Sex Hormones' Regulation of Rodent Physical Activity: A Review

Abstract

There is a large body of emerging literature suggesting that physical activity is regulated to a varying extent by biological factors. Available animal data strongly suggests that there is a differential regulation of physical activity by sex and that the majority of this differential regulation is mediated by estrogen/testosterone pathways with females in many animal species having higher daily activity levels than males. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the mechanisms by which estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect the regulation of physical daily activity. This review lays the foundation for future investigations in humans as well as discussions about relative disease risk mediated by differential biological regulation of physical activity by sex.

Sex differences in animal models of psychiatric disorders

“…Other symptoms of depression, such as decreased sexual behaviour and self-care, changes in sleep architecture and locomotor activity have been reported as well, thus increasing the validity of this model (Willner, 1997;. Following CMS, there is a reduction in both sexes in sucrose intake, when assessed with 1 h tests once weekly, but the effect is more robust in male rats, in comparison with female rats (Dalla et al, 2005a;2008; Grippo et al, 2005;Kamper et al, 2009). It is possible that sucrose intake in 1 h tests is not an appropriate behavioural index for female rats, because there is a trend for female rats to drink more sucrose than male rats and to show a more erratic increase in their consumption (Dalla et al, 2005a).…”

“…), such distinction may at times be impossible. Several studies indicate that female rats are more active or aroused than male rats (Valle and Gorzalka, 1980;Kelly et al, 1999;Brotto et al, 2000;Romero and Chen, 2004;Dalla et al, 2005a), possibly because of the effects of gonadal hormone and the distinct female coping strategy in conflict tests (Palanza, 2001;Lightfoot, 2008).In fact, tests that depend less on the general locomotion, such as the Vogel punished drinking and the social interaction test, show instead higher levels of anxiety in female rats. Indeed, female rats are more anxious in the Vogel punished drinking (Johnston and File, 1991;Walf et al, 2009).…”

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3) +894 G>T Associates with Physical Activity and Muscle Performance among Young Adults

“…Estrogen may influence NO production by activating estrogen receptor mediated genomic pathways and upregulation of NOS3 [38,41]. Sex hormones have been postulated to also affect PA levels through the estrogen receptor pathway [38]. This evidence lends insight into possible explanations for the gender dependent effects we found among women but not men regarding NOS3 +894 T>G associations with the muscle strength response to RT.…”

“…Glutamate regulates the release of dopamine in several brain regions and has been implicated in the regulation of various behaviors and behavioral disorders [3]. Lightfoot [38] and others [39] have shown that genetic control of PA is centrally mediated, possibly through the actions of dopamine receptors. These combined observations provide insights into biologically plausible peripheral and central explanations for the associations we observed among NOS3 +894 G>T and PA and the muscle strength response to RT.…”

“…Furthermore, whole-body production of NO is greater in healthy, premenopausal women than in men under ambulatory conditions [41]. Estrogen may influence NO production by activating estrogen receptor mediated genomic pathways and upregulation of NOS3 [38,41]. Sex hormones have been postulated to also affect PA levels through the estrogen receptor pathway [38].…”