title: Diminished pheromone-induced sexual behavior in neurokinin-1 receptor deficient (TACR1(-/-)) mice.
abstract: Studies in mice with targeted deletions of tachykinin genes suggest that tachykinins and their receptors influence emotional behaviors such as aggression, depression and anxiety. Here, we investigated whether TAC1- and TAC4-encoded peptides (substance P and hemokinin-1, respectively) and the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) are involved in the modulation of sexual behaviors. Male mice deficient for the NK-1R (TACR1 (-/-)) exhibited decreased exploration of female urine in contrast to C57BL/6 control mice and mice deficient for NK-1R ligands such as TAC1 (-/-), TAC4 (-/-) and the newly generated TAC1 (-/-) /TAC4 (-/-) mice. In comparison to C57BL/6 mice, mounting frequency and duration were decreased in male TACR1 (-/-) mice, while mounting latency was increased. Decreased preference for sexual pheromones was also seen in female TACR1 (-/-) mice. Furthermore, administration of the NK-1R-antagonist L-703,606 decreased investigation of female urine by male C57BL/6 mice, suggesting an involvement of NK-1R in urine sniffing behavior. Our results provide evidence for the NK-1R in facilitating sexual approach behavior, as male TACR1 (-/-) mice exhibited blunted approach behavior toward females following the initial interaction compared with C57BL/6 mice. NK-1R signaling may therefore play an important role in pheromone-induced sexual behavior.
authors.affiliation: Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. aberger@uhnres.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minkin
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Paige
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010675:Pheromones; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013373:Substance P / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D015320:Tachykinins; C507968:hemokinin-1; D013373:Substance P