Topic: sexual behavior

Reproductive disorders are associated with neuroendocrine dysregulation in the hypothalamic-hypophysis-gonadal (HHG) axis, which can result from a defective production and action of the neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the master regulator of reproduction. We have previously shown that SELENOT, a new thioredoxin-like selenoprotein highly expressed in endocrine and neuroendocrine cells, plays a role in hormone secretion. However, whether SELENOT is involved in neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms that impinge on vital functions such as reproduction, is totally unknown. We fou

To develop new therapeutic options for the treatment of bipolar disorder, animal models are a valuable tool to understand underlying changes in neurobiology. By manipulating the prefrontal dopamine D1 receptor our group was able to induce mania- as well as depressive-like behavior in rats. As social behavior is largely affected in bipolar disorder, we aim to phenotype our model in this respect. Therefore, a test battery including social hierarchy in three different tests (social dominance tube test, food competition test, urine scent mark test), sexual motivation and sexual behavior in adult r

The tumor protein p73 is involved in a variety of functions including neural development. p73-KO mice lack exploratory genital and mating behavior and are sterile. Since p73 is highly expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO), we examined centers related to the pheromonal pathway from embryonic day (E) 12 to adulthood, by using immunohistochemistry. In the p73 KO mouse, the VNO is smaller compared to the WT from the onset of development. However, the vomeronasal nerve (VNN) is present though reduced in size, and serves as a migration substrate for GnRH+ neurons from the olfactory placode to the