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Mayne P, Das J, Zou S, Sullivan RKP, Burne THJ. Perineuronal nets are associated with decision making under conditions of uncertainty in female but not male mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114845. [PMID: 38184206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114845] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex influences decision-making processes in significant ways, differentiating the responses animals choose when faced with a range of stimuli. The neurobiological underpinnings that dictate sex differences in decision-making tasks remains an important open question, yet single-sex studies of males form most studies in behavioural neuroscience. Here we used female and male BALB/c mice on two spatial learning and memory tasks and examined the expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs) and parvalbumin interneurons (PV) in regions correlated with spatial memory. Mice underwent the aversive active place avoidance (APA) task or the appetitive trial-unique nonmatching-to-location (TUNL) touchscreen task. Mice in the APA cohort learnt to avoid the foot-shock and no differences were observed on key measures of the task nor in the number and intensity of PNNs and PV. On the delay but not separation manipulation in the TUNL task, females received more incorrect trials and less correct trials compared to males. Furthermore, females in this cohort exhibited higher intensity PNNs and PV cells in the agranular and granular retrosplenial cortex, compared to males. These data show that female and male mice perform similarly on spatial learning tasks. However, sex differences in neural circuitry may underly differences in making decisions under conditions of uncertainty on an appetitive task. These data emphasise the importance of using mice of both sexes in studies of decision-making neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Mayne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joyosmita Das
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Simin Zou
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert K P Sullivan
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas H J Burne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia.
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2
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Boyd HM, Frick KM, Kwapis JL. Connecting the Dots: Potential Interactions Between Sex Hormones and the Circadian System During Memory Consolidation. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:537-555. [PMID: 37464775 PMCID: PMC10615791 DOI: 10.1177/07487304231184761] [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: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Both the circadian clock and sex hormone signaling can strongly influence brain function, yet little is known about how these 2 powerful modulatory systems might interact during complex neural processes like memory consolidation. Individually, the molecular components and action of each of these systems have been fairly well-characterized, but there is a fundamental lack of information about how these systems cooperate. In the circadian system, clock genes function as timekeeping molecules that convey time-of-day information on a well-stereotyped cycle that is governed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Keeping time is particularly important to synchronize various physiological processes across the brain and body, including those that regulate memory consolidation. Similarly, sex hormones are powerful modulators of memory, with androgens, estrogens, and progestins, all influencing memory consolidation within memory-relevant brain regions like the hippocampus. Despite clear evidence that each system can influence memory individually, exactly how the circadian and hormonal systems might interact to impact memory consolidation remains unclear. Research investigating either sex hormone action or circadian gene function within memory-relevant brain regions has unveiled several notable places in which the two systems could interact to control memory. Here, we bring attention to known interactions between the circadian clock and sex hormone signaling. We then review sex hormone-mediated control of memory consolidation, highlighting potential nodes through which the circadian system might interact during memory formation. We suggest that the bidirectional relationship between these two systems is essential for proper control of memory formation based on an animal's hormonal and circadian state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Boyd
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Karyn M. Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Janine L. Kwapis
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
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3
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Antonelli A, Giannini A, Chedraui P, Monteleone P, Caretto M, Genazzani AD, Mannella P, Simoncini T, Genazzani AR. Mood disorders and hormonal status across women's life: a narrative review. Gynecol Endocrinol 2022; 38:1019-1027. [PMID: 36433781 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2022.2149730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Depressive disorders and anxiety states represent one of the most frequent psychiatric pathologies occurring transiently in vulnerable women throughout their life, from puberty to menopause. It is now known that sex hormones play a key role on the nervous system, interfering with neuronal plasticity and enhancing the processes of learning, memory, cognition, and mood. Numerous mechanisms are at the base of these processes, displaying interactions between estrogen and serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic receptors at the central level. Therefore, given the sexual steroids fluctuations throughout the entire female lifespan, and considering the role played by sex hormones at the central level, it is not surprising to observe the onset of mood or neurodegenerative disorders over time. This is especially true for women in hormonal transition phase, such as puberty, postpartum and the menopausal transition. Moreover, all these conditions are characterized by hormone withdrawal, imbalance, or modifications due to menopausal hormone therapies or contraceptives which could prompt to a deterioration of mood and cognition impairment or to an improvement in the quality of life. More studies are needed to better understand the hormone-related effects on the nervous system, and the underlying pathways involved in transitional or chronic mood disorders, to promote new patient-specific therapeutic strategies more effective than the current ones and tailored according to the individual need and women's life period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Antonelli
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Giannini
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Peter Chedraui
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Salud Integral, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción", Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Patrizia Monteleone
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Caretto
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro D Genazzani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Mannella
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tommaso Simoncini
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea R Genazzani
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Lipp HP, Wolfer DP. Behavior is movement only but how to interpret it? Problems and pitfalls in translational neuroscience-a 40-year experience. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:958067. [PMID: 36330050 PMCID: PMC9623569 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.958067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational research in behavioral neuroscience seeks causes and remedies for human mental health problems in animals, following leads imposed by clinical research in psychiatry. This endeavor faces several problems because scientists must read and interpret animal movements to represent human perceptions, mood, and memory processes. Yet, it is still not known how mammalian brains bundle all these processes into a highly compressed motor output in the brain stem and spinal cord, but without that knowledge, translational research remains aimless. Based on some four decades of experience in the field, the article identifies sources of interpretation problems and illustrates typical translational pitfalls. (1) The sensory world of mice is different. Smell, hearing, and tactile whisker sensations dominate in rodents, while visual input is comparatively small. In humans, the relations are reversed. (2) Mouse and human brains are equated inappropriately: the association cortex makes up a large portion of the human neocortex, while it is relatively small in rodents. The predominant associative cortex in rodents is the hippocampus itself, orchestrating chiefly inputs from secondary sensorimotor areas and generating species-typical motor patterns that are not easily reconciled with putative human hippocampal functions. (3) Translational interpretation of studies of memory or emotionality often neglects the ecology of mice, an extremely small species surviving by freezing or flight reactions that do not need much cognitive processing. (4) Further misinterpretations arise from confounding neuronal properties with system properties, and from rigid mechanistic thinking unaware that many experimentally induced changes in the brain do partially reflect unpredictable compensatory plasticity. (5) Based on observing hippocampal lesion effects in mice indoors and outdoors, the article offers a simplistic general model of hippocampal functions in relation to hypothalamic input and output, placing hypothalamus and the supraspinal motor system at the top of a cerebral hierarchy. (6) Many translational problems could be avoided by inclusion of simple species-typical behaviors as end-points comparable to human cognitive or executive processing, and to rely more on artificial intelligence for recognizing patterns not classifiable by traditional psychological concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Lipp
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P. Wolfer
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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5
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McLane VD, Lark ARS, Nass SR, Knapp PE, Hauser KF. HIV-1 Tat reduces apical dendritic spine density throughout the trisynaptic pathway in the hippocampus of male transgenic mice. Neurosci Lett 2022; 782:136688. [PMID: 35595189 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136688] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nearly one-third of persons infected with HIV-1 (PWH) develop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which can be exacerbated by exposure to opioids. The impact of opioids on HIV-induced alterations in neuronal plasticity is less well understood. Both morphine exposure and HIV have been shown to disrupt synaptic growth and stability in the hippocampus suggesting a potential site of convergence for their deleterious effects. In the present study, we examined the density of dendritic spines in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons, and granule neurons within the dentate gyrus representing the hippocampal trisynaptic pathway after short-term exposure to the HIV transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein and morphine. We exposed inducible male, HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice to escalating doses of morphine (10-40 mg/kg, b.i.d.) and examined synaptodendritic structure in Golgi-impregnated hippocampal neurons. HIV-1 Tat, but not morphine, systematically reduced the density of apical, but not basilar, dendrites of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons, and granule neuronal apical dendrites, suggesting the coordinated loss of specific synaptic interconnections throughout the hippocampal trisynaptic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia D McLane
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Arianna R S Lark
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Sara R Nass
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Pamela E Knapp
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Kurt F Hauser
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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6
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Osterlund Oltmanns JR, Schaeffer EA, Goncalves Garcia M, Donaldson TN, Acosta G, Sanchez LM, Davies S, Savage DD, Wallace DG, Clark BJ. Sexually dimorphic organization of open field behavior following moderate prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:861-875. [PMID: 35315075 PMCID: PMC9117438 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can produce deficits in a wide range of cognitive functions but is especially detrimental to behaviors requiring accurate spatial information processing. In open field environments, spatial behavior is organized such that animals establish "home bases" marked by long stops focused around one location. Progressions away from the home base are circuitous and slow, while progressions directed toward the home base are non-circuitous and fast. The impact of PAE on the organization of open field behavior has not been experimentally investigated. METHODS In the present study, adult female and male rats with moderate PAE or saccharin exposure locomoted a circular high walled open field for 30 minutes under lighted conditions. RESULTS The findings indicate that PAE and sex influence the organization of open field behavior. Consistent with previous literature, PAE rats exhibited greater locomotion in the open field. Novel findings from the current study indicate that PAE and sex also impact open field measures specific to spatial orientation. While all rats established a home base on the periphery of the open field, PAE rats, particularly males, exhibited significantly less clustered home base stopping with smaller changes in heading between stops. PAE also impaired progression measures specific to distance estimation, while sex alone impacted progression measures specific to direction estimation. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the conclusion that adult male rats have an increased susceptibility to the effects of PAE on the organization of open field behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ericka A Schaeffer
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Tia N Donaldson
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Gabriela Acosta
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Lilliana M Sanchez
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Department of Neurosciences, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Douglas G Wallace
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Benjamin J Clark
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Department of Neurosciences, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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7
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Sheppard PAS, Puri TA, Galea LAM. Sex Differences and Estradiol Effects in MAPK and Akt Cell Signaling across Subregions of the Hippocampus. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:621-635. [PMID: 34407537 DOI: 10.1159/000519072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rapid effects of estrogens within the hippocampus of rodents are dependent upon cell-signaling cascades, and activation of these cascades by estrogens varies by sex. Whether these pathways are rapidly activated within the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 by estrogens across sex and the anatomical longitudinal axis has been overlooked. METHODS Gonadally intact female and male rats were given either vehicle or physiological systemic low (1.1 µg/kg) or high (37.3 µg/kg) doses of 17β-estradiol 30 min prior to tissue collection. To control for the effects of circulating estrogens, an additional group of female rats was ovariectomized (OVX) and administered 17β-estradiol. Brains were extracted, and tissue punches of the CA1 and DG were taken along the longitudinal hippocampal axis (dorsal and ventral) and analyzed for key mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) cascade phosphoproteins. RESULTS Intact females had higher Akt pathway phosphoproteins (pAkt, pGSK-3β, and pp70S6K) than males in the DG (dorsal and ventral) and lower pERK1/2 in the dorsal DG. Most effects of 17β-estradiol on cell signaling occurred in OVX animals. In OVX animals, 17β-estradiol increased cell signaling of MAPK and Akt phosphoproteins (pERK1/2, pJNK, pAkt, and pGSK-3β) in the CA1 and pERK1/2 and pJNK DG. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Systemic 17β-estradiol treatment rapidly alters phosphoprotein levels in the hippocampus, dependent on reproductive status, and intact females have greater expression of Akt phosphoproteins than that in intact males in the DG. These findings shed light on underlying mechanisms of sex differences in hippocampal function and response to interventions that affect MAPK or Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A S Sheppard
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tanvi A Puri
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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8
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Xu H, Yu ZH, Ge MJ, Shen JX, Han F, Pan C, Chen JJ, Zhu XL, Hou WY, Hou YQ, Lu YP. Estradiol attenuates chronic restraint stress-induced dendrite and dendritic spine loss and cofilin1 activation in ovariectomized mice. Horm Behav 2021; 135:105040. [PMID: 34358948 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian hormone deprivation is associated with mood disorders, such as depression, and estradiol therapy is significantly more effective than placebos in treating major depression associated with menopause onset. However, the effect of estradiol on neuronal plasticity and its mechanisms remain to be further elucidated. In this study, behavioral assessments were used to examine the antidepressant effect of estradiol in ovariectomized (OVX) B6.Cg-TgN (Thy-YFP-H)-2Jrs transgenic mice on chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced dendrite and dendritic spine loss; Yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) is characteristically expressed in excitatory neurons in transgenic mice, and its three-dimensional images were used to evaluate the effect of estradiol on the density of different types of dendritic spines. Quantification and distribution of cofilin1 and p-cofilin1 were determined by qPCR, Western blots, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The results revealed that treatment with estradiol or clomipramine significantly improved depression-like behaviors. Estradiol treatment also significantly upregulated the dendritic density in all areas examined and increased the density of filopodia-type, thin-type and mushroom-type spines in the hippocampal CA1 and elevated the thin-type and mushroom-type spine density in the PFC. Consistent with these changes, estradiol treatment significantly increased the density of p-cofilin1 immunopositive dendritic spines. Thus, these data reveal a possible estradiol antidepressant mechanism, in that estradiol promoted the phosphorylation of cofilin1 and reduced the loss of dendrites and dendritic spines, which of these dendritic spines include not only immature spines such as filopodia-type, but also mature spines such as mushroom-type, and attenuated the depression-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xu
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China; Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 18 Wuxiashan West Road, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Zong-Hao Yu
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Ming-Jun Ge
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Jun-Xian Shen
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Fei Han
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Chuan Pan
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Jing-Jing Chen
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Xiu-Ling Zhu
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China; Department of Anatomy, Wannan Medical College, No. 22 Wenchang West Road, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Wen-Yu Hou
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yu-Qiao Hou
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Ya-Ping Lu
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, China.
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Abotalebi H, Ebrahimi B, Shahriyari R, Shafieian R. Sex steroids-induced neurogenesis in adult brain: a better look at mechanisms and mediators. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2021; 42:209-221. [PMID: 34058796 DOI: 10.1515/hmbci-2020-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis is the production of new nerve cells in the adult brain. Neurogenesis is a clear example of the neuroplasticity phenomenon which can be observed in most of mammalian species, including human beings. This phenomenon occurs, at least, in two regions of the brain: the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in hippocampus and the ventricular zone of lateral ventricles. Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between sex steroid hormones and neurogenesis of adult brain; of which, mostly concentrated on the role of estradiol. It has been shown that estrogen plays a significant role in this process through both classic and non-classic mechanisms, including a variety of different growth factors. Therefore, the objective of this review is to investigate the role of female sex steroids with an emphasis on estradiol and also its potential implications for regulating the neurogenesis in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Abotalebi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Babak Ebrahimi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raziyeh Shahriyari
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reyhaneh Shafieian
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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10
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Ge W, Ren C, Xing L, Guan L, Zhang C, Sun X, Wang G, Niu H, Qun S. Ginkgo biloba extract improves cognitive function and increases neurogenesis by reducing Aβ pathology in 5×FAD mice. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:1471-1482. [PMID: 33841671 PMCID: PMC8014356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that the generation of newborn hippocampal neurons is impaired in the early phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A potential therapeutic strategy being pursued for the treatment of AD is increasing the number of newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus. Recent studies have demonstrated that ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) plays a neuroprotective role by preventing memory loss in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the extent of EGb 761's protective role in the AD process is unclear. In this study, different doses of EGb 761 (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injections once every day for four months) were tested on 5×FAD mice. After consecutive 4-month injections, mice were tested in learning memory tasks, Aβ, and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus and morphological characteristics of neurons in DG of hippocampus. Results indicated that EGb 761 (20 and 30 mg/kg) ameliorated memory deficits. Further analysis indicated that EGb 761 can reduce the number of Aβ positive signals in 5×FAD mice, increase the number of newborn neurons, and increase dendritic branching and density of dendritic spines in 5×FAD mice compared to nontreated 5×FAD mice. It was concluded that EGb 761 plays a protective role in the memory deficit of 5×FAD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical UniversityNo. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical UniversityNo. 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chao Ren
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityYantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lei Xing
- Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical UniversityNo. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lina Guan
- Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityYantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Caiyi Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Xuzhou Medical UniversityNo. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xuwen Sun
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityYantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guoping Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaNo 17 Lvjiang Road, Hefei 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Haichen Niu
- Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical UniversityNo. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Sen Qun
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaNo 17 Lvjiang Road, Hefei 230001, Anhui, China
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11
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Abstract
17β-Estradiol (E2) is a potent steroid hormone of both gonadal and neuronal origin that exerts profound effects on neuroplasticity in several brain regions. Dendritic spine and synapse formation and rearrangements are modulated and mediated by estrogens. In this chapter, we highlighted the essential background concerning the effects of E2 on synaptic rearrangements accompanied by synaptic plasticity in E2-sensitive brain regions that mediate learning and memory, i.e., cortex and hippocampus. We also address details of the molecular mechanisms underlying E2 regulation of spine dynamics. The proposed models of action of E2 overlaps with that for well-established synaptic modulators, such as adenosine. Thus, the possible synergistic effects of those two molecules in respect to synaptic rearrangement and plasticity were presented.
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12
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Mendell AL, Creighton SD, Wilson HA, Jardine KH, Isaacs L, Winters BD, MacLusky NJ. Inhibition of 5α Reductase Impairs Cognitive Performance, Alters Dendritic Morphology and Increases Tau Phosphorylation in the Hippocampus of Male 3xTg-AD Mice. Neuroscience 2020; 429:185-202. [PMID: 31954826 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent work has suggested that 5α-reduced metabolites of testosterone may contribute to the neuroprotection conferred by their parent androgen, as well as to sex differences in the incidence and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated the effects of inhibiting 5α-reductase on object recognition memory (ORM), hippocampal dendritic morphology and proteins involved in AD pathology, in male 3xTg-AD mice. Male 6-month old wild-type or 3xTg-AD mice received daily injections of finasteride (50 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle (18% β-cyclodextrin, 1% v/b.w.) for 20 days. Female wild-type and 3xTg-AD mice received only the vehicle. Finasteride treatment differentially impaired ORM in males after short-term (3xTg-AD only) or long-term (3xTg-AD and wild-type) retention delays. Dendritic spine density and dendritic branching of pyramidal neurons in the CA3 hippocampal subfield were significantly lower in 3xTg-AD females than in males. Finasteride reduced CA3 dendritic branching and spine density in 3xTg-AD males, to within the range observed in vehicle-treated females. In the CA1 hippocampal subfield, dendritic branching and spine density were reduced in both male and female 3xTg-AD mice, compared to wild type controls. Hippocampal amyloid β levels were substantially higher in 3xTg-AD females compared to both vehicle and finasteride-treated 3xTg-AD males. Site-specific Tau phosphorylation was higher in 3xTg-AD mice compared to sex-matched wild-type controls, increasing slightly after finasteride treatment. These results suggest that 5α-reduced neurosteroids may play a role in testosterone-mediated neuroprotection and may contribute to sex differences in the development and severity of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Boyer D Winters
- Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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13
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Tong D, Godale CM, Kadakia FK, Gu Z, Danzer CS, Alghamdi A, Zhao P, Loepke AW, Danzer SC. Immature murine hippocampal neurones do not develop long-term structural changes after a single isoflurane exposure. Br J Anaesth 2019; 123:818-826. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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14
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Si Z, Wang X, Zhang Z, Wang J, Li J, Li J, Li L, Li Y, Peng Y, Sun C, Hui Y, Gao X. Heme Oxygenase 1 Induces Tau Oligomer Formation and Synapse Aberrations in Hippocampal Neurons. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 65:409-419. [PMID: 30040734 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by behavioral changes and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that it is the soluble forms of tau oligomers (Tau-O) and Aβ oligomers (oAβ) rather than the well-studied insoluble protein aggregates that possess the neurotoxicity, infectivity, and amplification underlying disease progression. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme upregulated in the cortex and hippocampus of AD brains, was reported to damage neural structures and disrupt brain function, suggesting possible contributions to Tau-O-mediated neurodegeneration. In this study, we focused on the effects of HO-1 on Tau-O formation. In hippocampus of HO-1-overexpressing transgenic mice and neural 2a (N2a) cells, Tau-O was co-localized with HO-1 as visualized by immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, primary cultured hippocampal neurons from HO-1 transgenic mice showed elevated Tau-O and concomitant reductions in spine density and length as well as dendritic length, diameter, and arborization. Blocking Tau-O formation by isoprenaline reversed these HO-1-induced morphological changes. These results indicated that HO-1 contributes to Tau-O formation and ensuing synaptic damage. Thus, HO-1 is a promising target for AD drug development.
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Sheppard PAS, Choleris E, Galea LAM. Structural plasticity of the hippocampus in response to estrogens in female rodents. Mol Brain 2019; 12:22. [PMID: 30885239 PMCID: PMC6423800 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0442-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that estrogens affect neuroplasticity in a number of brain regions. In particular, estrogens modulate and mediate spine and synapse formation as well as neurogenesis in the hippocampal formation. In this review, we discuss current research exploring the effects of estrogens on dendritic spine plasticity and neurogenesis with a focus on the modulating factors of sex, age, and pregnancy. Hormone levels, including those of estrogens, fluctuate widely across the lifespan from early life to puberty, through adulthood and into old age, as well as with pregnancy and parturition. Dendritic spine formation and modulation are altered both by rapid (likely non-genomic) and classical (genomic) actions of estrogens and have been suggested to play a role in the effects of estrogens on learning and memory. Neurogenesis in the hippocampus is influenced by age, the estrous cycle, pregnancy, and parity in female rodents. Furthermore, sex differences exist in hippocampal cellular and molecular responses to estrogens and are briefly discussed throughout. Understanding how structural plasticity in the hippocampus is affected by estrogens and how these effects can influence function and be influenced by other factors, such as experience and sex, is critical and can inform future treatments in conditions involving the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. S. Sheppard
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Liisa A. M. Galea
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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16
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Yagi S, Galea LAM. Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:200-213. [PMID: 30214058 PMCID: PMC6235970 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences are reported in hippocampal plasticity, cognition, and in a number of disorders that target the integrity of the hippocampus. For example, meta-analyses reveal that males outperform females on hippocampus-dependent tasks in rodents and in humans, furthermore women are more likely to experience greater cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and depression, both diseases characterized by hippocampal dysfunction. The hippocampus is a highly plastic structure, important for processing higher order information and is sensitive to the environmental factors such as stress. The structure retains the ability to produce new neurons and this process plays an important role in pattern separation, proactive interference, and cognitive flexibility. Intriguingly, there are prominent sex differences in the level of neurogenesis and the activation of new neurons in response to hippocampus-dependent cognitive tasks in rodents. However, sex differences in spatial performance can be nuanced as animal studies have demonstrated that there are task, and strategy choice dependent sex differences in performance, as well as sex differences in the subregions of the hippocampus influenced by learning. This review discusses sex differences in pattern separation, pattern completion, spatial learning, and links between adult neurogenesis and these cognitive functions of the hippocampus. We emphasize the importance of including both sexes when studying genomic, cellular, and structural mechanisms of the hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunya Yagi
- 0000 0001 2288 9830grid.17091.3eDepartment of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Liisa A. M. Galea
- 0000 0001 2288 9830grid.17091.3eDepartment of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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17
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Mendell AL, MacLusky NJ. The testosterone metabolite 3α-androstanediol inhibits oxidative stress-induced ERK phosphorylation and neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells through an MKP3/DUSP6-dependent mechanism. Neurosci Lett 2018; 696:60-66. [PMID: 30552945 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone exerts neuroprotective effects on the brain, but the mechanisms by which these effects are exerted appear to be different in males and females. While in females they involve local conversion to estradiol, in males they may be androgen receptor-dependent, or mediated through metabolism to neurosteroids such as 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-diol), which acts through different mechanisms than testosterone itself. Recently, we demonstrated that 3α-diol can protect neurons and neuronal-like cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity associated with prolonged phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The mechanism(s) responsible for these effects remain unknown. In the present study, we sought to determine whether the ERK-specific phosphatase, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3/dual specificity phosphatase 6 (MKP3/DUSP6), is involved in the cytoprotective effects of 3α-diol in SH-SY5Y human female neuroblastoma cells. 3α-diol inhibited ERK phosphorylation and ameliorated cell death induced by the oxidative stressor hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These protective effects were significantly reduced by pre-treatment with the MKP3/DUSP6 inhibitor BCI. In addition, H2O2 decreased expression of MKP3/DUSP6, and this was prevented by co-treatment with 3α-diol. These findings suggest that the protective effects of 3α-diol are mediated through regulation of ERK phosphorylation in neurotoxic conditions and indicate that these effects may be exerted through modulation of MKP3/DUSP6. Targeting the regulation of MKP3/DUSP6 may be beneficial in reducing toxicity under conditions of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari Loren Mendell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Neil James MacLusky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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18
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Parato J, Shen H, Smith SS. α4βδ GABA A Receptors Trigger Synaptic Pruning and Reduce Dendritic Length of Female Mouse CA3 Hippocampal Pyramidal Cells at Puberty. Neuroscience 2018; 398:23-36. [PMID: 30496825 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic pruning during adolescence is critical for optimal cognition. The CA3 hippocampus contains unique spine types and plays a pivotal role in pattern separation and seizure generation, where sex differences exist, but adolescent pruning has only been studied in the male. Thus, for the present study we assessed pruning of specific spine types in the CA3 hippocampus during adolescence and investigated a possible mechanism in the female mouse. To this end, we used Golgi-impregnated brains from pubertal (∼PND 35, assessed by vaginal opening) and post-pubertal (PND 56) mice. Spine density was assessed from z-stack (0.1-μm steps) images taken using a Nikon DS-U3 camera through a Nikon Eclipse Ci-L microscope and analyzed with NIS Elements. Spine density decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during adolescence, with 50-60% decreases in mushroom and stubby spine-types (P < 0.05, ∼PND35 vs. PND56) in non-proestrous mice. This was associated with decreases in kalirin-7, a spine protein which stabilizes the cytoskeleton and is required for spine maintenance. Because our previous findings suggest that pubertal increases in α4βδ GABAA receptors (GABARs) trigger pruning in CA1, we investigated their role in CA3. α4 expression in CA3 hippocampus increased 4-fold at puberty (P < 0.05), assessed by immunostaining and verified electrophysiologically by an increased response to gaboxadol (100 nM), which is selective for α4βδ. Knock-out of α4 prevented the pubertal decrease in kalirin-7 and synaptic pruning and also increased the dendritic length, demonstrating a functional link. These data suggest that pubertal α4βδ GABARs alter dendritic morphology and trigger pruning in female CA3 hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Parato
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Program in Neural and Behavioral Science, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Sheryl S Smith
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; The Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural and Behavioral Science, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
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19
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Frick KM, Tuscher JJ, Koss WA, Kim J, Taxier LR. Estrogenic regulation of memory consolidation: A look beyond the hippocampus, ovaries, and females. Physiol Behav 2018; 187:57-66. [PMID: 28755863 PMCID: PMC5787049 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The potent estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) has long been known to regulate the hippocampus and hippocampal-dependent memories in females, and research from the past decade has begun to shed light on the molecular mechanisms through which E2 mediates memory formation in females. Although E2 can also regulate hippocampal function in males, relatively little is known about how E2 influences memory formation in males, or whether sex differences in underlying mechanisms exist. This review, based on a talk given in April 2017 at the American University symposium entitled, "Sex Differences: From Neuroscience to the Clinic and Beyond", first provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms in the dorsal hippocampus through which E2 enhances memory consolidation in ovariectomized female mice. Next, newer research is described demonstrating key roles for the prefrontal cortex and de novo hippocampal E2 synthesis to the memory-enhancing effects of E2 in females. The review then discusses the effects of de novo and exogenous E2 on hippocampal memory consolidation in both sexes, and putative sex differences in the underlying molecular mechanisms through which E2 enhances memory formation. The review concludes by discussing the importance and implications of sex differences in the molecular mechanisms underlying E2-induced memory consolidation for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States.
| | - Jennifer J Tuscher
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
| | - Wendy A Koss
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
| | - Jaekyoon Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
| | - Lisa R Taxier
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
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20
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Akiyama H, Nakadate K, Sakakibara SI. Synaptic localization of the SUMOylation-regulating protease SENP5 in the adult mouse brain. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:990-1005. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Akiyama
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Human Sciences; Waseda University; Tokorozawa Saitama 359-1192 Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakadate
- Department of Basic Science; Educational and Research Center for Pharmacy, Meiji Pharmaceutical University; Kiyose Tokyo 204-858 Japan
| | - Shin-ichi Sakakibara
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Human Sciences; Waseda University; Tokorozawa Saitama 359-1192 Japan
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21
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Brague JC, Zinn CR, Granot DY, Feathers CT, Swann JM. TrkB is necessary for male copulatory behavior in the Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Horm Behav 2018; 97:162-169. [PMID: 29092774 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The magnocellular medial preoptic nucleus (MPN mag), a subdivision of the medial preoptic area (MPOA), plays a critical role in the regulation of copulation in the male Syrian hamster; in part by mediating the effects of gonadal steroids. For example, ablation of the MPN mag eliminates mating and testosterone placed in the MPN mag restores mating in castrated males. Furthermore, testosterone treatment enhances synaptic density and dendritic spines in the MPN mag. Thus, copulatory behaviors are correlated with increases in synaptic morphology in the MPN mag. As brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, tyrosine receptor kinase-B (TrkB), effect neuronal growth and synaptic plasticity, this study explored the role of TrkB and BDNF in mediating testosterone's effects on the MPN mag and behavior. Testosterone treatment increased BDNF expression and conversely lowered TrkB expression in the MPOA. siRNA-mediated TrkB knockdown in the MPN mag eliminated copulation two-days post injection and the behavior was restored one week later. These data indicate that testosterone influences the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the MPOA and that expression of copulation is dependent on the presence of TrkB. Taken together our findings support a role for TrkB and BDNF in mediating the effects of testosterone on copulatory behavior in the Syrian hamster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe C Brague
- Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States..
| | - Clifford R Zinn
- Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Dean Y Granot
- Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Cameron T Feathers
- Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Jennifer M Swann
- Lehigh University, Department of Biological Sciences, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States..
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22
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Scharfman HE, MacLusky NJ. Sex differences in hippocampal area CA3 pyramidal cells. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:563-575. [PMID: 27870399 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated differences between males and females in hippocampal structure, function, and plasticity. There also are many studies about the different predisposition of a males and females for disorders where the hippocampus plays an important role. Many of these reports focus on area CA1, but other subfields are also very important, and unlikely to be the same as area CA1 based on what is known. Here we review basic studies of male and female structure, function, and plasticity of area CA3 pyramidal cells of adult rats. The data suggest that the CA3 pyramidal cells of males and females are distinct in structure, function, and plasticity. These sex differences cannot be simply explained by the effects of circulating gonadal hormones. This view agrees with previous studies showing that there are substantial sex differences in the brain that cannot be normalized by removing the gonads and depleting peripheral gonadal hormones. Implications of these comparisons for understanding sex differences in hippocampal function and dysfunction are discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen E Scharfman
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Physiology and Neuroscience, and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.,Department of Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York
| | - Neil J MacLusky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Jacobskind JS, Rosinger ZJ, Zuloaga DG. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness to methamphetamine is modulated by gonadectomy in males. Brain Res 2017; 1677:74-85. [PMID: 28941573 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in patterns of methamphetamine (MA) abuse have been reported with females (humans and rodents) showing an elevated addiction phenotype. Previous findings indicate MA-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation is also sexually dimorphic with females exhibiting an elevated glucocorticoid release and differential neural activation patterns within HPA axis-associated brain regions. These effects may contribute to sex differences in abuse. To determine the role of gonadal hormones in mediating sex differences in MA-induced glucocorticoids, male and female C57BL/6J mice were gonadectomized or sham-operated, and following recovery, injected with MA (5mg/kg) and sacrificed 60min or 120min later. Blood was collected for corticosterone radioimmunoassay, and brains were used to assess c-Fos, and c-Fos co-localization with glucocorticoid receptor (GR). At 120min after MA injection, corticosterone levels were elevated in females compared to males and gonadectomy in males increased corticosterone to female levels. C-Fos was greater in females than males in the medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, basolateral amygdala, and central amygdala. Female gonadectomy had little effect on either corticosterone or c-Fos, while male gonadectomy elevated c-Fos in the central amygdala. Relative to sham males, gonadectomized males also showed decreased c-Fos/GR cell number in the CA3 hippocampal area compared to sham males, indicating a central site for attenuated negative feedback. Together, these findings indicate that androgens regulate MA-induced activation of the HPA axis, potentially by enhancing negative feedback. These sex and gonadal hormone effects on the HPA axis may contribute to sex differences in MA abuse patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Jacobskind
- University at Albany, Department of Psychology, Albany, NY 12222, United States
| | - Zachary J Rosinger
- University at Albany, Department of Psychology, Albany, NY 12222, United States
| | - Damian G Zuloaga
- University at Albany, Department of Psychology, Albany, NY 12222, United States.
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