title: A Sexually Dimorphic Area of the Dorsal Hypothalamus in Mice and Common Marmosets.
abstract: We found a novel sexually dimorphic area (SDA) in the dorsal hypothalamus (DH) of mice. The SDA-DH was sandwiched between 2 known male-biased sexually dimorphic nuclei, the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the calbindin-sexually dimorphic nucleus, and exhibited a female-biased sex difference in neuronal cell density. The density of neurons in the SDA-DH was increased in male mice by orchidectomy on the day of birth and decreased in female mice by treatment with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or estradiol within 5 days after birth. These findings indicate that the SDA-DH is defeminized under the influence of testicular testosterone, which acts via both directly by binding to the androgen receptor, and indirectly by binding to the estrogen receptor after aromatization. We measured the activity of SDA-DH neurons with c-Fos, a neuronal activity marker, in female mice during maternal and sexual behaviors. The number of c-Fos-expressing neurons in the SDA-DH of female mice was negatively correlated with maternal behavior performance. However, the number of c-Fos-expressing neurons did not change during female sexual behavior. These findings suggest that the SDA-DH contains a neuronal cell population, the activity of which decreases in females exhibiting higher performance of maternal behavior, but it may contribute less to female sexual behavior. Additionally, we examined the brain of common marmosets and found an area that appears to be homologous with the mouse SDA-DH. The sexually dimorphic structure identified in this study is not specific to mice and may be found in other species.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Yadanar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Chaw
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kyi-Tha-Thu
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Satowa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katsuura
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iwashige
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akune
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science (Y.M., C.K.-T.-T., T.T., H.I., I.S., T.S., S.T.), Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Drug Safety Research Laboratories (S.Y., F.I., A.A.), Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd, Kagoshima 891-1394, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (K.-I.M., M.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine (G.K., A.I.), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan; and Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (S.O.), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D002452:Cell Count; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009919:Orchiectomy; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone