Topic: sexual preference

We have reported that two types of ERs, ERa and ERb, are differentially involved in the estrogenic regulation of various kinds of social behaviors in both sexes of mice. In contrast to ERa-dependent action, the neuronal mechanisms of ERb action are still largely unknown. Using the ERb-RFPtg mouse line, we found a differential distribution of ERb from ERa at the “cellular level” in each of the ERb-rich brain regions in the social behavior neural network, such as the medial amygdala (MeA), lateral septum, and midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). To further determine the functions of these ERb-ex