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Relationship: 1498

Title

A descriptive phrase which clearly defines the two KEs being considered and the sequential relationship between them (i.e., which is upstream, and which is downstream). More help

7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain, decreased leads to Sexual behavior, decreased

Upstream event

The causing Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help

7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain, decreased

Downstream event

The responding Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help

Sexual behavior, decreased

Key Event Relationship Overview

The utility of AOPs for regulatory application is defined, to a large extent, by the confidence and precision with which they facilitate extrapolation of data measured at low levels of biological organisation to predicted outcomes at higher levels of organisation and the extent to which they can link biological effect measurements to their specific causes.Within the AOP framework, the predictive relationships that facilitate extrapolation are represented by the KERs. Consequently, the overall WoE for an AOP is a reflection in part, of the level of confidence in the underlying series of KERs it encompasses. Therefore, describing the KERs in an AOP involves assembling and organising the types of information and evidence that defines the scientific basis for inferring the probable change in, or state of, a downstream KE from the known or measured state of an upstream KE. More help

AOPs Referencing Relationship

AOP Name	Adjacency	Weight of Evidence	Quantitative Understanding	Point of Contact	Author Status	OECD Status
Inhibition of CYP7B activity leads to decreased reproductive success via decreased sexual behavior	non-adjacent			Arthur Author (send email)	Not under active development

Taxonomic Applicability

Latin or common names of a species or broader taxonomic grouping (e.g., class, order, family) that help to define the biological applicability domain of the KER.In general, this will be dictated by the more restrictive of the two KEs being linked together by the KER. More help

Term	Scientific Term	Evidence	Link
Japanese quail	Coturnix japonica		NCBI
Cynops pyrrhogaster	Cynops pyrrhogaster		NCBI

Sex Applicability

An indication of the the relevant sex for this KER. More help

Sex	Evidence
Male

Life Stage Applicability

An indication of the the relevant life stage(s) for this KER. More help

Term	Evidence
Adult, reproductively mature

Key Event Relationship Description

Provides a concise overview of the information given below as well as addressing details that aren’t inherent in the description of the KEs themselves. More help

Gonadal steroid and prolactin are required to initiate a cascade of molecular events leading to sexual behavior. The cumulation of these reactions leads to the secretion of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone in the brain, a neurosteroid that acts as a trigger on sexual behavior.

7α-hydroxypregnenolone is synthesized by CYP7B in the telencephalon of both male and female. Its concentration fluctuates in the male brain according to season and light exposure, whereas it remains low in female. In agreement with the variation in 7α-hydroxypregnenolone concentration is the variation in sexual behavior frequency in male. Indeed, it was previously noted that 7α-hydroxypregnenolone peaked during the breeding period, increasing locomotor activity and frequency of tail-vibrating behavior (newt) or chasing, crowing, strutting, and mounting (bird).

Other components are required to induce sexual behavior since injection of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone in sexually immature newt has no effect on this specific parameter. However, no sexual behavior can be elicited in absence of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone.

Evidence Collection Strategy

Include a description of the approach for identification and assembly of the evidence base for the KER. For evidence identification, include, for example, a description of the sources and dates of information consulted including expert knowledge, databases searched and associated search terms/strings. Include also a description of study screening criteria and methodology, study quality assessment considerations, the data extraction strategy and links to any repositories/databases of relevant references.Tabular summaries and links to relevant supporting documentation are encouraged, wherever possible. More help

Evidence Map 2.0

ID	Experimental Design	Species	Upstream Observation	Downstream Observation	Citation (first author, year)	Notes

Evidence Map

Addresses the scientific evidence supporting KERs in an AOP setting the stage for overall assessment of the AOP. More help

Title	First Author	Biological Plausibility	Dose Concordance	Temporal Concordance	Incidence Concordance

Biological Plausibility

Dose Concordance Evidence

Temporal Concordance Evidence

Incidence Concordance Evidence

Uncertainties and Inconsistencies

Addresses inconsistencies or uncertainties in the relationship including the identification of experimental details that may explain apparent deviations from the expected patterns of concordance. More help

Courtship and sexual behavior is due to the synergistic effect of multiple hormones (Iwata et al., 2000). 7α-hydroxypregnenolone is one of them and it was shown to be essential for sexual behavior, but it is not sufficient in itself to trigger sexual behavior in absence of prolactin (secreted in sexually mature animals during the breeding season).

Known modulating factors

This table captures specific information on the MF, its properties, how it affects the KER and respective references.1.) What is the modulating factor? Name the factor for which solid evidence exists that it influences this KER. Examples: age, sex, genotype, diet 2.) Details of this modulating factor. Specify which features of this MF are relevant for this KER. Examples: a specific age range or a specific biological age (defined by...); a specific gene mutation or variant, a specific nutrient (deficit or surplus); a sex-specific homone; a certain threshold value (e.g. serum levels of a chemical above...) 3.) Description of how this modulating factor affects this KER. Describe the provable modification of the KER (also quantitatively, if known). Examples: increase or decrease of the magnitude of effect (by a factor of...); change of the time-course of the effect (onset delay by...); alteration of the probability of the effect; increase or decrease of the sensitivity of the downstream effect (by a factor of...) 4.) Provision of supporting scientific evidence for an effect of this MF on this KER. Give a list of references. More help

Quantitative Understanding of the Linkage

Captures information that helps to define how much change in the upstream KE, and/or for how long, is needed to elicit a detectable and defined change in the downstream KE. More help

Response-response Relationship

Provides sources of data that define the response-response relationships between the KEs. More help

Time-scale

Information regarding the approximate time-scale of the changes in KEdownstream relative to changes in KEupstream (i.e., do effects on KEdownstream lag those on KEupstream by seconds, minutes, hours, or days?). More help

Known Feedforward/Feedback loops influencing this KER

Define whether there are known positive or negative feedback mechanisms involved and what is understood about their time-course and homeostatic limits. More help

Domain of Applicability

A free-text section of the KER description that the developers can use to explain their rationale for the taxonomic, life stage, or sex applicability structured terms. More help