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Carrillo B, Fernandez-Garcia JM, García-Úbeda R, Grassi D, Primo U, Blanco N, Ballesta A, Arevalo MA, Collado P, Pinos H. Neonatal inhibition of androgen activity alters the programming of body weight and orexinergic peptides differentially in male and female rats. Brain Res Bull 2024; 208:110898. [PMID: 38360152 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.110898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The involvement of androgens in the regulation of energy metabolism has been demonstrated. The main objective of the present research was to study the involvement of androgens in both the programming of energy metabolism and the regulatory peptides associated with feeding. For this purpose, androgen receptors and the main metabolic pathways of testosterone were inhibited during the first five days of postnatal life in male and female Wistar rats. Pups received a daily s.c. injection from the day of birth, postnatal day (P) 1, to P5 of Flutamide (a competitive inhibitor of androgen receptors), Letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor), Finasteride (a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) or vehicle. Body weight, food intake and fat pads were measured. Moreover, hypothalamic Agouti-related peptide (AgRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin, and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. The inhibition of androgenic activity during the first five days of life produced a significant decrease in body weight in females at P90 but did not affect this parameter in males. Moreover, the inhibition of aromatase decreased hypothalamic AgRP mRNA levels in males while the inhibition of 5α-reductase decreased hypothalamic AgRP and orexin mRNA levels in female rats. Finally, food intake and visceral fat, but not subcutaneous fat, were affected in both males and females depending on which testosterone metabolic pathway was inhibited. Our results highlight the differential involvement of androgens in the programming of energy metabolism as well as the AgRP and orexin systems during development in male and female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Carrillo
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain; University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Fernandez-Garcia
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Villanueva Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío García-Úbeda
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Grassi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulises Primo
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Blanco
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain; University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Ballesta
- Department of Psychobiology, Centro de Enseñanza Superior Cardenal Cisneros, Spain
| | - Maria Angeles Arevalo
- Neuroactive Steroids Lab, Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Collado
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain; University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Pinos
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain; University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain.
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Rehmann-Sutter C, Hiort O, Krämer UM, Malich L, Spielmann M. Is sex still binary? MED GENET-BERLIN 2023; 35:173-180. [PMID: 38840819 PMCID: PMC10842549 DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2023-2039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
In this perspective article we discuss the limitations of sex as a binary concept and how it is challenged by medical developments and a better understanding of gender diversity. Recent data indicate that sex is not a simple binary classification based solely on genitalia at birth or reproductive capacity but encompasses various biological characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones, and secondary sexual characteristics. The existence of individuals with differences in sex development (DSD) who do not fit typical male or female categories further demonstrates the complexity of sex. We argue that the belief that sex is strictly binary based on gametes is insufficient, as there are multiple levels of sex beyond reproductivity. We also explore the role of sex in sex determination, gene expression, brain development, and behavioural patterns and emphasize the importance of recognizing sex diversity in personalized medicine, as sex can influence disease presentation, drug response, and treatment effectiveness. Finally, we call for an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to study sex diversity and develop new categories and methodologies that go beyond a binary model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Rehmann-Sutter
- Universität zu LübeckInstitut für Medizingeschichte und WissenschaftsforschungKönigstraße 2023552LübeckDeutschland
| | - Olaf Hiort
- Universität zu LübeckKlinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Sektion für Pädiatrische Endokrinologie und DiabetologieRatzeburger Allee 16023538LübeckDeutschland
| | - Ulrike M. Krämer
- Universität zu LübeckKlinik für NeurologieRatzeburger Allee 16023538LübeckDeutschland
| | - Lisa Malich
- Universität zu LübeckInstitut für Medizingeschichte und WissenschaftsforschungKönigstraße 2023552LübeckDeutschland
| | - Malte Spielmann
- University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck & Kiel University, Institute of Human GeneticsRatzeburger Allee 16023562LübeckDeutschland
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Lagunas N, Fernández-García JM, Blanco N, Ballesta A, Carrillo B, Arevalo MA, Collado P, Pinos H, Grassi D. Organizational Effects of Estrogens and Androgens on Estrogen and Androgen Receptor Expression in Pituitary and Adrenal Glands in Adult Male and Female Rats. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:902218. [PMID: 35815333 PMCID: PMC9261283 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.902218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones, such as androgens and estrogens, are known to exert organizational action at perinatal periods and activational effects during adulthood on the brain and peripheral tissues. These organizational effects are essential for the establishment of biological axes responsible for regulating behaviors, such as reproduction, stress, and emotional responses. Estradiol (E2), testosterone, and their metabolites exert their biological action through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, bounding to canonical receptors, such as estrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ, and androgen receptor (AR) or membrane receptors, such as the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), respectively. Expression of ERs and AR was found to be different between males and females both in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggesting a sex-dependent regulation of their expression and function. Therefore, studying the ERs and AR distribution and expression levels is key to understand the central and peripheral role of sex steroids in the establishment of sex-specific behaviors in males and females. We investigated the organizational effects of estrogens and androgens in the pituitary and adrenal glands of adult male and female rats. For this, selective blockade of AR with flutamide or 5α-reductase with finasteride or aromatase with letrozole during the first 5 days of life has been performed in male and female pups and then quantification of ERs and AR expression in both glands has been carried out in adulthood. Data show that inhibition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and E2 production during the first five postnatal days mainly decreases the ER expression in male to female values and AR expression in female to male levels in the pituitary gland and increases AR expression in female to male levels in the adrenal gland. In contrast, blocking the action of androgens differentially modulates the ERs in males and females and decreases AR in both males and females in both glands. Altogether, the results suggest that neonatal modifications of the androgen and estrogen pathways can potentially lead to permanent modifications of the neuroendocrine functions of the pituitary and adrenal glands in the adulthood of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Lagunas
