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Mitchnick KA, Nicholson K, Wideman C, Jardine K, Jamieson-Williams R, Creighton SD, Lacoursiere A, Milite C, Castellano S, Sbardella G, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E, Winters BD. The Lysine Acetyltransferase PCAF Functionally Interacts with Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Hippocampus of Gonadally Intact Male-But Not Female-Rats to Enhance Short-Term Memory. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1574232024. [PMID: 39138001 PMCID: PMC11376336 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1574-23.2024] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Acetylation of histone proteins by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), and the resultant change in gene expression, is a well-established mechanism necessary for long-term memory (LTM) consolidation, which is not required for short-term memory (STM). However, we previously demonstrated that the HAT p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) also influences hippocampus (HPC)-dependent STM in male rats. In addition to their epigenetic activity, HATs acetylate nonhistone proteins involved in nongenomic cellular processes, such as estrogen receptors (ERs). Given that ERs have rapid, nongenomic effects on HPC-dependent STM, we investigated the potential interaction between ERs and PCAF for STM mediated by the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC). Using a series of pharmacological agents administered directly into the dHPC, we reveal a functional interaction between PCAF and ERα in the facilitation of short-term object-in-place memory in male but not female rats. This interaction was specific to ERα, while ERβ agonism did not enhance STM. It was further specific to dHPC STM, as the effect was not present in the dHPC for LTM or in the perirhinal cortex. Further, while STM required local (i.e., dHPC) estrogen synthesis, the facilitatory interaction effect appeared independent of estrogens. Finally, western blot analyses demonstrated that PCAF activation in the dHPC rapidly (5 min) activated downstream estrogen-related cell signaling kinases (c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-related kinase). Collectively, these findings indicate that PCAF, which is typically implicated in LTM through epigenetic processes, also influences STM in the dHPC, possibly via nongenomic ER activity. Critically, this novel PCAF-ER interaction might exist as a male-specific mechanism supporting STM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista A Mitchnick
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Kate Nicholson
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Cassidy Wideman
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Kristen Jardine
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Samantha D Creighton
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Allison Lacoursiere
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ciro Milite
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno, Fisciano I-84084, Italy
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno, Fisciano I-84084, Italy
| | - Gianluca Sbardella
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno, Fisciano I-84084, Italy
| | - Neil J MacLusky
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Boyer D Winters
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Carter JS, Costa CC, Lewandowski SI, Nelson KH, Goldsmith ST, Scofield MD, Reichel CM. Estrogen receptor beta signaling enhances extinction memory recall for heroin-conditioned cues in a sex- and region-specific manner. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:283. [PMID: 38997258 PMCID: PMC11245532 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03001-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Return to use, or relapse, is a major challenge in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Relapse can be precipitated by several factors, including exposure to drug-conditioned cues. Identifying successful treatments to mitigate cue-induced relapse has been challenging, perhaps due to extinction memory recall (EMR) deficits. Previously, inhibition of estradiol (E2) signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) impaired heroin-cue EMR. This effect was recapitulated by antagonism of BLA estrogen receptors (ER) in a sex-specific manner such that blocking ERα in males, but ERβ in females, impaired EMR. However, it is unclear whether increased E2 signaling, in the BLA or systemically, enhances heroin-cue EMR. We hypothesized that ERβ agonism would enhance heroin-cue EMR in a sex- and region-specific manner. To determine the capacity of E2 signaling to improve EMR, we pharmacologically manipulated ERβ across several translationally designed experiments. First, male and female rats acquired heroin or sucrose self-administration. Next, during a cued extinction session, we administered diarylpropionitrile (DPN, an ERβ agonist) and tested anxiety-like behavior on an open field. Subsequently, we assessed EMR in a cue-induced reinstatement test and, finally, measured ERβ expression in several brain regions. Across all experiments, females took more heroin and sucrose than males and had greater responses during heroin-cued extinction. Administration of DPN in the BLA enhanced EMR in females only, driven by ERβ's impacts on memory consolidation. Interestingly, however, systemic DPN administration improved EMR for heroin cues in both sexes across several different tests, but did not impact sucrose-cue EMR. Immunohistochemical analysis of ERβ expression across several different brain regions showed that females only had greater expression of ERβ in the basal nucleus of the BLA. Here, in several preclinical experiments, we demonstrated that ERβ agonism enhances heroin-cue EMR and has potential utility in combatting cue-induced relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S Carter
