Mayorga DE, Morales T, Corona R. Prolactin promotes the recruitment of main olfactory bulb cells and enhances the behavioral exploration toward a socio-sexual stimulus in female mice. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105527. [PMID: 38492348 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Olfactory communication is triggered by pheromones that profoundly influence neuroendocrine responses to drive social interactions. Two principal olfactory systems process pheromones: the main and the vomeronasal or accessory system. Prolactin receptors are expressed in both systems suggesting a participation in the processing of olfactory information. We previously reported that prolactin participates in the sexual and olfactory bulb maturation of females. Therefore, we explored the expression of prolactin receptors within the olfactory bulb during sexual maturation and the direct responses of prolactin upon pheromonal exposure. Additionally, we assessed the behavioral response of adult females exposed to male sawdust after prolactin administration and the consequent activation of main and accessory olfactory bulb and their first central relays, the piriform cortex and the medial amygdala. Last, we investigated the intracellular pathway activated by prolactin within the olfactory bulb. Here, prolactin receptor expression remained constant during all maturation stages within the main olfactory bulb but decreased in adulthood in the accessory olfactory bulb. Behaviorally, females that received prolactin actively explored the male stimulus. An increased cFos activation in the amygdala and in the glomerular cells of the whole olfactory bulb was observed, but an augmented response in the mitral cells was only found within the main olfactory bulb after prolactin administration and the exposure to male stimulus. Interestingly, the ERK pathway was upregulated in the main olfactory bulb after exposure to a male stimulus. Overall, our results suggest that, in female mice, prolactin participates in the processing of chemosignals and behavioral responses by activating the main olfactory system and diminishing the classical vomeronasal response to pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Cerbantez-Bueno
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Verónica Viñuela-Berni
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Daniel Eduardo Muñoz-Mayorga
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Teresa Morales
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Corona
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.
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Lenschow C, Mendes ARP, Lima SQ. Hearing, touching, and multisensory integration during mate choice. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:943888. [PMID: 36247731 PMCID: PMC9559228 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.943888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mate choice is a potent generator of diversity and a fundamental pillar for sexual selection and evolution. Mate choice is a multistage affair, where complex sensory information and elaborate actions are used to identify, scrutinize, and evaluate potential mating partners. While widely accepted that communication during mate assessment relies on multimodal cues, most studies investigating the mechanisms controlling this fundamental behavior have restricted their focus to the dominant sensory modality used by the species under examination, such as vision in humans and smell in rodents. However, despite their undeniable importance for the initial recognition, attraction, and approach towards a potential mate, other modalities gain relevance as the interaction progresses, amongst which are touch and audition. In this review, we will: (1) focus on recent findings of how touch and audition can contribute to the evaluation and choice of mating partners, and (2) outline our current knowledge regarding the neuronal circuits processing touch and audition (amongst others) in the context of mate choice and ask (3) how these neural circuits are connected to areas that have been studied in the light of multisensory integration.
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Bentefour Y, Bakker J. Kisspeptin signaling and nNOS neurons in the VMHvl modulate lordosis behavior but not mate preference in female mice. Neuropharmacology 2021; 198:108762. [PMID: 34437905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It was recently shown that kisspeptin neurons in the anteroventral periventricular area (AVPV) orchestrate female sexual behavior, including lordosis behavior and mate preference. A potential target of AVPV kisspeptin signaling could be neurons expressing the neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). Therefore, in the present study, we further refined the role of the VHMvl in female sexual behavior. Adult female mice received a bilateral cannula aimed at the VMHvl. A single injection with kisspeptin (Kp-10) or SNAP/BAY, a nitric oxide donor, significantly increased lordosis, whereas the nNOS inhibitor l-NAME decreased it. None of these drugs affected mate preference. Interestingly, administration of GnRH into the VMHvl had no effect on lordosis or mate preference. To determine whether the stimulatory effect of Kp-10 on lordosis was specific to the VMHvl, an additional group of females received Kp-10 directly into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). No effect was found on lordosis and mate preference. These results suggest that kisspeptin most likely modulates lordosis behavior through nNOS neurons in the VMHvl whereas mate preference is modulated by kisspeptin through a separate neuronal circuit not including the VMHvl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassine Bentefour
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Julie Bakker
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
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Aoki M, Gamayun I, Wyatt A, Grünewald R, Simon-Thomas M, Philipp SE, Hummel O, Wagenpfeil S, Kattler K, Gasparoni G, Walter J, Qiao S, Grattan DR, Boehm U. Prolactin-sensitive olfactory sensory neurons regulate male preference in female mice by modulating responses to chemosensory cues. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg4074. [PMID: 34623921 PMCID: PMC8500514 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chemosensory cues detected in the nose need to be integrated with the hormonal status to trigger appropriate behaviors, but the neural circuits linking the olfactory and the endocrine system are insufficiently understood. Here, we characterize olfactory sensory neurons in the murine nose that respond to the pituitary hormone prolactin. Deletion of prolactin receptor in these cells results in impaired detection of social odors and blunts male preference in females. The prolactin-responsive olfactory sensory neurons exhibit a distinctive projection pattern to the brain that is similar across different individuals and express a limited subset of chemosensory receptors. Prolactin modulates the responses within these neurons to discrete chemosensory cues contained in male urine, providing a mechanism by which the hormonal status can be directly linked with distinct olfactory cues to generate appropriate behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Aoki
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Igor Gamayun
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Amanda Wyatt
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ramona Grünewald
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin Simon-Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stephan E. Philipp
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Hummel
- Faculty of Computer Science, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Wagenpfeil
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kattler
- Department of Genetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Gilles Gasparoni
- Department of Genetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jörn Walter
- Department of Genetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sen Qiao
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - David R. Grattan
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
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Parikh R, Sorek E, Parikh S, Michael K, Bikovski L, Tshori S, Shefer G, Mingelgreen S, Zornitzki T, Knobler H, Chodick G, Mardamshina M, Boonman A, Kronfeld-Schor N, Bar-Joseph H, Ben-Yosef D, Amir H, Pavlovsky M, Matz H, Ben-Dov T, Golan T, Nizri E, Liber D, Liel Y, Brenner R, Gepner Y, Karnieli-Miller O, Hemi R, Shalgi R, Kimchi T, Percik R, Weller A, Levy C. Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109579. [PMID: 34433056 PMCID: PMC8411113 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) light affects endocrinological and behavioral aspects of sexuality via an unknown mechanism. Here we discover that ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure enhances the levels of sex-steroid hormones and sexual behavior, which are mediated by the skin. In female mice, UVB exposure increases hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone levels, resulting in larger ovaries; extends estrus days; and increases anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) expression. UVB exposure also enhances the sexual responsiveness and attractiveness of females and male-female interactions. Conditional knockout of p53 specifically in skin keratinocytes abolishes the effects of UVB. Thus, UVB triggers a skin-brain-gonadal axis through skin p53 activation. In humans, solar exposure enhances romantic passion in both genders and aggressiveness in men, as seen in analysis of individual questionaries, and positively correlates with testosterone level. Our findings suggest opportunities for treatment of sex-steroid-related dysfunctions. UVB exposure increases circulating sex-steroid levels in mice and humans UVB exposure enhances female attractiveness and receptiveness toward males UVB exposure increases females’ estrus phase, HPG axis hormones, and follicle growth Skin p53 regulates UVB-induced sexual behavior and ovarian physiological changes
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Affiliation(s)
- Roma Parikh
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Eschar Sorek
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shivang Parikh
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Keren Michael
- Department of Human Services, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley Academic College, Jezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
| | - Lior Bikovski
- The Myers Neuro-Behavioral Core Facility, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; School of Behavioral Sciences, Netanya Academic College, Netanya 4223587, Israel
| | - Sagi Tshori
- Research Authority, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Galit Shefer
- Research Authority, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Taiba Zornitzki
- Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease Institute, Kaplan Medical Center, Hadassah School of Medicine, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hilla Knobler
- Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease Institute, Kaplan Medical Center, Hadassah School of Medicine, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gabriel Chodick
- Maccabitech, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute of Endocrinology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Mariya Mardamshina
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Arjan Boonman
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences and the Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Noga Kronfeld-Schor
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences and the Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Hadas Bar-Joseph
- The TMCR Unit, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Dalit Ben-Yosef
- IVF Lab & Wolfe PGD-Stem Cell Lab, Fertility Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Cell Biology and Development, Sackler Faculty of Medicine & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hadar Amir
- Fertility Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mor Pavlovsky
- Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Hagit Matz
- Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Tom Ben-Dov
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba 4428164, Israel
| | - Tamar Golan
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Eran Nizri
- Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daphna Liber
- Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel
| | - Yair Liel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronen Brenner
