GELIFES Seminars - Charlotte Cornil

Charlotte Cornil (University of Liège)

Role of neuroestrogens in the control of social behavior

Gonadal steroids are viewed as slow regulators behaviors allowing coordination of multiple responses with seasonal environmental changes, while the moment-tomoment regulation of behavior in response to environmental/social cues would depend on neurotransmitter systems. In this talk, I will first introduce the notion that testicular androgens need to be converted into estrogens to activate social behaviors. Using Japanese quail as a model, I will then provide evidence that brain-derived estrogens (neuroestrogens) also contribute to a much more rapid control of behavior through actions initiated at the cell membrane. These observations have led to the hypothesis of a dual action of (neuro)estrogens wherein two modes of action of neuroestrogens operating within two distinct time frames cooperate to the fine coordination of male sexual behavior. I will discuss how this hypothesis generalizes to other species. Finally, I will finish with a discussion of the potential role of neuroestrogens in females.

Biosketch:
Prof. Charlotte Cornil is a Research Director of the FNRS, the Belgian Science Foundation. She is a biologist by training and research focuses on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the regulation of behavior both during development and adulthood. Her main interest concerns the regulation of brain produced estrogens and their modes of action in the regulation of reproduction. Over the years, her research group at GIGA Neurosciences (University of Liège, Belgium) used several animal models to address various questions related to this theme, but mostly Japanese quail and mice. For more info: www.giganeuroendo.uliege.be/cornilteam