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Zuloaga DG, Heck AL, De Guzman RM, Handa RJ. Roles for androgens in mediating the sex differences of neuroendocrine and behavioral stress responses. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:44. [PMID: 32727567 PMCID: PMC7388454 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00319-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol and testosterone are powerful steroid hormones that impact brain function in numerous ways. During development, these hormones can act to program the adult brain in a male or female direction. During adulthood, gonadal steroid hormones can activate or inhibit brain regions to modulate adult functions. Sex differences in behavioral and neuroendocrine (i.e., hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis) responses to stress arise as a result of these organizational and activational actions. The sex differences that are present in the HPA and behavioral responses to stress are particularly important considering their role in maintaining homeostasis. Furthermore, dysregulation of these systems can underlie the sex biases in risk for complex, stress-related diseases that are found in humans. Although many studies have explored the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in mediating sex differences in stress-related behaviors and HPA function, much less consideration has been given to the role of androgens. While circulating androgens can act by binding and activating androgen receptors, they can also act by metabolism to estrogenic molecules to impact estrogen signaling in the brain and periphery. This review focuses on androgens as an important hormone for modulating the HPA axis and behaviors throughout life and for setting up sex differences in key stress regulatory systems that could impact risk for disease in adulthood. In particular, impacts of androgens on neuropeptide systems known to play key roles in HPA and behavioral responses to stress (corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin, and oxytocin) are discussed. A greater knowledge of androgen action in the brain is key to understanding the neurobiology of stress in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley L Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Puga L, Alcántara-Alonso V, Coffeen U, Jaimes O, de Gortari P. TRH injected into the nucleus accumbens shell releases dopamine and reduces feeding motivation in rats. Behav Brain Res 2016; 306:128-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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In utero perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure causes low body weights of fetal rats: A mechanism study. Placenta 2016; 39:125-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Joseph-Bravo P, Jaimes-Hoy L, Charli JL. Regulation of TRH neurons and energy homeostasis-related signals under stress. J Endocrinol 2015; 224:R139-59. [PMID: 25563352 DOI: 10.1530/joe-14-0593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Energy homeostasis relies on a concerted response of the nervous and endocrine systems to signals evoked by intake, storage, and expenditure of fuels. Glucocorticoids (GCs) and thyroid hormones are involved in meeting immediate energy demands, thus placing the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axes at a central interface. This review describes the mode of regulation of hypophysiotropic TRHergic neurons and the evidence supporting the concept that they act as metabolic integrators. Emphasis has been be placed on i) the effects of GCs on the modulation of transcription of Trh in vivo and in vitro, ii) the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which acute or chronic situations of stress and energy demands affect the activity of TRHergic neurons and the HPT axis, and iii) the less explored role of non-hypophysiotropic hypothalamic TRH neurons. The partial evidence gathered so far is indicative of a contrasting involvement of distinct TRH cell types, manifested through variability in cellular phenotype and physiology, including rapid responses to energy demands for thermogenesis or physical activity and nutritional status that may be modified according to stress history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Joseph-Bravo
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología MolecularInstituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico
| | - Lorraine Jaimes-Hoy
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología MolecularInstituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico
| | - Jean-Louis Charli
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología MolecularInstituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico
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Waniek A, Hartlage-Rübsamen M, Höfling C, Kehlen A, Schilling S, Demuth HU, Roßner S. Identification of thyrotropin-releasing hormone as hippocampal glutaminyl cyclase substrate in neurons and reactive astrocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2014; 1852:146-55. [PMID: 25446989 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, Aβ peptide variants with an N-terminal truncation and pyroglutamate modification were identified and shown to be highly neurotoxic and prone to aggregation. This modification of Aβ is catalyzed by glutaminyl cyclase (QC) and pharmacological inhibition of QC diminishes Aβ deposition and accompanying gliosis and ameliorates memory impairment in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). QC expression was initially described in the hypothalamus, where thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is one of its physiological substrates. In addition to its