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Dogani M, Askari N, Hesari AK. A diet enriched with Pistacia atlantica fruits improves the female rats' reproductive system. J Tradit Complement Med 2024; 14:335-342. [PMID: 38707920 PMCID: PMC11068987 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.09.004] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Baneh (Pistacia atlantica) is a plant species that is commonly consumed as food and has a long-standing traditional use as a sexual enhancer. Despite its widespread use, a limited amount of academic and scientific literature is available regarding its potential impact on the reproductive system. The present research aimed to study the effect of a diet enriched with Baneh on the female rats' reproductive system. Experimental procedure Three groups of rats (n = 8) were subjected to the intended diet for six weeks. Subsequently, their histomorphometric parameters, sex hormone levels, as well as the expression of oxytocin (OXT) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genes were measured. The rats' serum vitamin D, zinc, and lipid profiles were also evaluated. Results and conclusion Results revealed that compared to the normal food, the diet containing 20 % Baneh significantly increased the progesterone and estradiol levels three and two times, respectively. It decreased the total body weight while increasing the ratio of ovary weight to the body weight. Furthermore, the Baneh-enriched diet raised HDL, zinc, and vitamin D levels, though it reduced the LDL and TG levels by 15 μg/dl and 24 μg/dl, respectively, and the concentration of ovary malondialdehyde decreased by 50 % in the treated group. Also, the diet increased the follicle graph, corpus luteum, the thickness of the epithelium, the number of endometrial glands, and the expression of both OXT and OXTR genes. Our findings suggested that P. atlantica could considerably improve the female sex hormone levels and their reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manijeh Dogani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Nayere Askari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
- Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Kalantari Hesari
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
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2
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Inoue S. Hormonal and circuit mechanisms controlling female sexual behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1409349. [PMID: 38752168 PMCID: PMC11094328 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1409349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior is crucial for reproduction in many animals. In many vertebrates, females exhibit sexual behavior only during a brief period surrounding ovulation. Over the decades, studies have identified the roles of ovarian sex hormones, which peak in levels around the time of ovulation, and the critical brain regions involved in the regulation of female sexual behavior. Modern technical innovations have enabled a deeper understanding of the neural circuit mechanisms controlling this behavior. In this review, I summarize our current knowledge and discuss the neural circuit mechanisms by which female sexual behavior occurs in association with the ovulatory phase of their cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Inoue
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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3
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Pyeon GH, Lee J, Jo YS, Choi JS. Conditioned flight response in female rats to naturalistic threat is estrous-cycle dependent. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20988. [PMID: 38017045 PMCID: PMC10684534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47591-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the prevalent expression of freezing behavior following Pavlovian fear conditioning, a growing body of literature suggests potential sex differences in defensive responses. Our study investigated how female defensive behaviors are expressed in different threat situations and modulated by the estrous cycle. We aimed to compare freezing and flight-like responses during the acquisition and retrieval of fear conditioning using two distinct unconditioned stimuli (US) in two different spatial configurations: (1) electrical footshock (FUS) in a small, conventional enclosure with a grid floor, and (2) a predator-like robot (PUS) in a spacious, open arena. Fear conditioning with FUS showed no substantial differences between male and female rats of two different estrous cycles (proestrus and diestrus) in the levels of freezing and flight. However, when PUS was employed, proestrus female rats showed significantly more flight responses to the CS during both acquisition and the retrieval compared to the male and diestrus female rats. Taken together, our findings suggest that hormonal influences on the choice of defensive strategies in threat situations are significantly modulated by both the type of US and the spatial configuration of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyeong Hee Pyeon
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeyong Lee
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sang Jo
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - June-Seek Choi
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Zhou SF, Li SJ, Zhao TS, Liu Y, Li CQ, Cui YH, Li F. Female rats prefer to forage food from males, an effect that is not influenced by stress. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114597. [PMID: 37487838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114597] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
As social beings, animals and humans alike make real life decisions that are often influenced by other members. Most current research has focused on the influence of same-sex peers on individual decision-making, with potential opposite sex effect scarcely explored. Here, we developed a behavioral model to observe food foraging decision-making in female rats under various social situations. We found that female rats preferred to forage food from male over female rats or from the no-rat storage side. Female rats were more likely to forage food from familiar males than from unfamiliar. This opposite-sex preference was not altered by the lure of sweet food, or with estrous cycle, nor under stress conditions. These results suggest that the opposite sex influences food foraging decision-making in female rats. The behavioral model established could facilitate future investigation into the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Fen Zhou
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Song-Ji Li
- The International-Joint Lab for Non-invasive Neural Modulation/Key Laboratory for the Brain Research of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Tian-Shu Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Chang-Qi Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan-Hui Cui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
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5
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Abstract
