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Cited by 23Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorSexual Differentiation and DisordersOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Androgenic and oestrogenic influences on tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells of the prairie vole medial amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

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Cavanaugh, B. L., Lonstein, J. S.·2010·Journal of Neuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01958.xPMC PMC3034275
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Abstract

The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MeApd) and principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBST) are densely interconnected sites integrating steroid hormone and olfactory information necessary for sociosexual behaviours in many rodents. Our laboratory recently reported sexually dimorphic populations of cells containing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) located in the MeApd and pBST of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), with males having many more TH‐immunoreactive (‐ir) cells in these sites than do females. Gonadal hormones circulating during adulthood were showm to regulate this sex difference because it was eliminated by castrating adult males or implanting females with testosterone‐filled capsules. In the present study, we demonstrate that many (25–65%) TH‐ir cells in the MeApd and pBST of adult virgin male and female prairie voles also contain immunoreactivity for either the androgen receptor or oestrogen receptor α. Subcutaneous implants of oestradiol benzoate mimicked the effects of testosterone and maintained high numbers of TH‐ir cells in these sites in castrated males. However, implants of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) did not, and these males had low numbers of TH‐ir cells similar to castrated males given empty capsules. A similar effect was found in females, where testosterone or oestradiol benzoate greatly increased the number of TH‐ir cells in these sites compared to intact or ovariectomised controls, but DHT did not. DHT implants did, however, maintain high seminal vesicle weights in males. Thus, many of the TH‐ir cells in the prairie vole MeApd and pBST are potentially sensitive to androgens and oestrogens, although maintaining immunocytochemically detectable levels of TH in these cells may depend more on an oestrogen‐mediated mechanism in both sexes. These data have implications for understanding how gonadal hormone release across the reproductive cycle modulates these species‐specific groups of catecholaminergic cells and socially monogamous behaviours in prairie voles.

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  • Because AVP/OT and the dopaminergic pathways they feed into are heavily influenced by sex steroids across the lifespan, their sexually dimorphic ontogeny and function may be particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruption.

    “Because AVP/OT and the dopaminergic pathways they feed into are heavily influenced by sex steroids across the lifespan (50–59), it is highly plausible that their sexually dimorphic ontogeny and function may be particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruption.”

    From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Abstract reports that sex steroids regulate sexually dimorphic tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in adult prairie voles. The Discussion also describes hormone-mediated plasticity in adult cells synthesizing vasopressin. These passages do not establish steroid effects on oxytocin or effects across the lifespan; the endocrine-disruption inference is the citing authors’ own conclusion, not a finding attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Cavanaugh, B. L., & Lonstein, J. S.
Affiliations
Michigan State University (US)
Corresponding author
Lonstein, J. S.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-03-17
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
217-225
ISSN
  • 0953-8194 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2826
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01958.x
PMC
PMC3034275
OpenAlex
W2127313578
Cited by
23
References
8
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
FWCI
5.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH070343)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
tyrosine hydroxylase, catecholaminergic neurons, Microtus ochrogaster, medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, gonadal hormones, testosterone, estradiol benzoate, dihydrotestosterone, castration, ovariectomy, sexual dimorphism
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Androgens, Animals, Castration, Arvicolinae, Drug Implants, Estradiol, Female, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Receptors, Androgen, Septal Nuclei, Dihydrotestosterone, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Infusions, Subcutaneous

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