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Sharma R, Berendzen KM, Everitt A, Wang B, Williams G, Wang S, Quine K, Larios RD, Long KLP, Hoglen N, Sulaman BA, Heath MC, Sherman M, Kinkel M, Cai A, Galo D, Caamal LC, Goodwin NL, Beery A, Bales KL, Pollard KS, Willsey AJ, Manoli DS. Oxytocin receptor controls distinct components of pair bonding and development in prairie voles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.25.613753. [PMID: 39399774 PMCID: PMC11468833 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.25.613753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) signaling influences complex social behaviors in diverse species, including social monogamy in prairie voles. How Oxtr regulates specific components of social attachment behaviors and the neural mechanisms mediating them remains unknown. Here, we examine prairie voles lacking Oxtr and demonstrate that pair bonding comprises distinct behavioral modules: the preference for a bonded partner, and the rejection of novel potential mates. Our longitudinal study of social attachment shows that Oxtr sex-specifically influences early interactions between novel partners facilitating the formation of partner preference. Additionally, Oxtr suppresses promiscuity towards novel potential mates following pair bonding, contributing to rejection. Oxtr function regulates coordinated patterns of gene expression in regions implicated in attachment behaviors and regulates the expression of oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, a principal source of oxytocin. Thus, Oxtr controls genetically separable components of pair bonding behaviors and coordinates development of the neural substrates of attachment.
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Zhu Z, Miao L, Li K, Ma Q, Pan L, Shen C, Ge Q, Du Y, Yin L, Yang H, Xu X, Zeng LH, Liu Y, Xu H, Li XM, Sun L, Yu YQ, Duan S. A hypothalamic-amygdala circuit underlying sexually dimorphic aggression. Neuron 2024; 112:3176-3191.e7. [PMID: 39019042 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.06.022] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Male animals often display higher levels of aggression than females. However, the neural circuitry mechanisms underlying this sexually dimorphic aggression remain elusive. Here, we identify a hypothalamic-amygdala circuit that mediates male-biased aggression in mice. Specifically, the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl), a sexually dimorphic region associated with eliciting male-biased aggression, projects densely to the posterior substantia innominata (pSI), an area that promotes similar levels of attack in both sexes of mice. Although the VMHvl innervates the pSI unidirectionally through both excitatory and inhibitory connections, it is the excitatory VMHvl-pSI projections that are strengthened in males to promote aggression, whereas the inhibitory connections that reduce aggressive behavior are strengthened in females. Consequently, the convergent hypothalamic input onto the pSI leads to heightened pSI activity in males, resulting in male-biased aggression. Our findings reveal a sexually distinct excitation-inhibition balance of a hypothalamic-amygdala circuit that underlies sexually dimorphic aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lu Miao
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kaiyuan Li
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qingqing Ma
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lina Pan
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chenjie Shen
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qianqian Ge
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yonglan Du
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Luping Yin
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Institute of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Hongbin Yang
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience and Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ling-Hui Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yijun Liu
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Han Xu
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yan-Qin Yu
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
| | - Shumin Duan
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China; Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
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Pavlinek A, Adhya D, Tsompanidis A, Warrier V, Vernon AC, Lancaster M, Mill J, Srivastava DP, Baron-Cohen S. Using Organoids to Model Sex Differences in the Human Brain. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100343. [PMID: 39092139 PMCID: PMC11292257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100343] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are widespread during neurodevelopment and play a role in neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism, which is more prevalent in males than females. In humans, males have been shown to have larger brain volumes than females with development of the hippocampus and amygdala showing prominent sex differences. Mechanistically, sex steroids and sex chromosomes drive these differences in brain development, which seem to peak during prenatal and pubertal stages. Animal models have played a crucial role in understanding sex differences, but the study of human sex differences requires an experimental model that can recapitulate complex genetic traits. To fill this gap, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids are now being used to study how complex genetic traits influence prenatal brain development. For example, brain organoids from individuals with autism and individuals with X chromosome-linked Rett syndrome and fragile X syndrome have revealed prenatal differences in cell proliferation, a measure of brain volume differences, and excitatory-inhibitory imbalances. Brain organoids have also revealed increased neurogenesis of excitatory neurons due to androgens. However, despite growing interest in using brain organoids, several key challenges remain that affect its validity as a model system. In this review, we discuss how sex steroids and the sex chromosomes each contribute to sex differences in brain development. Then, we examine the role of X chromosome inactivation as a factor that drives sex differences. Finally, we discuss the combined challenges of modeling X chromosome inactivation and limitations of brain organoids that need to be taken into consideration when studying sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pavlinek
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dwaipayan Adhya
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony C. Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Lyu J, Lee K, Jung S, Park YJ. Associations of meal timing and sleep duration with incidence of obesity: a prospective cohort study. J Nutr Health Aging 2024; 28:100220. [PMID: 38564828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100220] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Late mealtime and short sleep are known to be associated with obesity risk due to a misaligned circadian rhythm. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and mealtime and sleep duration using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) data. DESIGN Longitudinally prospective cohort study. SETTING Population-based. PARTICIPANTS KoGES analysed data from 9,474 Korean adults with an average age of 54- years old at baseline. MEASUREMENTS Meal timing was defined as the eating occasions of the day reported by the participant eating a 24-h dietary recall method. Sleep duration was categorized as <6, 6-7, 7-8, and ≥8 h. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident obesity according to meal timing, sleep duration, and nightly fasting duration. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 826 participants developed obesity. In the multivariable-adjusted analysis, midnight snack eating (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41) and higher energy intake from midnight snacks (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06-1.49) were associated with a higher risk of obesity. Sleeping 8 h or more (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.53-0.85) was associated with a lower risk of obesity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the importance of meal and sleep times and suggest that healthy eating habits related to the time of day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Lyu
- Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; Division of Population Health Research, Department of Precision Medicine, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyoungho Lee
- Division of Population Health Research, Department of Precision Medicine, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungyoun Jung
- Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; Graduate Program in System Health Science & Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoon Jung Park
- Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; Graduate Program in System Health Science & Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Nishiike Y, Okubo K. The decision of male medaka to mate or fight depends on two complementary androgen signaling pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316459121. [PMID: 38781215 PMCID: PMC11145247 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316459121] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Adult male animals typically court and attempt to mate with females, while attacking other males. Emerging evidence from mice indicates that neurons expressing the estrogen receptor ESR1 in behaviorally relevant brain regions play a central role in mediating these mutually exclusive behavioral responses to conspecifics. However, the findings in mice are unlikely to apply to vertebrates in general because, in many species other than rodents and some birds, androgens-rather than estrogens-have been implicated in male behaviors. Here, we report that male medaka (Oryzias latipes) lacking one of the two androgen receptor subtypes (Ara) are less aggressive toward other males and instead actively court them, while those lacking the other subtype (Arb) are less motivated to mate with females and conversely attack them. These findings indicate that, in male medaka, the Ara- and Arb-mediated androgen signaling pathways facilitate appropriate behavioral responses, while simultaneously suppressing inappropriate responses, to males and females, respectively. Notably, males lacking either receptor retain the ability to discriminate the sex of conspecifics, suggesting a defect in the subsequent decision-making process to mate or fight. We further show that Ara and Arb are expressed in intermingled but largely distinct populations of neurons, and stimulate the expression of different behaviorally relevant genes including galanin and vasotocin, respectively. Collectively, our results demonstrate that male teleosts make adaptive decisions to mate or fight as a result of the activation of one of two complementary androgen signaling pathways, depending on the sex of the conspecific that they encounter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo113-8657, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo113-8657, Japan
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Haque R, Kurien SP, Setty H, Salzberg Y, Stelzer G, Litvak E, Gingold H, Rechavi O, Oren-Suissa M. Sex-specific developmental gene expression atlas unveils dimorphic gene networks in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4273. [PMID: 38769103 PMCID: PMC11106331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48369-z] [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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in the nervous system of each sex. However, the genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we create a comprehensive gene expression atlas of pure populations of hermaphrodites and males of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. We discover numerous differentially expressed genes, including neuronal gene families like transcription factors, neuropeptides, and G protein-coupled receptors. We identify INS-39, an insulin-like peptide, as a prominent male-biased gene expressed specifically in ciliated sensory neurons. We show that INS-39 serves as an early-stage male marker, facilitating the effective isolation of males in high-throughput experiments. Through complex and sex-specific regulation, ins-39 plays pleiotropic sexually dimorphic roles in various behaviors, while also playing a shared, dimorphic role in early life stress. This study offers a comparative sexual and developmental gene expression database for C. elegans. Furthermore, it highlights conserved genes that may underlie the sexually dimorphic manifestation of different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwanul Haque
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sonu Peedikayil Kurien
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hagar Setty
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gil Stelzer
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Einav Litvak
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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Tseng PW, Lin CJ, Tsao YH, Kuo WL, Chen HC, Dufour S, Wu GC, Chang CF. The effect of gonadal hormones on the gene expression of brain-pituitary in protandrous black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegelii. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 351:114482. [PMID: 38432348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
In black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), the brain-pituitary-testis (Gnrh-Gths-Dmrt1) axis plays a vital role in male fate determination and maintenance, and then inhibiting female development in further (puberty). However, the feedback of gonadal hormones on regulating brain signaling remains unclear. In this study, we conducted short-term sex steroid treatment and surgery of gonadectomy to evaluate the feedback regulation between the gonads and the brain. The qPCR results show that male phase had the highest gths transcripts; treatment with estradiol-17β (E2) or 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) resulted in the increased pituitary lhb transcripts. After surgery, apart from gnrh1, there is no difference in brain signaling genes between gonadectomy and sham fish. In the diencephalon/mesencephalon transcriptome, de novo assembly generated 283,528 unigenes; however, only 443 (0.16%) genes showed differentially expressed between sham and gonadectomy fish. In the present study, we found that exogenous sex steroids affect the gths transcription; this feedback control is related to the gonadal stage. Furthermore, gonadectomy may not affect gene expression of brain signaling (Gnrh-Gths axis). Our results support the communication between ovotestis and brain signaling (Gnrh-Gths-testicular Dmrt1) for the male fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Wei Tseng
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan; Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ju Lin
- Department of Aquaculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Han Tsao
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Kuo
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chih Chen
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan
| | - Sylvie Dufour
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan; Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems (BOREA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, Paris, France
| | - Guan-Chung Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan.
