Publication Date
3-1-2025
Journal
Molecular Metabolism
DOI
10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102108
PMID
39909189
PMCID
PMC11849645
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2-3-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Animals, Female, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Preoptic Area, Mice, Neurons, Body Temperature Regulation, Postpartum Period, Mice, Knockout, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Pregnancy, Body Temperature, Thermoregulation, Thermosensing, Preoptic area, Estrogen receptor alpha, Reproductive experience
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate how reproductive experience (RE) alters thermal preference and thermoregulation in female mice, with a focus on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-expressing neurons in the preoptic area (POA).
METHODS: Thermal preference and body temperature were measured in female mice with and without RE, and virgin female mice with selective deletion of ERα from the POA (ERα
RESULTS: We showed that female mice prefer a cooler environment starting from late pregnancy and persisting long term postpartum. Female mice with RE (>4 weeks post-weaning) displayed lower body temperature and a lower thermal preferred temperature, and lost preference for warm environments (30 °C) but preserved avoidance of cold environments (15 °C). This was associated with a significant decrease in the number of ERα
CONCLUSION: Our results support that the thermosensing ability and estrogenic effects in ERα
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Nutrition Commons, Pediatrics Commons