- Institute of Pathology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel
| | - Yftach Gepner
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sylvan Adams Sports Institute, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Orit Karnieli-Miller
- Department of Medical Education, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Rina Hemi
- Institute of Endocrinology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Ruth Shalgi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ruth Percik
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Institute of Endocrinology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Aron Weller
- Department of Psychology and the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Carmit Levy
- Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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Hayes-Puttfarcken AL, Kemmerly C, Keane B, Solomon NG. Do olfactory cues from males with different avpr1a genotypes affect female mate choice in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster? Behav Processes 2020; 180:104228. [PMID: 32882344 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain female mate choice and some of the mechanisms underlying these choices. Females prairie voles display social and mating preferences for males with longer avpr1a microsatellite alleles, which provide more paternal care and exhibit less interest in novel females compared to males with shorter avpr1a microsatellite alleles. The cues females use to differentiate among males with different avpr1a genotypes are unknown, so the objective of our study was to determine if females can discriminate among males with different avpr1a genotypes using only male olfactory cues. In a laboratory choice test, females simultaneously presented with soiled bedding from a male with short versus long avpr1a microsatellite alleles showed no significant difference in the total time spent investigating each type of bedding. Nor did a greater number of females spend more time investigating soiled bedding from males with short versus long avpr1a microsatellite alleles. These findings were not influenced by female estrous status or their own avpr1a genotype. Our results suggest olfactory cues alone are insufficient to explain a female's ability to discriminate between males with different avpr1a genotypes and future research should focus on different cues or a combination of cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian Keane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Miami University - Hamilton, Hamilton, OH 45011, USA.
| | - Nancy G Solomon
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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Hoffmann LB, Rae M, Marianno P, Pang TY, Hannan AJ, Camarini R. Preconceptual paternal environmental stimulation alters behavioural phenotypes and adaptive responses intergenerationally in Swiss mice. Physiol Behav 2020; 223:112968. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Nicolakis D, Marconi MA, Zala SM, Penn DJ. Ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice depend upon genetic relatedness of mating partners and correlate with subsequent reproductive success. Front Zool 2020; 17:10. [PMID: 32265997 PMCID: PMC7118824 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00353-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Courtship vocalizations are used by males of many species to attract and influence the behavior of potential mating partners. Our aim here was to investigate the modulation and reproductive consequences of courtship ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus musculus). The courtship USVs of male mice are surprisingly complex and are composed of a variety of different syllable types. Our specific aims were to test whether (1) the emission of courtship USVs depends upon the kinship of a potential mating partner, and (2) whether USV emission during courtship affects the pairs’ subsequent reproductive success. Results We experimentally presented males with an unfamiliar female that was either genetically related or unrelated, and we recorded USV emission, first while the sexes were separated by a perforated partition and then during direct interactions, after removing the partition. USVs were detected by the Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector (A-MUD) and manually classified into 15 syllable types. The mice were kept together to test whether and how courtship vocalizations predict their subsequent reproductive success. We found that the mice significantly increased their amount of vocalizations (vocal performance) and number of syllable types (vocal repertoire) after the partition was removed and they began interacting directly. We show that unrelated pairs emitted longer and more complex USVs compared to related pairs during direct interactions. Unrelated pairs also had a greater reproductive success compared to related pairs, and in addition we found a negative correlation between the mean length and amount of vocalizations with the latency to their first litter. Conclusion Our study provides evidence that house mice modulate the emission of courtship USVs depending upon the kinship of potential mating partners, and that courtship USVs correlate with reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Nicolakis
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Adelaide Marconi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah M Zala
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
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Moreira L, Zinck L, Nomoto K, Lima SQ. Sexual imprinting overrides order effects during sampling of prospective mates. Curr Biol 2020; 30:R259-R260. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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10
