We are interested in defining the neural mechanisms that generate sex-specific behaviors. We use the laboratory mouse as a model organism for our research. Examples of sexually dimorphic behaviors in mice include courtship vocalization, mating, nursing, aggression, and territorial marking. Sex-specific patterns of these behaviors are elicited by particular sensory and hormonal cues in mice. Our research attempts to characterize the neural circuits that integrate such sensory and hormonal cues to generate these behaviors.

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis contains more neurons in males compared to females. On the left is a histological section from a genetically engineered mouse that labels the sexually dimorphic androgen receptor expressing neurons in this region. On the right is a histological section showing that this region dramatically upregulates a marker of neural activity (Fos, yellow and green cells) following male mating, indicating that neurons in this region likely participate in male mating. (Scroll over images with your mouse.)