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Liao CP, Majeed M, Hobert O. Experience-dependent, sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity defined by sex-specific cadherin expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.593207. [PMID: 38766005 PMCID: PMC11100761 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.593207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
We describe here the molecular mechanisms by which juvenile experience defines patterns of sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity in the adult nervous system of the nematode C. elegans. We show that starvation of juvenile males disrupts serotonin-dependent activation of the CREB transcription factor in a nociceptive sensory neuron, PHB. CREB acts through a cascade of transcription factors to control expression of an atypical cadherin protein, FMI-1/Flamingo. During postembryonic development, FMI-1/Flamingo has the capacity to promote and maintain synaptic connectivity of the PHB nociceptive sensory to a command interneuron, AVA, in both sexes, but the serotonin transcriptional regulatory cassette antagonizes FMI-1/Flamingo expression in males, thereby establishing sexually dimorphic connectivity between PHB and AVA. A critical regulatory node in this process is the CREB-target LIN-29, a Zn finger transcription factor which integrates four different layers of information - sexual specificity, past feeding status, time and cell-type specificity. Our findings provide the mechanistic details of how an early juvenile experience defines sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Po Liao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Maryam Majeed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Present address: Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle,
USA
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10027, USA
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9
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Fang S, Luo Z, Wei Z, Qin Y, Zheng J, Zhang H, Jin J, Li J, Miao C, Yang S, Li Y, Liang Z, Yu XD, Zhang XM, Xiong W, Zhu H, Gan WB, Huang L, Li B. Sexually dimorphic control of affective state processing and empathic behaviors. Neuron 2024; 112:1498-1517.e8. [PMID: 38430912 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.001] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Recognizing the affective states of social counterparts and responding appropriately fosters successful social interactions. However, little is known about how the affective states are expressed and perceived and how they influence social decisions. Here, we show that male and female mice emit distinct olfactory cues after experiencing distress. These cues activate distinct neural circuits in the piriform cortex (PiC) and evoke sexually dimorphic empathic behaviors in observers. Specifically, the PiC → PrL pathway is activated in female observers, inducing a social preference for the distressed counterpart. Conversely, the PiC → MeA pathway is activated in male observers, evoking excessive self-grooming behaviors. These pathways originate from non-overlapping PiC neuron populations with distinct gene expression signatures regulated by transcription factors and sex hormones. Our study unveils how internal states of social counterparts are processed through sexually dimorphic mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels and offers insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning sex differences in higher brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunchang Fang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhengyi Luo
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zicheng Wei
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuxin Qin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jieyan Zheng
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hongyang Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianhua Jin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiali Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chenjian Miao
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shana Yang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yonglin Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zirui Liang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Yu
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Min Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hongying Zhu
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | | | - Lianyan Huang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Boxing Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
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10
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Murata K, Itakura T, Touhara K. Neural basis for pheromone signal transduction in mice. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1409994. [PMID: 38742089 PMCID: PMC11089125 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1409994] [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: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Pheromones are specialized chemical messengers used for inter-individual communication within the same species, playing crucial roles in modulating behaviors and physiological states. The detection mechanisms of these signals at the peripheral organ and their transduction to the brain have been unclear. However, recent identification of pheromone molecules, their corresponding receptors, and advancements in neuroscientific technology have started to elucidate these processes. In mammals, the detection and interpretation of pheromone signals are primarily attributed to the vomeronasal system, which is a specialized olfactory apparatus predominantly dedicated to decoding socio-chemical cues. In this mini-review, we aim to delineate the vomeronasal signal transduction pathway initiated by specific vomeronasal receptor-ligand interactions in mice. First, we catalog the previously identified pheromone ligands and their corresponding receptor pairs, providing a foundational understanding of the specificity inherent in pheromonal communication. Subsequently, we examine the neural circuits involved in processing each pheromone signal. We focus on the anatomical pathways, the sexually dimorphic and physiological state-dependent aspects of signal transduction, and the neural coding strategies underlying behavioral responses to pheromonal cues. These insights provide further critical questions regarding the development of innate circuit formation and plasticity within these circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Murata
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Itakura
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, TianQiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Tao L, Ayembem D, Barranca VJ, Bhandawat V. Neurons underlying aggressive actions that are shared by both males and females in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582148. [PMID: 38464020 PMCID: PMC10925114 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Aggression involves both sexually monomorphic and dimorphic actions. How the brain implements these two types of actions is poorly understood. We found that a set of neurons, which we call CL062, previously shown to mediate male aggression also mediate female aggression. These neurons elicit aggression acutely and without the presence of a target. Although the same set of actions is elicited in males and females, the overall behavior is sexually dimorphic. The CL062 neurons do not express fruitless , a gene required for sexual dimorphism in flies, and expressed by most other neurons important for controlling fly aggression. Connectomic analysis suggests that these neurons have limited connections with fruitless expressing neurons that have been shown to be important for aggression, and signal to different descending neurons. Thus, CL062 is part of a monomorphic circuit for aggression that functions parallel to the known dimorphic circuits.
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12
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Jiang X, Sun M, Chen J, Pan Y. Sex-Specific and State-Dependent Neuromodulation Regulates Male and Female Locomotion and Sexual Behaviors. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0321. [PMID: 38390306 PMCID: PMC10882504 DOI: 10.34133/research.0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Males and females display dimorphic behaviors that often involve sex-specific locomotor patterns. How the sexually dimorphic locomotion is mediated is poorly understood. In this study, we identify a neuropeptide that oppositely regulates locomotion for efficient sexual behaviors in Drosophila males and females. We find that males are less active than females if isolated. However, when sexually aroused through activating homologous but sexually dimorphic pC1 neurons, males exhibit higher activity levels than females. We discover diuretic hormone 44 (DH44) that functions in pC1 neurons in a sex-specific way to inhibit male locomotion and promote female locomotion. Surprisingly, DH44 exerts opposite effects in sexually aroused flies to promote male locomotion and suppress female locomotion, which is crucial for successful male courtship and female receptivity. These findings demonstrate sexually dimorphic and state-dependent control of locomotor activity by pC1 neuronal activity and DH44 modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Mengshi Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jie Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Yufeng Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
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13
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Kimura KI, Kumano R, Yamamoto D. Activin is a neural inducer of a male-specific muscle in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3740. [PMID: 38355873 PMCID: PMC10866940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54295-3] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster has a pair of male-specific muscles called the muscle of Lawrence (MOL) in abdominal segment 5 (A5) of adult flies. The MOL is produced only when its innervating motoneuron expresses FruitlessM (FruM) neural masculinizing proteins. We show that MOL induction is hampered by: (1) silencing electrical activities in the motoneuron, (2) blocking vesicular release from the motoneuron, and (3) knocking down Activin ß (Actß) in the motoneuron or knocking down Actß signaling pathway components in the myoblasts. Our timelapse live imaging of the developing neuromuscular system reveals that, upon contact with the presumptive MOL, the motoneuronal axon retracts concomitant with the progression of MOL degeneration resulting from neural silencing. We conclude that MOL formation depends on the bidirectional trophic interactions between pre- and postsynaptic cells, with motoneuron-derived Actß playing an inducing role in MOL formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-Ichi Kimura
- Laboratory of Biology, Sapporo Campus, Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, 002-8502, Japan.