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Caitlyn C Costa
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Stacia I Lewandowski
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Katharine H Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Sarah T Goldsmith
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Carmela M Reichel
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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Itoh N, Itoh Y, Meyer CE, Suen TT, Cortez-Delgado D, Rivera Lomeli M, Wendin S, Somepalli SS, Golden LC, MacKenzie-Graham A, Voskuhl RR. Estrogen receptor beta in astrocytes modulates cognitive function in mid-age female mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6044. [PMID: 37758709 PMCID: PMC10533869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41723-7] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Menopause is associated with cognitive deficits and brain atrophy, but the brain region and cell-specific mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we identify a sex hormone by age interaction whereby loss of ovarian hormones in female mice at midlife, but not young age, induced hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairment, dorsal hippocampal atrophy, and astrocyte and microglia activation with synaptic loss. Selective deletion of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in astrocytes, but not neurons, in gonadally intact female mice induced the same brain effects. RNA sequencing and pathway analyses of gene expression in hippocampal astrocytes from midlife female astrocyte-ERβ conditional knock out (cKO) mice revealed Gluconeogenesis I and Glycolysis I as the most differentially expressed pathways. Enolase 1 gene expression was increased in hippocampi from both astrocyte-ERβ cKO female mice at midlife and from postmenopausal women. Gain of function studies showed that ERβ ligand treatment of midlife female mice reversed dorsal hippocampal neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra E Meyer
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Timothy Takazo Suen
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diego Cortez-Delgado
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Wendin
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sri Sanjana Somepalli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa C Golden
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Allan MacKenzie-Graham
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rhonda R Voskuhl
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Miller CK, Meitzen J. No detectable changes in anxiety-related and locomotor behaviors in adult ovariectomized female rats exposed to estradiol, the ERβ agonist DPN or the ERα agonist PPT. Horm Behav 2023; 152:105363. [PMID: 37087765 PMCID: PMC10247449 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The sex steroid hormone 17β-estradiol (estradiol) and its Estrogen Receptors (ERs) have been linked to modulation of anxiety-related and locomotor behaviors in female rodents. Research suggests that estradiol mitigates anxiety-related behaviors through activating Estrogen Receptor (ER)β and increases locomotor behaviors through ERα. The influence of ERs on these behaviors cannot always be detected. Here we discuss two experiments in which we tested the hypothesis that anxiety-related behaviors would decrease after ERβ activation and locomotor behaviors would increase after ERα activation, and also assessed the persistence of these behavioral effects by varying the timing of behavioral testing. Two cohorts of adult female ovariectomized rats were exposed to estradiol, the ERβ agonist DPN, the ERα agonist PPT, or oil for four consecutive days. Body mass was assessed throughout as a positive control. In both cohorts, open field behaviors were assessed on the first day of exposure. In one cohort (Experiment 1), open field, light/dark box, and elevated plus maze behaviors were assessed on the final day of injections. In the second cohort (Experiment 2), these behaviors were assessed 24 h after the final exposure. As expected, significant differences in body mass were detected in response to estradiol and PPT exposure, validating the estradiol and ER manipulation. No significant differences were observed in anxiety-related or locomotor behaviors across treatment groups, indicating that the efficacy of these agonists as therapeutic agents may be limited. We review these results in the context of previous literature, emphasizing relevant variables that may obscure ER-related actions on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana K Miller
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - John Meitzen
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America.
