Early embryonic administration of xenoestrogens alters vasotocin system and male sexual behavior of the Japanese quail
Abstract
The copulatory behavior and the parvocellular vasotocin (VT) system of the nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) are sexually dimorphic in the Japanese quail. Embryonic administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) induces an organizational effect determining the disappearance of such a dimorphism (male shows behavior and cerebral phenotype of the female). The VT parvocellular system can therefore be considered an accurate marker of the sexual differentiation of brain circuits and a very sensitive indicator of the activity of estrogen-like substances on neural circuits. To test this hypothesis we administered diethylstilbestrol (DES), a powerful synthetic xenoestrogen, genistein (GEN), a phytoestrogen produced by soy, and bisphenol A (BPA). After 3 days of incubation, quail eggs were injected with vehicle, EB, DES, GEN or BPA. Administration of BPA caused an early blockage of development and no further analyses were done on the BPA groups. At puberty, the copulatory behavior of EB- or DES-treated male quail was totally abolished, whereas only the highest doses of GEN determined a significant decrease of the behavior. After the tests, the animals were sacrificed and perfused. The fractional area (FA) covered by VT immunoreactivity was analyzed in BST, medial preoptic nucleus, and lateral septum by computerized image analysis. The FA was significantly reduced after treatment with EB, DES and GEN at high doses. These results confirm that the sexually dimorphic VT system of the Japan…
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GEN alters AVP and OT neuron numbers and innervation of sexually dimorphic regions associated with social and aggressive behaviors in multiple species, and is anxiogenic in males of multiple species.
“Altered AVP and OT neuron numbers and innervation of sexually dimorphic regions associated with social and aggressive behaviors in multiple species; anxiogenic in males of multiple species”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [70]
Exogenous administration of estrogen, DES, or an aromatase inhibitor during incubation fully blocked male copulatory behavior at puberty and induced the complete sex reversal of VT-ir in the preoptic area, BnST, and lateral septum.
“Exogenous administration of estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), or an aromatase inhibitor during incubation fully blocked male copulatory behavior at puberty and induced the complete sex reversal of VT-ir in the preoptic area, BnST, and lateral septum (LS) (70, 81).”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [70]
Multiple aspects of the quail VT system are vulnerable to EDCs including BPA, DES, and high doses of the phytoestrogen GEN.
“Seminal research dating back decades has consistently and repeatedly shown that multiple aspects of the quail VT system is vulnerable to EDCs including bisphenol A (BPA), diethylstilbestrol (DES), and high doses of the phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) (69, 70).”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [70]
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- Authors
- Panzica, G., Mura, E., Pessatti, M., & Viglietti-Panzica, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Turin (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Panzica, GianCarlo
- ORCID
- Panzica, GianCarlo
- Venue
- Domestic Animal Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-08
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 436-445
- ISSN
- 0739-7240 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2023978173
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Domestic Animal Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- xenoestrogens, male sexual behavior, mating behavior, Japanese quail, estradiol benzoate, diethylstilbestrol, genistein, bisphenol A, sexual differentiation of the brain, medial preoptic nucleus, lateral septum, sexual dimorphism
- MeSH terms
- Bisphenol A Compounds, Animals, Benzhydryl Compounds, Coturnix, Diethylstilbestrol, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Estrogens, Female, Male, Phenols, Septal Nuclei, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Vasotocin, Genistein, Phytoestrogens
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