| | - Rimi Kumano
- Laboratory of Biology, Sapporo Campus, Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, 002-8502, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan
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14
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Kawabata-Sakata Y, Kanda S, Okubo K. Male-specific vasotocin expression in the medaka tuberal hypothalamus: Androgen dependence and probable role in aggression. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 580:112101. [PMID: 37923055 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial vertebrates have a population of androgen-dependent vasotocin (VT)-expressing neurons in the extended amygdala that are more abundant in males and mediate male-typical social behaviors, including aggression. Teleosts lack these neurons but instead have novel male-specific VT-expressing neurons in the tuberal hypothalamus. Here we found in medaka that vt expression in these neurons is dependent on post-pubertal gonadal androgens and that androgens can act on these neurons to directly stimulate vt transcription via the androgen receptor subtype Ara. Furthermore, administration of exogenous VT induced aggression in females and alterations in the androgen milieu led to correlated changes in the levels of tuberal hypothalamic vt expression and aggression in both sexes. However, genetic ablation of vt failed to prevent androgen-induced aggression in females. Collectively, our results demonstrate a marked androgen dependence of male-specific vt expression in the teleost tuberal hypothalamus, although its relevance to male-typical aggression needs to be further validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukika Kawabata-Sakata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan; Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Laboratory of Physiology, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
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15
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Wang Y, You L, Tan K, Li M, Zou J, Zhao Z, Hu W, Li T, Xie F, Li C, Yuan R, Ding K, Cao L, Xin F, Shang C, Liu M, Gao Y, Wei L, You Z, Gao X, Xiong W, Cao P, Luo M, Chen F, Li K, Wu J, Hong B, Yuan K. A common thalamic hub for general and defensive arousal control. Neuron 2023; 111:3270-3287.e8. [PMID: 37557180 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The expression of defensive responses to alerting sensory cues requires both general arousal and a specific arousal state associated with defensive emotions. However, it remains unclear whether these two forms of arousal can be regulated by common brain regions. We discovered that the medial sector of the auditory thalamus (ATm) in mice is a thalamic hub controlling both general and defensive arousal. The spontaneous activity of VGluT2-expressing ATm (ATmVGluT2+) neurons was correlated with and causally contributed to wakefulness. In sleeping mice, sustained ATmVGluT2+ population responses were predictive of sensory-induced arousal, the likelihood of which was markedly decreased by inhibiting ATmVGluT2+ neurons or multiple downstream pathways. In awake mice, ATmVGluT2+ activation led to heightened arousal accompanied by excessive anxiety and avoidance behavior. Notably, blocking their neurotransmission abolished alerting stimuli-induced defensive behaviors. These findings may shed light on the comorbidity of sleep disturbances and abnormal sensory sensitivity in specific brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ling You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - KaMun Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Meijie Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jingshan Zou
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhao
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenxin Hu
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fenghua Xie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China
| | - Caiqin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ruizhi Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kai Ding
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lingwei Cao
- Zhili College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fengyuan Xin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Congping Shang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yixiao Gao
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liqiang Wei
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhiwei You
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaorong Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing 102206, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kun Li
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiamin Wu
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Hong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Kexin Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Beijing 100084, China.
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16
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Kim SR, Eom Y, Lee SH. Comprehensive analysis of sex differences in the function and ultrastructure of hippocampal presynaptic terminals. Neurochem Int 2023; 169:105570. [PMID: 37451344 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105570] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in the brain, encompassing variations in specific brain structures, size, cognitive function, and synaptic connections, have been identified across numerous species. While previous research has explored sex differences in postsynaptic structures, synaptic plasticity, and hippocampus-dependent functions, the hippocampal presynaptic terminals remain largely uninvestigated. The hippocampus is a critical structure responsible for multiple brain functions. This study examined presynaptic differences in cultured hippocampal neurons derived from male and female mice using a combination of biochemical assays, functional analyses measuring exocytosis and endocytosis of synaptic vesicle proteins, ultrastructural analyses via electron microscopy, and presynaptic Ca2+-specific optical probes. Our findings revealed that female neurons exhibited a higher number of synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals compared to male neurons. However, no significant differences were observed in presynaptic protein expression, presynaptic terminal ultrastructure, synaptic vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis, or presynaptic Ca2+ alterations between male and female neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Rae Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea; Brain Research Core Facilities of Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu 41068, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yunkyung Eom
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Hoon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Yu ZX, Zha X, Xu XH. Estrogen-responsive neural circuits governing male and female mating behavior in mice. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102749. [PMID: 37421660 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Decades of knockout analyses have highlighted the crucial involvement of estrogen receptors and downstream genes in controlling mating behaviors. More recently, advancements in neural circuit research have unveiled a distributed subcortical network comprising estrogen-receptor or estrogen-synthesis-enzyme-expressing cells that transforms sensory inputs into sex-specific mating actions. This review provides an overview of the latest discoveries on estrogen-responsive neurons in various brain regions and the associated neural circuits that govern different aspects of male and female mating actions in mice. By contextualizing these findings within previous knockout studies of estrogen receptors, we emphasize the emerging field of "circuit genetics", where identifying mating behavior-related neural circuits may allow for a more precise evaluation of gene functions within these circuits. Such investigations will enable a deeper understanding of how hormone fluctuation, acting through estrogen receptors and downstream genes, influences the connectivity and activity of neural circuits, ultimately impacting the manifestation of innate mating actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xian Yu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xi Zha
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China.
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18
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Oyaga MR, Serra I, Kurup D, Koekkoek SKE, Badura A. Delay eyeblink conditioning performance and brain-wide c-Fos expression in male and female mice. Open Biol 2023; 13:220121. [PMID: 37161289 PMCID: PMC10170203 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Delay eyeblink conditioning has been extensively used to study associative learning and the cerebellar circuits underlying this task have been largely identified. However, there is a little knowledge on how factors such as strain, sex and innate behaviour influence performance during this type of learning. In this study, we used male and female mice of C57BL/6J (B6) and B6CBAF1 strains to investigate the effect of sex, strain and locomotion in delay eyeblink conditioning. We performed a short and a long delay eyeblink conditioning paradigm and used a c-Fos immunostaining approach to explore the involvement of different brain areas in this task. We found that both B6 and B6CBAF1 females reach higher learning scores compared to males in the initial stages of learning. This sex-dependent difference was no longer present as the learning progressed. Moreover, we found a strong positive correlation between learning scores and voluntary locomotion irrespective of the training duration. c-Fos immunostainings after the short paradigm showed positive correlations between c-Fos expression and learning scores in the cerebellar cortex and brainstem, as well as previously unreported areas. By contrast, after the long paradigm, c-Fos expression was only significantly elevated in the brainstem. Taken together, we show that differences in voluntary locomotion and activity across brain areas correlate with performance in delay eyeblink conditioning across strains and sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Roa Oyaga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ines Serra
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Devika Kurup
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Aleksandra Badura
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
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19
