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Estradiol‐induced neurogenesis in the female accessory olfactory bulb is required for the learning of the male odor
Author(s) -
Brus Maïna,
Trouillet AnneCharlotte,
Hellier Vincent,
Bakker Julie
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/jnc.13677
Subject(s) - neurogenesis , doublecortin , dentate gyrus , neun , olfactory bulb , odor , biology , endocrinology , medicine , olfaction , bromodeoxyuridine , neuroscience , hippocampus , central nervous system , immunology , immunohistochemistry
Abstract Odors processed by the main and accessory olfactory bulbs ( MOB , AOB ) are important for sexual behavior. Interestingly, both structures continue to receive new neurons during adulthood. A role for olfactory neurogenesis in sexual behavior in female mice has recently been shown and gonadal hormones such as estradiol can modulate adult neurogenesis. Therefore, we wanted to determine the role of estradiol in learning the odors of sexual partners and in the adult neurogenesis of female aromatase knockout mice (Ar KO ), unable to produce estradiol. Female wild‐type ( WT ) and Ar KO mice were exposed to male odors during 7 days, and olfactory preferences, cell proliferation, cell survival and functional involvement of newborn neurons were analyzed, using BrdU injections, in combination with a marker of cell activation (Zif268) and neuronal fate (doublecortin, NeuN). Behavioral tasks indicated that both WT and Ar KO females were able to discriminate between the odors of two different males, but Ar KO mice failed to learn the familiar male odor. Proliferation of newborn cells was reduced in Ar KO mice only in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Olfactory exposure decreased cell survival in the AOB in WT females, suggesting a role for estradiol in a structure involved in sexual behavior. Finally, newborn neurons do not seem to be functionally involved in the AOB of Ar KO mice compared with WT , when females were exposed to the odor of a familiar male, suggesting that estradiol‐induced neurogenesis in the AOB is required for the learning of the male odor in female mice.Aromatase knockout mice (ArKO) presented deficits in olfactory preferences without affecting their olfactory discrimination abilities, and showed no functional involvement of newborn neurons in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) in response to the odor of a familiar male. These results suggest that estradiol‐induced neurogenesis in the female AOB is required for the learning of the male odor.