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Parker CG, Gruenhagen GW, Hegarty BE, Histed AR, Streelman JT, Rhodes JS, Johnson ZV. Adult sex change leads to extensive forebrain reorganization in clownfish. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:58. [PMID: 39044232 PMCID: PMC11267845 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00632-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual differentiation of the brain occurs in all major vertebrate lineages but is not well understood at a molecular and cellular level. Unlike most vertebrates, sex-changing fishes have the remarkable ability to change reproductive sex during adulthood in response to social stimuli, offering a unique opportunity to understand mechanisms by which the nervous system can initiate and coordinate sexual differentiation. METHODS This study explores sexual differentiation of the forebrain using single nucleus RNA-sequencing in the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris, producing the first cellular atlas of a sex-changing brain. RESULTS We uncover extensive sex differences in cell type-specific gene expression, relative proportions of cells, baseline neuronal excitation, and predicted inter-neuronal communication. Additionally, we identify the cholecystokinin, galanin, and estrogen systems as central molecular axes of sexual differentiation. Supported by these findings, we propose a model of sexual differentiation in the conserved vertebrate social decision-making network spanning multiple subtypes of neurons and glia, including neuronal subpopulations within the preoptic area that are positioned to regulate gonadal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS This work deepens our understanding of sexual differentiation in the vertebrate brain and defines a rich suite of molecular and cellular pathways that differentiate during adult sex change in anemonefish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, 61820, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - George W Gruenhagen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brianna E Hegarty
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abigail R Histed
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, 61820, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Streelman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, 61820, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 E. Daniel St., Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.
| | - Zachary V Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
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2
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Garza-Brenner E, Sánchez-Dávila F, Mauleón-Tolentino K, Zapata-Campos CC, Luna-Palomera C, Hernandez-Melendez J, Gonzalez-Delgado M, Vázquez-Armijo JF. Systematic review of hormonal strategies to improve fertility in rams. Anim Reprod 2024; 21:e20240007. [PMID: 38903866 PMCID: PMC11189135 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2024-0007] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Reviewing the current state of knowledge on reproductive performance and productive traits in rams has many advantages. First, the compilation of this information will serve as a literature resource for scientists conducting research around the world and will contribute to the understanding of the data collected and interpreted by researchers on the different hormonal strategies used to improve reproductive performance in rams. Second, it will allow scientists to identify current knowledge gaps and set future research priorities in ram reproduction. Rams play an important role in the global flock economy, but their reproductive analysis has been limited in the use of hormonal technologies to increase the productivity of sheep flocks. In this review, we cite the most important works on six hormones that, in one way or another, modify the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, at different doses, in and out of the reproductive season, breeds, application methods, among other factors. The overall aim is to increase the reproductive efficiency of rams in different scenarios and, in some cases, of other species due to the lack of limited information on rams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estela Garza-Brenner
- Facultad de Agronomía, Posgrado Conjunto, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, General Escobedo, N.L México
| | - Fernando Sánchez-Dávila
- Facultad de Agronomía, Posgrado Conjunto, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, General Escobedo, N.L México
| | - Keyla Mauleón-Tolentino
- Facultad de Agronomía, Posgrado Conjunto, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, General Escobedo, N.L México
| | - Cecilia Carmela Zapata-Campos
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, México
| | - Carlos Luna-Palomera
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
| | | | - Marisol Gonzalez-Delgado
- Centro de Investigación en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Linares, Nuevo León, México
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3
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Fořt J, Flegr J, Kuba R, Kaňková Š. Fertility of Czech Gay and Straight Men, Women, and Their Relatives: Testing the Sexually Antagonistic Gene Hypothesis. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:1747-1761. [PMID: 38472605 PMCID: PMC11106150 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02827-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
One proposal for the persistence of homosexuality in the human population is the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis, which suggests that the lower fertility of homosexual individuals, especially men, may be compensated by higher fertility of their relatives of the opposite sex. To test this hypothesis, we have collected data from 7,312 heterosexual men, 459 gay men, 3,352 heterosexual women, and 79 lesbian women mainly from Czechia. In an online survey, participants answered questions regarding their own as well as their parents' and grandparents' fertility. For men, we obtained no significant results except for higher fertility of gay men's paternal grandmothers, but the magnitude of this effect was very small. For the female sample, we recorded lower fertility of lesbian women's mothers and fathers. In line with our expectations, both gay men and lesbian women had lower fertility rates than their heterosexual counterparts. Our results are consistent with recent studies which likewise do not support the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Fořt
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Radim Kuba