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Abaffy T, Lu HY, Matsunami H. Sex steroid hormone synthesis, metabolism, and the effects on the mammalian olfactory system. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 391:19-42. [PMID: 36401093 PMCID: PMC9676892 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03707-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones influence olfactory-mediated social behaviors, and it is generally hypothesized that these effects result from circulating hormones and/or neurosteroids synthesized in the brain. However, it is unclear whether sex steroid hormones are synthesized in the olfactory epithelium or the olfactory bulb, and if they can modulate the activity of the olfactory sensory neurons. Here, we review important discoveries related to the metabolism of sex steroids in the mouse olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb, along with potential areas of future research. We summarize current knowledge regarding the expression, neuroanatomical distribution, and biological activity of the steroidogenic enzymes, sex steroid receptors, and proteins that are important to the metabolism of these hormones and reflect on their potential to influence early olfactory processing. We also review evidence related to the effects of sex steroid hormones on the development and activity of olfactory sensory neurons. By better understanding how these hormones are metabolized and how they act both at the periphery and olfactory bulb level, we can better appreciate the complexity of the olfactory system and discover potential similarities and differences in early olfactory processing between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Abaffy
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Hsiu-Yi Lu
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Hiroaki Matsunami
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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20
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Liu X, Feng X, Huang H, Huang K, Xu Y, Ye S, Tseng YT, Wei P, Wang L, Wang F. Male and female mice display consistent lifelong ability to address potential life-threatening cues using different post-threat coping strategies. BMC Biol 2022; 20:281. [PMID: 36522765 PMCID: PMC9753375 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01486-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: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences ranging from physiological functions to pathological disorders are developmentally hard-wired in a broad range of animals, from invertebrates to humans. These differences ensure that animals can display appropriate behaviors under a variety of circumstances, such as aggression, hunting, sleep, mating, and parental care, which are often thought to be important in the acquisition of resources, including territory, food, and mates. Although there are reports of an absence of sexual dimorphism in the context of innate fear, the question of whether there is sexual dimorphism of innate defensive behavior is still an open question. Therefore, an in-depth investigation to determine whether there are sex differences in developmentally hard-wired innate defensive behaviors in life-threatening circumstances is warranted. RESULTS We found that innate defensive behavioral responses to potentially life-threatening stimuli between males and females were indistinguishable over their lifespan. However, by using 3 dimensional (3D)-motion learning framework analysis, we found that males and females showed different behavioral patterns after escaping to the refuge. Specifically, the defensive "freezing" occurred primarily in males, whereas females were more likely to return directly to exploration. Moreover, there were also no estrous phase differences in innate defensive behavioral responses after looming stimuli. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that visually-evoked innate fear behavior is highly conserved throughout the lifespan in both males and females, while specific post-threat coping strategies depend on sex. These findings indicate that innate fear behavior is essential to both sexes and as such, there are no evolutionary-driven sex differences in defensive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaolong Feng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hongren Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kang Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuwei Ye
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yu-Ting Tseng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Pengfei Wei
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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21
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Berendzen KM, Manoli DS. Rethinking the Architecture of Attachment: New Insights into the Role for Oxytocin Signaling. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2022; 3:734-748. [PMID: 36519145 PMCID: PMC9743890 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00142-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Social attachments, the enduring bonds between individuals and groups, are essential to health and well-being. The appropriate formation and maintenance of social relationships depend upon a number of affective processes, including stress regulation, motivation, reward, as well as reciprocal interactions necessary for evaluating the affective state of others. A genetic, molecular, and neural circuit level understanding of social attachments therefore provides a powerful substrate for probing the affective processes associated with social behaviors. Socially monogamous species form long-term pair bonds, allowing us to investigate the mechanisms underlying attachment. Now, molecular genetic tools permit manipulations in monogamous species. Studies using these tools reveal new insights into the genetic and neuroendocrine factors that design and control the neural architecture underlying attachment behavior. We focus this discussion on the prairie vole and oxytocinergic signaling in this and related species as a model of attachment behavior that has been studied in the context of genetic and pharmacological manipulations. We consider developmental processes that impact the demonstration of bonding behavior across genetic backgrounds, the modularity of mechanisms underlying bonding behaviors, and the distributed circuitry supporting these behaviors. Incorporating such theoretical considerations when interpreting reverse genetic studies in the context of the rich ethological and pharmacological data collected in monogamous species provides an important framework for studies of attachment behavior in both animal models and studies of human relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Berendzen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
| | - Devanand S. Manoli
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 95158 USA
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22
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Xiong X, Zhang X, Yang M, Zhu Y, Yu H, Fei X, Mastuda F, Lan D, Xiong Y, Fu W, Yin S, Li J. Oocyte-Specific Knockout of Histone Lysine Demethylase KDM2a Compromises Fertility by Blocking the Development of Follicles and Oocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231912008. [PMID: 36233308 PMCID: PMC9570323 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231912008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylation status of histones plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including follicular and oocyte development. Lysine-specific demethylase 2a (KDM2a) has been reported to be closely associated with gametogenesis and reproductive performance, but the specific function and regulatory mechanism have been poorly characterized in vivo. We found KDM2a to be highly expressed in growing follicles and oocytes of mice in this study. To elucidate the physiological role of Kdm2a, the zona pellucida 3-Cre (Zp3-Cre)/LoxP system was used to generate an oocyte Kdm2a conditional knockout (Zp3-Cre; Kdm2aflox/flox, termed Kdm2a cKO) model. Our results showed that the number of pups was reduced by approximately 50% in adult Kdm2a cKO female mice mating with wildtype males than that of the control (Kdm2aflox/flox) group. To analyze the potential causes, the ovaries of Kdm2a cKO mice were subjected to histological examination, and results indicated an obvious difference in follicular development between Kdm2a cKO and control female mice and partial arrest at the primary antral follicle stage. The GVBD and matured rates of oocytes were also compromised after conditional knockout Kdm2a, and the morphological abnormal oocytes increased. Furthermore, the level of 17β-estradiol of Kdm2a cKO mice was only 60% of that in the counterparts, and hormone sensitivity decreased as the total number of ovulated and matured oocytes decreased after superovulation. After deletion of Kdm2a, the patterns of H3K36me2/3 in GVBD-stage oocytes were remarkedly changed. Transcriptome sequencing showed that the mRNA expression profiles in Kdm2a cKO oocytes were significantly different, and numerous differentially expressed genes were involved in pathways regulating follicular and oocyte development. Taken together, these results indicated that the oocyte-specific knockout Kdm2a gene led to female subfertility, suggesting the crucial role of Kdm2a in epigenetic modification and follicular and oocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianrong Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaojian Zhang
- Center for Assisted Reproduction, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Manzhen Yang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yanjin Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hailing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xixi Fei
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fuko Mastuda
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Daoliang Lan
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Exploitation of Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence:
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23
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The doublesex gene regulates dimorphic sexual and aggressive behaviors in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201513119. [PMID: 36067320 PMCID: PMC9477402 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201513119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most animal species display dimorphic sexual behaviors and male-biased aggressiveness. Current models have focused on the male-specific product from the fruitless (fruM) gene, which controls male courtship and male-specific aggression patterns in fruit flies, and describe a male-specific mechanism underlying sexually dimorphic behaviors. Here we show that the doublesex (dsx) gene, which expresses male-specific DsxM and female-specific DsxF transcription factors, functions in the nervous system to control both male and female sexual and aggressive behaviors. We find that Dsx is not only required in central brain neurons for male and female sexual behaviors, but also functions in approximately eight pairs of male-specific neurons to promote male aggressiveness and approximately two pairs of female-specific neurons to inhibit female aggressiveness. DsxF knockdown females fight more frequently, even with males. Our findings reveal crucial roles of dsx, which is broadly conserved from worms to humans, in a small number of neurons in both sexes to establish dimorphic sexual and aggressive behaviors.
