An Estrogen-Responsive Module in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Selectively Drives Sex-Specific Activity in Females

Stephanie M. Correa; David W. Newstrom; James P. Warne; Pierre Flandin; Clement C. Cheung; Alexander T. Lin-Moore; Andrew A. Pierce; Allison W. Xu; John L. Rubenstein; Holly A. Ingraham

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.011

Cell Reports (Jan 2015)

An Estrogen-Responsive Module in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Selectively Drives Sex-Specific Activity in Females

Stephanie M. Correa,
David W. Newstrom,
James P. Warne,
Pierre Flandin,
Clement C. Cheung,
Alexander T. Lin-Moore,
Andrew A. Pierce,
Allison W. Xu,
John L. Rubenstein,
Holly A. Ingraham

Affiliations

Stephanie M. Correa: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
David W. Newstrom: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
James P. Warne: Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Pierre Flandin: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Clement C. Cheung: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Alexander T. Lin-Moore: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Andrew A. Pierce: Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Allison W. Xu: Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
John L. Rubenstein: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Holly A. Ingraham: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.011
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 62 – 74

Abstract

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Estrogen-receptor alpha (ERα) neurons in the ventrolateral region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHVL) control an array of sex-specific responses to maximize reproductive success. In females, these VMHVL neurons are believed to coordinate metabolism and reproduction. However, it remains unknown whether specific neuronal populations control distinct components of this physiological repertoire. Here, we identify a subset of ERα VMHVL neurons that promotes hormone-dependent female locomotion. Activating Nkx2-1-expressing VMHVL neurons via pharmacogenetics elicits a female-specific burst of spontaneous movement, which requires ERα and Tac1 signaling. Disrupting the development of Nkx2-1+ VMHVL neurons results in female-specific obesity, inactivity, and loss of VMHVL neurons coexpressing ERα and Tac1. Unexpectedly, two responses controlled by ERα+ neurons, fertility and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, are unaffected. We conclude that a dedicated subset of VMHVL neurons marked by ERα, NKX2-1, and Tac1 regulates estrogen-dependent fluctuations in physical activity and constitutes one of several neuroendocrine modules that drive sex-specific responses.

Published in Cell Reports

ISSN: 2211-1247 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home

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