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Nayana J, Shankaranarayana Rao BS, Srikumar BN. Repeated finasteride administration promotes synaptic plasticity and produces antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in female rats. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25306. [PMID: 38468573 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Finasteride is used in female-pattern hair loss, hirsutism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. It inhibits 5α-reductase, which is an important enzyme in the biosynthesis of neurosteroids. The effects of finasteride treatment on mental health in female patients as well as the effects of repeated/chronic finasteride administration in female rodents are still unknown. Accordingly, in our study, we administered finasteride (10, 30, or 100 mg/Kg, s.c.) for 6 days in female rats and evaluated behavior, plasma steroid levels, and synaptic plasticity. Depression-like behavior was evaluated using forced swim test (FST) and splash test. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated using novelty-suppressed feeding task (NSFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and light-dark test (LDT). Plasma steroid levels were assessed using ELISA and synaptic plasticity by field potential recordings. We observed that finasteride decreased total immobility duration in FST, indicating antidepressant-like effect and decreased the latency to first bite in NSFT, showing anxiolytic-like effect. We also found a significant increase in plasma estradiol and a significant decrease in plasma corticosterone level. Furthermore, field potential recordings showed that finasteride increased hippocampal long-term potentiation. These results indicate that repeated finasteride administration in female rats may have antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effect, which might be mediated by enhanced estradiol levels or decreased corticosterone levels. Further studies are required to validate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of finasteride in female rats. Understanding the mechanisms will help us in developing novel neurosteroid-based therapeutics in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Nayana
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Bettadapura N Srikumar
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
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2
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Sirasangi MI, Roohi TF, Krishna KL, Kinattingal N, Wani SUD, Mehdi S. Dietary Co-supplements attenuate the chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 459:114788. [PMID: 38036263 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Does it make a difference what we eat when it comes to our mental health? Food and nutrients are essential not only for human biology and physical appearance but also for mental and emotional well-being. There has been a significant increase in the favourable effects of dietary supplements in the treatment of depressive state in the latest days. Co-supplements which can be a great contribution in the management of depression from the future perspective and might help to reduce standard anti-depressant drug doses, which can be a strategic way to reduce the side effect of standard anti-depressants drugs. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the anti-depressant effects of cholecalciferol-D3 (V.D3), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and a combination of V.D3 + n-3 PUFA with fluoxetine treatment in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced depression in the mice model. We established CUMS depressant mice model and treated CUMS mice with V.D3, n-3 PUFA, and a combination of V.D3 + n-3 PUFA with fluoxetine. Behavioral changes were measured by the forced swim and tail suspension test. Oxidative stress markers and anti-depressant activity were assessed through parameters such as superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and serum corticosterone levels. Additionally, we measured the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. CUMS induced mice displayed depressive-like behaviours. Moreover, cholecalciferol-D3, n-3 PUFA, and a combination of Cholecalciferol-D3 + n-3 PUFA with fluoxetine treatment attenuated the depressive-like behaviour in CUMS mice accompanied with suppression of oxidative stress markers by up-regulated the expression of an antioxidant signalling pathway. The results suggested that treatment of cholecalciferol-D3, n-3 PUFA, and a combination of Cholecalciferol-D3 + n-3 PUFA with fluoxetine significantly ameliorated depressive-like behaviours in CUMS induced depression in mice. To delve further into the implications of these findings, future studies could explore the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects on oxidative stress markers and the antioxidant signaling pathway. This could provide valuable insights into the potential of dietary supplements in the management of depression and help in reducing the reliance on conventional antidepressant medications, thus improving the overall quality of treatment for this prevalent mental health condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh I Sirasangi
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru 570 015, India
| | - Tamsheel Fatima Roohi
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru 570 015, India
| | - K L Krishna
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru 570 015, India
| | - Nabeel Kinattingal
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru 570 015, India
| | - Shahid Ud Din Wani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Applied Sciences and Technology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, India.
| | - Seema Mehdi
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru 570 015, India.