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Liu ZW, Yu Y, Lu C, Jiang N, Wang XP, Xiao SY, Liu XM. Postweaning Isolation Rearing Alters the Adult Social, Sexual Preference and Mating Behaviors of Male CD-1 Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:21. [PMID: 30873013 PMCID: PMC6404373 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: No study has comprehensively evaluated the effect of postweaning isolation on the social and sexual behaviors of a certain strain of rodents in ethology. The present study aims to explore how and to what extent isolation rearing after postweaning affects the social and sexual behaviors of male CD-1 mice in adulthood systematically. Methods: Male CD-1 mice were randomly assigned to two groups: isolation reared (IS, one mouse per cage, n = 30) and group housed (GH, five mice per cage, n = 15). The mice underwent isolation rearing from postnatal day 23 to day 93. Then, social affiliation, recognition and memory were measured through selection task experiments. Social interaction under a home cage and novel environment were measured via resident–intruder and social interaction test, respectively. Furthermore, sexual preference, homosexual and heterosexual behaviors were measured. Results: Our study found that postweaning isolation increased the social affiliation for conspecifics (p = 0.001), reduced social recognition (p = 0.042) and impaired social memory. As for social interaction, isolated mice showed a remarkably increased aggression toward the intruder male in a home cage or novelty environment. For instance, isolated mice presented a short attack latency (p < 0.001), high attack frequency (p < 0.001) and long attack duration (p < 0.001). In addition, isolated mice exhibited further social avoidance. Contrastingly, isolated mice displayed a reduced sexual preference for female (IS: 61.47 ± 13.80%, GH: 70.33 ± 10.06%, p = 0.038). As for heterosexual behavior, isolated mice have a short mating duration (p = 0.002), long mounting latency (p = 0.002), and long intromission latency (p = 0.015). However, no association was observed between postweaning isolation and homosexual behavior in male CD-1 mouse. Conclusion: Postweaning isolation increased the social affiliation, impaired the social cognition and considerably increased the aggression in social interaction of adult male CD-1 mice. Postweaning isolation induced a decreased sexual preference for female in adulthood. Postweaning isolation extended the latency to mate, thereby reducing mating behavior. No association was observed between isolation and homosexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Wei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders and National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China.,Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yu Yu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Cong Lu
- Research Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Research Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders and National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Shui-Yuan Xiao
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders and National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China.,Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin-Min Liu
- Research Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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11
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Nomoto K, Ikumi M, Otsuka M, Asaba A, Kato M, Koshida N, Mogi K, Kikusui T. Female mice exhibit both sexual and social partner preferences for vocalizing males. Integr Zool 2019; 13:735-744. [PMID: 30019858 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic signals are widely used as courtship signals in the animal kingdom. It has long been known that male mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in the presence of female mice or in response to female secretions. This observation led to the hypothesis that male USVs play a role in courtship behavior. Although previous studies showed that female mice have a social partner preference for vocalizing males, it is not known if they exhibit a sexual partner preference when given a choice. To address this issue, we examined the copulatory behaviors of female mice with either devocalized males (with or without the playback of the USVs) or sham-operated males in 2 different behavioral paradigms: the no-choice paradigm in the home cage of a male mouse (without choice of mating partners) or the mate-choice paradigm in a 3-chambered apparatus (with choice of mating partners). In the no-choice paradigm, female mice exhibited comparable sexual receptivity with sham-operated and devocalized males. In addition, we found that female mice showed more approach behavior towards devocalized males when male USVs were played back. In the mate-choice paradigm, female mice visited more frequently and stayed longer with sham-operated than devocalized males. Furthermore, we showed that female mice received more intromissions from sham-operated males than devocalized males. In summary, our results suggested that, although female mice can copulate equally with both devocalized and vocalizing males when given no choice of mating partner, female mice exhibit both sexual and social partner preferences for vocalizing males in the mate-choice paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensaku Nomoto
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mayu Ikumi
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Monami Otsuka
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akari Asaba
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Nobuyoshi Koshida
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mogi
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kikusui
- Companion Animal Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
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12
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Robertson JM, Nava R, Vega A, Kaiser K. Uniformity in premating reproductive isolation along an intraspecific cline. Curr Zool 2018; 64:641-652. [PMID: 30323843 PMCID: PMC6178793 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Premating reproductive isolation (RI) may reduce gene flow across populations that have differentiated in traits important for mate choice. Examining RI across genetic and phenotypic clines can inform the fundamental evolutionary processes that underlie population and lineage differentiation. We conducted female mate-choice studies across an intraspecific red-eyed treefrog cline in Costa Rica and Panama with 2 specific aims: (1) to characterize RI across the cline and examine the relationship between premating RI and genetic and phenotypic distance and (2) to evaluate our results within a broader evolutionary and taxonomic perspective through examination of other RI studies. We found that female red-eyed treefrogs prefer local males relative to non-local males, indicating that some premating RI has evolved in this system, but that preference strength is not associated with phenotypic or geographic distance. Our analysis of 65 other studies revealed no clear pattern between the strength of RI and geographic distribution (allopatry, parapatry, cline) or phenotypic distance, but revealed extreme variation and overlap in levels of intra- and interspecific levels of RI. This work contributes to a growing body of literature that examines intraspecific RI across a cline to understand the selective processes that shape evolutionary patterns at the earliest stages of divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Marie Robertson
