Estrogenic regulation of social behavior and sexually dimorphic brain formation
Abstract
It has long been known that the estrogen, 17β-estradiol (17β-E), plays a central role for female reproductive physiology and behavior. Numerous studies have established the neurochemical and molecular basis of estrogenic induction of female sexual behavior, i.e., lordosis, in animal models. In addition, 17β-E also regulates male-type sexual and aggressive behavior. In males, testosterone secreted from the testes is irreversibly aromatized to 17β-E in the brain. We discuss the contribution of two nuclear receptor isoforms, estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ to the estrogenic regulation of sexually dimorphic brain formation and sex-typical expression of these social behaviors. Furthermore, 17β-E is a key player for social behaviors such as social investigation, preference, recognition and memory as well as anxiety-related behaviors in social contexts. Recent studies also demonstrated that not only nuclear receptor-mediated genomic signaling but also membrane receptor-mediated non-genomic actions of 17β-E may underlie the regulation of these behaviors. Finally, we will discuss how rapidly developing research tools and ideas allow us to investigate estrogenic action by emphasizing behavioral neural networks.
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Estrogens play a fundamental role in the sexually dimorphic formation of brain structures by modulating neural circuits that control sex-specific behavior, including social interaction.
“Indeed, estrogens play a fundamental role in the sexually dimorphic formation of brain structures by modulating neural circuits that control sex-specific behavior, including social interaction (Ogawa et al., 2020).”
From Oxytocin neurons mediate the effect of social isolation via the VTA circuits (2022) · cites this paper as Ogawa et al., 2020
In the brain there are sex differences in tissue structures and dimorphic nuclei exhibiting morphological sex differences are considered as the structural basis for generating sex differences in brain functions.
“In the brain there are sex differences in the tissue structures and the dimorphic nuclei exhibiting morphological sex differences are considered as the structural basis for generating sex differences in brain functions (Ogawa et al., 2020).”
From Oxytocin neurons mediate the effect of social isolation via the VTA circuits (2022) · cites this paper as Ogawa et al., 2020
Cites
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Functional identification of an aggression locus in the mouse hypothalamus
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Membrane-Initiated Actions of Estrogens in Neuroendocrinology: Emerging Principles
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Self-citationBakker, J., Honda, S.-I., Harada, N., & Balthazart, J. (2002) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.22-20-09104.2002 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Early life stress disrupts peripubertal development of aggression in male mice
Tsuda, M. C., Yamaguchi, N., & Ogawa, S. (2011) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e328344495a · Cited by 72 · see citing works
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Oxytocin neurons mediate the effect of social isolation via the VTA circuits
Musardo, S., Contestabile, A., Knoop, M., Baud, O., & Bellone, C. (2022) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.73421 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ogawa, S., Tsukahara, S., Choleris, E., & Vasudevan, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Tsukuba (JP)
- Saitama University (JP)
- University of Guelph (CA)
- University of Reading (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ogawa, Sonoko
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-03
- Volume
- 110
- Pages
- 46-59
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2898613973
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 0.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CentAUR (University of Reading) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- JSPS (15H05724, 17H05549)
- ST (17K08567)
- NSERC Discovery (400212)
- NSF CAREER (IOS-1053716)
- University of Reading startup fund to NV
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- estradiol, estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, social behavior, lordosis, male aggression, social investigation, social recognition memory, anxiety, non-genomic estrogen signaling, membrane estrogen receptor, nuclear receptor signaling
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Estrogens, Humans, Memory, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior, Recognition, Psychology
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