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24
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Pinacho-Guendulain B, Montiel-Castro AJ, Ramos-Fernández G, Pacheco-López G. Social complexity as a driving force of gut microbiota exchange among conspecific hosts in non-human primates. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:876849. [PMID: 36110388 PMCID: PMC9468716 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.876849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergent concept of the social microbiome implies a view of a highly connected biological world, in which microbial interchange across organisms may be influenced by social and ecological connections occurring at different levels of biological organization. We explore this idea reviewing evidence of whether increasing social complexity in primate societies is associated with both higher diversity and greater similarity in the composition of the gut microbiota. By proposing a series of predictions regarding such relationship, we evaluate the existence of a link between gut microbiota and primate social behavior. Overall, we find that enough empirical evidence already supports these predictions. Nonetheless, we conclude that studies with the necessary, sufficient, explicit, and available evidence are still scarce. Therefore, we reflect on the benefit of founding future analyses on the utility of social complexity as a theoretical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braulio Pinacho-Guendulain
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Augusto Jacobo Montiel-Castro
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Lerma, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Augusto Jacobo Montiel-Castro,
| | - Gabriel Ramos-Fernández
- Institute for Research on Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
- Center for Complexity Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Pacheco-López
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Lerma, Mexico
- Gustavo Pacheco-López,
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25
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Yang B, Karigo T, Anderson DJ. Transformations of neural representations in a social behaviour network. Nature 2022; 608:741-749. [PMID: 35922505 PMCID: PMC9529293 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05057-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mating and aggression are innate social behaviours that are controlled by subcortical circuits in the extended amygdala and hypothalamus1-4. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTpr) is a node that receives input encoding sex-specific olfactory cues from the medial amygdala5,6, and which in turn projects to hypothalamic nuclei that control mating7-9 (medial preoptic area (MPOA)) and aggression9-14 (ventromedial hypothalamus, ventrolateral subdivision (VMHvl)), respectively15. Previous studies have demonstrated that male aromatase-positive BNSTpr neurons are required for mounting and attack, and may identify conspecific sex according to their overall level of activity16. However, neural representations in BNSTpr, their function and their transformations in the hypothalamus have not been characterized. Here we performed calcium imaging17,18 of male BNSTprEsr1 neurons during social behaviours. We identify distinct populations of female- versus male-tuned neurons in BNSTpr, with the former outnumbering the latter by around two to one, similar to the medial amygdala and MPOA but opposite to VMHvl, in which male-tuned neurons predominate6,9,19. Chemogenetic silencing of BNSTprEsr1 neurons while imaging MPOAEsr1 or VMHvlEsr1 neurons in behaving animals showed, unexpectedly, that the male-dominant sex-tuning bias in VMHvl was inverted to female-dominant whereas a switch from sniff- to mount-selective neurons during mating was attenuated in MPOA. Our data also indicate that BNSTprEsr1 neurons are not essential for conspecific sex identification. Rather, they control the transition from appetitive to consummatory phases of male social behaviours by shaping sex- and behaviour-specific neural representations in the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 140-80, TianQiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tomomi Karigo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 140-80, TianQiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 140-80, TianQiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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26
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Borrego MB, Chan AE, Ozburn AR. Regulation of alcohol drinking by ventral striatum and extended amygdala circuitry. Neuropharmacology 2022; 212:109074. [PMID: 35487273 PMCID: PMC9677601 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is a complex psychiatric disorder that can be modeled in rodents using a number of drinking paradigms. Drinking-in-the-dark (DID) is widely used to model the binge/intoxication stage of addiction, and chronic intermittent ethanol vapor procedures (CIE) are used to induce dependence and model withdrawal/negative affect induced escalation of drinking. We discuss experiments showing the ventral striatum (vStr) and extended amygdala (EA) are engaged in response to ethanol in rodents through c-Fos/Fos immunoreactivity studies. We also discuss experiments in rodents that span a wide variety of techniques where the function of vStr and EA structures are changed following DID or CIE, and the role of neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems studies in these ethanol-related outcomes. We note where signaling systems converge across regions and paradigms and where there are still gaps in the literature. Dynorphin/κ-opioid receptor (KOR) signaling, as well as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)/CRF receptor signaling were found to be important regulators of drinking behaviors across brain regions and drinking paradigms. Future research will require that females and a variety of rodent strains are used in preclinical experiments in order to strengthen the generalizability of findings and improve the likelihood of success for testing potential therapeutics in human laboratory studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa B Borrego
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA; VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Amy E Chan
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA; VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Angela R Ozburn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA; VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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27
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Itakura T, Murata K, Miyamichi K, Ishii KK, Yoshihara Y, Touhara K. A single vomeronasal receptor promotes intermale aggression through dedicated hypothalamic neurons. Neuron 2022; 110:2455-2469.e8. [PMID: 35654036 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The pheromonal information received by the vomeronasal system plays a crucial role in regulating social behaviors such as aggression in mice. Despite accumulating knowledge of the brain regions involved in aggression, the specific vomeronasal receptors and the exact neural circuits responsible for pheromone-mediated aggression remain unknown. Here, we identified one murine vomeronasal receptor, Vmn2r53, that is activated by urine from males of various strains and is responsible for evoking intermale aggression. We prepared a purified pheromonal fraction and Vmn2r53 knockout mice and applied genetic tools for neuronal activity recording, manipulation, and circuit tracing to decipher the neural mechanisms underlying Vmn2r53-mediated aggression. We found that Vmn2r53-mediated aggression is regulated by specific neuronal populations in the ventral premammillary nucleus and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Together, our results shed light on the hypothalamic regulation of male aggression mediated by a single vomeronasal receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Itakura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ken Murata
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazunari Miyamichi
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kentaro K Ishii
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Yoshihara
- Laboratory for Systems Molecular Ethology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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28
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Chen H, Lu Y, Xiong R, Rosales CI, Coles C, Hamada K, Asad N, Thatcher GRJ, Lasek AW. Effect of a brain-penetrant selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) on binge drinking in female mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1313-1320. [PMID: 35581531 PMCID: PMC9357040 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Greater circulating levels of the steroid hormone 17β‐estradiol (E2) are associated with higher levels of binge drinking in women. In female mice, estrogen receptors in the ventral tegmental area, a dopaminergic region of the brain involved in the motivation to consume ethanol, regulate binge‐like ethanol intake. We recently developed a brain‐penetrant selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), YL3‐122, that could be used to test the behavioral role of brain estrogen receptors. We hypothesized that treating female mice with this compound would reduce binge‐like ethanol drinking. Methods Female C57BL/6J mice were treated systemically with YL3‐122 and a related SERD with low brain penetrance, XR5‐27, and tested for binge‐like ethanol consumption in the drinking in the dark (DID) test. Mice were also tested for sucrose and water consumption and blood ethanol clearance after treatment with the SERDs. Finally, the effect of ethanol exposure on Esr1 gene expression was measured in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and ventral hippocampus (vHPC) of male and female mice by quantitative real‐time PCR after 4 DID sessions. Results YL3‐122 reduced ethanol consumption when mice were in diestrus but not estrus. YL3‐122 also decreased sucrose consumption but did not alter water intake or blood ethanol clearance. XR5‐27 did not affect any of these measures. Binge‐like ethanol drinking resulted in increased Esr1 transcript in the VTA of both sexes, male vHPC, and female PFC. Conclusions These results indicate that SERD treatment can decrease binge‐like ethanol drinking in female mice. Thus, it could be a novel strategy to reduce binge drinking in women, with the caveat that effectiveness may depend on menstrual cycle phase. In addition, Esr1 transcript is increased by binge ethanol exposure in both sexes but in a brain region‐specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Chen
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rui Xiong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Carlo I Rosales
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Cassandre Coles
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kana Hamada
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nuria Asad
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Gregory R J Thatcher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,UICentre (Drug Discovery@UIC), College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amy W Lasek
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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29
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Nascimento EB, Dierschnabel AL, Lima RH, Sousa MBC, Suchecki D, Silva RH, Ribeiro AM. Stress-related impairment of fear memory acquisition and disruption of risk assessment behavior in female but not in male mice. Behav Processes 2022; 199:104660. [PMID: 35550163 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Stress encompasses reactions to stimuli that promote negative and positive effects on cognitive functions, such as learning and memory processes. Herein, we investigate the effect of restraint stress on learning, memory, anxiety levels and locomotor activity of male and female mice. We used the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PMDAT), a behavioral task based on the innate exploratory response of rodents to new environments. Moreover, this task is used to simultaneously evaluate learning, memory, anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity. Male and female mice were tested after repeated daily restraint stress (4h/day for 3 days). The results showed stress-induced deficits on aversive memory retrieval only in female mice, suggesting a sexual dimorphism on memory acquisition. Furthermore, stressed females exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior and decreased exploratory behavior. Plasma corticosterone levels were similarly increased by restraint stress in both sexes, suggesting that the behavioral outcome was not related to hormonal secretion. Our findings corroborate previous studies, showing a sexually dimorphic effect of restraint stress on cognition. In addition, our study suggests that stress-related acquisition deficit may be the consequence of elevated emotional response in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ramón Hypolito Lima
- Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Deborah Suchecki
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Psychobiology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Regina H Silva
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Pharmacology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra M Ribeiro
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Biosciences, Santos, SP, Brazil.
