Figure 6: The BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 cell type, among all BNSTpr^Esr1 cell types, is essential for sex recognition, mating, and aggression in males.

A. Violin plots of a subset of DEGs in the BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 cell type. Table S7 lists all DEGs in this cell type.

B. Salt and pepper distribution of Tac1 mRNA in Esr1⁺ BNSTpr neurons. Scale bar = 100 μm.

C. Schematic of intersectional chemogenetic strategy to inhibit BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 (top) or BNSTpr^Tac1−/Esr1 cell types.

D. Inhibition of the BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 cell type, but not BNSTpr^Tac1−/Esr1 cell types, abolishes male preference for female urine.

E. Inhibition of the BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 cell type reduces the probability of resident males initiating mating toward receptive females as well as the number of mount or intromission events/test.

F. Inhibition of the BNSTpr^Tac1/Esr1 cell type reduces the probability of resident males attacking intruder males as well as the number of attacks/test.

G. Inhibition of BNSTpr^Tac1−/Esr1 cell types does not alter mating of resident males with receptive females.

H. Inhibition of BNSTpr^Tac1−/Esr1 cell types does not alter aggression of resident males toward intruder males.

Mean ± SEM. n = 2 (B), 8 (D-H). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

See also Fig. S6.