Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals
In mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8311 |
| _version_ | 1797525455701540864 |
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| author | Yasuhiko Kondo Himeka Hayashi |
| author_facet | Yasuhiko Kondo Himeka Hayashi |
| author_sort | Yasuhiko Kondo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we review the physiological mechanisms involved in sexual preference for opposite-sex chemosensory signals in well-studied laboratory rodents, mice, rats, and hamsters of both sexes, especially an overview of peripheral sensory receptors, and hormonal and central regulation. In the hormonal regulation section, we discuss potential rodent brain bisexuality, as it includes neural substrates controlling both masculine and feminine sexual preferences, i.e., masculine preference for female odors and the opposite. In the central regulation section, we show the substantial circuit regulating sexual preference and also the influence of sexual experience that innate attractants activate in the brain reward system to establish the learned attractant. Finally, we review the regulation of sexual preference by neuropeptides, oxytocin, vasopressin, and kisspeptin. Through this review, we clarified the contradictions and deficiencies in our current knowledge on the neuroendocrine regulation of sexual preference and sought to present problems requiring further study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a54f8cefce34cfca71e1f9a2e3ac94f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a54f8cefce34cfca71e1f9a2e3ac94f2023-11-22T05:46:33ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-08-012215831110.3390/ijms22158311Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory SignalsYasuhiko Kondo0Himeka Hayashi1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Teikyo University of Science, Uenohara 409-0193, Yamanashi, JapanDepartment of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Teikyo University of Science, Uenohara 409-0193, Yamanashi, JapanIn mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we review the physiological mechanisms involved in sexual preference for opposite-sex chemosensory signals in well-studied laboratory rodents, mice, rats, and hamsters of both sexes, especially an overview of peripheral sensory receptors, and hormonal and central regulation. In the hormonal regulation section, we discuss potential rodent brain bisexuality, as it includes neural substrates controlling both masculine and feminine sexual preferences, i.e., masculine preference for female odors and the opposite. In the central regulation section, we show the substantial circuit regulating sexual preference and also the influence of sexual experience that innate attractants activate in the brain reward system to establish the learned attractant. Finally, we review the regulation of sexual preference by neuropeptides, oxytocin, vasopressin, and kisspeptin. Through this review, we clarified the contradictions and deficiencies in our current knowledge on the neuroendocrine regulation of sexual preference and sought to present problems requiring further study.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8311sexual preferencepheromonesolfactory epitheliumvomeronasal organsex steroidsolfactory nervous system |
| spellingShingle | Yasuhiko Kondo Himeka Hayashi Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals International Journal of Molecular Sciences sexual preference pheromones olfactory epithelium vomeronasal organ sex steroids olfactory nervous system |
| title | Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals |
| title_full | Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals |
| title_fullStr | Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals |
| title_short | Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals |
| title_sort | neural and hormonal basis of opposite sex preference by chemosensory signals |
| topic | sexual preference pheromones olfactory epithelium vomeronasal organ sex steroids olfactory nervous system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8311 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yasuhikokondo neuralandhormonalbasisofoppositesexpreferencebychemosensorysignals AT himekahayashi neuralandhormonalbasisofoppositesexpreferencebychemosensorysignals |