Brain aromatase and the control of male sexual behavior

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (4-6) ◽  
pp. 521-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Balthazart ◽  
A. Foidart
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Brain Aromatase

Effects of a novel partner and sexual satiety on the expression of male sexual behavior and brain aromatase activity in quail

2019 ◽  
Vol 359 ◽  
pp. 502-515
Author(s):  
Catherine de Bournonville ◽  
Mélanie Schmit ◽  
Maxim Telle ◽  
Lucas Court ◽  
Gregory F. Ball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Aromatase Activity ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Brain Aromatase

scholarly journals Brain Aromatase and the Regulation of Sexual Activity in Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Brooks ◽  
John S Coon V ◽  
Cihangir M Ercan ◽  
Xia Xu ◽  
Hongxin Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Negative Feedback Regulation ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Brain Physiology ◽  
Brain Aromatase ◽  
The Brain

Abstract The biologically active estrogen estradiol has important roles in adult brain physiology and sexual behavior. A single gene, Cyp19a1, encodes aromatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to estradiol in the testis and brain of male mice. Estradiol formation was shown to regulate sexual activity in various species, but the relative contributions to sexual behavior of estrogen that arises in the brain versus from the gonads remained unclear. To determine the role of brain aromatase in regulating male sexual activity, we generated a brain-specific aromatase knockout (bArKO) mouse. A newly generated whole-body total aromatase knockout mouse of the same genetic background served as a positive control. Here we demonstrate that local aromatase expression and estrogen production in the brain is partially required for male sexual behavior and sex hormone homeostasis. Male bArKO mice exhibited decreased sexual activity in the presence of strikingly elevated circulating testosterone. In castrated adult bArKO mice, administration of testosterone only partially restored sexual behavior; full sexual behavior, however, was achieved only when both estradiol and testosterone were administered together. Thus, aromatase in the brain is, in part, necessary for testosterone-dependent male sexual activity. We also found that brain aromatase is required for negative feedback regulation of circulating testosterone of testicular origin. Our findings suggest testosterone activates male sexual behavior in part via conversion to estradiol in the brain. These studies provide foundational evidence that sexual behavior may be modified through inhibition or enhancement of brain aromatase enzyme activity and/or utilization of selective estrogen receptor modulators.

scholarly journals OR09-03 Brain Aromatase Is Essential for Regulation of Sexual Activity in Male Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Brooks ◽  
Hong Zhao ◽  
John Coon V ◽  
C Mutlu Ercan ◽  
Hongxin Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Splice Acceptor Site ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Estrogen Production ◽  
Brain Aromatase ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Introduction: The biologically active form of estrogen, estradiol (E2), has important organizational roles in brain development and activational roles in adult brain physiology and behavior. It has been proposed that E2 formation in the brain might regulate sexual activity in various species. The mechanisms that link estrogen formation in the brain and sexual behavior, however, remain unclear. Aromatase is the key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of testosterone (T) to E2 in the testis and brain of male mice. To determine the role of brain aromatase in male sexual activity, we generated a brain-specific aromatase knockout (bArKO) mouse model. Additionally, a newly generated total aromatase knockout (tArKO) mouse model served as a positive control. Methods: We generated the floxed aromatase mice (Aromfl/fl), which flanked the transcription and translation start sites and the common splice acceptor site for the upstream brain promoter I.f of the aromatase gene. We then crossed Nestin-Cre mice with Aromfl/fl mice to generate bArKO mice. Using the same Aromfl/fl mice, we bred tArKO via crossing with ZP3-Cre mice. Circulating and tissue (brain and testis) E2 levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We assessed sexual activity in 12-14 week-old bArKO, tArKO and littermate control males over two 30-minute trials. The interactions were monitored and videotaped, and the videotape was scored for the sexual activity. To investigate whether the lack of estrogen production in the brain was causative for altered sexual behavior, 20 bArKO and 20 control mice were castrated at ~nine weeks of age and supplemented with exogenous sex hormone via 60-day time release pellet implantation. Results: E2 levels are significantly decreased in the brain but not the testis of bArKO mice as compared to control mice (P < 0.05, n=6-12). As expected, E2 levels in the brain and testis are significantly lower in tArKO mice compared with their WT littermates (n=6-9). Furthermore, we demonstrate that local aromatase expression and estrogen production in the brain is required for male sexual behavior and sex hormone homeostasis. Male bArKO mice exhibited significantly decreased sexual activity in the presence of strikingly elevated circulating T (n=5). In castrated adult bArKO mice, administration of E2 together with T restored maximum sexual behavior (n=5). Thus, aromatase in the brain is necessary for T-dependent male sexual activity. We also found that brain aromatase is required for negative feedback regulation of circulating T of testicular origin. Conclusion: Our findings suggest T activates male sexual behavior in part via conversion to E2 in the brain and provide the foundation for inhibition or enhancement of brain aromatase enzyme activity and/or utilization of selective estrogen receptor modulators in modifying sexual behavior. DCB and HZ contributed equally to this work.

Sexual Behavior in Males From a Neuroendocrine Perspective

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Balthazart ◽  
Gregory F. Ball
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Behavioral Activity ◽  
Inactive Compound ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Brain Aromatase ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Androgenic Steroids ◽  
Time Frames

It is well established that testosterone from testicular origin plays a critical role in the activation of male sexual behavior in most, if not all, vertebrate species. These effects take place to a large extent in the preoptic area although other brain sites are obviously also implicated. In its target areas, testosterone is actively metabolized either into estrogenic and androgenic steroids that have specific behavioral effects or into inactive metabolites. These transformations either amplify the behavioral activity of testosterone or, alternatively, metabolism to an inactive compound dissipates any biological effect. Androgens and estrogens then bind to nuclear receptors that modulate the transcription of specific genes. This process is controlled by a variety of co-activators and co-repressors that, respectively, enhance or inhibit these transcriptional processes. In addition, recent work has shown that the production of estrogens by brain aromatase can be modulated within minutes by changes in neural activity and that these rapid changes in neuroestrogen production impact sexual behavior, in particular sexual motivation within the same time frame. Estrogens thus affect specific aspects of male sexual behavior in two different time frames via two types of mechanisms that are completely different. Multiple questions remain open concerning the cellular brain mechanisms that mediate testosterone action on male sexual behavior.

Maternal treatment with picrotoxin in late pregnancy improved female sexual behavior but did not alter male sexual behavior of offspring

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria M. Bernardi ◽  
Kayne K. Scanzerla ◽  
Mayra Chamlian ◽  
Elizabeth Teodorov ◽  
Luciano F. Felicio
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Female Sexual Behavior ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior ◽  
Maternal Treatment

scholarly journals Induction of Male Sexual Behavior in the Rat by 7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone, an Androgen that does not Undergo 5α-Reduction1

1993 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Moralí ◽  
Ana Elena Lemus ◽  
Raul Munguía ◽  
Marcela Arteaga ◽  
Gregorio Pérez-Palacios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Male Sexual Behavior
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