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5
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Kalinowski D, Bogus-Nowakowska K, Kozłowska A, Równiak M. Dopaminergic and cholinergic modulation of the amygdala is altered in female mice with oestrogen receptor β deprivation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:897. [PMID: 36650256 PMCID: PMC9845293 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28069-2] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is modulated by dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, and this modulation is altered in mood disorders. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the presence/absence of quantitative alterations in the expression of main dopaminergic and cholinergic markers in the amygdala of mice with oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) knock-out which exhibit increased anxiety, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative methods. Such alterations could either contribute to increased anxiety or be a compensatory mechanism for reducing anxiety. The results show that among dopaminergic markers, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine D2-like receptor (DA2) is significantly elevated in the amygdala of mice with ERβ deprivation when compared to matched controls, whereas the content of dopamine D1-like receptor (DA1) is not altered by ERβ knock-out. In the case of cholinergic markers, muscarinic acetylcholine type 1 receptor (AChRM1) and alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChRα7) display overexpression while the content of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) remains unchanged. In conclusion, in the amygdala of ERβ knock-out female the dopaminergic and cholinergic signalling is altered, however, to determine the exact role of ERβ in the anxiety-related behaviour further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kalinowski
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Krystyna Bogus-Nowakowska
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Kozłowska
- Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Maciej Równiak
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, pl. Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
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Bowman R, Frankfurt M, Luine V. Sex differences in cognition following variations in endocrine status. Learn Mem 2022; 29:234-245. [PMID: 36206395 PMCID: PMC9488023 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053509.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Spatial memory, mediated primarily by the hippocampus, is responsible for orientation in space and retrieval of information regarding location of objects and places in an animal's environment. Since the hippocampus is dense with steroid hormone receptors and is capable of robust neuroplasticity, it is not surprising that changes in spatial memory performance occur following a variety of endocrine alterations. Here, we review cognitive changes in both spatial and nonspatial memory tasks following manipulations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and gonadal axes and after exposure to endocrine disruptors in rodents. Chronic stress impairs male performance on numerous behavioral cognitive tasks and enhances or does not impact female cognitive function. Sex-dependent changes in cognition following stress are influenced by both organizational and activational effects of estrogen and vary depending on the developmental age of the stress exposure, but responses to gonadal hormones in adulthood are more similar than different in the sexes. Also discussed are possible underlying neural mechanisms for these steroid hormone-dependent, cognitive effects. Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, given at low levels during adolescent development, impairs spatial memory in adolescent male and female rats and object recognition memory in adulthood. BPA's negative effects on memory may be mediated through alterations in dendritic spine density in areas that mediate these cognitive tasks. In summary, this review discusses the evidence that endocrine status of an animal (presence or absence of stress hormones, gonadal hormones, or endocrine disruptors) impacts cognitive function and, at times, in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Bowman
- Department of Psychology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 06825, USA
| | - Maya Frankfurt
- Department of Psychology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 06825, USA
- Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York 11549, USA
| | - Victoria Luine
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, New York 10065, USA
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7
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Ovariectomy reduces cholinergic modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat entorhinal cortex. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271131. [PMID: 35939438 PMCID: PMC9359571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogens are thought to contribute to cognitive function in part by promoting the function of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons that project to the hippocampus and cortical regions including the entorhinal cortex. Reductions in estrogens may alter cognition by reducing the function of cholinergic inputs to both the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In the present study, we assessed the effects of ovariectomy on proteins associated with cholinergic synapses in the entorhinal cortex. Ovariectomy was conducted at PD63, and tissue was obtained on PD84 to 89 to quantify changes in the degradative enzyme acetylcholinesterase, the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and muscarinic M1 receptor protein. Although the vesicular acetylcholine transporter was unaffected, ovariectomy reduced both acetylcholinesterase and M1 receptor protein, and these reductions were prevented by chronic replacement of 17β-estradiol following ovariectomy. We also assessed the effects of ovariectomy on the cholinergic modulation of excitatory transmission, by comparing the effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor eserine on evoked excitatory synaptic field potentials in brain slices obtained from intact rats, and from ovariectomized rats with or without 17β-estradiol replacement. Eserine is known to prolong the effects of endogenously released acetylcholine, resulting in an M1-like mediated reduction of glutamate release at excitatory synapses. The reduction in excitatory synaptic potentials in layer II of the entorhinal cortex induced by 15-min application of 10 μM eserine was greatly reduced in slices from ovariectomized rats as compared to intact rats and ovariectomized rats with replacement of 17β-estradiol. The reduced modulatory effect of eserine is consistent with the observed changes in cholinergic proteins, and suggests that reductions in 17β-estradiol following ovariectomy lead to impaired cholinergic function within the entorhinal cortex.
