Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals

Abstract

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.

Sex-dependent features of social behavior differ between distinct laboratory mouse strains and their mixed offspring

“…Notably, we observed sex-specific differences especially in the SNP and SxP tests. While the SxP test may be related to sexual behavior (Kondo and Hayashi, 2021), the SNP test is not, and is well known to reflect social novelty seeking (Moy et al, 2004). Thus, our results demonstrate that even social behaviors which are not directly related to the sexual, aggressive, or parental aspects may be sex-dependent.…”

Hearing, touching, and multisensory integration during mate choice

“…As for any other behavior, animals can gather information from all sensory modalities in order to choose a potential mate. Without doubt (Beach, 1942 ), olfactory information is crucial for rodent mate choice (Coombes et al, 2018 ; Ferkin, 2018 ) and odors carry important information about sex (Johnston, 2003 ; Choleris et al, 2009 ; Hurst, 2009 ; Kondo and Hayashi, 2021 ), strain (Krackow and Matuschak, 1991 ; Laukaitis et al, 1997 ; Bímová et al, 2009 ; Zinck and Lima, 2013 ), social rank (Jemiolo et al, 1985 , 1991 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ), sexual receptivity (Novotny et al, 1990 ; Dulac and Torello, 2003 ), fitness (DeFries and McClearn, 1970 ; Oakeshott, 1974 ; Gill and Rissman, 1997 ; Temple et al, 2002 ), and health status (Kavaliers and Colwell, 1993 ; Zala et al, 2004 ; Kavaliers and Choleris, 2017 ) of conspecifics. Indeed, several studies describe a prominent role for pheromones during the initial sexual approach in rats (Carr, 1974 ; Kumar et al, 2014 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ) and mice (Roberts et al, 2010 , 2014 ; Haga-Yamanaka et al, 2014 ; Demir et al, 2020 ).…”

A Protocol for the Non-invasive Method of Ultrasound Separation During the Sociosexual Vocal-Non-contact Model in Rats

“…In the classical procedure presented by Benjamin D. Sachs, the visual analysis of behavior enables the parameterization of sexual arousal (by latency to first non-contact erection as well as the number of non-contact erections) ( Sachs et al, 1994 ; Sachs, 1997 ), sexual preferences ( Kondo and Hayashi, 2021 ), sociosexual motivation (latency to start and duration of perforation sniffing), and general arousal (number of rearing, total locomotor activity). The experimental non-contact chamber provides visual contact (when the baffles are transparent), exchange of olfactory stimuli due to perforations (olfactory cues could also be reduced or enhanced by pumping air in or out), and non-specific acoustic cues as a result of animal movements (mainly in the human audible range).…”