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Fernández-García
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Villanueva, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Blanco
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Ballesta
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical Science and Health, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Carrillo
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Angeles Arevalo
- Neuroactive Steroids Lab, Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Collado
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Pinos
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Grassi
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Neuroactive Steroids Lab, Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Daniela Grassi
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Qi C, Ji X, Zhang G, Kang Y, Huang Y, Cui R, Li S, Cui H, Shi G. Haloperidol ameliorates androgen-induced behavioral deficits in developing male rats. J Endocrinol 2018; 237:193-205. [PMID: 29563235 DOI: 10.1530/joe-17-0642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of present study was to infer the potential effects of testosterone increase in some male-based childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Tourette syndrome. Thus, the influence of early postnatal androgen exposure upon the neurobehaviors and its possible neural basis were investigated in the study. Male pup rats received consecutive 14-day testosterone propionate (TP) subcutaneous injection from postnatal day (PND) 7. The TP treatment produced the hyperactive motor behavior and grooming behavior as well as the increased levels of dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter in the mesodopaminergic system and the elevated levels of serotonin in the nucleus accumbens, without affecting the levels of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine and histamine in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens of PND21 and PND49 rats. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol was administered to the early postnatal TP-exposed PND21 and PND49 male rats 30 min prior to open field test. Haloperidol significantly ameliorated the motor behavioral and grooming behavioral defects induced by early postnatal TP exposure. The results demonstrated that early postnatal androgen exposure significantly disturbed the brain activity of developing male rats via enhancing the mesodopaminergic activity. It was suggested that abnormal increments of testosterone levels during the early postnatal development might be a potential risk factor for the incidence of some male-based childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders by affecting the mesodopaminergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiao Qi
- Department of NeurobiologyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Ji
- Department of NeurobiologyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoliang Zhang
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunxiao Kang
- Department of NeurobiologyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanxiang Huang
- Grade 2015 Eight-year Clinical Medicine ProgramSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Cui
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuangcheng Li
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
- Neuroscience Research CenterHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Geming Shi
- Department of NeurobiologyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human AnatomyHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
- Neuroscience Research CenterHebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
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5
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Mhaouty-Kodja S. Role of the androgen receptor in the central nervous system. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 465:103-112. [PMID: 28826929 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of gonadal androgens in functions of the central nervous system was suggested for the first time about half a century ago. Since then, the number of functions attributed to androgens has steadily increased, ranging from regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive behaviors to modulation of cognition, anxiety and other non-reproductive functions. This review focuses on the implication of the neural androgen receptor in these androgen-sensitive functions and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, 7 Quai St Bernard, 75005 Paris, France.
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Komine C, Nakajima S, Kondo Y, Horii Y, Yoshida M, Kawaguchi M. Effects of neonatal 17α-ethinyloestradiol exposure on female-paced mating behaviour in the rat. J Appl Toxicol 2017; 37:996-1003. [PMID: 28176338 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Correct perinatal oestrogen levels are critical for sexual differentiation. For example, perinatal exposure to oestrogen causes masculinization and defeminization of the brain in female rats and also induces delayed effects after maturation characterized by early onset of abnormal oestrus cycling. However, the mechanisms underlying the above effects of oestrogen remain to be fully determined. 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE), a common synthetic oestrogen widely used in oral contraceptives, binds specifically to oestrogen receptors. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of a single neonatal injection of high- or low-dose EE on reproductive behaviours. Female rats within 24 h after birth were subcutaneously injected with sesame oil, EE (0.02, 2 mg kg-1 ) and 17β-oestradiol (E2 ) (20 mg kg-1 ). Between 11 and 15 weeks of age, sexual behaviour was tested twice in a paced mating situation. Latency to enter, lordosis and soliciting behaviour were recorded. Both high-dose EE- and E2 -treated females showed a significantly lower lordosis quotient, decreased soliciting behaviours, increased rejection and fighting numbers. Accessibility to males was also delayed by neonatal E2 exposure, although it was shortened by high-dose EE exposure. In contrast, low-dose EE-treated females did not exhibit impaired sexual behaviour. These results suggest that single neonatal exposure to a high dose of EE or E2 disturbs the normal development of the female brain, resulting in impaired sexual behaviours in a female-paced mating situation. Besides, the differences noted between high-dose EE- and E2 -treated females might be caused by different affinities of the oestrogen receptors, metabolic rates or mechanisms of action. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiaki Komine
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8571, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakajima
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8571, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kondo
- Department of Animal Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, 2-2-1 Senju-Sakuragi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Horii
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8571, Japan
| | - Midori Yoshida
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maiko Kawaguchi
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8571, Japan
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