Author response: Ubiquitin-dependent regulation of a conserved DMRT protein controls sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity and behavior

Sex-specific synaptic connectivity is beginning to emerge as a remarkable, but little explored feature of animal brains. We describe here a novel mechanism that promotes sexually dimorphic neuronal function and synaptic connectivity in the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We demonstrate that a phylogenetically conserved, but previously uncharacterized Doublesex/Mab-3 related transcription factor (DMRT), dmd-4, is expressed in two classes of sex-shared phasmid neurons specifically in hermaphrodites but not in males. We find dmd-4 to promote hermaphrodite-specific synaptic connectivity and neuronal function of phasmid sensory neurons. Sex-specificity of DMD-4 function is conferred by a novel mode of posttranslational regulation that involves sex-specific protein stabilization through ubiquitin binding to a phylogenetically conserved but previously unstudied protein domain, the DMA domain. A human DMRT homolog of DMD-4 is controlled in a similar manner, indicating that our findings may have implications for the control of sexual differentiation in other animals as well.

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Decision letter: Ubiquitin-dependent regulation of a conserved DMRT protein controls sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity and behavior

10.7554/elife.59614.sa1 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Synaptic Connectivity ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

And Behavior

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Author response for "Users' mental models for computer‐mediated communication: Theorizing emerging technology and behavior in eHealth applications"

10.1002/hbe2.212/v2/response1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yi‐Ching Lee ◽

Lindsey A. Malcein

Keyword(s):

Mental Models ◽

Emerging Technology ◽

Author Response ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

And Behavior

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Neonatal exposure to estradiol-17β modulates tumour necrosis factor alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in brain and also in ovaries of adult female rats

Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation ◽

10.1515/hmbci-2015-0072 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Radhika Nagamangalam Shridharan ◽

Harshini Krishnagiri ◽

Vijayakumar Govindaraj ◽

SitiKantha Sarangi ◽

Addicam Jagannadha Rao

Keyword(s):

Recent Observation ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Female Rats ◽

Neonatal Exposure ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Factor Alpha ◽

And Behavior ◽

Estradiol 17Β

AbstractThe sexually dimorphic organization in perinatal rat brain is influenced by steroid hormones. Exposure to high levels of estrogen or endocrine-disrupting compounds during perinatal period may perturb this process, resulting in compromised reproductive physiology and behavior as observed in adult In our recent observation neonatal exposure of the female rats to estradiol-17β resulted in down-regulation of

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Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male C. elegans

10.1101/2021.11.29.470485 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew J Gadenne ◽

Iris Hardege ◽

Djordji Suleski ◽

Paris Jaggers ◽

Isabel Beets ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Synaptic Connectivity ◽

Male Mating ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

C Elegans ◽

Mating Efficiency ◽

Sexually Dimorphic Expression ◽

Pharyngeal Pumping ◽

Insight Into ◽

Feeding Behaviours ◽

Dimorphic Expression

Sexual dimorphism occurs where different sexes of the same species display differences in characteristics not limited to reproduction. For the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in which the complete neuroanatomy has been solved for both hermaphrodites and males, sexually dimorphic features have been observed both in terms of the number of neurons and in synaptic connectivity. In addition, male behaviours, such as food-leaving to prioritise searching for mates, have been attributed to neuropeptides released from sex-shared or sex-specific neurons. In this study, we show that the lury-1 neuropeptide gene shows a sexually dimorphic expression pattern; being expressed in pharyngeal neurons in both sexes but displaying additional expression in tail neurons only in the male. We also show that lury-1 mutant animals show sex differences in feeding behaviours, with pharyngeal pumping elevated in hermaphrodites but reduced in males. LURY-1 also modulates male mating efficiency, influencing motor events during contact with a hermaphrodite. Our findings indicate sex-specific roles of this peptide in feeding and reproduction in C. elegans, providing further insight into neuromodulatory control of sexually dimorphic behaviours.

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Evolution, Societal Sexism, and Universal Average Sex Differences in Cognition and Behavior

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190299323.013.30 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lee Ellis

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Past Century ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Industrial Countries ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

And Behavior ◽

Industrial Societies ◽

Shed Light

During the past century, social scientists have documented many cross-cultural sex differences in personality and behavior, quite a few of which now appear to be found in all human societies. However, contrary to most scientists’ expectations, these so-called universal sex differences have been shown to be more pronounced in Western industrial societies than in most non-Western developing societies. This chapter briefly reviews the evidence bearing on these findings and offers a biologically based theory that could help shed light on why cross-cultural sex differences exist. The following hypothesis is offered: The expression of many genes influencing sexually dimorphic traits is more likely among descendants of couples who are least closely related to one another. If so, societies in which out-marriage is normative (i.e., Western industrial countries) will exhibit a stronger expression of genes for sexually dimorphic traits compared to societies in which consanguineal marriages are common.

