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Dardente H, Lomet D, Robert V, Lasserre O, Gonzalez AA, Mialhe X, Beltramo M. Photoperiod, but not progesterone, has a strong impact upon the transcriptome of the medio-basal hypothalamus in female goats and ewes. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 588:112216. [PMID: 38556161 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112216] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Photoperiod is the main environmental driver of seasonal responses in organisms living at temperate and polar latitudes. Other external cues such as food and temperature, and internal cues including hormones, intervene to fine-tune phasing of physiological functions to the solar year. In mammals, the medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH) is the key integrator of these cues, which orchestrates a wide array of seasonal functions, including breeding. Here, using RNAseq and RT-qPCR, we demonstrate that molecular components of the photoperiodic response previously identified in ewes are broadly conserved in does (female goats, Capra hircus), with a common core of ∼50 genes. This core group can be defined as the "MBH seasonal trancriptome", which includes key players of the pars tuberalis-tanycytes neuroendocrine retrograde pathway that governs intra-MBH photoperiodic switches of triiodothyronine (T3) production (Tshb, Eya3, Dio2 and SlcO1c1), the two histone methyltransferases Suv39H2 and Ezh2 and the secreted protein Vmo1. Prior data in ewes revealed that T3 and estradiol (E2), both key hormones for the proper timing of seasonal breeding, differentially impact the MBH seasonal transcriptome, and identified cellular and molecular targets through which these hormones might act. In contrast, information regarding the potential impact of progesterone (P4) upon the MBH transcriptome was nonexistent. Here, we demonstrate that P4 has no discernible transcriptional impact in either does or ewes. Taken together, our data show that does and ewes possess a common core set of photoperiod-responsive genes in the MBH and conclusively demonstrate that P4 is not a key regulator of the MBH transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugues Dardente
- INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Didier Lomet
- INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vincent Robert
- INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Anne-Alicia Gonzalez
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094, Montpellier, France
| | - Xavier Mialhe
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094, Montpellier, France
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Manocchio F, Bravo FI, Helfer G, Muguerza B. Cherries with Different Geographical Origins Regulate Neuroprotection in a Photoperiod-Dependent Manner in F344 Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:72. [PMID: 38247496 PMCID: PMC10812723 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The photoperiod is the main environmental cue that drives seasonal adaptive responses in reproduction, behavior, and metabolism in seasonal animals. Increasing evidence suggests that (poly)phenols contained in fruits can also modulate seasonal rhythms. (Poly)phenol-rich diets are associated with an improvement in cognitive function and neuroprotection due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, it is unknown whether cherries affect neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner. To test this, F344 rats were exposed to L6 (6 h light/day), L12 (12 h light/day) and L18 (18 h light/day) photoperiods and fed a standard chow diet supplemented with either a control, lyophilized cherry 1 or cherry 2 with distinctive phenolic hallmarks. Physiological parameters (body weight, eating pattern index (EPI), testosterone, T4/T3) and hypothalamic key genes (Dio2, Dio3, Raldh1 and Ghrh) were strongly regulated by the photoperiod and/or fruit consumption. Importantly, we show for the first time that neurotrophs (Bdnf, Sod1 and Gpx1) in the hippocampus are also regulated by the photoperiod. Furthermore, the consumption of cherry 2, which was richer in total flavonols, but not cherry 1, which was richer in total anthocyanins and flavanols, enhanced neuroprotection in the hippocampus. Our results show that the seasonal consumption of cherry with a specific phenolic composition plays an important role in the hippocampal activation of neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Manocchio
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Francisca Isabel Bravo
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Gisela Helfer
- School of Chemistry and Biosciences, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Begoña Muguerza
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
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Just N, Chevillard PM, Batailler M, Dubois JP, Vaudin P, Pillon D, Migaud M. Multiparametric MR Evaluation of the Photoperiodic Regulation of Hypothalamic Structures in Sheep. Neuroscience 2023; 535:142-157. [PMID: 37913859 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.10.022] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Most organisms on earth, humans included, have developed strategies to cope with environmental day-night and seasonal cycles to survive. For most of them, their physiological and behavioral functions, including the reproductive function, are synchronized with the annual changes of day length, to ensure winter survival and subsequent reproductive success in the following spring. Sheep are sensitive to photoperiod, which also regulates natural adult neurogenesis in their hypothalamus. We postulate that the ovine model represents a good alternative to study the functional and metabolic changes occurring in response to photoperiodic changes in hypothalamic structures of the brain. Here, the impact of the photoperiod on the neurovascular coupling and the metabolism of the hypothalamic structures was investigated at 3T using BOLD fMRI, perfusion-MRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). A longitudinal study involving 8 ewes was conducted during long days (LD) and short days (SD) revealing significant BOLD, rCBV and metabolic changes in hypothalamic structures of the ewe brain between LD and SD. More specifically, the transition between LD and SD revealed negative BOLD responses to hypercapnia at the beginning of SD period followed by significant increases in BOLD, rCBV, Glx and tNAA concentrations towards the end of the SD period. These observations suggest longitudinal mechanisms promoting the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells within the hypothalamic niche of breeding ewes. We conclude that multiparametric MRI studies including 1H-MRS could be promising non-invasive translational techniques to investigate the existence of natural adult neurogenesis in-vivo in gyrencephalic brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Just
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Hvidovre, Denmark.
