交尾衝動に関わる脳回路の性差を解明(This brain circuit drives the urge to mate. Except when it doesn’t.)

2025-07-11 ロックフェラー大学

<関連情報>

• https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/38013-this-brain-circuit-drives-the-urge-to-mate-except-when-it-doesnt/
• https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00505-7

社会性行動の制御における生殖状態と社会的手がかりの統合 Integrating reproductive states and social cues in the control of sociosexual behaviors

Yuping Wang ∙ Xinli Song ∙ Xiangmao Chen ∙ … ∙ Xiaoxuan Jia ∙ Nathaniel Heintz ∙ Kun Li (李坤)
Cell  Published:May 20, 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.04.035

Graphical abstract

Highlights

• Cacna1h-defined estrous-tracking mPFC neurons drive sex-specific sociosexual behavior
• Cacna1h+ neurons selectively tune to opposite-sex cues in estrus females and males
• Cacna1h elevation drives T-type rebound for dynamic encoding of estrus and male cues
• mPFC-AHN circuits exert sexually dimorphic top-down control of sociosexual behavior

Summary

Female sociosexual behaviors, essential for survival and reproduction, are modulated by ovarian hormones and triggered in the context of appropriate social cues. Here, we identify primary estrous-sensitive Cacna1h-expressing medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC^Cacna1h+) neurons that integrate hormonal states with recognition of potential mates to orchestrate these complex cognitive behaviors. Bidirectional manipulation of mPFC^Cacna1h+ neurons shifts opposite-sex-directed social behaviors between estrus and diestrus females via anterior hypothalamic outputs. In males, these neurons serve opposite functions compared with estrus females. Miniscope imaging reveals mixed representation of self-estrous states and social target sex in distinct mPFC^Cacna1h+ subpopulations, with biased encoding of opposite-sex cues in estrus females and males. Mechanistically, ovarian-hormone-induced Cacna1h upregulation enhances T-type rebound excitation after oxytocin inhibition, driving estrus-specific activity changes and the sexually dimorphic function of mPFC^Cacna1h+ neurons. These findings uncover a prefrontal circuit that integrates internal hormonal states and target-sex information to exert sexually bivalent top-down control over adaptive social behaviors.