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30
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Knoedler JR, Inoue S, Bayless DW, Yang T, Tantry A, Davis CH, Leung NY, Parthasarathy S, Wang G, Alvarado M, Rizvi AH, Fenno LE, Ramakrishnan C, Deisseroth K, Shah NM. A functional cellular framework for sex and estrous cycle-dependent gene expression and behavior. Cell 2022; 185:654-671.e22. [PMID: 35065713 PMCID: PMC8956134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Sex hormones exert a profound influence on gendered behaviors. How individual sex hormone-responsive neuronal populations regulate diverse sex-typical behaviors is unclear. We performed orthogonal, genetically targeted sequencing of four estrogen receptor 1-expressing (Esr1+) populations and identified 1,415 genes expressed differentially between sexes or estrous states. Unique subsets of these genes were distributed across all 137 transcriptomically defined Esr1+ cell types, including estrous stage-specific ones, that comprise the four populations. We used differentially expressed genes labeling single Esr1+ cell types as entry points to functionally characterize two such cell types, BNSTprTac1/Esr1 and VMHvlCckar/Esr1. We observed that these two cell types, but not the other Esr1+ cell types in these populations, are essential for sex recognition in males and mating in females, respectively. Furthermore, VMHvlCckar/Esr1 cell type projections are distinct from those of other VMHvlEsr1 cell types. Together, projection and functional specialization of dimorphic cell types enables sex hormone-responsive populations to regulate diverse social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Knoedler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sayaka Inoue
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel W Bayless
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Taehong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Adarsh Tantry
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chung-Ha Davis
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nicole Y Leung
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Grace Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maricruz Alvarado
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Abbas H Rizvi
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Lief E Fenno
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nirao M Shah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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31
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Marco-Manclus P, Ávila-González D, Paredes RG, Portillo W. Sexual experience in female mice involves synaptophysin-related plasticity in the accessory olfactory bulb. Physiol Behav 2022; 244:113649. [PMID: 34798129 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113649] [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: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Sexually naïve female mice do not display high levels of sexual receptivity in their first sexual experience; they require around 4-5 sexual encounters to display the full receptive response, assessed by the lordosis reflex. In this study, we evaluated if repeated sexual stimulation with the same male is associated with changes in synaptic remodeling evaluated by synaptophysin (SYP) in brain structures involved in the control of sexual behavior such as the main and accessory olfactory bulbs (MOB and AOB, respectively), medial preoptic area (MPOA), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and amygdala (AMG). Female mice were ovariectomized and hormonally primed to induce sexual receptivity. They were randomly distributed into three groups: a) sexually naïve (SN), with no prior sexual stimulation; b) sexually inexperienced (SI), with one prior mating session; and c) sexually experienced (SE), with six mating sessions. The SI group showed a significant decrease in SYP in the glomerular, mitral and granular layers of the AOB in comparison to SN and SE females. SYP expression increased in the SE group in comparison to SN and SI females in the glomerular and mitral cell layers of the AOB. No significant differences between groups were found in the other brain regions (MOB, MPOA, VMH or AMG). These changes in SYP expression in the AOB suggest that plastic modifications in this brain region can be associated with receptivity increase in sexual experience in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Marco-Manclus
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Juriquilla Querétaro, Mexico
| | - D Ávila-González
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Juriquilla Querétaro, Mexico
| | - R G Paredes
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Juriquilla Querétaro, Mexico; Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, UNAM. Juriquilla Querétaro, Mexico
| | - W Portillo
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Juriquilla Querétaro, Mexico.
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32
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Kopachev N, Netser S, Wagner S. Sex-dependent features of social behavior differ between distinct laboratory mouse strains and their mixed offspring. iScience 2022; 25:103735. [PMID: 35098101 PMCID: PMC8783130 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of individuals of gregarious species depends on their social interactions. In humans, atypical social behavior is a hallmark of several psychopathological conditions, many of which have sex-specific manifestations. Various laboratory mouse strains are used to reveal the mechanisms mediating typical and atypical social behavior in mammals. Here, we used three social discrimination tests to characterize social behavior in males and females of three widely used laboratory mouse strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/c, and ICR). We found marked sex- and strain-specific differences in the behavior exhibited by subjects, in a test-dependent manner. Interestingly, some characteristics were strain-dependent, while others were sex-dependent. We then crossbred C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice and found that offspring of such crossbreeding exhibit social behavior which differs from both parental strains and depends on the specific combination of parental strains. Thus, social behavior of laboratory mice is sex- and strain-specific and depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Social investigation behavior of laboratory mice is highly strain- and sex-specific Some behavioral aspects are either strain- or sex-specific, but not both Mixed offspring of distinct strains behave differently from both parental strains The behavior of mixed offspring depends on the specific combination of parents
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33
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Zha X, Xu XH. Neural circuit mechanisms that govern inter-male attack in mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7289-7307. [PMID: 34687319 PMCID: PMC11072497 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03956-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Individuals of many species fight with conspecifics to gain access to or defend critical resources essential for survival and reproduction. Such intraspecific fighting is evolutionarily selected for in a species-, sex-, and environment-dependent manner when the value of resources secured exceeds the cost of fighting. One such example is males fighting for chances to mate with females. Recent advances in new tools open up ways to dissect the detailed neural circuit mechanisms that govern intraspecific, particularly inter-male, aggression in the model organism Mus musculus (house mouse). By targeting and functional manipulating genetically defined populations of neurons and their projections, these studies reveal a core neural circuit that controls the display of reactive male-male attacks in mice, from sensory detection to decision making and action selection. Here, we summarize these critical results. We then describe various modulatory inputs that route into the core circuit to afford state-dependent and top-down modulation of inter-male attacks. While reviewing these exciting developments, we note that how the inter-male attack circuit converges or diverges with neural circuits that mediate other forms of social interactions remain not fully understood. Finally, we emphasize the importance of combining circuit, pharmacological, and genetic analysis when studying the neural control of aggression in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zha
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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34
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Gospocic J, Glastad KM, Sheng L, Shields EJ, Berger SL, Bonasio R. Kr-h1 maintains distinct caste-specific neurotranscriptomes in response to socially regulated hormones. Cell 2021; 184:5807-5823.e14. [PMID: 34739833 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral plasticity is key to animal survival. Harpegnathos saltator ants can switch between worker and queen-like status (gamergate) depending on the outcome of social conflicts, providing an opportunity to study how distinct behavioral states are achieved in adult brains. Using social and molecular manipulations in live ants and ant neuronal cultures, we show that ecdysone and juvenile hormone drive molecular and functional differences in the brains of workers and gamergates and direct the transcriptional repressor Kr-h1 to different target genes. Depletion of Kr-h1 in the brain caused de-repression of "socially inappropriate" genes: gamergate genes were upregulated in workers, whereas worker genes were upregulated in gamergates. At the phenotypic level, loss of Kr-h1 resulted in the emergence of worker-specific behaviors in gamergates and gamergate-specific traits in workers. We conclude that Kr-h1 is a transcription factor that maintains distinct brain states established in response to socially regulated hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lihong Sheng
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily J Shields
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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35
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Peng Q, Chen J, Pan Y. From fruitless to sex: On the generation and diversification of an innate behavior. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12772. [PMID: 34672079 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Male sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster, largely controlled by the fruitless (fru) gene encoding the male specific FruM protein, is among the best studied animal behaviors. Although substantial studies suggest that FruM specifies a neuronal circuitry governing all aspects of male sexual behaviors, recent findings show that FruM is not absolutely necessary for such behaviors. We propose that another regulatory gene doublesex encoding the male-specific DsxM protein builds a core neuronal circuitry that possesses the potential for courtship, which could be either induced through adult social experience or innately manifested during development by FruM expression in a broader neuronal circuitry. FruM expression levels and patterns determine the modes of courtship behavior from innate heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, to learned courtship. We discuss how FruM expression is regulated by hormones and social experiences and tunes functional flexibility of the sex circuitry. We propose that regulatory genes hierarchically build the potential for innate and learned aspects of courtship behaviors, and expression changes of these regulatory genes among different individuals and species with different social experiences ultimately lead to behavioral diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qionglin Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yufeng Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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36