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA, USA.,Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roman Nava
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA, USA.,Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andrés Vega
- AMBICOR, 400 E., 75 S., 75 E. de la Municipalidad de Tibas, Tibas, Costa Rica
| | - Kristine Kaiser
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA, USA.,Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Cerveira AM, Soares JA, Bastos-Silveira C, Mathias MDL. Reproductive isolation between sister species of Iberian pine voles, Microtus duodecimcostatus and M. lusitanicus. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2018.1508075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. Cerveira
- CESAM ― Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana A. Soares
- CESAM ― Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cristiane Bastos-Silveira
- Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica 58, 1250-102 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria da Luz Mathias
- CESAM ― Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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14
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Adekunbi DA, Li XF, Lass G, Shetty K, Adegoke OA, Yeo SH, Colledge WH, Lightman SL, O'Byrne KT. Kisspeptin neurones in the posterodorsal medial amygdala modulate sexual partner preference and anxiety in male mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30:e12572. [PMID: 29356147 PMCID: PMC5873280 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) is a neural site in the limbic brain involved in regulating emotional and sexual behaviours. There is, however, limited information available on the specific neuronal cell type in the MePD functionally mediating these behaviours in rodents. The recent discovery of a significant kisspeptin neurone population in the MePD has raised interest in the possible role of kisspeptin and its cognate receptor in sexual behaviour. The present study therefore tested the hypothesis that the MePD kisspeptin neurone population is involved in regulating attraction towards opposite sex conspecifics, sexual behaviour, social interaction and the anxiety response by selectively stimulating these neurones using the novel pharmacosynthetic DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) technique. Adult male Kiss-Cre mice received bilateral stereotaxic injections of a stimulatory DREADD viral construct (AAV-hSyn-DIO-hM3 D(Gq)-mCherry) targeted to the MePD, with subsequent activation by i.p. injection of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Socio-sexual behaviours were assessed in a counter-balanced fashion after i.p. injection of either saline or CNO (5 mg kg-1 ). Selective activation of MePD kisspeptin neurones by CNO significantly increased the time spent by male mice in investigating an oestrous female, as well as the duration of social interaction. Additionally, after CNO injection, the mice appeared less anxious, as indicated by a longer exploratory time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze. However, levels of copulatory behaviour were comparable between CNO and saline-treated controls. These data indicate that DREADD-induced activation of MePD kisspeptin neurones enhances both sexual partner preference in males and social interaction and also decreases anxiety, suggesting a key role played by MePD kisspeptin in sexual motivation and social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. A. Adekunbi
- Division of Women's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
- Department of PhysiologyCollege of MedicineUniversity of LagosLagosNigeria
| | - X. F. Li
- Division of Women's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - G. Lass
- Division of Women's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - K. Shetty
- Division of Women's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - O. A. Adegoke
- Department of PhysiologyCollege of MedicineUniversity of LagosLagosNigeria
| | - S. H. Yeo
- Reproductive Physiology GroupDepartment of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - W. H. Colledge
- Reproductive Physiology GroupDepartment of Physiology, Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - S. L. Lightman
- Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience and EndocrinologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - K. T. O'Byrne
- Division of Women's HealthFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineKing's College LondonLondonUK
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15
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Burger D, Meuwly C, Thomas S, Sieme H, Oberthür M, Wedekind C, Meinecke-Tillmann S. Cycle-specific female preferences for visual and non-visual cues in the horse (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191845. [PMID: 29466358 PMCID: PMC5842875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although female preferences are well studied in many mammals, the possible effects of the oestrous cycle are not yet sufficiently understood. Here we investigate female preferences for visual and non-visual male traits relative to the periodically cycling of sexual proceptivity (oestrus) and inactivity (dioestrus), respectively, in the polygynous horse (Equus caballus). We individually exposed mares to stallions in four experimental situations: (i) mares in oestrus and visual contact to stallions allowed, (ii) mares in oestrus, with blinds (wooden partitions preventing visual contact but allowing for acoustic and olfactory communication), (iii) mares in dioestrus, no blinds, and (iv) mares in dioestrus, with blinds. Contact times of the mares with each stallion, defined as the cumulative amount of time a mare was in the vicinity of an individual stallion and actively searching contact, were used to rank stallions according to each mare’s preferences. We found that preferences based on visual traits differed significantly from preferences based on non-visual traits in dioestrous mares. The mares then showed a preference for older and larger males, but only if visual cues were available. In contrast, oestrous mares showed consistent preferences with or without blinds, i.e. their preferences were mainly based on non-visual traits and could not be predicted by male age or size. Stallions who were generally preferred displayed a high libido that may have positively influenced female interest or may have been a consequence of it. We conclude that the oestrous cycle has a significant influence on female preferences for visual and non-visual male traits in the horse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Burger