hormonal role, a novel neuroprotective function of TRH following excitotoxicity and Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity has been reported in the hippocampus. Functionally matching this finding, we recently demonstrated QC expression by hippocampal interneurons in mouse brain. Here, we detected neuronal co-expression of QC and TRH in the hippocampus of young adult wild type mice using double immunofluorescence labeling. This provides evidence for TRH being a physiological QC substrate in hippocampus. Additionally, in neocortex of aged but not of young mice transgenic for amyloid precursor protein an increase of QC mRNA levels was found compared to wild type littermates. This phenomenon was not observed in hippocampus, which is later affected by Aβ pathology. However, in hippocampus of transgenic - but not of wild type mice - a correlation between QC and TRH mRNA levels was revealed. This co-regulation of the enzyme QC and its substrate TRH was reflected by a co-induction of both proteins in reactive astrocytes in proximity of Aβ deposits. Also, in primary mouse astrocytes a co-induction of QC and TRH was demonstrated upon Aβ stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Waniek
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Corinna Höfling
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Astrid Kehlen
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Schilling
- Fraunhofer Institute of Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI Leipzig, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation MWT Halle, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Fraunhofer Institute of Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI Leipzig, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation MWT Halle, Germany.
| | - Steffen Roßner
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Germany.
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Stratton MS, Staros M, Budefeld T, Searcy BT, Nash C, Eitel C, Carbone D, Handa RJ, Majdic G, Tobet SA. Embryonic GABA(B) receptor blockade alters cell migration, adult hypothalamic structure, and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors sex specifically in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106015. [PMID: 25162235 PMCID: PMC4146593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) regulate the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system. Females lacking functional GABAB receptors because of a genetic disruption of the R1 subunit have altered cellular characteristics in and around the PVN at birth. The genetic disruption precluded appropriate assessments of physiology or behavior in adulthood. The current study was conducted to test the long term impact of a temporally restricting pharmacological blockade of the GABAB receptor to a 7-day critical period (E11–E17) during embryonic development. Experiments tested the role of GABAB receptor signaling in fetal development of the PVN and later adult capacities for adult stress related behaviors and physiology. In organotypic slices containing fetal PVN, there was a female specific, 52% increase in cell movement speeds with GABAB receptor antagonist treatment that was consistent with a sex-dependent lateral displacement of cells in vivo following 7 days of fetal exposure to GABAB receptor antagonist. Anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, open-field activity, and HPA mediated responses to restraint stress were measured in adult offspring of mothers treated with GABAB receptor antagonist. Embryonic exposure to GABAB receptor antagonist resulted in reduced HPA axis activation following restraint stress and reduced depression-like behaviors. There was also increased anxiety-like behavior selectively in females and hyperactivity in males. A sex dependent response to disruptions of GABAB receptor signaling was identified for PVN formation and key aspects of physiology and behavior. These changes correspond to sex specific prevalence in similar human disorders, namely anxiety disorders and hyperactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Stratton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Michelle Staros
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tomaz Budefeld
- Center for Animal Genomics, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Brian T. Searcy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Connor Nash
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Chad Eitel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - David Carbone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Handa
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Gregor Majdic
- Center for Animal Genomics, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stuart A. Tobet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Manojlović-Stojanoski MN, Filipović BR, Nestorović NM, Šošić-Jurjević BT, Ristić NM, Trifunović SL, Milošević VL. Morpho-functional characteristics of rat fetal thyroid gland are affected by prenatal dexamethasone exposure. Steroids 2014; 84:22-9. [PMID: 24657223 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2014.