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3
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Kang S, Kim W, Nam J, Li K, Kang Y, Bae B, Chun KH, Chung C, Lee J. Non-Targeted Metabolomics Investigation of a Sub-Chronic Variable Stress Model Unveils Sex-Dependent Metabolic Differences Induced by Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2443. [PMID: 38397124 PMCID: PMC10889542 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression is twice as prevalent in women as in men, however, most preclinical studies of depression have used male rodent models. This study aimed to examine how stress affects metabolic profiles depending on sex using a rodent depression model: sub-chronic variable stress (SCVS). The SCVS model of male and female mice was established in discovery and validation sets. The stress-induced behavioral phenotypic changes were similar in both sexes, however, the metabolic profiles of female plasma and brain became substantially different after stress, whereas those of males did not. Four stress-differential plasma metabolites-β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB), L-serine, glycerol, and myo-inositol-could yield biomarker panels with excellent performance to discern the stressed individuals only for females. Disturbances in BHB, glucose, 1,5-anhydrosorbitol, lactic acid, and several fatty acids in the plasma of stressed females implied a systemic metabolic shift to β-oxidation in females. The plasma levels of BHB and corticosterone only in stressed females were observed not only in SCVS but also in an acute stress model. These results collectively suggest a sex difference in the metabolic responses by stress, possibly involving the energy metabolism shift to β-oxidation and the HPA axis dysregulation in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seulgi Kang
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (S.K.); (K.L.); (Y.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Woonhee Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (W.K.); (J.N.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Jimin Nam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (W.K.); (J.N.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Ke Li
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (S.K.); (K.L.); (Y.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Yua Kang
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (S.K.); (K.L.); (Y.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Boyeon Bae
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (S.K.); (K.L.); (Y.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Kwang-Hoon Chun
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea;
| | - ChiHye Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; (W.K.); (J.N.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Jeongmi Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (S.K.); (K.L.); (Y.K.); (B.B.)
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4
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de Kloet ER, Joëls M. The cortisol switch between vulnerability and resilience. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:20-34. [PMID: 36599967 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01934-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In concert with neuropeptides and transmitters, the end products of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the glucocorticoid hormones cortisol and corticosterone (CORT), promote resilience: i.e., the ability to cope with threats, adversity, and trauma. To exert this protective action, CORT activates mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) that operate in a complementary manner -as an on/off switch- to coordinate circadian events, stress-coping, and adaptation. The evolutionary older limbic MR facilitates contextual memory retrieval and supports an on-switch in the selection of stress-coping styles at a low cost. The rise in circulating CORT concentration after stress subsequently activates a GR-mediated off-switch underlying recovery of homeostasis by providing the energy for restraining the primary stress reactions and promoting cognitive control over emotional reactivity. GR activation facilitates contextual memory storage of the experience to enable future stress-coping. Such complementary MR-GR-mediated actions involve rapid non-genomic and slower gene-mediated mechanisms; they are time-dependent, conditional, and sexually dimorphic, and depend on genetic background and prior experience. If coping fails, GR activation impairs cognitive control and promotes emotional arousal which eventually may compromise resilience. Such breakdown of resilience involves a transition to a chronic stress construct, where information processing is crashed; it leads to an imbalanced MR-GR switch and hence increased vulnerability. Novel MR-GR modulators are becoming available that may reset a dysregulated stress response system to reinstate the cognitive flexibility required for resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center of Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Marian Joëls
- Dept. Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Hodes GE, Bangasser D, Sotiropoulos I, Kokras N, Dalla C. Sex Differences in Stress Response: Classical Mechanisms and Beyond. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:475-494. [PMID: 37855285 PMCID: PMC10845083 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666231005090134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders, which are associated with stress hormone dysregulation, occur at different rates in men and women. Moreover, nowadays, preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrates that sex and gender can lead to differences in stress responses that predispose males and females to different expressions of similar pathologies. In this curated review, we focus on what is known about sex differences in classic mechanisms of stress response, such as glucocorticoid hormones and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which are components of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Then, we present sex differences in neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA, as well as indices of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid β and Tau. Gonadal hormone effects, such as estrogens and testosterone, are also discussed throughout the review. We also review in detail preclinical data investigating sex differences caused by recentlyrecognized regulators of stress and disease, such as the immune system, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, as well neurosteroids. Finally, we discuss how understanding sex differences in stress responses, as well as in pharmacology, can be leveraged into novel, more efficacious therapeutics for all. Based on the supporting evidence, it is obvious that incorporating sex as a biological variable into preclinical research is imperative for the understanding and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications NCSR “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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6
