Androgen mediation of conditioned rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica)

in Journal of Comparative Psychology (2005), 119(1), 49-57

Demonstrations of increased reproductive success due to sexual conditioning in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) have been reported, although the mechanisms that underlie these effects have remained ... [more ▼]

Demonstrations of increased reproductive success due to sexual conditioning in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) have been reported, although the mechanisms that underlie these effects have remained elusive. One possible mechanism is conditioned rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements (RCSM). Two experiments were conducted with male quail to determine whether associations between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and a hen would result in the ability of the CS to elicit RCSM, and to explore the androgen mediation of conditioned RCSM. The results suggest that a focal CS paired with visual access to a female will elicit RCSM via a representation of the hen activated by the CS. Further, the available evidence indicates that conditioned RCSM is androgen mediated and that this learning may transfer across breeding seasons. [less ▲]

Electrophysiological and neurochemical characterization of neurons of the medical preoptic area in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

in Brain Research (2004), 1029(2), 224-240

Preoptic aromatase modulates male sexual behavior: slow and fast mechanisms of action

in Physiology & Behavior (2004), 83(2), 247-270

In many species, copulatory behavior and appetitive (anticipatory/motivational) aspects of male sexual behavior are activated by the action in the preoptic area of estrogens locally produced by ... [more ▼]

In many species, copulatory behavior and appetitive (anticipatory/motivational) aspects of male sexual behavior are activated by the action in the preoptic area of estrogens locally produced by testosterone aromatization. Estrogens bind to intracellular receptors, which then act as transcription factors to activate the behavior. Accordingly, changes in aromatase activity (AA) result from slow steroid-induced modifications of enzyme transcription. More recently, rapid nongenomic effects of estrogens have been described and evidence has accumulated indicating that AA can be modulated by rapid (minutes to hour) nongenomic mechanisms in addition to the slower transcriptional changes. Hypothalamic AA is rapidly down-regulated in conditions that enhance protein phosphorylation, in particular, increases in the intracellular calcium concentration, such as those triggered by neurotransmitter (e.g., glutamate) activity. Fast changes in brain estrogens can thus be caused by aromatase phosphorylation as a result of changes in neurotransmission. In parallel, recent studies demonstrate that the pharmacological blockade of AA by specific inhibitors rapidly (within 15-45 min) down-regulates motivational and consummatory aspects of male sexual behavior in quail while injections of estradiol can rapidly increase the expression of copulatory behavior. These data collectively support an emerging concept in neuroendocrinology, namely that estrogen, locally produced in the brain, regulates male sexual behavior via a combination of genomic and nongenomic mechanisms. Rapid and slower changes of brain AA match well with these two modes of estrogen action and provide temporal variations in the estrogen's bioavailability that can support the entire range of established effects for this steroid. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Effects of central administration of naloxone during the extinction of appetitive sexual responses

in Behavioural Brain Research (2004), 153(2), 567-572

Several studies indicate that opioids are involved in the control of consummatory sexual behavior in male Japanese quail. Naloxone has been reported to increase copulatory responses. In the current study ... [more ▼]

Several studies indicate that opioids are involved in the control of consummatory sexual behavior in male Japanese quail. Naloxone has been reported to increase copulatory responses. In the current study, the effect of naloxone on appetitive sexual behaviors was assessed during extinction test trials. Naloxone was found to substantially reduce appetitive responding, suggesting that opioids differentially affect anticipatory and contact components of sexual behavior. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Aromatase activity modulates conditioned cloacal sphincter movements, an appetitive sexual behavior, in Japanese quail

in Hormones & Behavior (2004, June), 46(1), 92

Behavioral effects of rapid changes in aromatase activity in the central nervous system

in Kordon, C.; Gaillard, R. C.; Christen, Y. (Eds.) Research and perspectives in endocrine action (2004)

Multiple mechanisms control brain aromatase activity at the genomic and non-genomic level

in Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2003), 86

Evidence has recently accumulated indicating that aromatase activity in the preoptic area is modulated in parallel by both slow (hours to days) genomic and rapid (minutes to hours) non-genomic mechanisms ... [more ▼]