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Goodwin SF, Hobert O. Molecular Mechanisms of Sexually Dimorphic Nervous System Patterning in Flies and Worms. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 37:519-547. [PMID: 34613817 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120319-115237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Male and female brains display anatomical and functional differences. Such differences are observed in species across the animal kingdom, including humans, but have been particularly well-studied in two classic animal model systems, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we summarize recent advances in understanding how the worm and fly brain acquire sexually dimorphic features during development. We highlight the advantages of each system, illustrating how the precise anatomical delineation of sexual dimorphisms in worms has enabled recent analysis into how these dimorphisms become specified during development, and how focusing on sexually dimorphic neurons in the fly has enabled an increasingly detailed understanding of sex-specific behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, United Kingdom;
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA;
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37
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Zilkha N, Sofer Y, Kashash Y, Kimchi T. The social network: Neural control of sex differences in reproductive behaviors, motivation, and response to social isolation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:137-151. [PMID: 33910083 PMCID: PMC8528716 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Social animal species present a vast repertoire of social interactions when encountering conspecifics. Reproduction-related behaviors, such as mating, parental care, and aggression, are some of the most rewarding types of social interactions and are also the most sexually dimorphic ones. This review focuses on rodent species and summarizes recent advances in neuroscience research that link sexually dimorphic reproductive behaviors to sexual dimorphism in their underlying neuronal circuits. Specifically, we present a few possible mechanisms governing sexually-dimorphic behaviors, by hypothalamic and reward-related brain regions. Sex differences in the neural response to social isolation in adulthood are also discussed, as well as future directions for comparative studies with naturally solitary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noga Zilkha
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Kashash
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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38
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Serrano-Saiz E, Isogai Y. Single-cell molecular and developmental perspectives of sexually dimorphic circuits underlying innate social behaviors. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:159-166. [PMID: 33915498 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
While single-cell transcriptomics in the brain has uncovered a vast diversity of neural cell types in unprecedented detail, it is becoming increasingly urgent to address what exactly their functional roles are in the context of circuits and behavior. In this review, we discuss the molecular profiling of cell types in circuits underlying social behaviors in mice as a prominent case study. We first highlight key roles of molecularly identified sensory and downstream neurons involved in sexually dimorphic behaviors. We then propose future opportunities to define cell types using multimodal criteria, especially gene expression, physiology, as well as the developmental origin, to advance our understanding of these circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoh Isogai
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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39
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Arias Padilla LF, Castañeda-Cortés DC, Rosa IF, Moreno Acosta OD, Hattori RS, Nóbrega RH, Fernandino JI. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is necessary to reproductive success and normal mating behavior in medaka. eLife 2021; 10:62757. [PMID: 33646121 PMCID: PMC7946426 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of an adequate number of gametes is necessary for normal reproduction, for which the regulation of proliferation from early gonadal development to adulthood is key in both sexes. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is an especially important step prior to the beginning of meiosis; however, the molecular regulators of this proliferation remain elusive in vertebrates. Here, we report that ndrg1b is an important regulator of cystic proliferation in medaka. We generated mutants of ndrg1b that led to a disruption of cystic proliferation of germ cells. This loss of cystic proliferation was observed from embryogenic to adult stages, impacting the success of gamete production and reproductive parameters such as spawning and fertilization. Interestingly, the depletion of cystic proliferation also impacted male sexual behavior, with a decrease of mating vigor. These data illustrate why it is also necessary to consider gamete production capacity in order to analyze reproductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana C Castañeda-Cortés
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Ivana F Rosa
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Omar D Moreno Acosta
- Salmonid Experimental Station at Campos do Jordão, UPD-CJ, Sao Paulo Fisheries Institute (APTA/SAA), Campos do Jordao, Brazil
| | - Ricardo S Hattori
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rafael H Nóbrega
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Juan I Fernandino
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
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40
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Nishiike Y, Miyazoe D, Togawa R, Yokoyama K, Nakasone K, Miyata M, Kikuchi Y, Kamei Y, Todo T, Ishikawa-Fujiwara T, Ohno K, Usami T, Nagahama Y, Okubo K. Estrogen receptor 2b is the major determinant of sex-typical mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1699-1710.e6. [PMID: 33639108 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Male and female animals typically display innate sex-specific mating behaviors, which, in vertebrates, are highly dependent on sex steroid signaling. While estradiol-17β (E2) signaling through estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) serves to defeminize male mating behavior in rodents, the available evidence suggests that E2 signaling is not required in teleosts for either male or female mating behavior. Here, we report that female medaka deficient for Esr2b, a teleost ortholog of ESR2, are not receptive to males but rather court females, despite retaining normal ovarian function with an unaltered sex steroid milieu. Thus, contrary to both prevailing views in rodents and teleosts, E2/Esr2b signaling in the brain plays a decisive role in feminization and demasculinization of female mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka. Further behavioral testing showed that mutual antagonism between E2/Esr2b signaling and androgen receptor-mediated androgen signaling in adulthood induces and actively maintains sex-typical mating behaviors and preference. Our results also revealed that the female-biased sexual dimorphism in esr2b expression in the telencephalic and preoptic nuclei implicated in mating behavior can be reversed between males and females by altering the sex steroid milieu in adulthood, likely via mechanisms involving direct E2-induced transcriptional activation. In addition, Npba, a neuropeptide mediating female sexual receptivity, was found to act downstream of E2/Esr2b signaling in these brain nuclei. Collectively, these functional and regulatory mechanisms of E2/Esr2b signaling presumably underpin the neural mechanism for induction, maintenance, and reversal of sex-typical mating behaviors and sexual preference in teleosts, at least in medaka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Daichi Miyazoe
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Rie Togawa
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Keiko Yokoyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Nakasone
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Miyata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamei
- Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takeshi Todo
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishikawa-Fujiwara
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kaoru Ohno
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takeshi Usami
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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41
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Clemens J, Ronacher B, Reichert MS. Sex-specific speed-accuracy trade-offs shape neural processing of acoustic signals in a grasshopper. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210005. [PMID: 33593184 PMCID: PMC7935134 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Speed-accuracy trade-offs-being fast at the risk of being wrong-are fundamental to many decisions and natural selection is expected to resolve these trade-offs according to the costs and benefits of behaviour. We here test the prediction that females and males should integrate information from courtship signals differently because they experience different pay-offs along the speed-accuracy continuum. We fitted a neural model of decision making (a drift-diffusion model of integration to threshold) to behavioural data from the grasshopper Chorthippus biguttulus to determine the parameters of temporal integration of acoustic directional information used by male grasshoppers to locate receptive females. The model revealed that males had a low threshold for initiating a turning response, yet a large integration time constant enabled them to continue to gather information when cues were weak. This contrasts with parameters estimated for females of the same species when evaluating potential mates, in which response thresholds were much higher and behaviour was strongly influenced by unattractive stimuli. Our results reveal differences in neural integration consistent with the sex-specific costs of mate search: males often face competition and need to be fast, while females often pay high error costs and need to be deliberate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Clemens
- European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen – A Joint Initiative of the University Medical Center Göttingen and the Max-Planck Society, Grisebachstrasse 5, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ronacher
- Behavioral Physiology Group, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael S. Reichert
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK USA
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42
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Heo JW, Kim SE, Sung MK. Sex Differences in the Incidence of Obesity-Related Gastrointestinal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031253. [PMID: 33513939 PMCID: PMC7865604 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 9.6 million people estimated to have died of cancer in 2018. Excess body fat deposition is a risk factor for many types of cancer. Men and women exhibit differences in body fat distribution and energy homeostasis regulation. This systematic review aimed to understand why sex disparities in obesity are associated with sex differences in the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers. Cancers of the esophagus, liver, and colon are representative gastrointestinal cancers, and obesity is a convincing risk factor for their development. Numerous epidemiological studies have found sex differences in the incidence of esophageal, liver, and colorectal cancers. We suggest that these sexual disparities are partly explained by the availability of estrogens and other genetic factors regulating inflammation, cell growth, and apoptosis. Sex differences in gut microbiota composition may contribute to differences in the incidence and phenotype of colorectal cancer. To establish successful practices in personalized nutrition and medicine, one should be aware of the sex differences in the pathophysiology and associated mechanisms of cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sung-Eun Kim
- Correspondence: (S.-E.K.); (M.-K.S.); Tel.: +82-2-2077-7722 (S.-E.K.); +82-2-710-9395 (M.-K.S.)
| | - Mi-Kyung Sung
- Correspondence: (S.-E.K.); (M.-K.S.); Tel.: +82-2-2077-7722 (S.-E.K.); +82-2-710-9395 (M.-K.S.)