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RETHINKING INNATENESS: A CONNECTIONIST PERSPECTIVE ON DEVELOPMENT.Jeffrey L. Elman, Elizabeth A. Bates, Mark H. Johnson, Annette Karmiloff-Smith, Domenico Parisi, & Kim Plunkett. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1996. Pp. xviii + 447. $45.00 cloth.

Studies in Second Language Acquisition ◽

10.1017/s0272263198333070 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 451-451

Author(s):

Nick Ellis

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Psychology ◽

Dynamical Systems ◽

Cellular Level ◽

Regulatory Control ◽

Synaptic Connectivity ◽

Special Focus ◽

Human Cortex ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Molecular Arrangement ◽

And Behavior

In this provocative book, six coauthors, representing cognitive psychology, connectionism, neurobiology, and dynamical-systems theory, synthesize a new theoretical framework for cognitive development with special focus on language acquisition. In the Emergentist perspective, interactions occurring at all levels, from genes to environment, give rise to emergent forms and behavior. These outcomes may be highly constrained and universal, but they are not themselves directly contained in the genes in any domain-specific way. The human body contains perhaps 5 × 1028 bits of information in its molecular arrangement, but our genome contains only about 105 bits of information. Thus, we are over 20 orders of magnitude short of being mosaic organisms, where development is prespecified in the genes. Our development is under regulatory control, where precise pathways to adulthood reflect numerous interactions at the cellular level occurring throughout development. The human cortex is plastic, its architecture reflects experience; innate specification of synaptic connectivity in the cortex is highly unlikely. Theories of language must reflect this—they must be biologically, developmentally, and ecologically plausible. Linguistic representational nativism is just not tenable. It is so implausible that UG could be directly encoded in the genotype that we must explore the alternatives. So the answer is not “Nature.” Nor, as the authors so clearly argue, is it “Nature or Nuture.” Rather, it is “Nature and Nurture.”

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Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Mechanisms for Potential Sex Differences Observed in Autism Spectrum Disorders

10.1093/med/9780199744312.003.0018 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

C. Sue Carter ◽

Suma Jacob

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Arginine Vasopressin ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Unique Role ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior

The effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on the brain and behavior can be sexually dimorphic, especially during the course of development (Bales, Kim, et al., 2004; Bales, Pfeifer, et al., 2004; Bales, Plotsky, et al., 2007; Bielsky et al., 2005a; Carter, 2003; Thompson et al., 2006; Yamamoto et al., 2005; Yamamoto et al., 2004). Given the sexual discrepancy observed in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), these two neuropeptides, oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), have received attention for their potential role in ASDs (Green and Hollander, 2010; Insel et al., 1999; Leckman & Herman, 2002; Welch et al., 2005; Winslow, 2005; Young et al., 2002). Changes in either OT or AVP and their receptors could be capable of influencing symptom domains or behaviors associated with ASDs. Arginine vasopressin is androgen dependent in some brain regions (De Vries & Panzica, 2006), and males are more sensitive to AVP, especially during development. We hypothesize here that AVP, which has a unique role in males, must be present in optimal levels to be protective against ASDs. Either excess AVP or disruptions in the AVP system could play a role in development of the traits found in ASDs. In contrast, OT may possibly be secreted in response to adversity, especially in females, serving as a protective factor.

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Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endocr/bqaa150 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 161 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Kimberly J Jennings ◽

Luis de Lecea

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Neural Circuits ◽

Sexual Motivation ◽

Gonadal Hormones ◽

Hormonal Control ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Neural Patterning ◽

Ideal System ◽

Brain And Behavior ◽

And Behavior

Abstract Gonadal hormones contribute to the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior throughout the lifespan, from initial neural patterning to “activation” of adult circuits. Sexual behavior is an ideal system in which to investigate the mechanisms underlying hormonal activation of neural circuits. Sexual behavior is a hormonally regulated, innate social behavior found across species. Although both sexes seek out and engage in sexual behavior, the specific actions involved in mating are sexually dimorphic. Thus, the neural circuits mediating sexual motivation and behavior in males and females are overlapping yet distinct. Furthermore, sexual behavior is strongly dependent on circulating gonadal hormones in both sexes. There has been significant recent progress on elucidating how gonadal hormones modulate physiological properties within sexual behavior circuits with consequences for behavior. Therefore, in this mini-review we review the neural circuits of male and female sexual motivation and behavior, from initial sensory detection of pheromones to the extended amygdala and on to medial hypothalamic nuclei and reward systems. We also discuss how gonadal hormones impact the physiology and functioning of each node within these circuits. By better understanding the myriad of ways in which gonadal hormones impact sexual behavior circuits, we can gain a richer and more complete appreciation for the neural substrates of complex behavior.

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