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Liu S, Ezran C, Wang MFZ, Li Z, Awayan K, Long JZ, De Vlaminck I, Wang S, Epelbaum J, Kuo CS, Terrien J, Krasnow MA, Ferrell JE. An organism-wide atlas of hormonal signaling based on the mouse lemur single-cell transcriptome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2188. [PMID: 38467625 PMCID: PMC10928088 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46070-9] [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] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Hormones mediate long-range cell communication and play vital roles in physiology, metabolism, and health. Traditionally, endocrinologists have focused on one hormone or organ system at a time. Yet, hormone signaling by its very nature connects cells of different organs and involves crosstalk of different hormones. Here, we leverage the organism-wide single cell transcriptional atlas of a non-human primate, the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), to systematically map source and target cells for 84 classes of hormones. This work uncovers previously-uncharacterized sites of hormone regulation, and shows that the hormonal signaling network is densely connected, decentralized, and rich in feedback loops. Evolutionary comparisons of hormonal genes and their expression patterns show that mouse lemur better models human hormonal signaling than mouse, at both the genomic and transcriptomic levels, and reveal primate-specific rewiring of hormone-producing/target cells. This work complements the scale and resolution of classical endocrine studies and sheds light on primate hormone regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixuan Liu
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Camille Ezran
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael F Z Wang
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Zhengda Li
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kyle Awayan
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Long
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sheng Wang
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacques Epelbaum
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, National Center for Scientific Research, National Museum of Natural History, Brunoy, France
| | - Christin S Kuo
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, National Center for Scientific Research, National Museum of Natural History, Brunoy, France
| | - Mark A Krasnow
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - James E Ferrell
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Takeshita RS, Edler MK, Meindl RS, Sherwood CC, Hopkins WD, Raghanti MA. Age, adrenal steroids, and cognitive functioning in captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes). PeerJ 2022; 10:e14323. [PMID: 36389417 PMCID: PMC9653054 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14323] [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: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate is the most abundant circulating androgen in humans and other catarrhines. It is involved in several biological functions, such as testosterone production, glucocorticoid antagonist actions, neurogenesis and neuroplasticty. Although the role of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) in cognition remains elusive, the DHEAS/cortisol ratio has been positively associated with a slower cognitive age-decline and improved mood in humans. Whether this relationship is found in nonhuman primates remains unknown. Methods We measured DHEAS and cortisol levels in serum of 107 adult chimpanzees to investigate the relationship between DHEAS levels and age. A subset of 21 chimpanzees was used to test the potential associations between DHEAS, cortisol, and DHEAS/cortisol ratio in cognitive function, taking into account age, sex, and their interactions. We tested for cognitive function using the primate cognitive test battery (PCTB) and principal component analyses to categorize cognition into three components: spatial relationship tasks, tool use and social communication tasks, and auditory-visual sensory perception tasks. Results DHEAS levels, but not the DHEAS/cortisol ratio, declined with age in chimpanzees. Our analyses for spatial relationships tasks revealed a significant, positive correlation with the DHEAS/cortisol ratio. Tool use and social communication had a negative relationship with age. Our data show that the DHEAS/cortisol ratio, but not DHEAS individually, is a promising predictor of spatial cognition in chimpanzees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela S.C. Takeshita
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Melissa K. Edler
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Richard S. Meindl
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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Vignon A, Salvador-Prince L, Lehmann S, Perrier V, Torrent J. Deconstructing Alzheimer's Disease: How to Bridge the Gap between Experimental Models and the Human Pathology? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8769. [PMID: 34445475 PMCID: PMC8395727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovered more than a century ago, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not only still present in our societies but has also become the most common dementia, with 50 million people worldwide affected by the disease. This number is expected to double in the next generation, and no cure is currently available to slow down or stop the disease progression. Recently, some advances were made due to the approval of the aducanumab treatment by the American Food and Drug Administration. The etiology of this human-specific disease remains poorly understood, and the mechanisms of its development have not been completely clarified. Several hypotheses concerning the molecular mechanisms of AD have been proposed, but the existing studies focus primarily on the two main markers of the disease: the amyloid β peptides, whose aggregation in the brain generates amyloid plaques, and the abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins, which are responsible for neurofibrillary tangles. These protein aggregates induce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, which, in turn, lead to cognitive and behavioral deficits. The challenge is, therefore, to create models that best reproduce this pathology. This review aims at gathering the different existing AD models developed in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivo. Many models have already been set up, but it is necessary to identify the most relevant ones for our investigations. The purpose of the review is to help researchers to identify the most pertinent disease models, from the most often used to the most recently generated and from simple to complex, explaining their specificities and giving concrete examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Vignon
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Lucie Salvador-Prince
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France;
| | - Véronique Perrier
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
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Butruille L, Vancamp P, Demeneix BA, Remaud S. Thyroid hormone regulation of adult neural stem cell fate: A comparative analysis between rodents and primates. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 116:133-192. [PMID: 33752817 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, a highly conserved pathway across vertebrates, is crucial for brain development and function throughout life. In the adult mammalian brain, including that of humans, multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferate and generate neuronal and glial progenitors. The role of TH has been intensively investigated in the two main neurogenic niches of the adult mouse brain, the subventricular and the subgranular zone. A key finding is that T3, the biologically active form of THs, promotes NSC commitment toward a neuronal fate. In this review, we first discuss the roles of THs in the regulation of adult rodent neurogenesis, as well as how it relates to functional behavior, notably olfaction and cognition. Most research uncovering these roles of TH in adult neurogenesis was conducted in rodents, whose genetic background, brain structure and rate of neurogenesis are considerably different from that of humans. To bridge the phylogenetic gap, we also explore the similarities and divergences of TH-dependent adult neurogenesis in non-human primate models. Lastly, we examine how photoperiodic length changes TH homeostasis, and how that might affect adult neurogenesis in seasonal species to increase fitness. Several aspects by which TH acts on adult NSCs seem to be conserved among mammals, while we only start to uncover the molecular pathways, as well as how other in- and extrinsic factors are intertwined. A multispecies approach delivering more insights in the matter will pave the way for novel NSC-based therapies to combat neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Butruille
- UMR 7221 Phyma, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Pieter Vancamp
- UMR 7221 Phyma, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Barbara A Demeneix
- UMR 7221 Phyma, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Remaud
- UMR 7221 Phyma, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
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Hozer C, Perret M, Pavard S, Pifferi F. Survival is reduced when endogenous period deviates from 24 h in a non-human primate, supporting the circadian resonance theory. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18002. [PMID: 33093578 PMCID: PMC7582969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75068-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous attributes across living organisms and allow the coordination of internal biological functions with optimal phases of the environment, suggesting a significant adaptive advantage. The endogenous period called tau lies close to 24 h and is thought to be implicated in individuals' fitness: according to the circadian resonance theory, fitness is reduced when tau gets far from 24 h. In this study, we measured the endogenous period of 142 mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), and analyzed how it is related to their survival. We found different effects according to sex and season. No impact of tau on mortality was found in females. However, in males, the deviation of tau from 24 h substantially correlates with an increase in mortality, particularly during the inactive season (winter). These results, comparable to other observations in mice or drosophila, show that captive gray mouse lemurs enjoy better fitness when their circadian period closely matches the environmental periodicity. In addition to their deep implications in health and aging research, these results raise further ecological and evolutionary issues regarding the relationships between fitness and circadian clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Hozer
- Unité Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800, Brunoy, France
| | - Martine Perret
- Unité Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800, Brunoy, France
| | - Samuel Pavard
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Pifferi
- Unité Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800, Brunoy, France.
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Fritz RG, Zimmermann E, Meier M, Mestre-Francés N, Radespiel U, Schmidtke D. Neurobiological substrates of animal personality and cognition in a nonhuman primate (Microcebus murinus). Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01752. [PMID: 32683780 PMCID: PMC7507526 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is an important nonhuman primate model in biomedical research. Numerous studies investigated mouse lemur behavior and possible factors underlying interindividual variation in both, animal personality and cognitive performance. Some effects, such as an age-related decline in executive functioning, have robustly been found across laboratory colonies; however, little is known about the brain structural substrates in mouse lemurs. METHODS Here, we provide first exploratory data linking in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of 34 mouse lemurs to performance in a standardized, touchscreen-based task on object discrimination and reversal learning as well as to animal personality under different scenarios in an open field. RESULTS High interindividual variability in both brain morphometric and behavioral measurements was found, but only few significant correlations between brain structure and behavior were revealed: Object discrimination learning was linked to the volume of the hippocampus and to temporal lobe thickness, while reversal learning was linked to thalamic volume and the thickness of the anterior cingulate lobe. Emergence latency into the open field correlated with volume of the amygdala. General exploration-avoidance in the empty open-field arena correlated with thicknesses of the anterior cingulate lobe and fronto-parietal substructures. Neophilia, assessed as exploration of a novel object placed in the arena, among others, related to the volume of the caudate nucleus. CONCLUSION In summary, our data suggest a prominent role of temporal structures (including the hippocampus) for learning capability, as well as thalamic and anterior cingulate structures for cognitive flexibility and response inhibition. The amygdala, the anterior cingulate lobe, and the caudate nucleus are particularly linked to animal personality in the open-field setting. These findings are congruent with the comparative psychological literature and provide a valuable basis for future studies elucidating aspects of behavioral variation in this nonhuman primate model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Grace Fritz
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Meier
- ZTL-Imaging, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Schmidtke
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Schmidtke D, Zimmermann E, Trouche SG, Fontès P, Verdier JM, Mestre-Francés N. Linking cognition to age and amyloid-β burden in the brain of a nonhuman primate (Microcebus murinus). Neurobiol Aging 2020; 94:207-216. [PMID: 32650184 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a valuable model in research on age-related proteopathies. This nonhuman primate, comparable to humans, naturally develops tau and amyloid-β proteopathies during aging. Whether these are linked to cognitive alterations is unknown. Here, standardized cognitive testing in pairwise discrimination and reversal learning in a sample of 37 aged (>5 years) subjects was combined with tau and amyloid-β histochemistry in individuals that died naturally. Correlation analyses in successfully tested subjects (n = 22) revealed a significant relation between object discrimination learning and age, strongly influenced by outliers, suggesting pathological cases. Where neuroimmunohistochemistry was possible, as subjects deceased, the naturally developed cortical amyloid-β burden was significantly linked to pretraining success (intraneuronal accumulations) and discrimination learning (extracellular deposits), showing that cognitive (pairwise discrimination) performance in old age predicts the natural accumulation of amyloid-β at death. This is the first description of a direct relation between the cortical amyloid-β burden and cognition in a nonhuman primate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schmidtke
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stéphanie G Trouche
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL University, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascaline Fontès
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL University, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Michel Verdier
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL University, Montpellier, France
| | - Nadine Mestre-Francés
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL University, Montpellier, France
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Epelbaum J, Terrien J. Mini-review: Aging of the neuroendocrine system: Insights from nonhuman primate models. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 100:109854. [PMID: 31891735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system (NES) plays a crucial role in synchronizing the physiology and behavior of the whole organism in response to environmental constraints. The NES consists of a hypothalamic-pituitary-target organ axis that acts in coordination to regulate growth, reproduction, stress and basal metabolism. The growth (or somatotropic), hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes are therefore finely tuned by the hypothalamus through the successive release of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones to control the downstream physiological functions. These functions rely on a complex set of mechanisms requiring tight synchronization between peripheral organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary complex, whose functionality can be altered during aging. Here, we review the results of research on the effects of aging on the NES of nonhuman primate (NHP) species in wild and captive conditions. A focus on the age-related dysregulation of the master circadian pacemaker, which, in turn, alters the synchronization of the NES with the organism environment, is proposed. Finally, practical and ethical considerations of using NHP models to test the effects of nutrition-based or hormonal treatments to combat the deterioration of the NES are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Epelbaum
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé 894 INSERM, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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Fritz RG, Zimmermann E, Picq JL, Lautier C, Meier M, Kästner S, Schmidtke D. Sex-specific patterns of age-related cerebral atrophy in a nonhuman primate Microcebus murinus. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 91:148-159. [PMID: 32229027 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Steadily aging populations result in a growing need for research regarding age-related brain alterations and neurodegenerative pathologies. By allowing a good translation of results to humans, nonhuman primates, such as the gray mouse lemur Microcebus murinus, have gained attention in this field. Our aim was to examine correlations between atrophy-induced brain alterations and age, with special focus on sex differences in mouse lemurs. For cerebral volumetric measurements, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 59 animals (28♀♀/31♂♂) aged between 1.0 to 11.9 years. Volumes of different brain regions, cortical thicknesses, and ventricular expansions were evaluated. Analyses revealed significant brain atrophies with increasing age, particularly around the caudate nucleus, the thalamus, and frontal, parietal, and temporo-occipital regions. Especially old females showed a strong decline in cingulate cortex thickness and had higher values of ventricular expansion, whereas cortical thickness of the splenium and occipital regions decreased mainly in males. Our study, thus, provides first evidence for sex-specific, age-related brain alterations in a nonhuman primate, suggesting that mouse lemurs can help elucidating the mechanism underlying sex disparities in cerebral aging, for which there is mixed evidence in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca G Fritz
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Picq
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale (DRF), Institut François Jacob, MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et de Neuropsychologie, Université Paris 8, St Denis, France
| | - Corinne Lautier
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL University, Montpellier, France
| | - Martin Meier
- ZTL-Imaging, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabine Kästner
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Schmidtke
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Sabbi KH, Muller MN, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Fox SA, Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. Human-like adrenal development in wild chimpanzees: A longitudinal study of urinary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and cortisol. Am J Primatol 2019; 82:e23064. [PMID: 31709585 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of the adrenal cortex varies considerably across primates, being most conspicuous in humans, where a functional zona reticularis-the site of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA/S) production-does not develop until middle childhood (5-8 years). Prior reports suggest that a human-like adrenarche, associated with a sharp prepubertal increase in DHEA/S, may only occur in the genus Pan. However, the timing and variability in adrenarche in chimpanzees remain poorly described, owing to the lack of longitudinal data, or data from wild populations. Here, we use urine samples from East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) collected over 20 years at Kanyawara in Kibale National Park, Uganda, to trace the developmental trajectories of DHEAS (n = 1,385 samples, 53 individuals) and cortisol (n = 12,726 samples, 68 individuals). We used generalized additive models (GAM) to investigate the relationship between age, sex, and hormone levels. Adrenarche began earlier in chimpanzees (~2-3 years) compared with what has been reported in humans (6-8 years) and, unlike humans, male and female chimpanzees did not differ significantly in the timing of adrenarche nor in DHEAS concentrations overall. Similar to what has been reported in humans, cortisol production decreased through early life, reaching a nadir around puberty (8-11 years), and a sex difference emerged with males exhibiting higher urinary cortisol levels compared with females by early adulthood (15-16 years). Our study establishes that wild chimpanzees exhibit a human-like pattern of cortisol production during development and corroborates prior reports from captive chimpanzees of a human-like adrenarche, accompanied by significant developmental increases in DHEAS. While the role of these developmental hormone shifts are as yet unclear, they have been implicated in stages of rapid behavioral development once thought unique to humans, especially in regard to explaining the divergence of female and male social behavior before pubertal increases in gonadal hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris H Sabbi
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Martin N Muller
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Zarin P Machanda
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Otali
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Stephanie A Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Richard W Wrangham
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa Emery Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
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11
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Developmental changes in the endocrine stress response in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). J Comp Physiol B 2019; 189:659-672. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-019-01235-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Hozer C, Pifferi F, Aujard F, Perret M. The Biological Clock in Gray Mouse Lemur: Adaptive, Evolutionary and Aging Considerations in an Emerging Non-human Primate Model. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1033. [PMID: 31447706 PMCID: PMC6696974 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms, which measure time on a scale of 24 h, are genetically generated by the circadian clock, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of almost every physiological and metabolic process in most organisms. This review gathers all the available information about the circadian clock in a small Malagasy primate, the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), and reports 30 years data from the historical colony at Brunoy (France). Although the mouse lemur has long been seen as a "primitive" species, its clock displays high phenotypic plasticity, allowing perfect adaptation of its biological rhythms to environmental challenges (seasonality, food availability). The alterations of the circadian timing system in M. murinus during aging show many similarities with those in human aging. Comparisons are drawn with other mammalian species (more specifically, with rodents, other non-human primates and humans) to demonstrate that the gray mouse lemur is a good complementary and alternative model for studying the circadian clock and, more broadly, brain aging and pathologies.
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Nyce JW. Detection of a novel, primate-specific 'kill switch' tumor suppression mechanism that may fundamentally control cancer risk in humans: an unexpected twist in the basic biology of TP53. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:R497-R517. [PMID: 29941676 PMCID: PMC6106910 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The activation of TP53 is well known to exert tumor suppressive effects. We have detected a primate-specific adrenal androgen-mediated tumor suppression system in which circulating DHEAS is converted to DHEA specifically in cells in which TP53 has been inactivated DHEA is an uncompetitive inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), an enzyme indispensable for maintaining reactive oxygen species within limits survivable by the cell. Uncompetitive inhibition is otherwise unknown in natural systems because it becomes irreversible in the presence of high concentrations of substrate and inhibitor. In addition to primate-specific circulating DHEAS, a unique, primate-specific sequence motif that disables an activating regulatory site in the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) promoter was also required to enable function of this previously unrecognized tumor suppression system. In human somatic cells, loss of TP53 thus triggers activation of DHEAS transport proteins and steroid sulfatase, which converts circulating DHEAS into intracellular DHEA, and hexokinase which increases glucose-6-phosphate substrate concentration. The triggering of these enzymes in the TP53-affected cell combines with the primate-specific G6PC promoter sequence motif that enables G6P substrate accumulation, driving uncompetitive inhibition of G6PD to irreversibility and ROS-mediated cell death. By this catastrophic 'kill switch' mechanism, TP53 mutations are effectively prevented from initiating tumorigenesis in the somatic cells of humans, the primate with the highest peak levels of circulating DHEAS. TP53 mutations in human tumors therefore represent fossils of kill switch failure resulting from an age-related decline in circulating DHEAS, a potentially reversible artifact of hominid evolution.
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Le Brazidec M, Herrel A, Thomas P, Grégoire BA, Aujard F, Pouydebat E. How Aging Affects Grasping Behavior and Pull Strength in Captive Gray Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus murinus). INT J PRIMATOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-0001-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ding X, Yu L, Ge C, Ma H. Protective effect of DHEA on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in primary rat Leydig cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:16158-16169. [PMID: 28212544 PMCID: PMC5369954 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is widely used as a nutritional supplement due to its putative anti-aging properties. However, the effect of DHEA in Leydig cells, a major target cell of DHEA biotransformation in male, are not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the preventative effect of DHEA on oxidative damage and apoptosis after H2O2 treatment in Leydig cells. The results showed that DHEA treatment attenuated the reduction of cell viability induced by H2O2. No differences were observed on the superoxide anion (O2-) content, while DHEA treatment decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hydroxyl radical (OH) content in H2O2-treated Leydig cells. Pre-treatment with DHEA increased peroxidase (POD) activity and decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in H2O2-treated Leydig cell. DHEA treatment attenuated DNA damage as indicated by the decreasing of tail moment, comet length and olive tail moment. Total apoptosis ratio and early apoptosis ratio were significantly decreased in H2O2-treated Leydig cell that were pre-treatment with DHEA. DHEA treatment decreased Bax, capase-9 and capase-3 mRNA levels in H2O2-treated Leydig cells. Our results demonstrated that pre-treatment with DHEA prevented the Leydig cells oxidative damage caused by H2O2 through increasing POD activity, which resulted in inhibition of OH generation. Meanwhile, pre-treatment with DHEA inhibited H2O2-induced Leydig cells early apoptosis which mainly by reducing the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and caspases-9, caspases-3 mRNA levels. This information is important to understand the molecular mechanism of anti-ageing effect and potential application in treatment of oxidative stress induced related diseases of DHEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ding
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chongyang Ge
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haitian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Zhou Y, Kang J, Chen D, Han N, Ma H. Ample Evidence: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Conversion into Activated Steroid Hormones Occurs in Adrenal and Ovary in Female Rat. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124511. [PMID: 25962158 PMCID: PMC4427309 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is important for human health, especially for women. All estrogens and practically half of androgens are synthesized from DHEA in peripheral tissues. However, the mechanism and exact target tissues of DHEA biotransformation in the female are not fully clear. The present study showed that maximal content of androstenedione (AD) and testosterone (T) were observed at 3h after DHEA administration in female rats, which was 264% and 8000% above the control, respectively. Estradiol (E2) content significantly increased at 6h after DHEA administration, which was 113% higher than that in control group. Gavage with DHEA could significantly reduce 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) mRNA level at 3-12h and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) mRNA level at 12h in ovary, while increasing aromatase mRNA levels at 6, 24, and 48h. It is interesting that administration of DHEA caused a significant increase of 17β-HSD, 3β-HSD and aromatase mRNA levels in adrenal. The AD and T contents also markedly increased by 537% and 2737% after DHEA administration in ovariectomised rats, in company with a significant increase in 17β-HSD and 3β-HSD mRNA levels and decreased aromatase mRNA level in adrenal. However, DHEA administration did not restore the decreased E2, estrone (E1), and progesterone (P) caused by the removal of the ovaries in females. These results clearly illustrated that exogenous DHEA is preferentially converted into androgens in adrenal, while its conversion to estrogens mainly happens in the ovary through steroidogenic enzyme in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqiao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Kang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Di Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ningning Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haitian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail:
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Prall SP, Ambu L, Nathan S, Alsisto S, Ramirez D, Muehlenbein MP. Androgens and innate immunity in rehabilitated semi-captive orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus morio) from Malaysian Borneo. Am J Primatol 2015; 77:642-50. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Prall
- Department of Anthropology; Indiana University; Bloomington Indiana
| | | | | | - Sylvia Alsisto
- Sabah Wildlife Department; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah Malaysia
| | - Diana Ramirez
- Sabah Wildlife Department; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah Malaysia
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Zohdy S, Gerber BD, Tecot S, Blanco MB, Winchester JM, Wright PC, Jernvall J. Teeth, sex, and testosterone: aging in the world's smallest primate. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109528. [PMID: 25354041 PMCID: PMC4212904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) are an exciting new primate model for understanding human aging and disease. In captivity, Microcebus murinus develops human-like ailments of old age after five years (e.g., neurodegeneration analogous to Alzheimer's disease) but can live beyond 12 years. It is believed that wild Microcebus follow a similar pattern of senescence observed in captive animals, but that predation limits their lifespan to four years, thus preventing observance of these diseases in the wild. Testing whether this assumption is true is informative about both Microcebus natural history and environmental influences on senescence, leading to interpretation of findings for models of human aging. Additionally, the study of Microcebus longevity provides an opportunity to better understand mechanisms of sex-biased longevity. Longevity is often shorter in males of species with high male-male competition, such as Microcebus, but mouse lemurs are sexually monomorphic, suggesting similar lifespans. We collected individual-based observations of wild brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) from 2003-2010 to investigate sex-differences in survival and longevity. Fecal testosterone was measured as a potential mechanism of sex-based differences in survival. We used a combination of high-resolution tooth wear techniques, mark-recapture, and hormone enzyme immunoassays. We found no dental or physical signs of senescence in M. rufus as old as eight years (N = 189, ages 1-8, mean = 2.59 ± 1.63 SE), three years older than captive, senescent congeners (M. murinus). Unlike other polygynandrous vertebrates, we found no sex difference in age-dependent survival, nor sex or age differences in testosterone levels. While elevated male testosterone levels have been implicated in shorter lifespans in several species, this is one of the first studies to show equivalent testosterone levels accompanying equivalent lifespans. Future research on captive aged individuals can determine if senescence is partially a condition of their captive environment, and studies controlling for various environmental factors will further our understanding of senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Zohdy
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre ValBio Research Station, Ranomafana, Ifanadiana, Madagascar
- Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Brian D. Gerber
- Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Stacey Tecot
- Centre ValBio Research Station, Ranomafana, Ifanadiana, Madagascar
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Marina B. Blanco
- Centre ValBio Research Station, Ranomafana, Ifanadiana, Madagascar
- Duke Lemur Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Julia M. Winchester
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Patricia C. Wright
- Centre ValBio Research Station, Ranomafana, Ifanadiana, Madagascar
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Jukka Jernvall
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Takeshita RSC, Bercovitch FB, Huffman MA, Mouri K, Garcia C, Rigaill L, Shimizu K. Environmental, biological, and social factors influencing fecal adrenal steroid concentrations in female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Am J Primatol 2014; 76:1084-93. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela S. C. Takeshita
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior; Primate Research Institute; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
| | - Fred B. Bercovitch
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior; Primate Research Institute; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
| | - Michael A. Huffman
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior; Primate Research Institute; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
| | - Keiko Mouri
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior; Primate Research Institute; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
| | - Cécile Garcia
- Laboratoire de Dynamique de l'Evolution Humaine; CNRS UPR 2147; Paris France
| | - Lucie Rigaill
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior; Primate Research Institute; Kyoto University; Inuyama Aichi Japan
| | - Keiko Shimizu
- Faculty of Science; Department of Zoology; Okayama University of Science; Okayama City Okayama Japan
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Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Bercovitch FB, Mouri K, Shimizu K. The influence of age and season on fecal dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 191:39-43. [PMID: 23751811 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEAS, are the most abundant steroid hormones in primates, providing a large reservoir of precursors for the production of androgens. DHEAS levels decline with age in adult humans and nonhuman primates, prompting its consideration as a biomarker of senescence. However, the mechanisms responsible for this age-related decrease and its relationship to reproduction remain elusive. This research investigated DHEAS concentrations in fecal samples in order to determine age-related changes in captive Japanese macaques, as well as to assess the possible influence of seasonality. The subjects were 25 female Japanese macaques (2weeks to 14years-old) housed outdoors in social groups at the Primate Research Institute. We collected three fecal samples from each animal during the breeding season (October to December) and three additional samples from adult females during the non-breeding season (May to June). The hormonal concentrations were determined using enzyme immunoassay. DHEAS concentration was negatively correlated with age, but we did not find a significant difference between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Neonatal macaques had the highest DHEAS concentrations of all age groups. We suggest that elevated neonatal DHEAS is possibly a residue from fetal adrenal secretion and that, as in humans, it might assist in neurobiological development.
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Languille S, Blanc S, Blin O, Canale CI, Dal-Pan A, Devau G, Dhenain M, Dorieux O, Epelbaum J, Gomez D, Hardy I, Henry PY, Irving EA, Marchal J, Mestre-Francés N, Perret M, Picq JL, Pifferi F, Rahman A, Schenker E, Terrien J, Théry M, Verdier JM, Aujard F. The grey mouse lemur: a non-human primate model for ageing studies. Ageing Res Rev 2012; 11:150-62. [PMID: 21802530 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Revised: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The use of non-human primate models is required to understand the ageing process and evaluate new therapies against age-associated pathologies. The present article summarizes all the contributions of the grey mouse lemur Microcebus murinus, a small nocturnal prosimian primate, to the understanding of the mechanisms of ageing. Results from studies of both healthy and pathological ageing research on the grey mouse lemur demonstrated that this animal is a unique model to study age-dependent changes in endocrine systems, biological rhythms, thermoregulation, sensorial, cerebral and cognitive functions.
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Terrien J, Blanc S, Zizzari P, Epelbaum J, Aujard F. Physiological responses to chronic heat exposure in an aging non-human primate species, the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Exp Gerontol 2011; 46:747-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2010] [Revised: 05/04/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Drea CM. Endocrine correlates of pregnancy in the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta): implications for the masculinization of daughters. Horm Behav 2011; 59:417-27. [PMID: 20932838 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2010] [Revised: 09/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Female ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are Malagasy primates that are size monomorphic with males, socially dominate males, and exhibit a long, pendulous clitoris, channeled by the urethra. These masculine traits evoke certain attributes of female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and draw attention to the potential role of androgens in lemur sexual differentiation. Here, hormonal correlates of prenatal development were assessed to explore the possibility that maternal androgens may shape the masculine morphological and behavioral features of developing female lemurs. Maternal serum 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), ∆⁴ androstenedione (androst-4-ene-3,17,dione), testosterone, and 17β-estradiol were charted throughout the 19 pregnancies of 11 ring-tailed lemurs. As in spotted hyenas, lemur pregnancies were associated with an immediate increase in androgen concentrations (implicating early maternal derivation), followed by continued increases across stages of gestation. Pregnancies that produced singleton males, twin males, or mixed-sex twins were marked by greater androgen and estrogen concentrations than were pregnancies that produced singleton or twin females, especially in the third trimester, implicating the fetal testes in late-term steroid profiles. Concentrations of DHEA-S were mostly below detectable limits, suggesting a minor role for the adrenals in androgen biosynthesis. Androgen concentrations of pregnant lemurs bearing female fetuses, although less than those of pregnant hyenas, exceeded preconception and postpartum values and peaked in the third trimester. Although a maternal (and, on occasion, fraternal) source of androgen may exist for fetal lemurs, further research is required to confirm that these steroids would reach the developing female and contribute to her masculinization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Drea
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0383, USA.
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Goncharova ND, Marenin VY, Oganyan TE. Aging of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in nonhuman primates with depression-like and aggressive behavior. Aging (Albany NY) 2011; 2:854-66. [PMID: 21098884 PMCID: PMC3006027 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated aging of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in female rhesus monkeys that differ in adaptive behavior. Plasma cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations under basal conditions and under acute psycho-emotional stress were evaluated in blood plasma of young (6-8 years) and old (20-27 years) female rhesus monkeys with various types of adaptive behavior (aggressive, depression-like, and average). We have found that the age-related changes in the HPA axis of monkeys with depression-like behavior were accompanied by the maximal absolute and relative hypercortisolemia under both basal conditions and stress. Moreover, young aggressive monkeys, in comparison with young monkeys of other behavior groups, demonstrated the highest plasma levels of DHEA-S and the lowest molar ratios between F and DHEA-S. Thus, age-related dysfunctions of the HPA axis are associated with adaptive behavior of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda D Goncharova
- Laboratory of Endocrinology, Research Institute of Medical Primatology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Sochi, Adler, Veseloye 1, 354376, Russian Federation.
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Dal-Pan A, Terrien J, Pifferi F, Botalla R, Hardy I, Marchal J, Zahariev A, Chery I, Zizzari P, Perret M, Picq JL, Epelbaum J, Blanc S, Aujard F. Caloric restriction or resveratrol supplementation and ageing in a non-human primate: first-year outcome of the RESTRIKAL study in Microcebus murinus. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2011; 33:15-31. [PMID: 20532988 PMCID: PMC3063642 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-010-9156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/19/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A life-long follow-up of physiological and behavioural functions was initiated in 38-month-old mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) to test whether caloric restriction (CR) or a potential mimetic compound, resveratrol (RSV), can delay the ageing process and the onset of age-related diseases. Based on their potential survival of 12 years, mouse lemurs were assigned to three different groups: a control (CTL) group fed ad libitum, a CR group fed 70% of the CTL caloric intake and a RSV group (200 mg/kg.day(-1)) fed ad libitum. Since this prosimian primate exhibits a marked annual rhythm in body mass gain during winter, animals were tested throughout the year to assess body composition, daily energy expenditure (DEE), resting metabolic rate (RMR), physical activity and hormonal levels. After 1 year, all mouse lemurs seemed in good health. CR animals showed a significantly decreased body mass compared with the other groups during long day period only. CR or RSV treatments did not affect body composition. CR induced a decrease in DEE without changes in RMR, whereas RSV induced a concomitant increase in DEE and RMR without any obvious modification of locomotor activity in both groups. Hormonal levels remained similar in each group. In summary, after 1 year of treatment CR and RSV induced differential metabolic responses but animals successfully acclimated to their imposed diets. The RESTRIKAL study can now be safely undertaken on a long-term basis to determine whether age-associated alterations in mouse lemurs are delayed with CR and if RSV can mimic these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Dal-Pan
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Fabien Pifferi
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Roger Botalla
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Isabelle Hardy
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Julia Marchal
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Alexandre Zahariev
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 CNRS Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Isabelle Chery
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 CNRS Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Zizzari
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neuroscience, UMR 894 Inserm, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 2 ter rue d’Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Martine Perret
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
| | - Jean Luc Picq
- Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Neuropsychologie, UFR Psychologie, Université Paris 08, 2 Rue Liberté, 93526 St Denis, France
| | - Jacques Epelbaum
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neuroscience, UMR 894 Inserm, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 2 ter rue d’Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Blanc
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 CNRS Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabienne Aujard
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 avenue du petit château, 91800 Brunoy, France
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Terrien J, Perret M, Aujard F. Gender markedly modulates behavioral thermoregulation in a non-human primate species, the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Physiol Behav 2010; 101:469-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2009] [Revised: 05/28/2010] [Accepted: 07/26/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Terrien J, Ambid L, Nibbelink M, Saint-Charles A, Aujard F. Non-shivering thermogenesis activation and maintenance in the aging gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Exp Gerontol 2010; 45:442-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2009] [Revised: 02/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Terrien J, Zizzari P, Epelbaum J, Perret M, Aujard F. Daily Rhythms of Core Temperature and Locomotor Activity Indicate Different Adaptive Strategies to Cold Exposure in Adult and Aged Mouse Lemurs Acclimated to a Summer-Like Photoperiod. Chronobiol Int 2010; 26:838-53. [DOI: 10.1080/07420520903044281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Chen J, Tang X, Zhang Y, Ma H, Zou S. Effects of maternal treatment of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on serum lipid profile and hepatic lipid metabolism-related gene expression in embryonic chickens. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2010; 155:380-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2009] [Revised: 12/31/2009] [Accepted: 12/31/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Cayetanot F, Nygård M, Perret M, Kristensson K, Aujard F. Plasma levels of interferon-gamma correlate with age-related disturbances of circadian rhythms and survival in a non-human primate. Chronobiol Int 2010; 26:1587-601. [PMID: 20030542 DOI: 10.3109/07420520903398518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Aging can be associated with changes in circadian rhythms and reduction in adaptive immune responses accompanied by expansion of memory T cells and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Recent findings suggest the cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) can affect the function of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master mammalian circadian pacemaker, both in vitro and in vivo. We studied the correlation of plasma levels of IFN-gamma and changes in circadian rhythms in a non-human primate species, the nocturnal mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Plasma IFN-gamma and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), a known biomarker of aging, were determined in middle- to old-age animals by immunoenzymoassay. Daily rhythms of locomotor activity and body temperature as well as survival time of the lemurs were recorded. With aging, mean levels of DHEA-S decreased whereas IFN-gamma increased. Aged animals showed biological rhythm alterations characterized by a high percentage of diurnal activity, anticipation of the activity onset relative to lights-off, short free-running period, and delayed occurrence of minimal body temperature. The magnitude of these disturbances was correlated with the plasma level of IFN-gamma but not DHEA-S. Most remarkably, in contrast to DHEA-S, increased levels of IFN-gamma correlated with duration of the lifetime of the lemurs. These results show the degree of circadian rhythm alterations in an individual is correlated with plasma IFN-gamma level during aging, and that plasma IFN-gamma level may predict survival, at least in this non-human primate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Cayetanot
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution, UMR CNRS-MNHN 7179, 1 avenue du Petit Château, Brunoy, France
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Song L, Tang X, Kong Y, Ma H, Zou S. The expression of serum steroid sex hormones and steroidogenic enzymes following intraperitoneal administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in male rats. Steroids 2010; 75:213-8. [PMID: 19961867 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2009.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2009] [Revised: 11/06/2009] [Accepted: 11/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The adrenals of humans and primates could secrete large amounts of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate ester (DHEA-S) in the circulation, which act as precursors of active steroid hormones in a long series of peripheral target intracrine tissues. The marked decline of serum DHEA and DHEA-S concentrations with age in humans has been incriminated in the development of various pathologies. Therefore, this study aims to provide detailed information on the effects of the intraperitoneal injection of DHEA on circulating steroid hormones and their metabolites and their trade-off relationship over 24 h in male rats. In this study, 100 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, 25 mg kg(-1) DHEA-treated and 100 mg kg(-1) DHEA-treated. The animals were sacrificed at 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 12 or 24 h, and the samples were collected for subsequent analysis. Total cholesterol (TC) markedly decreased 3h after the administration of 100 mg kg(-1) DHEA, but markedly increased 12h after administration. The DHEA-S, progesterone (P), testosterone (T), oestradiol (E(2)), cortisol (Cor) and aldosterone (Ald) concentrations also markedly increased after DHEA administration, with serum DHEA-S, T, E(2) and Cor levels peaking at 1.5 h. Over time, steroid hormone levels were depressed, but serum Cor and Ald levels were markedly elevated relative to the control group at 24 h. Furthermore, DHEA treatment produced a significant increase in P450scc, 17beta-HSDIII, CYP17alpha and 3beta-HSD mRNA expression at 1.5 h, but a decided decrease in P450scc and StAR mRNA expression at 12 and 24 h, and CYP17alpha and 17beta-HSDIII expression at 12 h in the 100 mg kg(-1) DHEA group. In total, the results of the present study indicate that DHEA at high pharmacological doses may affect steroid through an effect on steroidogenic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Song
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
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Terrien J, Zahariev A, Blanc S, Aujard F. Impaired control of body cooling during heterothermia represents the major energetic constraint in an aging non-human primate exposed to cold. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7587. [PMID: 19851464 PMCID: PMC2761491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 09/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily heterothermia is used by small mammals for energy and water savings, and seems to be preferentially exhibited during winter rather than during summer. This feature induces a trade-off between the energy saved during daily heterothermia and the energy cost of arousal, which can impact energy balance and survival under harsh environmental conditions. Especially, aging may significantly affect such trade off during cold-induced energy stress, but direct evidences are still lacking. We hypothesized that aging could alter the energetics of daily heterothermia, and that the effects could differ according to season. In the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a non-human primate species which exhibits daily heterothermia, we investigated the effects of exposures to 25 and 12 degrees C on body composition, energy balance, patterns of heterothermia and water turnover in adult (N = 8) and aged animals (N = 7) acclimated to winter-like or summer-like photoperiods. Acclimation to summer prevented animals from deep heterothermia, even during aging. During winter, adult animals at 12 degrees C and aged animals at 25 degrees C exhibited low levels of energy expenditure with minor modulations of heterothermia. The major effects of cold were observed during winter, and were particularly pronounced in aged mouse lemurs which exhibited deep heterothermia phases. Body composition was not significantly affected by age and could not explain the age-related differences in heterothermia patterns. However, aging was associated with increased levels of energy expenditure during cold exposure, in concomitance with impaired energy balance. Interestingly, increased energy expenditure and depth of heterothermia phases were strongly correlated. In conclusion, it appeared that the exhibition of shallow heterothermia allowed energy savings during winter in adult animals only. Aged animals exhibited deep heterothermia and increased levels of energy expenditure, impairing energy balance. Thus, an impaired control of the heterothermic process induced high energy costs in the aging mouse lemur exposed to cold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Terrien
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Brunoy, France.
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Lemos DR, Downs JL, Raitiere MN, Urbanski HF. Photoperiodic modulation of adrenal gland function in the rhesus macaque: effect on 24-h plasma cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate rhythms and adrenal gland gene expression. J Endocrinol 2009; 201:275-85. [PMID: 19223397 PMCID: PMC2746829 DOI: 10.1677/joe-08-0437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In temperate zones, day length changes markedly across the year, and in many mammals these photoperiodic variations are associated with physiological adaptations. However, the influence of this environmental variable on human behavior and physiology is less clear, and the potential underlying mechanisms are unknown. To address this issue, we examined the effect of changing photoperiods on adrenal gland function in ovariectomized female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), both in terms of steroid hormone output and in terms of gene expression. The animals were sequentially exposed to the following lighting regimens, which were designed to simulate photoperiods associated with winter, spring/autumn and summer respectively: 8 h light:16 h darkness (short days), 12 h light:12 h darkness and 16 h light:8 h darkness (long days). Remote 24-h serial blood sampling failed to disclose any effect of photoperiod on mean or peak plasma levels of cortisol or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. However, there was a marked phase-advancement of both hormonal rhythms in short days, which was reflected as a similar phase-advancement of the daily motor activity rhythm. Gene microarray analysis of the adrenal gland transcriptome revealed photoperiod-induced differences in the expression of genes associated with homeostatic functions, including: development, lipid synthesis and metabolism, and immune function. Taken together, the results indicate that in primates, both circadian adrenal physiology and gene expression are influenced by seasonal changes in day length, which may have implications for adrenal-regulated physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario R Lemos
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
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Terrien J, Zizzari P, Bluet-Pajot MT, Henry PY, Perret M, Epelbaum J, Aujard F. Effects of age on thermoregulatory responses during cold exposure in a nonhuman primate, Microcebus murinus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2008; 295:R696-703. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00629.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cold resistance appears altered with aging. Among existing hypotheses, the impaired capacity in response to cold could be related to an altered regulation of plasma IGF-1 concentration. The combined effects of age and cold exposure were studied in a short-living primate, the gray mouse lemur ( Microcebus murinus), which adjusts its energy balance using a daily torpor phase, to avoid high energy cost of normothermia maintenance. Changes in body mass, core temperature, locomotor activity, and caloric intake were monitored under 9-day exposures to 25°C and 12°C in captive animals in winter conditions. Short-term (after 2 days) and long-term (after 9 days) cold-induced changes in IGF-1 levels were also evaluated. In thermoneutral conditions (25°C), general characteristics of the daily rhythm of core temperature were preserved with age. At 12°C, age-related changes were mainly characterized by a deeper hypothermia and an increased frequency of torpor phases, associated with a loss of body mass. A short-term cold-induced decrease in plasma IGF-1 levels was observed. IGF-1 levels returned to basal values after 9 days of cold exposure. No significant effect of age could be evidenced on IGF-1 response. However, IGF-1 levels of cold-exposed aged animals were negatively correlated with the frequency of daily torpor. Responses exhibited by aged mouse lemurs exposed to cold revealed difficulties in the maintenance of normothermia and energy balance and might involve modulations of IGF-1 levels.
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Seraphin S, Whitten P, Reynolds V. The influence of age on fecal steroid hormone levels in male Budongo Forest chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). Am J Primatol 2008; 70:661-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Aujard F, Cayetanot F, Terrien J, Van Someren EJW. Attenuated effect of increased daylength on activity rhythm in the old mouse lemur, a non-human primate. Exp Gerontol 2007; 42:1079-87. [PMID: 17931812 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2007.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2007] [Revised: 08/16/2007] [Accepted: 08/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Adaptation of physiological and behavioral functions to seasonal changes in daylength is of major relevance for optimal fitness and survival. Because aging is characterized by changes in biological rhythms, it may be hypothesized that old animals fall short of showing a full adaptation to prolonged changes in the duration of daily light exposure, as naturally occurring in relation to season in younger individuals. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed changes in the patterns of daily locomotor activity and body temperature rhythms of young and old mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus, Primates) exposed to short and long daylengths. The effect of an increase in the duration of daily light exposure was attenuated in old animals, as compared to younger lemurs. Although some age-related differences in the locomotor activity rhythm could be seen under exposure to short daylength, they were predominant under long daylength. Some mechanisms allowing adaptation to changing daylength thus seem to be impaired at old age. Changes in coupling of circadian oscillators to the light-dark cycle and disturbances in the physiological responses to change in light duration should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Aujard
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution, UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, 1 avenue du petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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Aujard F, Séguy M, Terrien J, Botalla R, Blanc S, Perret M. Behavioral thermoregulation in a non human primate: Effects of age and photoperiod on temperature selection. Exp Gerontol 2006; 41:784-92. [PMID: 16842958 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2006.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Revised: 05/30/2006] [Accepted: 06/01/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in autonomic thermoregulatory capacities have been identified in aged humans and animals, but little is known about the effect of aging on behavioral thermoregulation and the potential effect of season. Preferred ambient temperature (T(a)) in a thermal gradient (available T(a)s from 10 to 30 degrees C) was measured in the mouse lemur, a nocturnal Malagasy primate. Male mouse lemurs (40 adults and 40 aged) were studied under short (SP, resting season) and long photoperiod (LP, breeding season). Additionally, daily body temperature rhythm was telemetrically recorded in 30 individuals of both age categories. In adults exposed to SP, a choice for warm climates was observed, with a mean diurnal T(a) of 26 degrees C. Day-night differences in selected T(a) occurred only in animals exposed to SP. In LP, selection of a warm environment did not seem to be a necessary factor for maintenance of normothermia. Aged animals selected warmer T(a)s than adults during the night like during the day, whatever the photoperiod. In relation to changes in body temperature rhythm according to age, aged animals would select warmer environments possibly to compensate autonomic deficiencies. Further studies on age-related changes in hormonal and cellular functions involved in energy balance and thermoregulation will help decipher the causes of insufficient responses to thermal stress observed in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Aujard
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR CNRS/MNHN 5176, 4 avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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