Yang Article

Question 1

What is the paper topic?

Answer 1

Sexually dimorphic neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus govern mating behaviour in both sexes and aggression in males

Question 2

What are neuronal sexual dimorphisms?

Answer 2

Quantitative differences that we observe in cell numbers and gene expressions

Question 3

What is the hypothesis?

Answer 3

If genetic strategies are utilized to visualize and ablate VMH PR+ neurons in mice, then sexual behaviours and displays in males and females would be disrupted

Question 4

What were some of the methods?

Answer 4

Viruses, stereotaxic surgery, lordosis measurement, PL-inserted PR gene, viral vector, ablate adult neurons in-vivo

Question 5

What brain regions contain PR+ neurons?

Answer 5

Basal forebrain, Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), Medial amygdala (MeApd), Basal ganglia, various cortical areas

Question 6

What is the PR+ distribution in females?

Answer 6

More PR+ cells in the preoptic area (POA), adjacent anteroventral periventricular hypothalamic nucleus (AVPV), arcuate nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). Overall, more PR+ neurons in females

Question 7

What is the PR+ distribution in males?

Answer 7

More PR+ cells in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTmpm) (regulation of sexual behaviour, gonadotropin release), posterodorsal amygdala, male basal forebrain

Question 8

How does the ablation of PR+ VMHvl neurons affect female sexual receptivity?

Answer 8

Causes them to reject male’s attempts to mount, walk around during intromissions (overall reduces sexual behaviour)

Question 9

How does the ablation of PR+ VMHvl neurons affect male sexual behaviour?

Answer 9

Reduces mating. Affects initiation of intromission, reduces the number of mounts and intromission, reduces the duration of intromission. It also disrupts aggressive behaviour