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Orsini CA, Truckenbrod LM, Wheeler AR. Regulation of sex differences in risk-based decision making by gonadal hormones: Insights from rodent models. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104663. [PMID: 35661794 PMCID: PMC9893517 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Men and women differ in their ability to evaluate options that vary in their rewards and the risks that are associated with these outcomes. Most studies have shown that women are more risk averse than men and that gonadal hormones significantly contribute to this sex difference. Gonadal hormones can influence risk-based decision making (i.e., risk taking) by modulating the neurobiological substrates underlying this cognitive process. Indeed, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone modulate activity in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and nucleus accumbens associated with reward and risk-related information. The use of animal models of decision making has advanced our understanding of the intersection between the behavioral, neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying sex differences in risk taking. This review will outline the current state of this literature, identify the current gaps in knowledge and suggest the neurobiological mechanisms by which hormones regulate risky decision making. Collectively, this knowledge can be used to understand the potential consequences of significant hormonal changes, whether endogenously or exogenously induced, on risk-based decision making as well as the neuroendocrinological basis of neuropsychiatric diseases that are characterized by impaired risk taking, such as substance use disorder and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A. Orsini
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Correspondence to: Department of Psychology & Neurology, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, 108 E. Dean Keaton St., Stop A8000, Austin, TX 78712, USA. (C.A. Orsini)
| | - Leah M. Truckenbrod
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Alexa-Rae Wheeler
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Luine V, Mohan G, Attalla S, Jacome L, Frankfurt M. Androgens Enhance Recognition Memory and Dendritic Spine Density in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex of Ovariectomized Female Rats. Neuroscience 2022:S0306-4522(22)00287-1. [PMID: 35671881 PMCID: PMC9719572 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen replacement has been repeatedly shown to enhance memory and increase dendritic spine density in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Given the potential deleterious effects of chronic estrogen administration, the present study assessed cognitive function using recognition memory tasks and measured dendritic spine density in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex after subchronic androgen replacement to adult OVX female rats. All androgens enhanced recognition memory in OVX rats, but object placement (OP) and object recognition (OR) results differed. Only testosterone enhanced OR. Testosterone had no effect on OP while dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androstenedione (AD) enhanced OP. Dendritic spine density was increased by both TP and DHEA in both brain areas (DHT and AD were not tested). Lastly, we used the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, to discriminate between potential androgenic and estrogenic effects of androgens on behavior. Letrozole alone did not alter recognition memory in OVX rats and did not block the effects of either TP or DHEA on recognition memory suggesting that effects were mediated via androgenic mechanisms. The present results expand previous information on gonadal hormone actions and show that, in addition to estrogens, androgens also improve memory and increase spine density in brains of OVX female rats. While requiring further investigation, these observations provide a basis for therapeutic interventions in the treatment of menopausal, age or disease related memory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Luine
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
| | - Govini Mohan
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Sara Attalla
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Luis Jacome
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Maya Frankfurt
- Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, 160 Hofstra University, 400A Shapiro Family Hall, Hempstead, NY 11549, United States
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Kaur R, Sood A, Lang DK, Bhatia S, Al-Harrasi A, Aleya L, Behl T. Potential of flavonoids as anti-Alzheimer's agents: bench to bedside. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:26063-26077. [PMID: 35067880 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases are challenging because of the presence of blood-brain barrier and Alzheimer being one of the commonest and uprising neurodegenerative disorders possess the need for developing novel therapies. Alzheimer's is attributed to be the sixth leading cause of death in the USA and the number of cases is estimated to be increased from 58 million in 2021 to 88 million by 2050. Natural drugs have benefits of being cost-effective, widely available, fewer side effects, and immuno-booster can be useful in managing Alzheimer. Flavonoids can slow the neuronal degeneration as they have shown activity in central nervous system and are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. These can be easily extracted from fruits, vegetable, and plants. In Alzheimer disease, flavonoids scavenges the reactive oxygen species and reduces the production of amyloid beta protein. Agents from sub-classes of flavonoids such as flavanones, flavanols, flavones, flavonols, anthocyanins, and isoflavones having pharmacological action in treating Alzheimer disease are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajwinder Kaur
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University Punjab, Rajpura, India
| | - Ankita Sood
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University Punjab, Rajpura, India
| | | | - Saurabh Bhatia
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
- School of Health Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University Punjab, Rajpura, India.
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11
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Beamish SB, Frick KM. A Putative Role for Ubiquitin-Proteasome Signaling in Estrogenic Memory Regulation. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:807215. [PMID: 35145382 PMCID: PMC8821141 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.807215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones such as 17β-estradiol (E2) are critical neuromodulators of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent memory in both males and females. However, the mechanisms through which E2 regulates memory formation in both sexes remain unclear. Research to date suggests that E2 regulates hippocampus-dependent memory by activating numerous cell-signaling cascades to promote the synthesis of proteins that support structural changes at hippocampal synapses. However, this work has largely overlooked the equally important contributions of protein degradation mediated by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in remodeling the synapse. Despite being critically implicated in synaptic plasticity and successful formation of long-term memories, it remains unclear whether protein degradation mediated by the UPS is necessary for E2 to exert its beneficial effects on hippocampal plasticity and memory formation. The present article provides an overview of the receptor and signaling mechanisms so far identified as critical for regulating hippocampal E2 and UPS function in males and females, with a particular emphasis on the ways in which these mechanisms overlap to support structural integrity and protein composition of hippocampal synapses. We argue that the high degree of correspondence between E2 and UPS activity warrants additional study to examine the contributions of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation in regulating the effects of sex steroid hormones on cognition.
