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Maynard KR, Hobbs JW, Phan BN, Gupta A, Rajpurohit S, Williams C, Rajpurohit A, Shin JH, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K. BDNF-TrkB signaling in oxytocin neurons contributes to maternal behavior. eLife 2018; 7:33676. [PMID: 30192229 PMCID: PMC6135608 DOI: 10.7554/elife.33676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) transcription is controlled by several promoters, which drive expression of multiple transcripts encoding an identical protein. We previously reported that BDNF derived from promoters I and II is highly expressed in hypothalamus and is critical for regulating aggression in male mice. Here we report that BDNF loss from these promoters causes reduced sexual receptivity and impaired maternal care in female mice, which is concomitant with decreased oxytocin (Oxt) expression during development. We identify a novel link between BDNF signaling, oxytocin, and maternal behavior by demonstrating that ablation of TrkB selectively in OXT neurons partially recapitulates maternal care impairments observed in BDNF-deficient females. Using translating ribosome affinity purification and RNA-sequencing we define a molecular profile for OXT neurons and delineate how BDNF signaling impacts gene pathways critical for structural and functional plasticity. Our findings highlight BDNF as a modulator of sexually-dimorphic hypothalamic circuits that govern female-typical behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - John W Hobbs
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - BaDoi N Phan
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Amolika Gupta
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Sumita Rajpurohit
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Courtney Williams
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Anandita Rajpurohit
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Joo Heon Shin
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States
| | - Andrew E Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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3
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Subkhangulova A, Malik AR, Hermey G, Popp O, Dittmar G, Rathjen T, Poy MN, Stumpf A, Beed PS, Schmitz D, Breiderhoff T, Willnow TE. SORCS1 and SORCS3 control energy balance and orexigenic peptide production. EMBO Rep 2018; 19:embr.201744810. [PMID: 29440124 PMCID: PMC5891432 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SORCS1 and SORCS3 are two related sorting receptors expressed in neurons of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Using mouse models with individual or dual receptor deficiencies, we document a previously unknown function of these receptors in central control of metabolism. Specifically, SORCS1 and SORCS3 act as intracellular trafficking receptors for tropomyosin-related kinase B to attenuate signaling by brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a potent regulator of energy homeostasis. Loss of the joint action of SORCS1 and SORCS3 in mutant mice results in excessive production of the orexigenic neuropeptide agouti-related peptide and in a state of chronic energy excess characterized by enhanced food intake, decreased locomotor activity, diminished usage of lipids as metabolic fuel, and increased adiposity, albeit at overall reduced body weight. Our findings highlight a novel concept in regulation of the melanocortin system and the role played by trafficking receptors SORCS1 and SORCS3 in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna R Malik
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Hermey
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Cognition, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Popp
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Dittmar
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Rathjen
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew N Poy
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Stumpf
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Prateep Sanker Beed
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Thomas E Willnow
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany .,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Barker V, Gumley A, Schwannauer M, Lawrie SM. An integrated biopsychosocial model of childhood maltreatment and psychosis. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 206:177-80. [PMID: 25733568 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.143578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There is now a well-established link between childhood maltreatment and psychosis. It is, however, unclear what the mechanisms are by which this occurs. Here, we propose a pathway linking the experience of childhood maltreatment with biological changes in the brain and suggest a psychological intervention to ameliorate its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Barker
- Victoria Barker, PhD, MRCPsych, MAcadMEd, AFHEA, Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh; Andrew Gumley, MAppSci, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow; Matthias Schwannauer, MA, MSc, DPsych, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPS, Stephen M. Lawrie, MRCPsych, MPhil, MD (Hons), FRCPsych, Hon FRCP (Edin), Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew Gumley
- Victoria Barker, PhD, MRCPsych, MAcadMEd, AFHEA, Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh; Andrew Gumley, MAppSci, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow; Matthias Schwannauer, MA, MSc, DPsych, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPS, Stephen M. Lawrie, MRCPsych, MPhil, MD (Hons), FRCPsych, Hon FRCP (Edin), Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthias Schwannauer
- Victoria Barker, PhD, MRCPsych, MAcadMEd, AFHEA, Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh; Andrew Gumley, MAppSci, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow; Matthias Schwannauer, MA, MSc, DPsych, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPS, Stephen M. Lawrie, MRCPsych, MPhil, MD (Hons), FRCPsych, Hon FRCP (Edin), Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stephen M Lawrie