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Šárka Kaňková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Parker CG, Gruenhagen GW, Hegarty BE, Histed AR, Streelman JT, Rhodes JS, Johnson ZV. Adult sex change leads to extensive forebrain reorganization in clownfish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577753. [PMID: 38352560 PMCID: PMC10862741 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Sexual differentiation of the brain occurs in all major vertebrate lineages but is not well understood at a molecular and cellular level. Unlike most vertebrates, sex-changing fishes have the remarkable ability to change reproductive sex during adulthood in response to social stimuli, offering a unique opportunity to understand mechanisms by which the nervous system can initiate and coordinate sexual differentiation. This study explores sexual differentiation of the forebrain using single nucleus RNA-sequencing in the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris, producing the first cellular atlas of a sex-changing brain. We uncover extensive sex differences in cell type-specific gene expression, relative proportions of cells, baseline neuronal excitation, and predicted inter-neuronal communication. Additionally, we identify the cholecystokinin, galanin, and estrogen systems as central molecular axes of sexual differentiation. Supported by these findings, we propose a model of neurosexual differentiation in the conserved vertebrate social decision-making network spanning multiple subtypes of neurons and glia, including neuronal subpopulations within the preoptic area that are positioned to regulate gonadal differentiation. This work deepens our understanding of sexual differentiation in the vertebrate brain and defines a rich suite of molecular and cellular pathways that differentiate during adult sex change in anemonefish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G. Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - George W. Gruenhagen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brianna E. Hegarty
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Abigail R. Histed
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Streelman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Justin S. Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Zachary V. Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Johnson L, Lukert B. Science, Scripture, and Sexuality: The US United Methodist Church at Crossroads. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023:10.1007/s10943-023-01806-7. [PMID: 37079172 PMCID: PMC10117265 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01806-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During the past 50 years, medical and behavioral scientists have made great progress in understanding the variables which influence the development of sexual orientation, identity, and consequent behavior. In most instances, homosexuality is influenced by hormonal, genetic, and immunologic variables during fetal development, and the effects cannot usually be altered without consequence. The recent struggle within The United Methodist Church in the USA reflects the difficulty that society in general has with accepting homosexuality as part of the spectrum of sexuality. Hopefully, understanding the factors influencing sexual orientation will aid in reducing prejudice and eventually bring an end to the pain endured by the LGBTQ community, and the conflict within The United Methodist Church, a prototype of the struggle.
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Tasos E. To What Extent are Prenatal Androgens Involved in the Development of Male Homosexuality in Humans? JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2022; 69:1928-1963. [PMID: 34080960 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1933792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine variations, including possibly reduced exposure to androgens, may contribute to the development of male homosexuality, with animal models demonstrating same-sex mate preference with altered exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development. As similar studies in humans are impossible, indirect physical and cognitive measures of androgen exposure are used. Some studies suggest that physical measures affected by prenatal androgens, including the index-to-ring finger ratio, growth indices, and facial structure, are more "feminine" in gay men. Gay men also exhibit significant childhood gender non-conformity and a "feminized" anatomical and functional brain pattern in sexual arousal, as well as domains such as language, visuospatial skills and hemispheric relationships. However, many of these results are equivocal and may be confounded by other factors. Research has also been hampered by inconsistencies in the reporting of sexual orientation and the potentially unrepresentative populations of gay men studied, while additional complexities pertaining to gender conformity and sexual role may also influence results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Tasos
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Sheep as a model for neuroendocrinology research. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 189:1-34. [PMID: 35595346 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Animal models remain essential to understand the fundamental mechanisms of physiology and pathology. Particularly, the complex and dynamic nature of neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamus make them difficult to study. The neuroendocrine systems of the hypothalamus are critical for survival and reproduction, and are highly conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. Their roles in controlling body metabolism, growth and body composition, stress, electrolyte balance, and reproduction, have been intensively studied, and have yielded groundbreaking discoveries. Many of these discoveries would not have been feasible without the use of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries). The sheep has been used for decades to study the neuroendocrine systems of the hypothalamus and has become a model for human neuroendocrinology. The aim of this chapter is to review some of the profound biomedical discoveries made possible by the use of sheep. The advantages and limitations of sheep as a neuroendocrine model will be discussed. While no animal model can perfectly recapitulate a human disease or condition, sheep are invaluable for enabling manipulations not possible in human subjects and isolating physiologic variables to garner insight into neuroendocrinology and associated pathologies.
