Sex differences in olfactory-induced neural activation of the amygdala.

Sex differences in olfactory-induced neural activation of the amygdala.
Behav Brain Res. 2017 Dec 01;:
Authors: Kikusui T, Kajita M, Otsuka N, Hattori T, Kumazawa K, Watarai A, Nagasawa M, Inutsuka A, Yamanaka A, Matsuo N, Covington HE, Mogi K
Abstract
Olfactory signals, including the scent of urine, are thought to be processed by specific brain regions, such as the medial amygdala (Me), and regulate sexual behavior in a sex-dependent manner. We aimed to reveal the sex-specific neural circuit from the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) to Me by using a transgenic mouse. We quantified the long-lasting green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression profile, which was controlled by the c-fos promotor in a sex-dependent manner by the scent of urine. Female urine predominantly activated neurons of the MePD in male mice and the MePV in female mice. Male urine, in contrast, generated the opposite pattern of activation in the Me. Secondary, the selective artificial activation of these circuits was used to examine their specific behavioral function, by using a dual Cre-loxP viral infection. AAV-hSyn-FLEX-hM3Dq-EGFP - the designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug - was infused into the AOB after infection with trans-synaptic AAV(DJ)-CMV-mCherry-2A-Cre-TTC into either the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) or the posteroventral medial amygdala (MePV). Double virus-transfected mice were injected with hM3Dq activator and their sexual b...

Source: Behavioural Brain Research - December 1, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Kikusui T, Kajita M, Otsuka N, Hattori T, Kumazawa K, Watarai A, Nagasawa M, Inutsuka A, Yamanaka A, Matsuo N, Covington HE, Mogi K Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research