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Wood CP, Avalos B, Alvarez C, DiPatrizio NV. A Sexually Dimorphic Role for Intestinal Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype-1 in the Behavioral Expression of Anxiety. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:1045-1059. [PMID: 37862126 PMCID: PMC10771877 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the brain controls anxiety and may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of anxiety disorders. For example, both pharmacological and genetic disruption of cannabinoid receptor subtype-1 (CB1R) signaling in the central nervous system is associated with increased anxiety-like behaviors in rodents, while activating the system is anxiolytic. Sex is also a critical factor that controls the behavioral expression of anxiety; however, roles for the ECS in the gut in these processes and possible differences between sexes are largely unknown. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine if CB1Rs in the intestinal epithelium exert control over anxiety-like behaviors in a sex-dependent manner. Methods: We subjected male and female mice with conditional deletion of CB1Rs in the intestinal epithelium (intCB1-/-) and controls (intCB1+/+) to the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box, and open field test. Corticosterone (CORT) levels in plasma were measured at baseline and immediately after EPM exposure. Results: When compared with intCB1+/+ male mice, intCB1-/- male mice exhibited reduced levels of anxiety-like behaviors in the EPM and light/dark box. In contrast to male mice, no differences were found between female intCB1+/+ and intCB1-/- mice. Circulating CORT was higher in female versus male mice for both genotype groups at baseline and after EPM exposure; however, there was no effect of genotype on CORT levels. Conclusions: Collectively, these results indicate that genetic deletion of CB1Rs in the intestinal epithelium is associated with an anxiolytic phenotype in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney P. Wood
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Bryant Avalos
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Camila Alvarez
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Nicholas V. DiPatrizio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
- University of California Riverside Center for Cannabinoid Research, Riverside, California, USA
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7
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Rodrigues ACC, Moreira CVDL, Prado CC, Silva LSB, Costa RF, Arikawe AP, Pedrino GR, Costa EA, Silva ON, Napolitano HB, Oliveira-Silva I, Fajemiroye JO. A comparative analysis of depressive-like behavior: Exploring sex-related differences and insights. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294904. [PMID: 38019810 PMCID: PMC10686438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling the variability related to the estrous cycle is essential for assessing depressive-like behavior and screening drugs. This study compares circulating plasma corticosterone levels [CORT] and behavioral alterations in mice exposed to sucrose preference, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests (SPT, FST, and TST, respectively). While SPT exposure did not significantly alter [CORT], FST and TST showed notable changes. Mice in the TST exhibited increased movement and decreased immobility time compared to FST, suggesting a lower likelihood of depressive-like behavior in male mice. Notably, during the proestrus phase, female mice displayed the highest tendency for depressive-like behavior and elevated [CORT], but similar response to antidepressants (imipramine and fluoxetine). The inherent stress of the FST and TST tasks appears to influence [CORT] as well as depressant and antidepressant effects. These comparisons provide valuable insights for further behavioral phenotyping, model sensitivity assessment, and deepen our neurobiological understanding of depression in the context of drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Camila Carlos Prado
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Fernandes Costa
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
| | - Adesina Paul Arikawe
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | | | - Elson Alves Costa
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Osmar Nascimento Silva
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
| | - Hamilton Barbosa Napolitano
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
- Grupo de Química Teórica e Estrutural de Anápolis, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Iranse Oliveira-Silva
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
| | - James Oluwagbamigbe Fajemiroye
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Arthur Wesley Archibald, Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Brazil
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8
