Abolition of male sexual behaviors in mice lacking estrogen receptors alpha and beta (alpha beta ERKO)

Male mice with a knockout of the estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha gene, a ligan d-activated transcription factor, showed reduced levels of intromissions an d no ejaculations whereas simple mounting behavior was not affected, In con trast, all components of sexual behaviors were intact in male mice lacking the novel ER-beta gene. Here we measure the extent of phenotype in mice tha t lack both ER-alpha and ER-beta genes (alpha beta ERKO), alpha beta ERKO m ale mice did not show any components of sexual behaviors, including simple mounting behavior. Nor did they show ultrasonic vocalizations during behavi oral tests with receptive female mice, On the other hand, reduced aggressiv e behaviors of alpha beta ERKO mice mimicked those of single knockout mice of ER-alpha gene (alpha ERKO), They showed reduced levels of lunge and bite aggression, but rarely showed offensive attacks. Thus, either one of the E Rs is sufficient for the expression of simple mounting in male mice, indica ting a redundancy in function. Offensive attacks, on the other hand, depend specifically on the ER-alpha gene. Different patterns of natural behaviors require different patterns of functions by ER genes.