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Bhattacharya S, Amodei R, Vilain E, Roselli CE. Identification of differential hypothalamic DNA methylation and gene expression associated with sexual partner preferences in rams. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263319. [PMID: 35552544 PMCID: PMC9098078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The sheep is a valuable model to test whether hormone mechanisms that sexually differentiate the brain underlie the expression of sexual partner preferences because as many as 8% of rams prefer same-sex partners. Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation act as mediators in the interaction between steroid hormones and the genome. Variations in the epigenome could be important in determining morphological or behavior differences among individuals of the same species. In this study, we explored DNA methylation differences in the hypothalamus of male oriented rams (MORs) and female oriented rams (FORs). We employed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to generate a genome-wide map of DNA methylation and RNA-Seq to profile the transcriptome. We found substantial DNA methylation and gene expression differences between FORs and MORs. Although none of the differentially methylated genes yielded significant functional terms directly associated with sex development, three differentially expressed genes were identified that have been associated previously with sexual behaviors. We hypothesize that these differences are involved in the phenotypic variation in ram sexual partner preferences, whereas future studies will have to find the specific mechanisms. Our results add an intriguing new dimension to sheep behavior that should be useful for further understanding epigenetic and transcriptomic involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surajit Bhattacharya
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s Research Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rebecka Amodei
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University Portland, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Eric Vilain
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s Research Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Charles E. Roselli
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University Portland, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Sánchez-Dávila F, Lombardo J, Freitas-de-Melo A, Bernal Barragán H, Ungerfeld R. Singleton or twin male lambs: Effects on their reproductive development. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 231:106797. [PMID: 34175553 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Because intrauterine environment differs between twins and singletons, twin-born lambs are often studied when effects of fetal programming are evaluated. In sheep, fetal programming might have effects on reproductive physiology and behavior after sexual maturation. The aim of this study was to compare sperm output and sexual behavior in developing singleton- or twin-born lambs of similar body weight. Singleton lambs (n = 12) and twin (n = 9) male-male lambs were used. From 5.4 until 9.1 months of age, body weight, scrotal circumference (every 3-4 weeks), sexual behavior (every 14 days) and semen characteristics (every 28 days) were evaluated. In the third ejaculate, singleton lambs ejaculated a larger volume of semen than twins (P = 0.03). Considering a pool of the three ejaculates, twin lambs ejaculated semen with a greater sperm concentration than singleton lambs (P = 0.015). There was an interaction between group and time to the onset of courtship behavior (P = 0.02) and a tendency for an interaction in the number of mount attempts (P = 0.052). Singleton-born lambs, during the first evaluation period began courtship behavior earlier than twin-born lambs (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, there were only slight differences in semen and sexual behavior between male ram lambs born as singletons or twins with similar weight. Male ram lambs born as singletons initiated the courtship behavior earlier than twins during the first sexual behavioral evaluation period, ejaculated a larger volume of semen in the third consecutive ejaculate, and there was a lesser sperm concentration in the three ejaculates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesus Lombardo
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Posgrado Conjunto, Mexico
| | - Aline Freitas-de-Melo
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Rodolfo Ungerfeld
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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