Reproduction is the biological process by which new individuals are produced by their parents. It is the fundamental feature of all known life and is required for the existence of all species. All mammals reproduce sexually, a process that involves the union of two reproductive cells, one from a male and one from a female. Sexual behaviors are a series of actions leading to reproduction. They are composed of appetitive, action, and refractory phases, each supported by dedicated developmentally-wired neural circuits to ensure high reproduction success. In rodents, successful reproduction can only occur during female ovulation. Thus, female sexual behavior is tightly coupled with ovarian activity, namely the estrous cycle. This is achieved through the close interaction between the female sexual behavior circuit and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding, learned mainly in rodents, regarding the neural circuits underlying each phase of the female sexual behaviors and their interaction with the HPG axis, highlighting the gaps in our knowledge that require future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Yin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Xie ST, Fan WC, Zhao XS, Ma XY, Li ZL, Zhao YR, Yang F, Shi Y, Rong H, Cui ZS, Chen JY, Li HZ, Yan C, Zhang Q, Wang JJ, Zhang XY, Gu XP, Ma ZL, Zhu JN. Proinflammatory activation of microglia in the cerebellum hyperexcites Purkinje cells to trigger ataxia. Pharmacol Res 2023; 191:106773. [PMID: 37068531 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Specific medications to combat cerebellar ataxias, a group of debilitating movement disorders characterized by difficulty with walking, balance and coordination, are still lacking. Notably, cerebellar microglial activation appears to be a common feature in different types of ataxic patients and rodent models. However, direct evidence that cerebellar microglial activation in vivo is sufficient to induce ataxia is still lacking. Here, by employing chemogenetic approaches to manipulate cerebellar microglia selectively and directly, we found that specific chemogenetic activation of microglia in the cerebellar vermis directly leads to ataxia symptoms in wild-type mice and aggravated ataxic motor deficits in 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) mice, a classic mouse model of cerebellar ataxia. Mechanistically, cerebellar microglial proinflammatory activation induced by either chemogenetic M3D(Gq) stimulation or 3-AP modeling hyperexcites Purkinje cells (PCs), which consequently triggers ataxia. Blockade of microglia-derived TNF-α, one of the most important proinflammatory cytokines, attenuates the hyperactivity of PCs driven by microglia. Moreover, chemogenetic inhibition of cerebellar microglial activation or suppression of cerebellar microglial activation by PLX3397 and minocycline reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, to effectively restore the overactivation of PCs and alleviate motor deficits in 3-AP mice. These results suggest that cerebellar microglial activation may aggravate the neuroinflammatory response and subsequently induce dysfunction of PCs, which in turn triggers ataxic motor deficits. Our findings thus reveal a causal relationship between proinflammatory activation of cerebellar microglia and ataxic motor symptoms, which may offer novel evidence for therapeutic intervention for cerebellar ataxias by targeting microglia and microglia-derived inflammatory mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Chu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian-Sen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ze-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan-Ran Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-San Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun-Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong-Zhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qipeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiao-Ping Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Zheng-Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jing-Ning Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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7
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Levy DR, Hunter N, Lin S, Robinson EM, Gillis W, Conlin EB, Anyoha R, Shansky RM, Datta SR. Mouse spontaneous behavior reflects individual variation rather than estrous state. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1358-1364.e4. [PMID: 36889318 PMCID: PMC10090034 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Behavior is shaped by both the internal state of an animal and its individual behavioral biases. Rhythmic variation in gonadal hormones during the estrous cycle is a defining feature of the female internal state, one that regulates many aspects of sociosexual behavior. However, it remains unclear whether estrous state influences spontaneous behavior and, if so, how these effects might relate to individual behavioral variation. Here, we address this question by longitudinally characterizing the open-field behavior of female mice across different phases of the estrous cycle, using unsupervised machine learning to decompose spontaneous behavior into its constituent elements.1,2,3,4 We find that each female mouse exhibits a characteristic pattern of exploration that uniquely identifies it as an individual across many experimental sessions; by contrast, estrous state only negligibly impacts behavior, despite its known effects on neural circuits that regulate action selection and movement. Like female mice, male mice exhibit individual-specific patterns of behavior in the open field; however, the exploratory behavior of males is significantly more variable than that expressed by females both within and across individuals. These findings suggest underlying functional stability to the circuits that support exploration in female mice, reveal a surprising degree of specificity in individual behavior, and provide empirical support for the inclusion of both sexes in experiments querying spontaneous behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rubi Levy
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nigel Hunter
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sherry Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Winthrop Gillis
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Rockwell Anyoha
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Ocañas SR, Ansere VA, Kellogg CM, Isola JVV, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Freeman WM. Chromosomal and gonadal factors regulate microglial sex effects in the aging brain. Brain Res Bull 2023; 195:157-171. [PMID: 36804773 PMCID: PMC10810555 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Biological sex contributes to phenotypic sex effects through genetic (sex chromosomal) and hormonal (gonadal) mechanisms. There are profound sex differences in the prevalence and progression of age-related brain diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammation of neural tissue is one of the most consistent age-related phenotypes seen with healthy aging and disease. The pro-inflammatory environment of the aging brain has primarily been attributed to microglial reactivity and adoption of heterogeneous reactive states dependent upon intrinsic (i.e., sex) and extrinsic (i.e., age, disease state) factors. Here, we review sex effects in microglia across the lifespan, explore potential genetic and hormonal molecular mechanisms of microglial sex effects, and discuss currently available models and methods to study sex effects in the aging brain. Despite recent attention to this area, significant further research is needed to mechanistically understand the regulation of microglial sex effects across the lifespan, which may open new avenues for sex informed prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Ocañas