Evidence has recently accumulated indicating that aromatase activity in the preoptic area is modulated in parallel by both slow (hours to days) genomic and rapid (minutes to hours) non-genomic mechanisms. We review here these two types of control mechanisms and their potential contribution to various aspects of brain physiology in quail. High levels of aromatase mRNA, protein and activity (AA) are present in the preoptic area of this species where the transcription of aromatase is controlled mainly by steroids. Estrogens acting in synergy with androgens play a key role in this control and both androgen and estrogen receptors (ER; alpha and beta subtypes) are present in the preoptic area even if they are not necessarily co-localized in the same cells as aromatase. Steroids have more pronounced effects on aromatase transcription in males than in females and this sex difference could be caused, in part, by a sexually differentiated expression of the steroid receptor coactivator 1 in this area. The changes in aromatase concentration presumably control seasonal variations as well as sex differences in brain estrogen production. Aromatase activity in hypothalamic homogenates is also rapidly (within minutes) down-regulated by exposure to conditions that enhance protein phosphorylation such as the presence of high concentrations of calcium, magnesium and ATP. Similarly, pharmacological manipulations such as treatment with thapsigargin or stimulation of various neurotransmitter receptors (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA), kainate, and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)) leading to enhanced intracellular calcium concentrations depress within minutes the aromatase activity measured in quail preoptic explants. The effects of receptor stimulation are presumably direct: electrophysiological data confirm the presence of these receptors in the membrane of aromatase-expressing cells. Inhibitors of protein kinases interfere with these processes andWestern blotting experiments on brain aromatase purified by immunoprecipitation confirm that the phosphorylations regulating aromatase activity directly affect the enzyme rather than another regulatory protein. Accordingly, several phosphorylation consensus sites are present on the deduced amino acid sequence of the recently cloned quail aromatase. Fast changes in the local availability of estrogens in the brain can thus be caused by aromatase phosphorylation so that estrogen could rapidly regulate neuronal physiology and behavior. The rapid as well as slower processes of local estrogen production in the brain thus match well with the genomic and non-genomic actions of steroids in the brain. These two processes potentially provide sufficient temporal variation in the bio-availability of estrogens to support the entire range of established effects for this steroid. [less ▲]

Dopamine activates noradrenergic receptors in the preoptic area

in Journal of Neuroscience (2002), 22(21), 9320-9330

Dopamine (DA) facilitates male sexual behavior and modulates aromatase activity in the quail preoptic area (POA). Aromatase neurons in the POA receive dopaminergic inputs, but the anatomical substrate ... [more ▼]

Dopamine (DA) facilitates male sexual behavior and modulates aromatase activity in the quail preoptic area (POA). Aromatase neurons in the POA receive dopaminergic inputs, but the anatomical substrate that mediates the behavioral and endocrine effects of DA is poorly understood. Intracellular recordings showed that 100 muM DA hyperpolarizes most neurons in the medial preoptic nucleus (80%) by a direct effect, but depolarizes a few others (10%). DA-induced hyperpolarizations were not blocked by D1 or D2 antagonists (SCH-23390 and sulpiride). Extracellular recordings confirmed that DA inhibits the firing of most cells (52%) but excites a few others (24%). These effects also were not affected by DA antagonists (SCH-23390 and sulpiride) but were blocked by alpha(2)-(yohimbine) and alpha(1)-(prazosin) noradrenergic receptor antagonists, respectively. Two dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) inhibitors (cysteine and fusaric acid) did not block the DA-induced effects, indicating that DA is not converted into norepinephrine (NE) to produce its effects. The pK(B) of yohimbine for the receptor involved in the DA- and NE-induced inhibitions was similar, indicating that the two monoamines interact with the same receptor. Together, these results demonstrate that the effects of DA in the POA are mediated mostly by the activation of alpha(2) (inhibition) and alpha(1) (excitation) adrenoreceptors. This may explain why DA affects the expression of male sexual behavior through its action in the POA, which contains high densities of alpha(2)-noradrenergic but limited amounts of DA receptors. This study thus clearly demonstrates the existence of a cross talk within CNS catecholaminergic systems between a neurotransmitter and heterologous receptors. [less ▲]