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Brain Pathways Mediating the Pro-Aggressive Effect of the Steroid Sulfatase (Sts) Gene

Behavior Genetics volume 40, pages 211–219 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

STS is the single enzyme that converts all steroid sulfates into their free steroid forms. Initiation of attack behavior against conspecific male mice appeared to be linked to Sts. Here we have confirmed the role of Sts through an association study with attack behavior. Previous studies indicated a positive correlation between the initiation of attack behavior and liver STS concentration levels in male mice, but this finding was not compatible with established knowledge of STS mechanisms. High STS concentrations induce low concentrations of sulfated steroids. Sulfated and un-sulfated steroids are GABAA receptor agonists and NMDA receptor positive allosteric modulators. This synaptic pattern of functioning can generate attack behavior and we have confirmed here that an injection of the sulfated steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) increases attack behavior. To solve the paradox, we measured the transcription activity of the genes underlying the pathways involved in the hydrolysis of sulfated steroids and leading to the formation of un-conjugated steroids in the mouse brain. We observed that the genes monitoring the steroid biosynthesis pathways exhibited a transcription pattern resulting in an increased sulfotransferase activity in the attacking males that could counterbalance the de-sulfating activity of Sts in the attacking mice.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France

    Stephane Mortaud

  2. CNS Research, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland

    Laurent Nicolas

  3. Génétique, Neurogénétique, Comportement, Orléans, France

    Walter Pinoteau

  4. Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, Université Paris Descartes, UMR 8158 CNRS, France and Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent de Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France

    Sylvie Tordjman

  5. Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, UMR 6146 Aix-Marseille, Université CNRS, and Institut Universitaire de France, Marseille, France

    Michèle Carlier

  6. Génétique Médicale et Génomique Fonctionnelle, U 910 Aix-Marseille Université INSERM, 27 Bvd Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Pierre L. Roubertoux

Authors
  1. Stephane Mortaud
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  2. Laurent Nicolas
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  3. Walter Pinoteau
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  4. Sylvie Tordjman
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  5. Michèle Carlier
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  6. Pierre L. Roubertoux
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Correspondence to Pierre L. Roubertoux.

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Edited by William Kremen.

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Mortaud, S., Nicolas, L., Pinoteau, W. et al. Brain Pathways Mediating the Pro-Aggressive Effect of the Steroid Sulfatase (Sts) Gene. Behav Genet 40, 211–219 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-010-9340-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-010-9340-6

Keywords

  • Aggression
  • Steroids biosynthesis
  • Testosterone
  • Transcription
  • Mouse
  • Brain steroids