Circadian Control of Sexual Behavior and Underlying (Hypothalamic) Brain Circuitry in Mice

2023 Focused Projects Grant for Junior Investigators

Sydney Aten, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Key Project Outcome

Results from this grant application demonstrated that there exists a circadian rhythm in both male and female mouse sexual behavior. The zenith, or peak, timing of sexual behavior occurs between Circadian Time (CT) 13 and CT16 in both males and females, while the nadir occurs between CT4 and CT7 in both sexes. Furthermore, I show (in both sexes) that this rhythm is abrogated upon deletion of GABAergic neurons within the subparaventricular zone. Finally, I show that female mouse pregnancy success is drastically reduced when male and female mice are mated at their sexual behavior nadirs (CT4-CT7), and that pregnancy success increases when male and female mice mate at their sexual behavior peaks (CT13-CT16). Taken together, results from this project could provide insights for our understanding of how hypothalamic circuits that modulate reproductive behavior can be harnessed to potentially treat infertility.

Journal Articles

FRONTIERS OF NEUROSCIENCE

Signaling pathways and brain circuitry underlying circadian rhythms and sleep