| | - Pierre Marie Chevillard
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
| | - Martine Batailler
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
| | - Jean-Philippe Dubois
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
| | - Pascal Vaudin
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
| | - Delphine Pillon
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
| | - Martine Migaud
- INRAE Centre Val de Loire, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly France
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Song F, Ma S, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang H, Han Y, Liu Y, Gao F, Yuan Z. Seasonal Variation in Gut Microbiota of the Wild Daurian Ground Squirrel ( Spermophilus dauricus): Metagenomic Insights into Seasonal Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2235. [PMID: 37444034 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Spermophilus dauricus, the wild Daurian ground squirrel, is known to exhibit seasonal breeding behavior. Although the importance of gut microbiota in animal digestion, metabolism, and immunity is well-established, the correlation between gut microbiota and seasonal breeding in this species remains inadequately explored. In the present study, using metagenomic sequencing technology, the compositions and functions of the gut microbiota of wild Daurian ground squirrels in different breeding seasons were explored. The dominant gut microbial phyla were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The Firmicutes were predominant in the breeding season, whereas Bacteroidetes were predominant in the non-breeding season. At the genus level, Lactobacillus accumulated during the breeding season, whereas Odoribacter and Alistipes increased during the non-breeding season. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome) annotations indicated that genes in gut samples were highly associated with metabolic functions. The differential expression gene analysis showed that genes related to the phosphotransferase system, cysteine, and methionine metabolism were highly expressed during the breeding season, whereas the non-breeding season upregulated genes were enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism and bacterial chemotaxis pathways. In conclusion, this study could provide a reference for investigating gut microbiota in seasonal breeding animals and offer new insight into gut microbial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengcheng Song
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shubao Ma
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yujiao Zhang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoying Yang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yingying Han
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yuning Liu
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fuli Gao
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhengrong Yuan
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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Chevillard PM, Batailler M, Dubois JP, Estienne A, Pillon D, Vaudin P, Piégu B, Blache MC, Dupont J, Just N, Migaud M. Seasonal remodeling of the progenitor pool and its distribution in the ewe mediobasal hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res 2023:10.1007/s00441-023-03745-x. [PMID: 36795154 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03745-x] [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: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have reported the presence of adult neurogenesis in the arcuate nucleus periventricular space (pvARH) and in the median eminence (ME), two structures involved in reproductive function. In sheep, a seasonal mammal, decreasing daylight in autumn induces a higher neurogenic activity in these two structures. However, the different types of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) that populate the arcuate nucleus and median eminence, as well as their location, have not been evaluated. Here, using semi-automatic image analyzing processes, we identified and quantified the different populations of NSCs/NPCs, showing that, during short days, higher densities of [SOX2 +] cells are found in pvARH and ME. In the pvARH, higher densities of astrocytic and oligodendrocitic progenitors mainly contribute to these variations. The different populations of NSCs/NPCs were mapped according to their position relative to the third ventricle and their proximity to the vasculature. We showed that [SOX2 +] cells extended deeper into the hypothalamic parenchyma during short days. Similarly, [SOX2 +] cells were found further from the vasculature in the pvARH and the ME, at this time of year, indicating the existence of migratory signals. The expression levels of neuregulin transcripts (NRGs), whose proteins are known to stimulate proliferation and adult neurogenesis and to regulate progenitor migration, as well as the expression levels of ERBB mRNAs, cognate receptors for NRGs, were assessed. We showed that mRNA expression changed seasonally in pvARH and ME, suggesting that the ErbB-NRG system is potentially involved in the photoperiodic regulation of neurogenesis in seasonal adult mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martine Batailler
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Anthony Estienne
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Delphine Pillon
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Vaudin
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Benoît Piégu
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Joelle Dupont
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Nathalie Just
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Martine Migaud
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.