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Weber BL, Nicodemus MM, Hite AK, Spalding IR, Beaver JN, Scrimshaw LR, Kassis SK, Reichert JM, Ford MT, Russell CN, Hallal EM, Gilman TL. Heterotypic Stressors Unmask Behavioral Influences of PMAT Deficiency in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16494. [PMID: 38003684 PMCID: PMC10671398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain life stressors having enduring physiological and behavioral consequences, in part by eliciting dramatic signaling shifts in monoamine neurotransmitters. High monoamine levels can overwhelm selective transporters like the serotonin transporter. This is when polyspecific transporters like plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT, Slc29a4) are hypothesized to contribute most to monoaminergic signaling regulation. Here, we employed two distinct counterbalanced stressors-fear conditioning and swim stress-in mice to systematically determine how reductions in PMAT function affect heterotypic stressor responsivity. We hypothesized that male heterozygotes would exhibit augmented stressor responses relative to female heterozygotes. Decreased PMAT function enhanced context fear expression, an effect unexpectedly obscured by a sham stress condition. Impaired cued fear extinction retention and enhanced context fear expression in males were conversely unmasked by a sham swim condition. Abrogated corticosterone levels in male heterozygotes that underwent swim stress after context fear conditioning did not map onto any measured behaviors. In sum, male heterozygous mouse fear behaviors proved malleable in response to preceding stressor or sham stress exposure. Combined, these data indicate that reduced male PMAT function elicits a form of stress-responsive plasticity. Future studies should assess how PMAT is differentially affected across sexes and identify downstream consequences of the stress-shifted corticosterone dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - T. Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA
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9
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Weber BL, Nicodemus MM, Hite AK, Spalding IR, Beaver JN, Scrimshaw LR, Kassis SK, Reichert JM, Ford MT, Russell CN, Hallal EM, Gilman TL. Heterotypic stressors unmask behavioral influences of PMAT deficiency in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.30.555632. [PMID: 37693400 PMCID: PMC10491137 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Certain life stressors having enduring physiological and behavioral consequences, in part by eliciting dramatic signaling shifts in monoamine neurotransmitters. High monoamine levels can overwhelm selective transporters like the serotonin transporter. This is when polyspecific transporters like plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT, Slc29a4) are hypothesized to contribute most to monoaminergic signaling regulation. Here, we employed two distinct counterbalanced stressors - fear conditioning, and swim stress - in mice to systematically determine how reductions in PMAT function affect heterotypic stressor responsivity. We hypothesized male heterozygotes would exhibit augmented stressor responses relative to female heterozygotes. Decreased PMAT function enhanced context fear expression, an effect unexpectedly obscured by a sham stress condition. Impaired cued fear extinction retention and enhanced context fear expression in males were conversely unmasked by a sham swim condition. Abrogated corticosterone levels in male heterozygotes that underwent swim stress after context fear conditioning did not map on to any measured behaviors. In sum, male heterozygous mouse fear behaviors proved malleable in response to preceding stressor or sham stress exposure. Combined, these data indicate reduced male PMAT function elicits a form of stress-responsive plasticity. Future studies should assess how PMAT is differentially affected across sexes and identify downstream consequences of the stress-shifted corticosterone dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady L Weber
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Marissa M Nicodemus
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Allianna K Hite
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Isabella R Spalding
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Jasmin N Beaver
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Lauren R Scrimshaw
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Sarah K Kassis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Julie M Reichert
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Matthew T Ford
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Cameron N Russell
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Elayna M Hallal
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - T Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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10
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Martín-Cuevas C, Ramos-Herrero VD, Crespo-Facorro B, Sánchez-Hidalgo AC. Prenatal risk factors and postnatal cannabis exposure: Assessing dual models of schizophrenia-like rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105409. [PMID: 37783300 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic and environmental alterations, especially during prenatal stages. On the other hand, cannabis consumption in adolescence has been also linked to an increased risk of developing SCZ. The combination of both hits has been proposed as the dual hit hypothesis of SCZ. We systematically reviewed prenatal environmental alterations and cannabis consumption during adolescence that are associated with an increased risk of SCZ, following the PRISMA model. The analysis focused on dual animal models where the first hit is prenatal environmental exposure and the second hit consists of postnatal cannabis exposure. The articles were evaluated by three independent reviewers based on inclusion criteria. We extracted the first author´s name, year, model species, sex and analysis. The articles reported on dual murine models and their effects on weight, behavior, genetics, electrophysiology and brain structure and function. We conclude that the defects caused by the dual hits depend on the sex of the model, as well as type of hits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Martín-Cuevas
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain; Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Víctor Darío Ramos-Herrero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain.
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain; Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Sevilla, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain.
| | - Ana C Sánchez-Hidalgo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS)/University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain; Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Chronically dysregulated corticosterone impairs dopaminergic transmission in the dorsomedial striatum by sex-divergent mechanisms. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023:10.1038/s41386-023-01551-1. [PMID: 36810463 PMCID: PMC10353992 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Individuals with MDD exhibit decreased motivation and deficits in reward processing. In a subset of MDD patients, chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis occurs, resulting in increased levels of the 'stress hormone' cortisol during the normal rest period (i.e., evening and night). However, the mechanistic relationship between chronically elevated resting cortisol and behavioral deficits in motivation and reward processing remains unclear. Given that women are diagnosed with MDD at twice the rate of men, it is important to understand whether the mechanisms linking cortisol to the symptoms of MDD differ by sex. In this study, we used subcutaneous implants to chronically elevate free plasma corticosterone (the rodent homolog of cortisol; 'CORT') during the rest period in male and female mice and examined changes in behavior and dopamine system function. We found that chronic CORT treatment impaired motivated reward-seeking in both sexes. In female but not male mice, CORT treatment reduced dopamine content in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). In male but not female mice, CORT treatment impaired the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in DMS. From these studies, we conclude that chronic CORT dysregulation impairs motivation by impairing dopaminergic transmission in the DMS, but via different mechanisms in male and female mice. A better understanding of these sex-specific mechanisms could lead to new directions in MDD diagnosis and treatment.
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12
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Fu Y, Liu S, Dong Y, Gan Y, Guo X, Liu H, Xu Q, Yuan R, Ning A, Hong W, Peng Y, Yu S. Chronic restraint stress-induced depression-like behavior is mediated by upregulation of melanopsin expression in C57BL/6 mice retina. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:283-293. [PMID: 36580134 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06302-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is associated with circadian disturbances in which melanopsin was a key mechanism. Further studies have demonstrated that melanopsin gene variations are associated with some depressive disorders and aberrant light can impair mood through melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs). The goal of this study was to explore the direct relationship between depression and melanopsin. METHODS Adult C57BL/6 male mice were physically restrained for 16 h in a 50-ml polypropylene centrifuge tube and all behavioral tests were performed after CRS treatment. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were used to detect melanopsin expression in the retina of C57BL/6 mice. And we observed the change of the electrophysiological function and release of glutamate of mRGCs. RESULTS The melanopsin expression upregulate in mRGCs of chronic restraint stress (CRS)-treating mice which exhibit depression-like behavior. The frequency of blue light-induced action potentials and light-induced glutamate release mediated by melanopsin also increase significantly. This change of melanopsin is mediated by the CRS-induced glucocorticoid. CONCLUSIONS CRS may induce the depression-like behavior in mice via glucocorticoid-melanopsin pathway. Our findings provide a novel mechanistic link between CRS-induced depression and melanopsin in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yigang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, School of Physical Education & Health Care, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yixia Gan
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, School of Physical Education & Health Care, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xiaoyun Guo
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongmei Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingqing Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruixue Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ailing Ning
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wu Hong
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanmin Peng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shunying Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Abstract
Depression and anxiety disorders carry a tremendous worldwide burden and emerge as a significant cause of disability among western societies. Both disorders are known to disproportionally affect women, as they are twice more likely to be diagnosed and moreover, they are also prone to suffer from female-specific mood disorders. Importantly, the prevalence of these affective disorders has notably risen after the COVID pandemic, especially in women. In this chapter, we describe factors that are possibly contributing to the expression of such sex differences in depression and anxiety. For this, we overview the effect of transcriptomic and genetic factors, the immune system, neuroendocrine aspects, and cognition. Furthermore, we also provide evidence of sex differences in antidepressant response and their causes. Finally, we emphasize the importance to consider sex as a biological variable in preclinical and clinical research, which may facilitate the discovery and development of new and more efficacious antidepressant and anxiolytic pharmacotherapies for both women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Pavlidi
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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14
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Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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15
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Mori M, Shizunaga H, Harada H, Tajiri Y, Murata Y, Terada K, Ohe K, Enjoji M. Oxytocin treatment improves dexamethasone‐induced depression‐like symptoms associated with enhancement of hippocampal
CREB‐BDNF
signaling in female mice. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2022; 42:356-361. [PMID: 35730145 PMCID: PMC9515699 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Chronic stress and glucocorticoid exposure are risk factors for depression. Oxytocin (OT) has been shown to have antistress and antidepressant‐like effects in male rodents. However, depression is twice as common in women than in men, and it remains unclear whether OT exerts antidepressant‐like effects in women with depression. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of chronic OT administration in a female mouse model of dexamethasone (DEX)‐induced depression. Methods Female C57BL/6J mice were administered saline (vehicle, s.c.), DEX (s.c.), or OT (i.p.) + DEX (s.c.) daily for 8 weeks, and then assessed for anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviors. We also examined the hippocampal levels of phosphorylated cAMP response element‐binding protein (p‐CREB) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are important mediators of the response to antidepressants. Results Simultaneous OT treatment blocked the adverse effects of DEX on emotional behaviors. Furthermore, it upregulated p‐CREB and BDNF in the hippocampus. Conclusion OT may exert antidepressant‐like effects by activating hippocampal CREB‐BDNF signaling in a female mouse model of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayoshi Mori
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Hiromi Shizunaga
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Hiroyoshi Harada
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Yuki Tajiri
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Yusuke Murata
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Kazuki Terada
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesHimeji Dokkyo UniversityHimejiJapan
| | - Kenji Ohe
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Munechika Enjoji
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
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16
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Pereira Júnior AA, de Amorim GES, Garcia RCT, Ribeiro JM, Silva AO, Almeida CADF, Ceron CS, Ruginsk SG, Antunes-Rodrigues J, Elias LLK, Dias MVS, Marcourakis T, Torres LH. Nicotine exposure through breastfeeding affects BDNF and synaptic proteins levels in the brain of stressed adult female mice. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:759-771. [PMID: 36018565 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine has been used during pregnancy and lactation as a tobacco harm reduction strategy. However, it is unclear whether nicotine exposure during a critical development period negatively impacts stress responses in adulthood. This study investigated how nicotine, administered via breastfeeding, affects the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptic proteins levels, and anxiety-like behavior in adult female mice subjected to stress. Female Swiss mice were exposed to saline or nicotine (8 mg/kg/day) through breastfeeding between their fourth and 17th postnatal days (P) via implanted osmotic mini pumps. The unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol was performed during their adulthood (P65) for 10 consecutive days, followed by the elevated plus maze (EPM) test one day after the protocol. Animals were euthanized and their blood, collected for plasma corticosterone measurements and their brain structures, dissected for BDNF and synaptic proteins analyses. We found no significant differences in corticosterone levels between groups (Saline/Non-stress, Nicotine/Non-stress, Saline/Stress, and Nicotine/Stress). The UCMS protocol hindered weight gain. Mice exposed to nicotine through breastfeeding with or without the UCMS protocol in adulthood showed higher grooming and head dipping frequency; decreased BDNF levels in cerebellum and striatum; increased postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), synapsin I, and synaptophysin levels in cerebellum; and decreased PSD-95 and synapsin I levels in brainstem. Our results indicate that nicotine exposure through breastfeeding leads to long-lasting behavioral effects and synaptic protein changes, most of which were independent of the UCMS protocol, even after a long nicotine-free period, highlighting the importance of further studies on nicotine exposure during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alves Pereira Júnior
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jéssyca Milene Ribeiro
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Oliveira Silva
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Carla Speroni Ceron
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Silvia Graciela Ruginsk
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Antunes-Rodrigues
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucila Leico Kagohara Elias
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tania Marcourakis
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Larissa Helena Torres
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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17
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de Kloet ER. Brain mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor balance in neuroendocrine regulation and stress-related psychiatric etiopathologies. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2022; 24:100352. [PMID: 38037568 PMCID: PMC10687720 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol and corticosterone (CORT) coordinate circadian events and manage the stress response by differential activation of two complementary brain receptor systems, i.e., the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which mediate rapid non-genomic and slow genomic actions. Several recent discoveries are highlighted from molecular fine-tuning of the MR/GR balance by FKBP5 to CORTs role in neural network regulation underlying stress adaptation in emotional, cognitive, and social domains of behavior. The data suggest that MR mediates CORT action on risk assessment, social interaction, and response selection, while GR activation promotes memory consolidation and behavioral adaptation; there are also sex differences in CORT action. New evidence suggests that targeting the MR/GR balance resets a dysregulated stress response system and promotes resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edo Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, University of Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
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18
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Daskalakis NP, Meijer OC, Ronald de Kloet E. Mineralocorticoid receptor and glucocorticoid receptor work alone and together in cell-type-specific manner: Implications for resilience prediction and targeted therapy. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 18:100455. [PMID: 35601687 PMCID: PMC9118500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
‘You can't roll the clock back and reverse the effects of experiences' Bruce McEwen used to say when explaining how allostasis labels the adaptive process. Here we will for once roll the clock back to the times that the science of the glucocorticoid hormone was honored with a Nobel prize and highlight the discovery of their receptors in the hippocampus as inroad to its current status as master regulator in control of stress coping and adaptation. Glucocorticoids operate in concert with numerous neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and other hormones with the aim to facilitate processing of information in the neurocircuitry of stress, from anticipation and perception of a novel experience to behavioral adaptation and memory storage. This action, exerted by the glucocorticoids, is guided by two complementary receptor systems, mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR), that need to be balanced for a healthy stress response pattern. Here we discuss the cellular, neuroendocrine, and behavioral studies underlying the MR:GR balance concept, highlight the relevance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) -axis patterns and note the limited understanding yet of sexual dimorphism in glucocorticoid actions. We conclude with the prospect that (i) genetically and epigenetically regulated receptor variants dictate cell-type-specific transcriptome signatures of stress-related neuropsychiatric symptoms and (ii) selective receptor modulators are becoming available for more targeted treatment. These two new developments may help to ‘restart the clock’ with the prospect to support resilience.
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19
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Sterley TL, Bains J. A holistic gene-network approach linking stressor heterogeneity to resilience and susceptibility. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:976-977. [PMID: 35121831 PMCID: PMC8938455 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01267-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toni-Lee Sterley
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Jaideep Bains
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
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20
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Corticosterone induces discrete epigenetic signatures in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus that depend upon sex and genotype: focus on methylated Nr3c1 gene. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:109. [PMID: 35296634 PMCID: PMC8927334 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genomic effects of circulating glucocorticoids are particularly relevant in cortico-limbic structures, which express a high concentration of steroid hormone receptors. To date, no studies have investigated genomic differences in hippocampal subregions, namely the dorsal (dHPC) and ventral (vHPC) hippocampus, in preclinical models treated with exogenous glucocorticoids. Chronic oral corticosterone (CORT) in mouse is a pharmacological approach that disrupts the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increases affective behavior, and induces genomic changes after stress in the HPC of wildtype (WT) mice and mice heterozygous for the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met (hMet), a variant associated with genetic susceptibility to stress. Using RNA-sequencing, we investigated the genomic signatures of oral CORT in the dHPC and vHPC of WT and hMet male and female mice, and examined sex and genotype differences in response to oral CORT. Males under CORT showed lower glycemia and increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior compared to females that showed instead opposite affective behavior in response to CORT. Rank-rank-hypergeometric overlap (RRHO) was used to identify genes from a continuous gradient of significancy that were concordant across groups. RRHO showed that CORT-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in WT mice and hMet mice converged in the dHPC of males and females, while in the vHPC, DEGs converged in males and diverged in females. The vHPC showed a higher number of DEGs compared to the dHPC and exhibited sex differences related to glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-binding genes and epigenetic modifiers. Methyl-DNA-immunoprecipitation in the vHPC revealed differential methylation of the exons 1C and 1F of the GR gene (Nr3c1) in hMet females. Together, we report behavioral and endocrinological sex differences in response to CORT, as well as epigenetic signatures that i) differ in the dHPC and vHPC,ii) are distinct in males and females, and iii) implicate differential methylation of Nr3c1 selectively in hMet females.
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21
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Zhang S, Jiang M, Yan S, Liang M, Wang W, Yuan B, Xu Q. Network Pharmacology-Based and Experimental Identification of the Effects of Paeoniflorin on Major Depressive Disorder. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:793012. [PMID: 35185541 PMCID: PMC8847686 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.793012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis and treatment of MDD are major clinical issues. However, there is a lack of effective biomarkers and drugs diagnosis and therapeutics of MDD. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis combined with an experimental verification strategy was used to identify biomarkers and paeoniflorin targets for MDD diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, we obtained potential targets and pathways of paeoniflorin as an antidepressant through multiple databases. We then constructed a protein-protein interaction network and performed enrichment analyses. According to the results, we performed in vivo and in vitro experimental validation. Results: The results showed that paeoniflorin may exert an antidepressant effect by regulating cell inflammation, synaptic function, NF-κB signaling pathway, and intestinal inflammation. Conclusion: NPM1, HSPA8, HSPA5, HNRNPU, and TNF are the targets of paeoniflorin treatment. In addition, we demonstrated that paeoniflorin inhibits inflammatory cytokine production via the p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway and has neuroprotective effects on the synaptic structure. Our findings provide valuable evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Zhang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Affiliate Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingchen Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliate Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuxia Yan
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Miaomiao Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliate Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Bin Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliate Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuyue Xu
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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22
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Does Sertraline Affect Hypothalamic Food Intake Peptides in the Rat Experimental Model of Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Depression? Neurochem Res 2022; 47:1299-1316. [PMID: 35080689 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03529-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a chronic, recurrent and life-threatening disease affecting approximately 15% of the world population. Depression is responsible for neuropathologies like decreased neurogenesis and increased dendritic atrophy. Antidepressant treatments increase hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophic factor expression. Based on this information, it was aimed to investigate effect of sertraline on depression in rats with chronic mild stress (CMS) model and to determine how it affects cell proliferation and hypothalamic peptide levels in hypothalamus. 56 adult male Wistar albino; control, depression(D), depression + sertraline, sertraline were divided into groups. Various stressors were applied to D for 30 days. Open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were conducted to check whether the animals were depressed. On the 16th day osmotic minipump was placed subcutaneously and sertraline (10 mg/kg/day) was administered for 15 days. Behavior tests were done. Hypothalamic peptide gene expression levels were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Statistical evaluations were made using ANOVA. It caused a decrease in the percentage of movement in the D and control groups in the OFT, an increase in the immobility time in the D group in the FST, and an increase in the swimming behavior in the DS group. Animals did not show any anxiological behavior based on the elevated plus maze test results. CMS caused a decrease in GLUT2 and NPY gene expression in the hypothalamus of animals, an increase in POMC and FGFR2, and an increase in IGFIR and GLUT2 gene expression in the DS group. Sertraline has been shown to ameliorate the effects of CMS-induced depression. Sertraline is thought to have a positive regulatory effect on both the formation of neural precursor cells and the survival of newly formed neurons in the hypothalamus. Newly formed neurons in the hypothalamus express food intake-related NPY, POMC, GLUT2 neurons, and thus hypothalamic tanycytes may play a key role in the control of energy metabolism.
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23
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Lopez J, Bagot RC. Defining Valid Chronic Stress Models for Depression With Female Rodents. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:226-235. [PMID: 33965195 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Women are twice as likely to experience depression than men, yet until recently, preclinical studies in rodents have focused almost exclusively on males. As interest in sex differences and sex-specific mechanisms of stress susceptibility increases, chronic stress models for inducing depression-relevant behavioral and physiological changes in male rodents are being applied to females, and several new models have emerged to include both males and females, yet not all models have been systematically validated in females. An increasing number of researchers seek to include female rodents in their experimental designs, asking the question "what is the ideal chronic stress model for depression in females?" We review criteria for assessing female model validity in light of key research questions and the fundamental distinction between studying sex differences and studying both sexes. In overviewing current models, we explore challenges inherent to establishing an ideal female chronic stress model, with particular emphasis on the need for standardization and adoption of validated behavioral tests sensitive to stress effects in females. Taken together, these considerations will empower female chronic stress models to provide a better understanding of stress susceptibility and allow the development of efficient sex-specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle Lopez
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rosemary C Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
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24
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A novel murine model to study the impact of maternal depression and antidepressant treatment on biobehavioral functions in the offspring. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6756-6772. [PMID: 34002019 PMCID: PMC8760069 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antenatal psychopathology negatively affects obstetric outcomes and exerts long-term consequences on the offspring's wellbeing and mental health. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these associations remain largely unknown. Here, we present a novel model system in mice that allows for experimental investigations into the effects of antenatal depression-like psychopathology and for evaluating the influence of maternal pharmacological treatments on long-term outcomes in the offspring. This model system in based on rearing nulliparous female mice in social isolation prior to mating, leading to a depressive-like state that is initiated before and continued throughout pregnancy. Using this model, we show that the maternal depressive-like state induced by social isolation can be partially rescued by chronic treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine (FLX). Moreover, we identify numerous and partly sex-dependent behavioral and molecular abnormalities, including increased anxiety-like behavior, cognitive impairments and alterations of the amygdalar transcriptome, in offspring born to socially isolated mothers relative to offspring born to mothers that were maintained in social groups prior to conception. We also found that maternal FLX treatment was effective in preventing some of the behavioral and molecular abnormalities emerging in offspring born to socially isolated mothers. Taken together, our findings suggest that the presence of a depressive-like state during preconception and pregnancy has sex-dependent consequences on brain and behavioral functions in the offspring. At the same time, our study highlights that FLX treatment in dams with a depression-like state can prevent abnormal behavioral development in the offspring.
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