Expression, distribution, and function of sex hormone receptors in the rabbit brain

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Hormones and Behavior Pub Date : 2025-05-21 DOI:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105762

Beatriz Molina , Gabriela González-Mariscal , Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Sex hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone are crucial for vertebrate brain functions by interacting with their specific receptors. In rabbits, these hormones regulate sexual behavior, scent marking, nest building, and nipple searching across different brain regions. However, information on sex hormone receptors in the rabbit brain is limited. We examined intracellular progesterone (PR), estrogen (ER), and androgen receptors (AR) in the rabbit brain. PR activation by progesterone is associated with pregnancy and maternal behaviors like nest building and nipple searching. PR is expressed in female and male rabbits' cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, preoptic area, and hippocampus. In males, it is also found in the olfactory bulb, mesencephalon, and cerebellum. Rabbits express two ER subtypes, ERα and ERβ, with different expression patterns and functions. The former is in the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hippocampus, hypothalamus, preoptic area, septum, and thalamus of females. In males, ERα is expressed in the hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex, preoptic area, mesencephalon, and cerebellum. Both ERs are located in male rabbits' amygdala, claustrum, and hippocampus. ERs influence estrous behavior and chinning. ERα has a role in rabbit hippocampus development and plasticity. AR is expressed in male rabbit hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, preoptic area, mesencephalon, and cerebellum, related to sexual behavior and chinning.

Interestingly, sex hormones regulate their own receptor expression and those of other sex hormones. Thus, estradiol regulates PR expression. This review summarizes the expression and distribution of sex hormone receptors in the rabbit brain and their behavioral role.

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性激素受体在兔脑中的表达、分布和功能

性激素，如雌二醇、黄体酮和睾酮，通过与特定受体相互作用，对脊椎动物的大脑功能至关重要。在兔子中，这些激素通过不同的大脑区域调节性行为、气味标记、筑巢和乳头搜索。然而，关于兔子大脑中性激素受体的信息是有限的。我们检测了兔脑内细胞内孕激素（PR）、雌激素（ER）和雄激素受体（AR）。孕酮激活PR与怀孕和母性行为有关，如筑巢和寻找乳头。PR在雌雄兔的大脑皮层、下丘脑、视前区和海马中均有表达。在男性中，它也存在于嗅球、中脑和小脑中。家兔表达ERα和ERβ两种ER亚型，具有不同的表达模式和功能。前者位于女性的杏仁核、终纹床核、海马、下丘脑、视前区、隔区和丘脑。在男性中，ERα在下丘脑、嗅球、前额叶皮层、视前区、中脑和小脑中表达。这两种er均位于雄性家兔的杏仁核、屏状体和海马体。雌激素受体影响动情行为和排卵。ERα在兔海马发育和可塑性中起作用。AR在雄性家兔下丘脑、嗅球、前额皮质、海马、视前区、中脑和小脑中表达，与性行为和下巴有关。有趣的是，性激素调节自己和其他性激素的受体表达。因此，雌二醇调节PR的表达。本文就性激素受体在兔脑中的表达、分布及其行为作用作一综述。

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来源期刊

Hormones and Behavior 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

8.60%

发文量

139

审稿时长

91 days

期刊介绍： Hormones and Behavior publishes original research articles, reviews and special issues concerning hormone-brain-behavior relationships, broadly defined. The journal''s scope ranges from laboratory and field studies concerning neuroendocrine as well as endocrine mechanisms controlling the development or adult expression of behavior to studies concerning the environmental control and evolutionary significance of hormone-behavior relationships. The journal welcomes studies conducted on species ranging from invertebrates to mammals, including humans.