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Victor A Ansere
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Collyn M Kellogg
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jose V V Isola
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ana J Chucair-Elliott
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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9
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Simmons SC, Grecco GG, Atwood BK, Nugent FS. Effects of prenatal opioid exposure on synaptic adaptations and behaviors across development. Neuropharmacology 2023; 222:109312. [PMID: 36334764 PMCID: PMC10314127 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we focus on prenatal opioid exposure (POE) given the significant concern for the mental health outcomes of children with parents affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) in the view of the current opioid crisis. We highlight some of the less explored interactions between developmental age and sex on synaptic plasticity and associated behavioral outcomes in preclinical POE research. We begin with an overview of the rich literature on hippocampal related behaviors and plasticity across POE exposure paradigms. We then discuss recent work on reward circuit dysregulation following POE. Additional risk factors such as early life stress (ELS) could further influence synaptic and behavioral outcomes of POE. Therefore, we include an overview on the use of preclinical ELS models where ELS exposure during key critical developmental periods confers considerable vulnerability to addiction and stress psychopathology. Here, we hope to highlight the similarity between POE and ELS on development and maintenance of opioid-induced plasticity and altered opioid-related behaviors where similar enduring plasticity in reward circuits may occur. We conclude the review with some of the limitations that should be considered in future investigations. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Opioid-induced addiction'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Simmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Greg G Grecco
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Brady K Atwood
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Fereshteh S Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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10
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Kehmeier MN, Bedell BR, Cullen AE, Khurana A, D'Amico HJ, Henson GD, Walker AE. In vivo arterial stiffness, but not isolated artery endothelial function, varies with the mouse estrous cycle. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 323:H1057-H1067. [PMID: 36240435 PMCID: PMC9678414 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00369.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With the increasing appreciation for sex as a biological variable and the inclusion of female mice in research, it is important to understand the influence of the estrous cycle on physiological function. Sex hormones are known to modulate vascular function, but the effects of the mouse estrous cycle phase on arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and arterial estrogen receptor expression remain unknown. In 23 female C57BL/6 mice (6 mo of age), we determined the estrous cycle stage via vaginal cytology and plasma hormone concentrations. Aortic stiffness, assessed by pulse wave velocity, was lower during the estrus phase compared with diestrus. In ex vivo assessment of isolated pressurized mesenteric and posterior cerebral arteries, the responses to acetylcholine, insulin, and sodium nitroprusside, as well as nitric oxide-mediated dilation, were not different between estrous cycle phases. In the aorta, expression of phosphorylated estrogen receptor-α was higher for mice in estrus compared with mice in proestrus. In the cerebral arteries, gene expression for estrogen receptor-β (Esr2) was lowest for mice in estrus compared with diestrus and proestrus. These results demonstrate that the estrus phase is associated with lower in vivo large artery stiffness in mice. In contrast, ex vivo resistance artery endothelial function is not different between estrous cycle phases. Estrogen receptor expression is modulated by the estrus cycle in an artery-dependent manner. These results suggest that the estrous cycle phase should be considered when measuring in vivo arterial stiffness in young female mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To design rigorous vascular research studies using young female rodents, the influence of the estrous cycle on vascular function must be known. We found that in vivo aortic stiffness was lower during estrus compared with the diestrus phase in female mice. In contrast, ex vivo mesenteric and cerebral artery endothelial function did not differ between estrous cycle stages. These results suggest that the estrous cycle stage should be accounted for when measuring in vivo arterial stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley R Bedell
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Abigail E Cullen
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Aleena Khurana
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Holly J D'Amico
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Grant D Henson
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Ashley E Walker
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
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11
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Yin L, Hashikawa K, Hashikawa Y, Osakada T, Lischinsky JE, Diaz V, Lin D. VMHvll Cckar cells dynamically control female sexual behaviors over the reproductive cycle. Neuron 2022; 110:3000-3017.e8. [PMID: 35896109 PMCID: PMC9509472 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sexual behavior is fundamental for the survival of mammalian species and thus supported by dedicated neural substrates. The ventrolateral part of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) is an essential locus for controlling female sexual behaviors, but recent studies revealed the molecular complexity and functional heterogeneity of VMHvl cells. Here, we identify the cholecystokinin A receptor (Cckar)-expressing cells in the lateral VMHvl (VMHvllCckar) as the key controllers of female sexual behaviors. The inactivation of VMHvllCckar cells in female mice diminishes their interest in males and sexual receptivity, whereas activating these cells has the opposite effects. Female sexual behaviors vary drastically over the reproductive cycle. In vivo recordings reveal reproductive-state-dependent changes in VMHvllCckar cell spontaneous activity and responsivity, with the highest activity occurring during estrus. These in vivo response changes coincide with robust alternation in VMHvllCckar cell excitability and synaptic inputs. Altogether, VMHvllCckar cells represent a key neural population dynamically controlling female sexual behaviors over the reproductive cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Yin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Koichi Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yoshiko Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Takuya Osakada
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Julieta E Lischinsky
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Veronica Diaz
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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