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Charles Meuwly
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland
| | - Selina Thomas
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland
| | - Harald Sieme
- Unit for Reproductive Medicine–Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Michael Oberthür
- Institute for Reproductive Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Claus Wedekind
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Meinecke-Tillmann
- Institute for Reproductive Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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16
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Varela SAM, Matos M, Schlupp I. The role of mate-choice copying in speciation and hybridization. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1304-1322. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susana A. M. Varela
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Margarida Matos
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Ingo Schlupp
- Department of Biology; University of Oklahoma; Norman OK 73019 U.S.A
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17
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Poeppl TB, Langguth B, Rupprecht R, Safron A, Bzdok D, Laird AR, Eickhoff SB. The neural basis of sex differences in sexual behavior: A quantitative meta-analysis. Front Neuroendocrinol 2016; 43:28-43. [PMID: 27742561 PMCID: PMC5123903 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Sexuality as to its etymology presupposes the duality of sexes. Using quantitative neuroimaging meta-analyses, we demonstrate robust sex differences in the neural processing of sexual stimuli in thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia. In a narrative review, we show how these relate to the well-established sex differences on the behavioral level. More specifically, we describe the neural bases of known poor agreement between self-reported and genital measures of female sexual arousal, of previously proposed male proneness to affective sexual conditioning, as well as hints of unconscious activation of bonding mechanisms during sexual stimulation in women. In summary, our meta-analytic review demonstrates that neurofunctional sex differences during sexual stimulation can account for well-established sex differences in sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timm B Poeppl
- University of Regensburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitaetsstrasse 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Berthold Langguth
- University of Regensburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitaetsstrasse 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Rupprecht
- University of Regensburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitaetsstrasse 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Adam Safron
- Northwestern University, Department of Psychology, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), JARA Brain, Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, 52428 Jülich, Germany; INRIA, Neurospin - CEA, Parietal Team, Bât 145, Point Courrier 156, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Angela R Laird
- Florida International University, Department of Physics, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, 52428 Jülich, Germany; Heinrich Heine University, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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18
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Sutter A, Lindholm AK. No evidence for female discrimination against male house mice carrying a selfish genetic element. Curr Zool 2016; 62:675-685. [PMID: 29491955 PMCID: PMC5804255 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zow063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiotic drivers distort transmission to the next generation in their favor, with detrimental effects on the fitness of their homologues and the rest of the genome. Male carriers of meiotic drivers commonly inflict costs on their mates through genetic incompatibility, reduced fecundity, or biased brood sex ratios. Given these costs, evidence for female discrimination against male carriers is surprisingly rare. One of few examples is the t haplotype in house mice, a meiotic driver that shows strong transmission distortion in males and is typically homozygote lethal. As a consequence, mating between 2 t heterozygous (+/t) mice leads to high embryo mortality. Previous experiments showing that +/t females avoid this incompatibility cost by preferring +/+ versus +/t males have inferred preference based on olfactory cues or brief social interactions. Evidence from mating contexts in laboratory settings and semi-natural populations has been inconclusive. Here, we investigated female choice from a large number of no-choice mating trials. We found no evidence for discrimination against +/t males based on mating, remating, and copulatory behavior. Further, we found no evidence for avoidance of incompatibility through selective interactions between gametes. The likelihood of mating showed significant effects of female weight and genotype, suggesting that our test paradigm enabled females to exhibit mate choice. We discuss the strengths and limitations of our approach. By explicitly considering selection at both the individual and gene level, we argue why precopulatory female discrimination by +/t females may be less evolutionarily stable than discrimination by all females based on postcopulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Sutter
