| First Author | Takenawa S | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 120 |
| Issue | 42 | Pages | e2305950120 |
| PubMed ID | 37819977 | Mgi Jnum | J:371384 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7621097 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.2305950120 |
| Citation | Takenawa S, et al. (2023) Activity of estrogen receptor beta expressing neurons in the medial amygdala regulates preference toward receptive females in male mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 120(42):e2305950120 |
| abstractText | The processing of information regarding the sex and reproductive state of conspecific individuals is critical for successful reproduction and survival in males. Generally, male mice exhibit a preference toward the odor of sexually receptive (RF) over nonreceptive females (XF) or gonadally intact males (IM). Previous studies suggested the involvement of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) expressed in the medial amygdala (MeA) in male preference toward RF. To further delineate the role played by ERbeta in the MeA in the neuronal network regulating male preference, we developed a new ERbeta-iCre mouse line using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Fiber photometry Ca(2+) imaging revealed that ERbeta-expressing neurons in the postero-dorsal part of the MeA (MeApd-ERbeta(+) neurons) were more active during social investigation toward RF compared to copresented XF or IM mice in a preference test. Chemogenetic inhibition of MeApd-ERbeta(+) neuronal activity abolished a preference to RF in "RF vs. XF," but not "RF vs. IM," tests. Analysis with cre-dependent retrograde tracing viral vectors identified the principal part of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTp) as a primary projection site of MeApd-ERbeta(+) neurons. Fiber photometry recording in the BNSTp during a preference test revealed that chemogenetic inhibition of MeApd-ERbeta(+) neurons abolished differential neuronal activity of BNSTp cells as well as a preference to RF against XF but not against IM mice. Collectively, these findings demonstrate for the first time that MeApd-ERbeta(+) neuronal activity is required for expression of receptivity-based preference (i.e., RF vs. XF) but not sex-based preference (i.e., RF vs. IM) in male mice. |
