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Donato J, Kopchick JJ. New findings on brain actions of growth hormone and potential clinical implications. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2024; 25:541-553. [PMID: 38060062 PMCID: PMC11156798 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09861-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by somatotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland. The classical effects of GH comprise the stimulation of cell proliferation, tissue and body growth, lipolysis, and insulin resistance. The GH receptor (GHR) is expressed in numerous brain regions. Notably, a growing body of evidence indicates that GH-induced GHR signaling in specific neuronal populations regulates multiple physiological functions, including energy balance, glucose homeostasis, stress response, behavior, and several neurological/cognitive aspects. The importance of central GHR signaling is particularly evident when the organism is under metabolic stress, such as pregnancy, chronic food deprivation, hypoglycemia, and prolonged exercise. These particular situations are associated with elevated GH secretion. Thus, central GH action represents an internal signal that coordinates metabolic, neurological, neuroendocrine, and behavioral adaptations that are evolutionarily advantageous to increase the chances of survival. This review summarizes and discusses recent findings indicating that the brain is an important target of GH, and GHR signaling in different neuronal populations regulates essential physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Lineu Prestes, 1524, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - John J Kopchick
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
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2
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Menezes F, Wasinski F, de Souza GO, Nunes AP, Bernardes ES, dos Santos SN, da Silva FFA, Peroni CN, Oliveira JE, Kopchick JJ, Brown RSE, Fernandez G, De Francesco PN, Perelló M, Soares CRJ, Donato J. The Pattern of GH Action in the Mouse Brain. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae057. [PMID: 38728240 PMCID: PMC11137758 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
GH acts in numerous organs expressing the GH receptor (GHR), including the brain. However, the mechanisms behind the brain's permeability to GH and how this hormone accesses different brain regions remain unclear. It is well-known that an acute GH administration induces phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (pSTAT5) in the mouse brain. Thus, the pattern of pSTAT5 immunoreactive cells was analyzed at different time points after IP or intracerebroventricular GH injections. After a systemic GH injection, the first cells expressing pSTAT5 were those near circumventricular organs, such as arcuate nucleus neurons adjacent to the median eminence. Both systemic and central GH injections induced a medial-to-lateral pattern of pSTAT5 immunoreactivity over time because GH-responsive cells were initially observed in periventricular areas and were progressively detected in lateral brain structures. Very few choroid plexus cells exhibited GH-induced pSTAT5. Additionally, Ghr mRNA was poorly expressed in the mouse choroid plexus. In contrast, some tanycytes lining the floor of the third ventricle expressed Ghr mRNA and exhibited GH-induced pSTAT5. The transport of radiolabeled GH into the hypothalamus did not differ between wild-type and dwarf Ghr knockout mice, indicating that GH transport into the mouse brain is GHR independent. Also, single-photon emission computed tomography confirmed that radiolabeled GH rapidly reaches the ventral part of the tuberal hypothalamus. In conclusion, our study provides novel and valuable information about the pattern and mechanisms behind GH transport into the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Menezes
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Frederick Wasinski
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Gabriel O de Souza
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Amanda P Nunes
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Emerson S Bernardes
- Radiopharmacy Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Sofia N dos Santos
- Radiopharmacy Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Fábio F A da Silva
- Radiopharmacy Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Cibele N Peroni
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - João E Oliveira
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - John J Kopchick
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Rosemary S E Brown
- Department of Physiology, Centre for Neuroendocrinology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Gimena Fernandez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, La Plata, BA 1900, Argentina
| | - Pablo N De Francesco
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, La Plata, BA 1900, Argentina
| | - Mario Perelló
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, La Plata, BA 1900, Argentina
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Uppsala, Uppsala 75312, Sweden
| | - Carlos R J Soares
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Jose Donato
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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Petersen B, Negri S, Milan M, Reyff Z, Ballard C, Ihuoma J, Ungvari Z, Tarantini S. Editorial: Endocrine regulation of aging: impacts of humoral factors and circulating mediators. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1387435. [PMID: 38510697 PMCID: PMC10951053 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1387435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Petersen
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Sharon Negri
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Madison Milan
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Zeke Reyff
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Cade Ballard
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jennifer Ihuoma
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Stefano Tarantini
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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de Souza GO, Teixeira PDS, Câmara NOS, Donato J. mTORC1 Signaling in AgRP Neurons Is Not Required to Induce Major Neuroendocrine Adaptations to Food Restriction. Cells 2023; 12:2442. [PMID: 37887286 PMCID: PMC10605346 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202442] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic mTORC1 signaling is involved in nutrient sensing. Neurons that express the agouti-related protein (AgRP) are activated by food restriction and integrate interoceptive and exteroceptive signals to control food intake, energy expenditure, and other metabolic responses. To determine whether mTORC1 signaling in AgRP neurons is necessary for regulating energy and glucose homeostasis, especially in situations of negative energy balance, mice carrying ablation of the Raptor gene exclusively in AgRP-expressing cells were generated. AgRPΔRaptor mice showed no differences in body weight, fat mass, food intake, or energy expenditure; however, a slight improvement in glucose homeostasis was observed compared to the control group. When subjected to 5 days of food restriction (40% basal intake), AgRPΔRaptor female mice lost less lean body mass and showed a blunted reduction in energy expenditure, whereas AgRPΔRaptor male mice maintained a higher energy expenditure compared to control mice during the food restriction and 5 days of refeeding period. AgRPΔRaptor female mice did not exhibit the food restriction-induced increase in serum corticosterone levels. Finally, although hypothalamic fasting- or refeeding-induced Fos expression showed no differences between the groups, AgRPΔRaptor mice displayed increased hyperphagia during refeeding. Thus, some metabolic and neuroendocrine responses to food restriction are disturbed in AgRPΔRaptor mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel O. de Souza
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (G.O.d.S.); (P.D.S.T.)
| | - Pryscila D. S. Teixeira
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (G.O.d.S.); (P.D.S.T.)
| | - Niels O. S. Câmara
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil;
| | - Jose Donato
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil; (G.O.d.S.); (P.D.S.T.)