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Anna K Lindholm
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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19
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Saunders PA, Franco T, Sottas C, Maurice T, Ganem G, Veyrunes F. Masculinised Behaviour of XY Females in a Mammal with Naturally Occuring Sex Reversal. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22881. [PMID: 26964761 PMCID: PMC4786791 DOI: 10.1038/srep22881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Most sex differences in phenotype are controlled by gonadal hormones, but recent work on laboratory strain mice that present discordant chromosomal and gonadal sex showed that sex chromosome complement can have a direct influence on the establishment of sex-specific behaviours, independently from gonads. In this study, we analyse the behaviour of a rodent with naturally occurring sex reversal: the African pygmy mouse Mus minutoides, in which all males are XY, while females are of three types: XX, XX* or X*Y (the asterisk represents an unknown X-linked mutation preventing masculinisation of X*Y embryos). X*Y females show typical female anatomy and, interestingly, have greater breeding performances. We investigate the link between sex chromosome complement, behaviour and reproductive success in females by analysing several behavioural features that could potentially influence their fitness: female attractiveness, aggressiveness and anxiety. Despite sex chromosome complement was not found to impact male mate preferences, it does influence some aspects of both aggressiveness and anxiety: X*Y females are more aggressive than the XX and XX*, and show lower anxiogenic response to novelty, like males. We discuss how these behavioural differences might impact the breeding performances of females, and how the sex chromosome complement could shape the differences observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Saunders
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5554, IRD, EPHE, France
| | - Thomas Franco
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5554, IRD, EPHE, France
| | - Camille Sottas
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5554, IRD, EPHE, France
| | - Tangui Maurice
- INSERM U1198, Université de Montpellier, Inserm, EPHE, France
| | - Guila Ganem
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5554, IRD, EPHE, France
| | - Frédéric Veyrunes
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5554, IRD, EPHE, France
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20
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Vošlajerová Bímová B, Mikula O, Macholán M, Janotová K, Hiadlovská Z. Female House Mice do not Differ in Their Exploratory Behaviour from Males. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vošlajerová Bímová
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Macholán
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Janotová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Hiadlovská
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
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21
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De Felice A, Venerosi A, Ricceri L, Sabbioni M, Scattoni ML, Chiarotti F, Calamandrei G. Sex-dimorphic effects of gestational exposure to the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos on social investigation in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2014; 46:32-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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22
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Kercmar J, Snoj T, Tobet SA, Majdic G. Gonadectomy prior to puberty decreases normal parental behavior in adult mice. Horm Behav 2014; 66:667-73. [PMID: 25245159 PMCID: PMC4252646 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones secreted by gonads influence development and expression of many behaviors including parental behaviors. The capacity to display many behaviors develops under the influence of sex steroid hormones; it begins with gonadal differentiation and lasts through puberty. The timing of gonadectomy may have important and long lasting effects on the organization and activation of neural circuits regulating the expression of different behaviors. The present study investigated the importance of exposure to endogenous gonadal steroid hormones during pubertal period/adolescence on parental behavior in adult mice. Male and female WT mice were gonadectomized either before puberty (25 days of age) or after puberty (60 days of age) and tested for parental behavior with and without estradiol benzoate (EB) replacement in adulthood. Additional groups of mice were gonadectomized at P25 and supplemented with estradiol (females) or testosterone (males) during puberty. Female mice gonadectomized after puberty or gonadectomized before puberty and supplemented with estradiol during puberty, displayed better pup directed parental behaviors in comparison to mice gonadectomized at 25 days of age regardless of treatment with estradiol in adulthood. However, mice treated with EB in adulthood displayed better non-pup directed nest building behavior than when they were tested without EB treatment regardless of sex and time of gonadectomy. To examine whether the sensitivity to sex steroid hormones was altered due to differences in time without gonads prior to the testing, mice were also tested for female sex behavior and there were no differences between mice gonadectomized at P25 or P60, although this could not completely rule out the possibility that parental behavior is more sensitive to prolonged absence of steroid hormones than female sex behavior. These results suggest that the absence of gonads and thereby the absence of appropriate gonadal steroid hormones during puberty/adolescence may have a profound effect on pup directed parental behaviors in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Kercmar
- Center for Animal Genomics, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaz Snoj
- Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stuart A Tobet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Gregor Majdic
- Center for Animal Genomics, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
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