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6
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Georgelin M, Ferreira VHB, Cornilleau F, Meurisse M, Poissenot K, Beltramo M, Keller M, Lansade L, Dardente H, Calandreau L. Short photoperiod modulates behavior, cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in male Japanese quail. Sci Rep 2023; 13:951. [PMID: 36653419 PMCID: PMC9849226 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the photoperiodic control of reproduction in mammals and birds have been recently clarified. In contrast, the potential impact of photoperiod on more complex, integrative processes, such as cognitive behaviors, remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the impact of contrasted long and short photoperiods (LP, 16 h light/day and SP, 8 h light/day, respectively) on learning, spatial orientation abilities, and emotional reactivity in male Japanese quail. In addition, we quantified cell proliferation and young cell maturation/migration within the hippocampus, a brain region involved in spatial orientation. Our study reveals that, in male quail, SP increases emotional responses and spatial orientation abilities, compared to LP. Behaviorally, SP birds were found to be more fearful than LP birds, exhibiting more freezing in the open field and taking longer to exit the dark compartment in the emergence test. Furthermore, SP birds were significantly less aggressive than LP birds in a mirror test. Cognitively, SP birds were slower to habituate and learn a spatial orientation task compared to LP birds. However, during a recall test, SP birds performed better than LP birds. From a neuroanatomical standpoint, SP birds had a significantly lower density of young neurons, and also tended to have a lower density of mature neurons within the hippocampus, compared to LP birds. In conclusion, our data reveal that, beyond breeding control, photoperiod also exerts a profound influence on behavior, cognition, and brain plasticity, which comprise the seasonal program of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Georgelin
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabien Cornilleau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Maryse Meurisse
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Kévin Poissenot
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Massimiliano Beltramo
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Matthieu Keller
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Hugues Dardente
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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Dardente H, Lomet D, Desmarchais A, Téteau O, Lasserre O, Gonzalez AA, Dubois E, Beltramo M, Elis S. Impact of food restriction on the medio-basal hypothalamus of intact ewes as revealed by a large-scale transcriptomics study. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13198. [PMID: 36168278 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13198] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH) integrates photoperiodic and food-related cues to ensure timely phasing of physiological functions, including seasonal reproduction. The current human epidemics of obesity and associated reproductive disorders exemplifies the tight link between metabolism and reproduction. Yet, how food-related cues impact breeding at the level of the MBH remains unclear. In this respect, the sheep, which is a large diurnal mammal with a marked dual photoperiodic/metabolic control of seasonal breeding, is a relevant model. Here, we present a large-scale study in ewes (n = 120), which investigated the impact of food restriction (FRes) on the MBH transcriptome using unbiased RNAseq, followed by RT-qPCR. Few genes (~100) were impacted by FRes and the transcriptional impact was very modest (<2-fold increase or < 50% decrease for most genes). As anticipated, FRes increased expression of Npy/AgRP/LepR and decreased expression of Pomc/Cartpt, while Kiss1 expression was not impacted. Of particular interest, Eya3, Nmu and Dio2, genes involved in photoperiodic decoding within the MBH, were also affected by FRes. Finally, we also identified a handful of genes not known to be regulated by food-related cues (e.g., RNase6, HspA6, Arrdc2). In conclusion, our transcriptomics study provides insights into the impact of metabolism on the MBH in sheep, which may be relevant to human, and identifies possible molecular links between metabolism and (seasonal) reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugues Dardente
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | - Didier Lomet
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Ophélie Téteau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Anne-Alicia Gonzalez
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, Université Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Emeric Dubois
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, Université Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Sébastien Elis
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
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8
