title: Opposite-sex attraction in male mice requires testosterone-dependent regulation of adult olfactory bulb neurogenesis.
abstract: Opposite-sex attraction in most mammals depends on the fine-tuned integration of pheromonal stimuli with gonadal hormones in the brain circuits underlying sexual behaviour. Neural activity in these circuits is regulated by sensory processing in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), the first central station of the vomeronasal system. Recent evidence indicates adult neurogenesis in the AOB is involved in sex behaviour; however, the mechanisms underlying this function are unknown. By using Semaphorin 7A knockout (Sema7A ko) mice, which show a reduced number of gonadotropin-releasing-hormone neurons, small testicles and subfertility, and wild-type males castrated during adulthood, we demonstrate that the level of circulating testosterone regulates the sex-specific control of AOB neurogenesis and the vomeronasal system activation, which influences opposite-sex cue preference/attraction in mice. Overall, these data highlight adult neurogenesis as a hub for the integration of pheromonal and hormonal cues that control sex-specific responses in brain circuits.
authors: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin I-10123, Italy.|NICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Schellino
authors: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin I-10123, Italy.|NICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Trova
authors: Inserm, UMR-S 1172, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Cimino
authors: Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Farinetti
authors: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG11 Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Bart C
authors: BC
authors: Jongbloets
authors: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG11 Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: R Jeroen
authors: RJ
authors: Pasterkamp
authors: NICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.|Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Panzica
authors: Inserm, UMR-S 1172, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, F-59000 Lille, France.|Univ. Lille, UMR-S 1172-JPArc-Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre AUBERT Neurosciences et Cancer, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Giacobini
authors: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin I-10123, Italy.|NICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: De Marchis
authors: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin I-10123, Italy.|NICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), University of Turin, Turin I-10125, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Peretto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism*; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013739:Testosterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C485571:Sema7a protein, mouse; D039961:Semaphorins; D013739:Testosterone