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Dos Santos WO, Juliano VAL, Chaves FM, Vieira HR, Frazao R, List EO, Kopchick JJ, Munhoz CD, Donato J. Growth Hormone Action in Somatostatin Neurons Regulates Anxiety and Fear Memory. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6816-6829. [PMID: 37625855 PMCID: PMC10552943 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0254-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctions in growth hormone (GH) secretion increase the prevalence of anxiety and other neuropsychiatric diseases. GH receptor (GHR) signaling in the amygdala has been associated with fear memory, a key feature of posttraumatic stress disorder. However, it is currently unknown which neuronal population is targeted by GH action to influence the development of neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we showed that approximately 60% of somatostatin (SST)-expressing neurons in the extended amygdala are directly responsive to GH. GHR ablation in SST-expressing cells (SSTΔGHR mice) caused no alterations in energy or glucose metabolism. Notably, SSTΔGHR male mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior in the light-dark box and elevated plus maze tests, whereas SSTΔGHR females showed no changes in anxiety. Using auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning, both male and female SSTΔGHR mice exhibited a significant reduction in fear memory. Conversely, GHR ablation in SST neurons did not affect memory in the novel object recognition test. Gene expression was analyzed in a micro punch comprising the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) and basolateral (BLA) complex. GHR ablation in SST neurons caused sex-dependent changes in the expression of factors involved in synaptic plasticity and function. In conclusion, GHR expression in SST neurons is necessary to regulate anxiety in males, but not female mice. GHR ablation in SST neurons also decreases fear memory and affects gene expression in the amygdala, although marked sex differences were observed. Our findings identified for the first time a neurochemically-defined neuronal population responsible for mediating the effects of GH on behavioral aspects associated with neuropsychiatric diseases.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Hormone action in the brain regulates different neurological aspects, affecting the predisposition to neuropsychiatric disorders, like depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Growth hormone (GH) receptor is widely expressed in the brain, but the exact function of neuronal GH action is not fully understood. Here, we showed that mice lacking the GH receptor in a group of neurons that express the neuropeptide somatostatin exhibit increased anxiety. However, this effect is only observed in male mice. In contrast, the absence of the GH receptor in somatostatin-expressing neurons decreases fear memory, a key feature of posttraumatic stress disorder, in males and females. Thus, our study identified a specific group of neurons in which GH acts to affect the predisposition to neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willian O Dos Santos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Vitor A L Juliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda M Chaves
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Henrique R Vieira
- Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Frazao
- Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Edward O List
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens 45701, Ohio
| | - John J Kopchick
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens 45701, Ohio
| | - Carolina D Munhoz
- Department of Pharmacology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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Wasinski F, Tavares MR, Gusmao DO, List EO, Kopchick JJ, Alves GA, Frazao R, Donato J. Central growth hormone action regulates neuroglial and proinflammatory markers in the hypothalamus of male mice. Neurosci Lett 2023; 806:137236. [PMID: 37030549 PMCID: PMC10133206 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137236] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) action in specific neuronal populations regulates neuroendocrine responses, metabolism, and behavior. However, the potential role of central GH action on glial function is less understood. The present study aims to determine how the hypothalamic expression of several neuroglial markers is affected by central GH action in male mice. The dwarf GH- and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-deficient Ghrhrlit/lit mice showed decreased mRNA expression of Nes (Nestin), Gfap, Iba1, Adgre1 (F4/80), and Tnf (TNFα) in the hypothalamus, compared to wild-type animals. In contrast, transgenic overexpression of GH led to high serum GH and IGF-1 levels, and increased hypothalamic expression of Nes, Gfap, Adgre1, Iba1, and Rax. Hepatocyte-specific GH receptor (GHR) knockout mice, which are characterized by high serum GH levels, but reduced IGF-1 secretion, showed increased mRNA expression of Gfap, Iba1, Tnf, and Sox10, demonstrating that the increase in GH levels alters the hypothalamic expression of glial markers associated with neuroinflammation, independently of IGF-1. Conversely, brain-specific GHR knockout mice showed reduced expression of Gfap, Adgre1, and Vim (vimentin), indicating that brain GHR signaling is necessary to mediate GH-induced changes in the expression of several neuroglial markers. In conclusion, the hypothalamic mRNA levels of several neuroglial markers associated with inflammation are directly modulated by GHR signaling in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Wasinski
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Mariana R Tavares
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Daniela O Gusmao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edward O List
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - John J Kopchick
- Edison Biotechnology Institute and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Guilherme A Alves
- Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Frazao
- Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
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