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Chevillard PM, Batailler M, Piégu B, Estienne A, Blache MC, Dubois JP, Pillon D, Vaudin P, Dupont J, Just N, Migaud M. Seasonal vascular plasticity in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the adult ewe. Histochem Cell Biol 2022; 157:581-593. [PMID: 35118552 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-022-02079-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sheep, like most seasonal mammals, exhibit a cyclic adaptive reproductive physiology that allows ewes to give birth to their progeny during the spring when environmental conditions are favorable to their survival. This process relies on the detection of day length (or photoperiod) and is associated with profound changes in cellular plasticity and gene expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, mechanisms that are suggested to participate in the seasonal adaptation of neuroendocrine circuits. Recently, pituitary vascular growth has been proposed as a seasonally regulated process in which the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), a well-known angiogenic cytokine, is suspected to play a crucial role. However, whether this mechanism is restricted to the pituitary gland or also occurs in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH), a crucial contributor to the control of the reproductive function, remains unexplored. Using newly developed image analysis tools, we showed that the arcuate nucleus (ARH) of the MBH exhibits an enhanced vascular density during the long photoperiod or non-breeding season, associated with higher expression of VEGFA. In the median eminence (ME), a structure connecting the MBH to the pituitary gland, higher VEGFA, kinase insert domain receptor (KDR/VEGFR2) and plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) gene expressions were detected during the long photoperiod. We also found that VEGFA and its receptor, VEGFR2, are expressed by neurons and tanycytes in both the ARH and ME. Altogether, these data show variations in the MBH vasculature according to seasons potentially through a VEGFA-dependent pathway, paving the way for future studies aiming to decipher the role of these changes in the hypothalamic control of seasonal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marie Chevillard
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Martine Batailler
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Benoît Piégu
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anthony Estienne
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marie-Claire Blache
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Dubois
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Delphine Pillon
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Vaudin
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Joëlle Dupont
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Nathalie Just
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Martine Migaud
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements PRC Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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Xia Q, Chu M, He X, Liu Q, Zhang X, Zhang J, Guo X, Di R. Identification of Photoperiod-Induced LncRNAs and mRNAs in Pituitary Pars Tuberalis of Sheep. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:644474. [PMID: 34414222 PMCID: PMC8369575 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.644474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary pars tuberalis (PT) is the regulating center of seasonal reproduction, which can sense the melatonin signal and eventually cause downstream changes of GnRH secretion through TSHβ. Recently, lncRNAs have been identified in animal reproductive-related tissues, and they play important roles in reproductive regulation. Therefore, in this study, we expect to identify photoperiod-induced lncRNAs and genes in pituitary PT of sheep by comparison of expression profiles between short photoperiod (SP) and long photoperiod (LP). Through RNA-Seq, a total of 55,472 lncRNAs were identified in pituitary PT of Sunite ewes. The number of differentially expressed (DE) genes and lncRNAs between SP and LP increased gradually with the extension of LP (from LP7 to LP42). The notable LP-induced candidate genes included EYA3, TSHB, SIX1, DCT, VMO1, AREG, SUV39H2, and EZH2, and SP-induced genes involved ENSOARG00000012585, CHGA, FOS, SOCS3, and TH. In enriched pathways for DE genes and lncRNA target genes between SP and LP, the reproduction- and circadian-related pathways were highlighted. In addition, the interactome analysis of lncRNAs and their targets implied that MSTRG.209166 and its trans-target TSHB, MSTRG.288068 and its cis-target SIX1, and ENSOARG00000026131 and its cis-target TH might participate in regulation of seasonal reproduction. Together, these results will help to determine important photoperiod-induced lncRNAs and genes and give us some new insights into the epigenetic regulation of seasonal reproduction in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xia
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyue Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Jinlong Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaofei Guo
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Ran Di
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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