Progesterone Inhibits Female Courtship Behavior in Domestic Canaries (Serinus canaria)

Leboucher, Gérard; Béguin, Nathalie; Lacroix, André; Kreutzer, Michel

doi:10.1006/hbeh.2000.1611

Cited by 22 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…In males, progesterone seems to facilitate male-typical behaviors at physiological concentrations [11,34–36,71,72], and PR knockout mice show a decrease in male-typical sexual behavior [54]. In females, the effects of progesterone on receptivity vary across vertebrate classes as exogenous progesterone increases receptivity in mammals [68] and amphibians [59], but decreases female-typical behavior in reptiles [21] and birds [32]. The molecular mechanisms of this differential action of progesterone in female vertebrates is not well understood and further comparative work into the distribution and quantitative expression of the PR is needed to increase our understanding of how and where PR acts to either facilitate or inhibit female-typical behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular characterization and brain distribution of the progesterone receptor in whiptail lizards

O’Connell

Matthews

Patel

et al. 2011

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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Progesterone and its nuclear receptor are critical in modulating reproductive physiology and behavior in female and male vertebrates. Whiptail lizards (genus Cnemidophorus) are an excellent model system in which to study the evolution of sexual behavior, as both the ancestral and descendent species exist. Male-typical sexual behavior is mediated by progesterone in both the ancestral species and the descendant all-female species, although the molecular characterization and distribution of the progesterone receptor protein throughout the reptilian brain is not well understood. To better understand the gene targets and ligand binding properties of the progesterone receptor in whiptails, we cloned the promoter and coding sequence of the progesterone receptor and analyzed the predicted protein structure. We next determined the distribution of the progesterone receptor protein and mRNA throughout the brain of C. inornatus and C. uniparens by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We found the progesterone receptor to be present in many brain regions known to regulate social behavior and processing of stimulus salience across many vertebrates, including the ventral tegmental area, amygdala, nucleus accumbens and several hypothalamic nuclei. Additionally, we quantified immunoreactive cells in the preoptic area and ventromedial hypothalamus in females of both species and males of the ancestral species. We found differences between both species and across ovarian states. Our results significantly extend our understanding of progesterone modulation in the reptilian brain and support the important role of the nuclear progesterone receptor in modulating sexual behavior in reptiles and across vertebrates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular characterization and brain distribution of the progesterone receptor in whiptail lizards

O’Connell

Matthews

Patel

et al. 2011

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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“…Exogenous progesterone increases receptivity in mammals (White et al, 2007) and amphibians (Schmidt, 1985), but decreases female-typical behavior in reptiles (Godwin et al, 1996). Similarly, in canaries, injection of exogenous progesterone leads to a reduction in female responsiveness to male songs (Leboucher et al, 2000). Previous studies in female tú ngara frogs have shown progesterone is not necessary for phonotaxis (Chakraborty and Burmeister, 2009), but whether progesterone plays a role in female preference or receptivity remains to be determined.…”

Section: Functional Implications Of Progesterone In Modulating Socialmentioning

confidence: 94%

Neural distribution of the nuclear progesterone receptor in the túngara frog, Physalaemus pustulosus

O’Connell¹,

Ding²,

Ryan³

et al. 2011

Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy

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“…Although PR are expressed in a number of avian brain areas, there are no hints on the role of these receptors for sexual development in birds. As in mammals and reptiles, PR are thought to mediate the transition of active female courtship behavior to sexual refractoriness in relation with brooding (Godwin et al, 1996;Leboucher et al, 2000;Mani et al, 1997). However, it was recently suggested that progesterone plays a role in male sexual differentiation of rats (Wagner et al, 1998).…”

Section: Is the Expression Level Of Sex Steroid Receptors A Limiting mentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of sex steroid hormone receptors in the avian brain: Functional implications for neural sex differences and sexual behaviors

Gahr

2001

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Developmental and seasonal changes in the production of androgens, estrogens, and progestins seem to control sex-specific differentiation and seasonal changes in appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors of birds. This results in profound sex differences in the quality (sex-specific) or quantity (sex-typical) of behaviors such as courtship, territoriality, or copulation. Steroids affect the brain by binding to intracellularly located receptors. The same brain areas express androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors in male and female brains. Sex differences in these genetically determined patterns occur in the size of neuron populations that intrinsically express sex steroid receptors. Further permanent sex differences are subsequent to degenerative fates of receptor expressing neuron populations during ontogeny. Transient sex differences in receptor expression appear to be due to area-specific up- and down-regulation of receptor levels, reflecting transient changes in the level of circulating steroids, changes in environmental conditions, or in the physiological status of the individuals. In particular, intrinsic sex differences in the expression pattern of sex steroid receptors and steroid-independent regulation of the expression level of these receptors in the brain are limiting mechanisms for gonad-dependent sexual development and activities.

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Progesterone Inhibits Female Courtship Behavior in Domestic Canaries (Serinus canaria)

Cited by 22 publications

References 33 publications

Molecular characterization and brain distribution of the progesterone receptor in whiptail lizards

Molecular characterization and brain distribution of the progesterone receptor in whiptail lizards

Neural distribution of the nuclear progesterone receptor in the túngara frog, Physalaemus pustulosus

Distribution of sex steroid hormone receptors in the avian brain: Functional implications for neural sex differences and sexual behaviors

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