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormones (TH) and glucocorticoids strongly contribute to the maturation of fetal tissues in the preparation for extrauterine life. Influence of maternal dexamethasone (Dx) administration on thyroid glands morpho-functional characteristics of near term rat fetuses was investigated applying unbiased stereology. On the 16th day of pregnancy dams received 1.0mg/Dx/kg/b.w., followed by 0.5mg/Dx/kg/b.w. on the 17th and 18th days of gestation. The control females received the same volume of saline. The volume of fetal thyroid was estimated using Cavalieri's principle; the physical/fractionator design was applied for the determination of absolute number of follicular cells in mitosis and immunohistochemically labeled C cells; C cell volume was measured using the planar rotator. The functional activity of thyroid tissue was provided from thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroperoxidase (TPO) immunohistochemical staining. Applying these design-based modern stereological methods it was shown that Dx treatment of gravid females led to a significant decrease of fetal thyroid gland volume in 19- and 21-day-old fetuses, due to decreased proliferation of follicular cells. The Tg and TPO immunohistochemistry demonstrated that intensive TH production starts and continues during the examined period in control and Dx-exposed fetuses. Under the influence of Dx the absolute number of C cells was lower in both groups of near term fetuses, although unchanged relation between the two populations of endocrine cells, follicular and C cells suggesting that structural relationships within the gland are preserved. In conclusion maternal glucocorticoid administration at the thyroid gland level exerts growth-inhibitory and maturational promoting effects in near term rat fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica N Manojlović-Stojanoski
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Branko R Filipović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša M Nestorović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branka T Šošić-Jurjević
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša M Ristić
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Svetlana L Trifunović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Verica Lj Milošević
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, 142 despota Stefana Blvd., 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
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Goldstein JM, Handa RJ, Tobet SA. Disruption of fetal hormonal programming (prenatal stress) implicates shared risk for sex differences in depression and cardiovascular disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:140-58. [PMID: 24355523 PMCID: PMC3917309 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and women have a two times greater risk than men. Thus understanding the pathophysiology has widespread implications for attenuation and prevention of disease burden. We suggest that sex-dependent MDD-CVD comorbidity may result from alterations in fetal programming consequent to the prenatal maternal environments that produce excess glucocorticoids, which then drive sex-dependent developmental alterations of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis circuitry impacting mood, stress regulation, autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the vasculature in adulthood. Evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that disruptions of pathways associated with gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in neuronal and vascular development and growth factors have critical roles in key developmental periods and adult responses to injury in heart and brain. Understanding the potential fetal origins of these sex differences will contribute to development of novel sex-dependent therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Connors Center for Women's Health & Gender Biology, 1620 Tremont St. BC-3-34, Boston, MA 02120, USA; BWH, Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, 1620 Tremont St. BC-3-34, Boston, MA 02120, USA.
| | - R J Handa
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 425 N. Fifth Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - S A Tobet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, 1617 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Maggi R, Dondi D, Piccolella M, Casulari LA, Martini L. New insight on the molecular aspects of glucocorticoid effects in nervous system development. J Endocrinol Invest 2013; 36:775-80. [PMID: 23765505 DOI: 10.3275/9003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Adrenal glucocorticoids (Gc) are among the most significant hormones in the mammalian organisms; these steroids may reach and penetrate all tissues where they interact with cytoplasmic/nuclear receptors, through which they exert multiple and very multifaceted actions. The effects of physiological concentrations of Gc on brain functions have not been completely clarified, even though Gc are recognized to influence behavioral responses, emotions, cognitive processes and to take part in the neuroendocrine control of body homeostasis. Developmental programming effects of Gc in animal models and humans have been proposed. Actually, pre-natal stress, or exposure to high Gc levels, would somehow affect neuronal developmental events in some structure and this can lead to central nervous system altered functions, as the impairment of neuroendocrine activities, cognitive processes, sleep and mood disorders. Interestingly, it has been observed that these abnormalities may not be limited to the first directly exposed individuals but transmissible across generations. The establishment of animal models with localized pre-natal glucocorticoid receptors deficiency led to the accumulation of data on the possible roles of these hormones on development of the central and peripheral nervous system. The most recent findings on the effects of Gc on neuroblast development, with particular attention to neuronal migration, will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Maggi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Biomedicine and Endocrinology, Università degli Studi di Milan, Via G. Balzaretti, 9 - 20133 Milan, Italy.
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