title: Molecular regulation of sexual preference revealed by genetic studies of 5-HT in the brains of male mice.
abstract: Although the question of to whom a male directs his mating attempts is a critical one in social interactions, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling mammalian sexual preference. Here we report that the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is required for male sexual preference. Wild-type male mice preferred females over males, but males lacking central serotonergic neurons lost sexual preference although they were not generally defective in olfaction or in pheromone sensing. A role for 5-HT was demonstrated by the phenotype of mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), which is required for the first step of 5-HT synthesis in the brain. Thirty-five minutes after the injection of the intermediate 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which circumvented Tph2 to restore 5-HT to the wild-type level, adult Tph2 knockout mice also preferred females over males. These results indicate that 5-HT and serotonergic neurons in the adult brain regulate mammalian sexual preference.
authors: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Yun'ai
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Yunxia
authors: Y
authors: Si
authors: Ji-Young
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Zhou-Feng
authors: ZF
authors: Chen
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Rao
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000502:physiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000235:genetics; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000032:analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012903:Smell; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants; D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; C487802:Tph2 protein, mouse; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase