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Chen H, Qiao D, Si Y, He Z, Zhang B, Wang C, Zhang Y, Wang X, Shi Y, Cui C, Cui H, Li S. Effects of membrane androgen receptor binding on synaptic plasticity in primary hippocampal neurons. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 554:111711. [PMID: 35803447 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2022.111711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Androgens play an important role in the regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. While the classical molecular mechanism of androgen's genomic activity is their binding to intracellular androgen receptors (iARs), they can also induce rapid non-genomic effects through specific membrane androgen receptors (mARs). In this study, we aimed to localize and characterize these mARs in primary rat hippocampal neurons. Specific punctate fluorescent signals on the cell surface, observed by testosterone-fetal bovine serum albumin conjugated fluorescein isothiocyanate (T-BSA-FITC), indicated the presence of mARs in hippocampal neurons. T-BSA-FITC binding to the cell membrane was incompletely blocked by the iAR-antagonist flutamide, and mAR binding site was competitively bound by free testosterone (T). Most neurons expressing androgen membrane binding sites are glutamatergic (excitatory), although several are γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic (inhibitory). Confocal microscopy and live-cell imaging techniques were used to observe the real-time rapid effects of androgens on hippocampal dendritic spine morphology. Immunofluorescence cell staining was used to observe their effects on the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synapsin (SYN) synaptic markers. While androgens did not cause a short-term increase in dendritic spine density of rat primary hippocampal neurons, they promoted the transformation of dendritic spines from thin to mushroom, promoted dendritic spine maturation, increased dendritic spine surface area, and rapidly increased PSD95 and SYN expression in the primary hippocampal neurons. Hippocampal synaptosomes were prepared using the Optiprep and Percoll density gradient two-step centrifuge methods, and the gene expression profiles of the synaptosomes and hippocampus were compared using a gene chip; PSD95 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Several mRNAs were detected at the synaptic site, including PSD95. Finally, the Venus-PSD95 plasmid was constructed and transfected into HT22 cells, which is a mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line. The real-time effect of androgen on synaptic protein PSD95 was observed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments, which involved the translation process of PSD95 mRNA. In conclusion, our findings increased our understanding of how androgens exert the neuroprotective mechanisms on synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Dan Qiao
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Yao Si
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Zhen He
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Bohan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Yizhou Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Xuelin Wang
- Grade 2018, 5+3 Integrated Clinical Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Yichun Shi
- Grade 2019, Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Chengran Cui
- Grade 2019, Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China.
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China.
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2
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Mi S, Chen H, Lin P, Kang P, Qiao D, Zhang B, Wang Z, Zhang J, Hu X, Wang C, Cui H, Li S. CaMKII is a modulator in neurodegenerative diseases and mediates the effect of androgen on synaptic protein PSD95. Front Genet 2022; 13:959360. [PMID: 35991539 PMCID: PMC9386121 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.959360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgens rapidly regulate synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurones, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of functional similarities between androgen receptor (AR) and the synaptic protein postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) to evaluate the effect. Using different measurements and thresholds, we obtained consistent results illustrating that the two proteins were significantly involved in similar pathways. We further identified CaMKII plays a critical role in mediating the rapid effect of androgen and promoting the expression of PSD95. We used mouse hippocampal neurone HT22 cells as a cell model to investigate the effect of testosterone (T) on intracellular Ca2+ levels and the mechanism. Calcium imaging experiments showed that intracellular Ca2+ increased to a peak due to calcium influx in the extracellular fluid through L-type and N-type voltage-gated calcium channels when HT22 cells were treated with 100 nM T for 20 min. Subsequently, we investigated whether the Ca2+/CaMKII signaling pathway mediates the rapid effect of T, promoting the expression of the synaptic protein PSD95. Immunofluorescence cytochemical staining and western blotting results showed that T promoted CaMKII phosphorylation by rapidly increasing extracellular Ca2+ influx, thus increasing PSD95 expression. This study demonstrated that CaMKII acts as a mediator assisting androgen which regulates the synaptic protein PSD95Also, it provides evidence for the neuroprotective mechanisms of androgens in synaptic plasticity and reveals the gated and pharmacological mechanisms of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel family for androgen replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiong Mi
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Peijing Lin
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyuan Kang
- Clinical Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dan Qiao
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bohan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingbao Zhang
- Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiangting Hu
- Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Sha Li, ; Huixian Cui,
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Sha Li, ; Huixian Cui,
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Chen H, Qiao D, Wang C, Zhang B, Wang Z, Tang L, Wang Y, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Song L, Zuo H, Guo F, Wang X, Li S, Cui H. Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein Mediates the Effects of Androgen on Hippocampal PSD95 Expression and Dendritic Spines Density/Morphology and Autism-Like Behaviors Through miR-125a. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:872347. [PMID: 35530178 PMCID: PMC9074813 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.872347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated synaptic plasticity is a key feature of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. This study investigated whether Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), a selective RNA-binding protein that regulates synaptic protein expression by interacting with miRNAs, mediates the effects of androgens that play an important role in regulating the synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Experiments using mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells demonstrated that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased the expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) by inhibiting FMRP expression. Administration of miR-125a inhibitor upregulated the PSD95 expression and significantly increased the DHT-induced upregulation of PSD95. FMRP knockdown in HT22 cells reduced the expression of miR-125a. Moreover, miR-125a inhibitor upregulated the PSD95 expression in the DHT-treated HT22 cells with FMRP knockdown. Subsequently, the effects of androgen-mediated via FMRP in regulating neural behaviors and PSD95 expression and dendritic spines density/morphology were investigated using Fmr1 knockout (KO) and wild-type littermate (WT) mice. The castration of WT mice reduced the androgen levels, aggravated anxiety and depression, and impaired learning and memory and sociability of mice. DHT supplementation post-castration reversed the alterations in density and maturity of dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons and behavioral disorders in WT mice; however, it did not reveal such effects in Fmr1 KO mice. Further, immunohistochemical staining and western blotting analyses after knocking down miR-125a revealed similar effects of castration and post-castration DHT supplementation on PSD95 protein expression. These findings clarified that FMRP mediated the effects of DHT through miR-125a in regulating the expression of hippocampal synaptic protein PSD95. This study provides evidence for the neuroprotective mechanism of androgen in PSD95 expression and dendritic spines density/morphology and suggests that treatment interventions with androgen could be helpful for the management of synaptic plasticity disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dan Qiao
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bohan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Longmei Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yibo Wang
- Clinical Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- Clinical Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yizhou Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Leigang Song
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hongchun Zuo
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fangzhen Guo
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Child Health (Psychological Behavior), Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, China
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Androgen Affects the Inhibitory Avoidance Memory by Primarily Acting on Androgen Receptor in the Brain in Adolescent Male Rats. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11020239. [PMID: 33672867 PMCID: PMC7918178 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is the critical postnatal stage for the action of androgen in multiple brain regions. Androgens can regulate the learning/memory functions in the brain. It is known that the inhibitory avoidance test can evaluate emotional memory and is believed to be dependent largely on the amygdala and hippocampus. However, the effects of androgen on inhibitory avoidance memory have never been reported in adolescent male rats. In the present study, the effects of androgen on inhibitory avoidance memory and on androgen receptor (AR)-immunoreactivity in the amygdala and hippocampus were studied using behavioral analysis, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in sham-operated, orchiectomized, orchiectomized + testosterone or orchiectomized + dihydrotestosterone-administered male adolescent rats. Orchiectomized rats showed significantly reduced time spent in the illuminated box after 30 min (test 1) or 24 h (test 2) of electrical foot-shock (training) and reduced AR-immunoreactivity in amygdala/hippocampal cornu Ammonis (CA1) in comparison to those in sham-operated rats. Treatment of orchiectomized rats with either non-aromatizable dihydrotestosterone or aromatizable testosterone were successfully reinstated these effects. Application of flutamide (AR-antagonist) in intact adolescent rats exhibited identical changes to those in orchiectomized rats. These suggest that androgens enhance the inhibitory avoidance memory plausibly by binding with AR in the amygdala and hippocampus.
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Long QH, Wu YG, He LL, Ding L, Tan AH, Shi HY, Wang P. Suan-Zao-Ren Decoction ameliorates synaptic plasticity through inhibition of the Aβ deposition and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in AD model of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Chin Med 2021; 16:14. [PMID: 33478552 PMCID: PMC7818567 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00425-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Suan-Zao-Ren Decoction (SZRD) has been widely used to treat neurological illnesses, including dementia, insomnia and depression. However, the mechanisms underlying SZRD’s improvement in cognitive function remain unclear. In this study, we examined SZRD’s effect on APP/PS1 transgenic mice and mechanisms associated with SZRD’s action in alleviating neuroinflammation and improving synaptic plasticity. Methods
The APP/PS1 mice were treated with different dosages of SZRD (12.96 and 25.92 g/kg/day, in L-SZRD and H-SZRD groups, respectively) for 4 weeks. Morris water maze was conducted to determine changes in behaviors of the mice after the treatment. Meanwhile, in the samples of the hippocampus, Nissl staining and Golgi-Cox staining were used to detect synaptic plasticity. ELISA was applied to assess the expression levels of Aβ1−40 and Aβ1−42 in the hippocampus of mice. Western blot (WB) was employed to test the protein expression level of Aβ1−42, APP, ADAM10, BACE1, PS1, IDE, IBA1, GFAP, PSD95 and SYN, as well as the expressions of JAK2, STAT3 and their phosphorylation patterns to detect the involvement of JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Besides, we examined the serum and hippocampal contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α through ELISA. Results Compared to the APP/PS1 mice without any treatment, SZRD, especially the L-SZRD, significantly ameliorated cognitive impairment of the APP/PS1 mice with decreases in the loss of neurons and Aβ plaque deposition as well as improvement of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Also, SZRD, in particular, the L-SZRD markedly inhibited the serum and hippocampal concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, while reducing the expression of p-JAK2-Tyr1007 and p-STAT3-Tyr705 in the hippocampus of the APP/PS1 mice (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions The SZRD, especially the L-SZRD, may improve the cognitive impairment and ameliorate the neural degeneration in APP/PS1 transgenic mice through inhibiting Aβ accumulation and neuroinflammation via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hua Long
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Yong-Gui Wu
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Li-Ling He
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Li Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Ai-Hua Tan
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China
| | - He-Yuan Shi
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, Hubei, China.
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Kamińska A, Marek S, Pardyak L, Brzoskwinia M, Bilinska B, Hejmej A. Crosstalk between Androgen-ZIP9 Signaling and Notch Pathway in Rodent Sertoli Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218275. [PMID: 33167316 PMCID: PMC7663815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Our recent study demonstrated altered expression of Notch ligands, receptors, and effector genes in testes of pubertal rats following reduced androgen production or signaling. Herein we aimed to explore the role of nuclear androgen receptor (AR) and membrane androgen receptor (Zrt- and Irt-like protein 9; ZIP9) in the regulation of Notch pathway activation in rodent Sertoli cells. Experiments were performed using TM4 and 15P-1 Sertoli cell lines and rat primary Sertoli cells (PSC). We found that testosterone (10-8 M-10-6 M) increased the expression of Notch1 receptor, its active form Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001), and the effector genes Hey1 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and Hes1 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) in Sertoli cells. Knockdown of AR or ZIP9 as well as antiandrogen exposure experiments revealed that (i) action of androgens via both AR and ZIP9 controls Notch1/N1ICD expression and transcriptional activity of recombination signal binding protein (RBP-J), (ii) AR-dependent signaling regulates Hey1 expression, (iii) ZIP9-dependent pathway regulates Hes1 expression. Our findings indicate a crosstalk between androgen and Notch signaling in Sertoli cells and point to cooperation of classical and non-classical androgen signaling pathways in controlling Sertoli cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Kamińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Sylwia Marek
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Laura Pardyak
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
- Center of Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-248 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Brzoskwinia
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Barbara Bilinska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Anna Hejmej
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Islam MN, Sakimoto Y, Jahan MR, Ishida M, Tarif AMM, Nozaki K, Masumoto KH, Yanai A, Mitsushima D, Shinoda K. Androgen Affects the Dynamics of Intrinsic Plasticity of Pyramidal Neurons in the CA1 Hippocampal Subfield in Adolescent Male Rats. Neuroscience 2020; 440:15-29. [PMID: 32450298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) is abundantly expressed in the preoptico-hypothalamic area, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and medial amygdala of the brain where androgen plays an important role in regulating male sociosexual, emotional and aggressive behaviors. In addition to these brain regions, AR is also highly expressed in the hippocampus, suggesting that the hippocampus is another major target of androgenic modulation. It is known that androgen can modulate synaptic plasticity in the CA1 hippocampal subfield. However, to date, the effects of androgen on the intrinsic plasticity of hippocampal neurons have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, the effects of androgen on the expression of AR in the hippocampus and on the dynamics of intrinsic plasticity of CA1 pyramidal neurons were examined using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and whole-cell current-clamp recording in unoperated, sham-operated, orchiectomized (OCX), OCX + testosterone (T) or OCX + dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-primed adolescent male rats. Orchiectomy significantly decreased AR-immunoreactivity, resting membrane potential, action potential numbers, afterhyperpolarization amplitude and membrane resistance, whereas it significantly increased action potential threshold and membrane capacitance. These effects were successfully reversed by treatment with either aromatizable androgen T or non-aromatizable androgen DHT. Furthermore, administration of the AR-antagonist flutamide in intact rats showed similar changes to those in OCX rats, suggesting that androgens affect the excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons possibly by acting on the AR. Our current study potentially clarifies the role of androgen in enhancing the basal excitability of the CA1 pyramidal neurons, which may influence selective neuronal excitation/activation to modulate certain hippocampal functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nabiul Islam
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Yuya Sakimoto
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Mir Rubayet Jahan
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Mako Ishida
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Abu Md Mamun Tarif
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kanako Nozaki
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Koh-Hei Masumoto
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Akie Yanai
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan; Department of Basic Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Dai Mitsushima
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan
| | - Koh Shinoda
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube 755-8505, Japan.
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8
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Non-genomic mechanisms mediate androgen-induced PSD95 expression. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2281-2294. [PMID: 31005955 PMCID: PMC6520003 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101913] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The non-genomic actions of androgen-induced synaptic plasticity have been extensively studied. However, the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. We recently found that testosterone-fetal bovine serum albumin (T-BSA), a cell membrane-impermeable complex, led to a rapid increase in the postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) protein level through a transcription-independent mechanism in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Using T-BSA conjugated FITC, we verified the presence of membrane androgen-binding sites. Here, we show that T-BSA-induced PSD95 expression is mediated by G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-zinc transporter ZIP9 (SLC39A9), one of the androgen membrane binding sites, rather than the membrane-localized androgen receptor. Furthermore, we found that T-BSA induced an interaction between ZIP9 and Gnα11 that lead to the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 MAPK and eIF4E, which are critical in the mRNA translation process. The PSD95 and p-eIF4E expression decreased when knockdown of ZIP9 or Gnα11 expression or inhibition of Erk1/2 activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that ZIP9 mediates the non-genomic action of androgen on synaptic protein PSD95 synthesis through the Gnα11/Erk1/2/eIF4E pathway in HT22 cells. This novel mechanism provides a theoretical basis to understand the neuroprotective mechanism of androgen.
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9
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Guo G, Kang L, Geng D, Han S, Li S, Du J, Wang C, Cui H. Testosterone modulates structural synaptic plasticity of primary cultured hippocampal neurons through ERK - CREB signalling pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 503:110671. [PMID: 31805308 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although hippocampus-derived androgens play an important role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity, studies at the cellular level have received relatively less attention. Furthermore, the underlying signalling pathways associated with synaptic plasticity remain unclear. Results of the present study demonstrated that testosterone treatment of primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons resulted in a rapid increase in spine density, accompanied by the elevation of protein and messenger RNA levels of synaptophysin, developmentally regulated brain protein (Drebrin), and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunit. Testosterone treatment also increased the phosphorylation levels of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), rather than p38 and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). U0126 significantly reversed the testosterone-mediated phosphorylation of CREB. Importantly, the increase in spine density was not induced by testosterone under U0126 treatment. These findings suggest that the ERK1/2-CREB signalling pathway plays an important role in testosterone-mediated rapid spinogenesis of cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Results of this study will be helpful in further clarifying the physiological function of testosterone and related signalling pathways in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxin Guo
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lin Kang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dandan Geng
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuo Han
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
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10
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Du J, Li S, Su Y, Wang H, Liu H, Cui H. The role of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer on the action of dihydrotestosterone against the cellular damage induced by Aβ 42. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 498:110536. [PMID: 31401349 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies have revealed that the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in men is increased by age-related androgen depletion. The level of β-amyloid (Aβ) is elevated in the brains of AD patients, and Aβ is believed to play a critical role in the pathology of AD. Some studies have indicated that androgens affect AD risk by regulating the metabolism of Aβ by an unclear mechanism. In this study, we investigated the role of the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (CD147) in this action. Initially, we demonstrated that androgens positively regulate the expression of CD147 in adult male rats and SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, this regulation may involve androgen receptor (AR). Additionally, interference of CD147 expression decreased the clearance of Aβ in culture medium and reduced cell viability. It also affected the morphology of the cells and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Finally, we found that interference of CD147 expression blocked the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced reduction in Aβ and the protection of cells. DHT regulates MMP-2's expression through CD147. Together, these results imply that androgen regulation of Aβ and cell protection may be affected by interfering with the expression of CD147.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Du
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuhong Su
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Haidong Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hanjie Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China; Human Brain Bank, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
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11
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Herrera-Morales WV, Herrera-Solís A, Núñez-Jaramillo L. Sexual Behavior and Synaptic Plasticity. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:2617-2631. [PMID: 31270644 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-019-01483-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although sex drive is present in many animal species, sexual behavior is not static and, like many other behaviors, can be modified by experience. This modification relies on synaptic plasticity, a sophisticated mechanism through which neurons change how they process a given stimulus, and the neurophysiological basis of learning. This review addresses the main plastic effects of steroid sex hormones in the central nervous system (CNS) and the effects of sexual experience on the CNS, including effects on neurogenesis, intracellular signaling, gene expression, and changes in dendritic spines, as well as behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Verónica Herrera-Morales
- División de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Quintana Roo, Av. Erick Paolo Martínez S/N esquina Av 4 de marzo. Colonia Magisterial, 77039, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Andrea Herrera-Solís
- Laboratorio Efectos Terapéuticos de los Canabinoides, Subdirección de Investigación Biomédica, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Núñez-Jaramillo
- División de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Quintana Roo, Av. Erick Paolo Martínez S/N esquina Av 4 de marzo. Colonia Magisterial, 77039, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
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12
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Schreihofer DA, Duong P, Cunningham RL. N-terminal truncations in sex steroid receptors and rapid steroid actions. Steroids 2018; 133:15-20. [PMID: 29104096 PMCID: PMC5864524 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Sex steroid receptors act as ligand activated nuclear transcription factors throughout the body, including the brain. However, post-translational modification of these receptors can direct them to extranuclear sites, including the plasma membrane, where they are able to initiate rapid signaling. Because of the conserved domain structure of these receptors, alternative exon splicing can result in proteins with altered nuclear and extranuclear actions. Although much attention has focused on internal and C-terminal splice variants, both estrogen and androgen receptors undergo N-terminal truncations, as well. These truncated proteins not only influence the transcriptional activity of the full-length receptors, but also associate with caveolin and initiate signaling at the plasma membrane. Such actions may have important physiological consequences in neuronal, endothelial, and cancer signaling and cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Schreihofer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76244, USA
| | - Phong Duong
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76244, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76244, USA.
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13
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Akinola OB, Gabriel MO. Neuroanatomical and molecular correlates of cognitive and behavioural outcomes in hypogonadal males. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:491-505. [PMID: 29230619 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0163-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Robust epidemiological, clinical and laboratory evidence supports emerging roles for the sex steroids in such domains as neurodevelopment, behaviour, learning and cognition. Regions of the mammalian brain that are involved in cognitive development and memory do not only express the classical nuclear androgen receptor, but also the non-genomic membrane receptor, which is a G protein-coupled receptor that mediates some rapid effects of the androgens on neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Under physiological conditions, hippocampal neurons do express the enzyme aromatase, and therefore actively aromatize testosterone to oestradiol. Although glial expression of the aromatase enzyme is minimal, increased expression following injury suggests a role for sex steroids in neuroprotection. It is therefore plausible to deduce that low levels of circulating androgens in males would perturb neuronal functions in relation to cognition and memory, as well as neural repair following injury. The present review is an overview of some roles of the sex steroids on cognitive function in males, and the neuroanatomical and molecular underpinnings of some behavioural and cognitive deficits characteristic of such genetic disorders noted for low androgen levels, including Klinefelter syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Kallman syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. Recent literature in relation to some behavioural and cognitive changes secondary to surgical and pharmacological castration are also appraised.
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Affiliation(s)
- O B Akinola
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
| | - M O Gabriel
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
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14
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Zárate S, Stevnsner T, Gredilla R. Role of Estrogen and Other Sex Hormones in Brain Aging. Neuroprotection and DNA Repair. Front Aging Neurosci 2018. [PMID: 29311911 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00430/xml/nlm] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physiological function and increased susceptibility to disease. The detrimental effects of aging are observed in all tissues, the brain being the most important one due to its main role in the homeostasis of the organism. As our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of brain aging increases, potential approaches to preserve brain function rise significantly. Accumulating evidence suggests that loss of genomic maintenance may contribute to aging, especially in the central nervous system (CNS) owing to its low DNA repair capacity. Sex hormones, particularly estrogens, possess potent antioxidant properties and play important roles in maintaining normal reproductive and non-reproductive functions. They exert neuroprotective actions and their loss during aging and natural or surgical menopause is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, synaptic decline, cognitive impairment and increased risk of age-related disorders. Moreover, loss of sex hormones has been suggested to promote an accelerated aging phenotype eventually leading to the development of brain hypometabolism, a feature often observed in menopausal women and prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although data on the relation between sex hormones and DNA repair mechanisms in the brain is still limited, various investigations have linked sex hormone levels with different DNA repair enzymes. Here, we review estrogen anti-aging and neuroprotective mechanisms, which are currently an area of intense study, together with the effect they may have on the DNA repair capacity in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Zárate
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tinna Stevnsner
- Danish Center for Molecular Gerontology and Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ricardo Gredilla
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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15
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Zárate S, Stevnsner T, Gredilla R. Role of Estrogen and Other Sex Hormones in Brain Aging. Neuroprotection and DNA Repair. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:430. [PMID: 29311911 PMCID: PMC5743731 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physiological function and increased susceptibility to disease. The detrimental effects of aging are observed in all tissues, the brain being the most important one due to its main role in the homeostasis of the organism. As our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of brain aging increases, potential approaches to preserve brain function rise significantly. Accumulating evidence suggests that loss of genomic maintenance may contribute to aging, especially in the central nervous system (CNS) owing to its low DNA repair capacity. Sex hormones, particularly estrogens, possess potent antioxidant properties and play important roles in maintaining normal reproductive and non-reproductive functions. They exert neuroprotective actions and their loss during aging and natural or surgical menopause is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, synaptic decline, cognitive impairment and increased risk of age-related disorders. Moreover, loss of sex hormones has been suggested to promote an accelerated aging phenotype eventually leading to the development of brain hypometabolism, a feature often observed in menopausal women and prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although data on the relation between sex hormones and DNA repair mechanisms in the brain is still limited, various investigations have linked sex hormone levels with different DNA repair enzymes. Here, we review estrogen anti-aging and neuroprotective mechanisms, which are currently an area of intense study, together with the effect they may have on the DNA repair capacity in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Zárate
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tinna Stevnsner
- Danish Center for Molecular Gerontology and Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ricardo Gredilla
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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16
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Du X, Li Q, Pan Z, Li Q. Androgen receptor and miRNA-126* axis controls follicle-stimulating hormone receptor expression in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Reproduction 2016; 152:161-9. [PMID: 27222597 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Androgen, which acts via the androgen receptor (AR), plays crucial roles in mammalian ovarian function. Recent studies showed that androgen/AR signaling regulates follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) expression in follicles; however, the detailed mechanism underlying this regulation remained unknown. Here, we demonstrate that AR and miR-126* cooperate to inhibit FSHR expression and function in pig follicular granulosa cells (pGCs). In pGCs, overexpression of AR decreased, whereas knockdown increased, FSHR mRNA and protein expression; however, neither manipulation affected FSHR promoter activity. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, we found that the FSHR gene is a direct target of miR-126*, which inhibits FSHR expression and increases the rate of AR-induced apoptosis in pGCs. Collectively, our data show for the first time that the AR/miR-126* axis exerts synergetic effects in the regulation of FSHR expression and apoptosis in pGCs. Our findings thus define a novel pathway, AR/miR-126*/FSHR, that regulates mammalian GC functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Du
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiqi Li
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zengxiang Pan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qifa Li
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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17
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Mhillaj E, Morgese MG, Tucci P, Bove M, Schiavone S, Trabace L. Effects of anabolic-androgens on brain reward function. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:295. [PMID: 26379484 PMCID: PMC4549565 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgens are mainly prescribed to treat several diseases caused by testosterone deficiency. However, athletes try to promote muscle growth by manipulating testosterone levels or assuming androgen anabolic steroids (AAS). These substances were originally synthesized to obtain anabolic effects greater than testosterone. Although AAS are rarely prescribed compared to testosterone, their off-label utilization is very wide. Furthermore, combinations of different steroids and doses generally higher than those used in therapy are common. Symptoms of the chronic use of supra-therapeutic doses of AAS include anxiety, depression, aggression, paranoia, distractibility, confusion, amnesia. Interestingly, some studies have shown that AAS elicited electroencephalographic changes similar to those observed with amphetamine abuse. The frequency of side effects is higher among AAS abusers, with psychiatric complications such as labile mood, lack of impulse control and high violence. On the other hand, AAS addiction studies are complex because data collection is very difficult due to the subjects' reticence and can be biased by many variables, including physical exercise, that alter the reward system. Moreover, it has been reported that AAS may imbalance neurotransmitter systems involved in the reward process, leading to increased sensitivity toward opioid narcotics and central stimulants. The goal of this article is to review the literature on steroid abuse and changes to the reward system in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Mhillaj
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Maria G Morgese
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy
| | - Paolo Tucci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Bove
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Schiavone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy
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