- Victoria Barker, PhD, MRCPsych, MAcadMEd, AFHEA, Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh; Andrew Gumley, MAppSci, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow; Matthias Schwannauer, MA, MSc, DPsych, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPS, Stephen M. Lawrie, MRCPsych, MPhil, MD (Hons), FRCPsych, Hon FRCP (Edin), Centre for Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
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5
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Abstract
Complex interactions between the brain and peripheral tissues mediate the effective control of energy balance and body weight. Hypothalamic and hindbrain neural circuits integrate peripheral signals informing the nutritional status of the animal and in response regulate nutrient intake and energy utilization. Obesity and its many medical complications emerge from the dysregulation of energy homeostasis. Excessive weight gain might also arise from alterations in reward systems of the brain that drive consumption of calorie dense, palatable foods in the absence of an energy requirement. Several neurotrophins, most notably brain-derived neurotrophic factor, have been implicated in the molecular and cellular processes underlying body weight regulation. Here, we review investigations interrogating their roles in energy balance and reward centers of the brain impacting feeding behavior and energy expenditure.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rios
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA,
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6
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Zhu H, Zhao Z, Zhou Y, Chen X, Li Y, Liu X, Lu H, Zhang Y, Zhang J. High-dose glucocorticoid aggravates TBI-associated corticosteroid insufficiency by inducing hypothalamic neuronal apoptosis. Brain Res 2013; 1541:69-80. [PMID: 24103812 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Emerging experimental and clinical data suggest that severe illness, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), can induce critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). However, underlying mechanisms of this TBI-associated CIRCI remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that dexamethasone (DXM), a synthetic glucocorticoid, which was widely used to treat TBI, induces hypothalamic neuronal apoptosis to aggravate CIRCI. To test this hypothesis, we have evaluated the dose effect of DXM (1 or 10mg/kg) on the development of acute CIRCI in rats with fluid percussion injury-induced TBI and on cultured rat hypothalamic neurons in vitro (DXM, 10(-5)-10(-8)mol/L). Corticosterone Increase Index was recorded as the marker for CIRCI. In addition, MTT and TUNEL assays were used to measure the viability and apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons in primary culture. Moreover, high-resolution hopping probe ion conductance microscopy (HPICM) was used to monitor the DXM-induced morphological changes in neurons. The incidence of acute CIRCI was significantly higher in the high-dose DXM group on post-injury day 7. Cellular viability was significantly decreased from 12h to 24h after the treatment with a high-dose of DXM. A significantly increase in TUNEL positive cells were detected in cultured cells treated with a high-dose of DXM after 18h. Neurites of hypothalamic neuron were dramatically thinner and the numbers of dendritic beadings increased in neurons treated with the high dose of DXM for 12h. In conclusion, high-dose DXM induced hypothalamic neurons to undergo apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, which may aggravate TBI-associated CIRCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, PR China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300052, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin 300052, PR China.
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7
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Schechter M, Weller A, Pittel Z, Gross M, Zimmer A, Pinhasov A. Endocannabinoid receptor deficiency affects maternal care and alters the dam's hippocampal oxytocin receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. J Neuroendocrinol 2013; 25:898-909. [PMID: 23895426 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Maternal care is the newborn's first experience of social interaction, and this influences infant survival, development and social competences throughout life. We recently found that postpartum blocking of the endocannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R) altered maternal behaviour. In the present study, maternal care was assessed by the time taken to retrieve pups, pups' ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) and pup body weight, comparing CB1R deleted (CB1R KO) versus wild-type (WT) mice. After culling on postpartum day 8, hippocampal expression of oxytocin receptor (OXTR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and stress-mediating factors were evaluated in CB1R KO and WT dams. Comparisons were also performed with nulliparous (NP) CB1R KO and WT mice. Compared to WT, CB1R KO dams were slower to retrieve their pups. Although the body weight of the KO pups did not differ from the weight of WT pups, they emitted fewer USVs. This impairment of the dam-pup relationship correlated with a significant reduction of OXTR mRNA and protein levels among CB1R KO dams compared to WT dams. Furthermore, WT dams exhibited elevated OXTR mRNA expression, as well as increased levels of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, compared to WT NP mice. By contrast, CB1R KO dams showed no such elevation of OXTR expression, alongside lower BDNF and mineralocorticoid receptors, as well as elevated corticotrophin-releasing hormone mRNA levels, when compared to CB1R KO NP. Thus, it appears that the disruption of endocannabinoid signalling by CB1R deletion alters expression of the OXTR, apparently leading to deleterious effects upon maternal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Schechter
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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