Hormone-dependent medial preoptic/lumbar spinal cord/autonomic coordination supporting male sexual behaviors. (15th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pfaff, Donald W.; Baum, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: Molecular and cellular endocrinology. Volume 467(2018)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2018-05-15
• Subjects: Preoptic area -- Periaqueductal grey -- Spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosis -- Testosterone -- Estradiol -- Dihydrotestosterone -- Sympathetic nervous system -- Parasympathetic nervous system; T Testosterone -- E Estradiol -- DHT Dihydrotestosterone -- AR Androgen receptor -- ER Estradiol receptor -- mPOA Medial preoptic area -- ChIP chromatin immunoprecipitation -- GR Glucocorticoid receptor -- MR Mineralocorticoid receptor -- PR Progestin receptor -- ARE Androgen response element -- 5alphaR 5-alpha reductase -- MeA medial amgydala -- BNST Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis -- CTF Midbrain central tegmental field -- DA Dopamine -- NGC Nucleus GigantoCellularis -- SNB Spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus muscle -- BDNF Brain-Derived Growth Factor -- 17beta-C 17beta-testosterone carboxylic acid -- BPH Benign prostate hypertrophy -- GnRH gonadotrophin releasing hormone -- ACTH Adrenal corticotrophin releasing hormone -- GRE Glucocorticoid response element; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Endocrinologie -- Périodiques; Cytology; Endocrinology; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 573.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-7207

Abstract

Abstract: Testosterone (T) can act directly through neural androgen receptors (AR) to facilitate male sexual behavior; however, T's metabolites also can play complicated and interesting roles in the control of mating. One metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to AR with significantly greater affinity than that of T. Is that important behaviorally? Another metabolite, estradiol (E), offers a potential alternative route of facilitating male mating behavior by acting through estradiol receptors (ER). In this review we explore the roles and relative importance of T as well as E and DHT at various levels of the neuroaxis for the activation of male sex behavior in common laboratory animals and, when relevant research findings are available, in man. Highlights: T and/or E stimulate mating in male rodents whereas DHT facilitates erection. T and/or E act in preoptic neurons to amplify sensory inputs for arousal and mating. Preoptic neurons activate a parasympathetic circuit causing penile erection. Preoptic neurons activate a sympathetic circuit causing ejaculation. Stress hormones block mating by interfering with T's forebrain actions.