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Meeh KL, Rickel CT, Sansano AJ, Shirangi TR. The development of sex differences in the nervous system and behavior of flies, worms, and rodents. Dev Biol 2021; 472:75-84. [PMID: 33484707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how sex differences in innate animal behaviors arise has long fascinated biologists. As a general rule, the potential for sex differences in behavior is built by the developmental actions of sex-specific hormones or regulatory proteins that direct the sexual differentiation of the nervous system. In the last decade, studies in several animal systems have uncovered neural circuit mechanisms underlying discrete sexually dimorphic behaviors. Moreover, how certain hormones and regulatory proteins implement the sexual differentiation of these neural circuits has been illuminated in tremendous detail. Here, we discuss some of these mechanisms with three case-studies-mate recognition in flies, maturation of mating behavior in worms, and play-fighting behavior in young rodents. These studies illustrate general and unique developmental mechanisms to establish sex differences in neuroanatomy and behavior and highlight future challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L Meeh
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Clare T Rickel
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Alexander J Sansano
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Troy R Shirangi
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
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Chiu H, Hoopfer ED, Coughlan ML, Pavlou HJ, Goodwin SF, Anderson DJ. A circuit logic for sexually shared and dimorphic aggressive behaviors in Drosophila. Cell 2021; 184:507-520.e16. [PMID: 33382967 PMCID: PMC7856078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aggression involves both sexually monomorphic and dimorphic actions. How the brain implements these two types of actions is poorly understood. We have identified three cell types that regulate aggression in Drosophila: one type is sexually shared, and the other two are sex specific. Shared common aggression-promoting (CAP) neurons mediate aggressive approach in both sexes, whereas functionally downstream dimorphic but homologous cell types, called male-specific aggression-promoting (MAP) neurons in males and fpC1 in females, control dimorphic attack. These symmetric circuits underlie the divergence of male and female aggressive behaviors, from their monomorphic appetitive/motivational to their dimorphic consummatory phases. The strength of the monomorphic → dimorphic functional connection is increased by social isolation in both sexes, suggesting that it may be a locus for isolation-dependent enhancement of aggression. Together, these findings reveal a circuit logic for the neural control of behaviors that include both sexually monomorphic and dimorphic actions, which may generalize to other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chiu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Eric D Hoopfer
- Carleton College, 1 N. College St., Northfield, MN 55057, USA
| | - Maeve L Coughlan
- Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Hania J Pavlou
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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45
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Bheemanapally K, Alhamyani A, Alshamrani AA, Napit PR, Ali MH, Uddin MM, Mahmood A, Ibrahim MM, Briski KP. Hypoglycemic and post-hypoglycemic patterns of glycogen phosphorylase isoform expression in the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus: impact of sex and estradiol. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2021. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2021-019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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46
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Bheemanapally K, Alhamyani A, Alshamrani AA, Napit PR, Ali MH, Uddin MM, Mahmood A, Ibrahim MM, Briski KP. Hypoglycemic and post‑hypoglycemic patterns of glycogen phosphorylase isoform expression in the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus: impact of sex and estradiol. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2021; 81:196-206. [PMID: 34170267 PMCID: PMC8244535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Glycogen metabolism shapes ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) control of glucose homeostasis. Brain glycogen mass undergoes compensatory expansion post‑recovery from insulin‑induced hypoglycemia (IIH). Current research utilized combinatory high‑resolution microdissection/high‑sensitivity Western blotting to investigate whether IIH causes residual adjustments in glycogen metabolism within the metabolic‑sensory ventrolateral VMN (VMNvl). Micropunch‑dissected tissue was collected from rostral, middle, and caudal levels of the VMNvl in each sex for analysis of glycogen synthase (GS) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP)‑muscle type (GPmm; norepinephrine‑sensitive) and GP‑brain type (GPbb; glucoprivic‑sensitive) isoform expression during and after IIH. Hypoglycemic suppression of VMNvl GS levels in males disappeared or continued after reestablishment of euglycemia, according to sampled segment. Yet, reductions in female VMNvl GS persisted after IIH. Males exhibited reductions in GPmm content in select rostro‑caudal VMNvl segments, but this protein declined in each segment post‑hypoglycemia. Females, rather, showed augmented or diminished GPmm levels during IIH, but no residual effects of IIH on this protein. In each sex, region‑specific up‑ or down‑regulation of VMNvl GPbb profiles during glucose decrements were undetected post‑recovery from IIH. Results provide novel proof of estradiol‑dependent sex‑dimorphic patterns of VMNvl GP variant expression at specific rostro‑caudal levels of this critical gluco‑regulatory structure. Sex differences in persistence of IIH‑associated GS and GPmm patterns of expression after restoration of euglycemia infer that VMNvl recovery from this metabolic stress may involve dissimilar glycogen accumulation in male versus female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaggeswar Bheemanapally
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Abdulrahman Alhamyani
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Ayed A Alshamrani
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Prabhat R Napit
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Md Haider Ali
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Md Main Uddin
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Asmh Mahmood
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Mostafa Mh Ibrahim
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA
| | - Karen P Briski
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, Monroe, USA;
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47
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Molina-García L, Lloret-Fernández C, Cook SJ, Kim B, Bonnington RC, Sammut M, O'Shea JM, Gilbert SPR, Elliott DJ, Hall DH, Emmons SW, Barrios A, Poole RJ. Direct glia-to-neuron transdifferentiation gives rise to a pair of male-specific neurons that ensure nimble male mating. eLife 2020; 9:e48361. [PMID: 33138916 PMCID: PMC7609048 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic behaviours require underlying differences in the nervous system between males and females. The extent to which nervous systems are sexually dimorphic and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate these differences are only beginning to be understood. We reveal here a novel mechanism by which male-specific neurons are generated in Caenorhabditis elegans through the direct transdifferentiation of sex-shared glial cells. This glia-to-neuron cell fate switch occurs during male sexual maturation under the cell-autonomous control of the sex-determination pathway. We show that the neurons generated are cholinergic, peptidergic, and ciliated putative proprioceptors which integrate into male-specific circuits for copulation. These neurons ensure coordinated backward movement along the mate's body during mating. One step of the mating sequence regulated by these neurons is an alternative readjustment movement performed when intromission becomes difficult to achieve. Our findings reveal programmed transdifferentiation as a developmental mechanism underlying flexibility in innate behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Molina-García
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Carla Lloret-Fernández
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Steven J Cook
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Byunghyuk Kim
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Rachel C Bonnington
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Michele Sammut
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jack M O'Shea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Sophie PR Gilbert
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - David J Elliott
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - David H Hall
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Scott W Emmons
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Arantza Barrios
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Richard J Poole
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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Salzberg Y, Gat A, Oren-Suissa M. One template, two outcomes: How does the sex-shared nervous system generate sex-specific behaviors? Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 144:245-268. [PMID: 33992155 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific behaviors are common in nature and are crucial for reproductive fitness and species survival. A key question in the field of sex/gender neurobiology is whether and to what degree the sex-shared nervous system differs between the sexes in the anatomy, connectivity and molecular identity of its components. An equally intriguing issue is how does the same sex-shared neuronal template diverge to mediate distinct behavioral outputs in females and males. This chapter aims to present the most up-to-date understanding of how this task is achieved in C. elegans. The vast majority of neurons in C. elegans are shared among the two sexes in terms of their lineage history, anatomical position and neuronal identity. Yet a substantial amount of evidence points to the hermaphrodite-male counterparts of some neurons expressing different genes and forming different synaptic connections. This, in turn, enables the same cells and circuits to transmit discrete signals in the two sexes and ultimately execute different functions. We review the various sex-shared behavioral paradigms that have been shown to be sexually dimorphic in recent years, discuss the mechanisms that underlie these examples, refer to the developmental regulation of neuronal dimorphism and suggest evolutionary concepts that emerge from the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Asaf Gat
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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49
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Chen AX, Yan JJ, Zhang W, Wang L, Yu ZX, Ding XJ, Wang DY, Zhang M, Zhang YL, Song N, Jiao ZL, Xu C, Zhu SJ, Xu XH. Specific Hypothalamic Neurons Required for Sensing Conspecific Male Cues Relevant to Inter-male Aggression. Neuron 2020; 108:763-774.e6. [PMID: 32961129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus regulates innate social interactions, but how hypothalamic neurons transduce sex-related sensory signals emitted by conspecifics to trigger appropriate behaviors remains unclear. Here, we addressed this issue by identifying specific hypothalamic neurons required for sensing conspecific male cues relevant to inter-male aggression. By in vivo recording of neuronal activities in behaving mice, we showed that neurons expressing dopamine transporter (DAT+) in the ventral premammillary nucleus (PMv) of the hypothalamus responded to male urine cues in a vomeronasal organ (VNO)-dependent manner in naive males. Retrograde trans-synaptic tracing further revealed a specific group of neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) that convey male-relevant signals from VNO to PMv. Inhibition of PMvDAT+ neurons abolished the preference for male urine cues and reduced inter-male attacks, while activation of these neurons promoted urine marking and aggression. Thus, PMvDAT+ neurons exemplify a hypothalamic node that transforms sex-related chemo-signals into recognition and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Xiao Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jing-Jing Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zi-Xian Yu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Ding
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dan-Yang Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yan-Li Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Nan Song
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhuo-Lei Jiao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chun Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shu-Jia Zhu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 200031, China.
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50
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Complex Economic Behavior Patterns Are Constructed from Finite, Genetically Controlled Modules of Behavior. Cell Rep 2020; 28:1814-1829.e6. [PMID: 31412249 PMCID: PMC7476553 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex ethological behaviors could be constructed from finite modules that are reproducible functional units of behavior. Here, we test this idea for foraging and develop methods to dissect rich behavior patterns in mice. We uncover discrete modules of foraging behavior reproducible across different strains and ages, as well as nonmodular behavioral sequences. Modules differ in terms of form, expression frequency, and expression timing and are expressed in a probabilistically determined order. Modules shape economic patterns of feeding, exposure, activity, and perseveration responses. The modular architecture of foraging changes developmentally, and different developmental, genetic, and parental effects are found to shape the expression of specific modules. Dissecting modules from complex patterns is powerful for phenotype analysis. We discover that both parental alleles of the imprinted Prader-Willi syndrome gene Magel2 are functional in mice but regulate different modules. Our study found that complex economic patterns are built from finite, genetically controlled modules. The principles and mechanisms involved in constructing complex behavior patterns are not well defined. Stacher Hörndli et al. find that complex foraging patterns in mice are constructed from finite modules, defined as significantly reproducible behavioral sequences. Modules are expressed in a probabilistically defined order to construct complex patterns and controlled by genetic mechanisms.
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