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Review
. 2014 Oct 28:8:344.
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00344. eCollection 2014.

Epigenetic changes in the estrogen receptor α gene promoter: implications in sociosexual behaviors

Ken Ichi Matsuda  1
Affiliations
Review

Epigenetic changes in the estrogen receptor α gene promoter: implications in sociosexual behaviors

Ken Ichi Matsuda. Front Neurosci. .

Abstract

Estrogen action through estrogen receptor α (ERα) is involved in the control of sexual and social behaviors in adult mammals. Alteration of ERα gene activity mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, in particular brain areas appears to be crucial for determining the extents of these behaviors between the sexes and among individuals within the same sex. This review provides a summary of the epigenetic changes in the ERα gene promoter that correlate with sociosexual behaviors.

Keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetics; estrogen receptor α; histone acetylation; histone deacetylation; sexual behavior; sexual differentiation; sociosexual behavior.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of DNA methylation status in the ERα gene in association with sociosexual behaviors. E, embryonic day; P, postnatal day.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Developmental changes in histone acetylation status in the ERα 0B promoter in the preoptic area in male and female rat. E, embryonic day; P, postnatal day.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Developmental changes in epigenetic status in the ER α 0B promoter in the preoptic area in male rat. E, embryonic day; P, postnatal day.
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