Analysis of active neurons expressing ESR1 receptors in agression and social defense in male mice

Abstract

The resident-intruder paradigm has been broadly used in compartmental trials to minimize animal participation in aggressive contexts and in those he has to defend himself, allowing the study of the physiological mechanisms regulations these behaviors. The role of sex hormones in the rodent's central nervous system in the modulations of social behaviors is well described in the literature, among those the estrogen, particularly its component, the estradiol, has been intensively studied. The presence of alpha estrogen receptors (Esr1) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus demonstrated their participation in aggression and social defensive behaviors in mice, however, little has been explored about the presence and functional role of Esr1 receptors in other nuclei of the circuit regulating these behaviors, as the amygdala and other nuclei of the medial hypothalamus. Thus, the objective of this work is to map the estrogen-responsive neurons that are mobilized during aggression or social defeat. (AU)