The role of POMC in hypothalamic sites in female sexual behavior

• Grant number: 19/03840-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Simone Cristina Motta
• Grantee: Luan Barbosa Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/18667-0 - Manipulating the neural circuit underlying social defense, AP.JP

Abstract

Hypothalamus has a central role in regulating reproductive-essential behaviors such as sexual receptivity and maternal aggression. Aggressive behavior is regulated by the same hypothalamic nuclei both in male and female rodents. Among these nuclei, ventromedial part of ventromedial nucleus and tuberal nucleus (VMHvl/TU) are highlighted. Nevertheless, sexual behaviors represent sexual dimorphism since VMHvl/TU mobilization is necessary in female receptivity, it isn't for males though. Moreover, VMHvl/TU neurons in female are sensitive to sexual hormones (i.e. estrogens) and express proopiomelanocortin (POMC). This protein expression was proved to be differential between females at estrous and lactating females. In this project, I look for elucidating whether POMC has a vital role on determining sexual receptivity at the male trigger. In order to do it, we will use transgenic female mice with their POMC gene floxed which will have this gene deleted in their VMHvl/TU through a local injection of a viral vector carrying the Cre-recombinase gene and their behavior in the presence of a male will be evaluated.