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12
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Estradiol effects on spatial memory in women. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113592. [PMID: 34560131 PMCID: PMC8578444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
To examine the role of estradiol in hippocampal-dependent spatial memory in women, 86 female undergraduates were tested in a virtual Morris water task (VMWT), a virtual radial arm maze (VRAM), and a mental rotation task (MRT) within a single daily session. The VMWT and RAM were also administered 24 h later to examine the effects of estradiol on memory consolidation. Women on oral contraceptives (OCs) or those who were naturally cycling and exhibited low estradiol (LE) or high estradiol (HE), as determined by salivary assays, were included. At the start of day two, the HE group showed superior spatial reference memory on the VMWT relative to the LE group, as evidenced by significantly shorter distances navigating to the hidden platform. The LE group also had the poorest probe trial performance at the start of day two compared to both other groups. There were no group differences in performance on the RAM or MRT. These results provide support for estradiol's role in the consolidation of spatial reference memory in women, and emphasize the differential sensitivities of various virtual memory tasks in assessing spatial memory function in women.
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13
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Neural basis for estrous cycle-dependent control of female behaviors. Neurosci Res 2021; 176:1-8. [PMID: 34331974 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Females display changes in distinct behaviors along the estrous cycle. Levels of circulating ovarian sex steroid hormones peak around ovulation, which occur around estrus phase of the cycle. This increase of sex hormones is thought to be important for changes in behaviors, however, neural circuit mechanisms of periodic behavioral changes in females are not understood well. Different lines of research indicate sex hormonal effects on several forms of neuronal plasticity. This review provides an overview of behavioral and plastic changes that occur in an estrous cycle-dependent manner and explores the current research linking these changes to understand neural circuit mechanisms that control female behaviors.
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14
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Bianchi VE, Bresciani E, Meanti R, Rizzi L, Omeljaniuk RJ, Torsello A. The role of androgens in women's health and wellbeing. Pharmacol Res 2021; 171:105758. [PMID: 34242799 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Androgens in women, as well as in men, are intrinsic to maintenance of (i) reproductive competency, (ii) cardiac health, (iii) appropriate bone remodeling and mass retention, (iii) muscle tone and mass, and (iv) brain function, in part, through their mitigation of neurodegenerative disease effects. In recognition of the pluripotency of endogenous androgens, exogenous androgens, and selected congeners, have been prescribed off-label for several decades to treat low libido and sexual dysfunction in menopausal women, as well as, to improve physical performance. However, long-term safety and efficacy of androgen administration has yet to be fully elucidated. Side effects often observed include (i) hirsutism, (ii) acne, (iii) deepening of the voice, and (iv) weight gain but are associated most frequently with supra-physiological doses. By contrast, short-term clinical trials suggest that the use of low-dose testosterone therapy in women appears to be effective, safe and economical. There are, however, few clinical studies, which have focused on effects of androgen therapy on pre- and post-menopausal women; moreover, androgen mechanisms of action have not yet been thoroughly explained in these subjects. This review considers clinical effects of androgens on women's health in order to prevent chronic diseases and reduce cancer risk in gynecological tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio E Bianchi
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Center Stella Maris, Strada Rovereta 42, Falciano 47891, San Marino.
| | - Elena Bresciani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza 20900, Italy.
| | - Ramona Meanti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza 20900, Italy.
| | - Laura Rizzi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza 20900, Italy.
| | - Robert J Omeljaniuk
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1, Canada.
| | - Antonio Torsello
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza 20900, Italy.
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15
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Delevich K, Klinger M, Okada NJ, Wilbrecht L. Coming of age in the frontal cortex: The role of puberty in cortical maturation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 118:64-72. [PMID: 33985902 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Across species, adolescence is a period of growing independence that is associated with the maturation of cognitive, social, and affective processing. Reorganization of neural circuits within the frontal cortex is believed to contribute to the emergence of adolescent changes in cognition and behavior. While puberty coincides with adolescence, relatively little is known about which aspects of frontal cortex maturation are driven by pubertal development and gonadal hormones. In this review, we highlight existing work that suggests puberty plays a role in the maturation of specific cell types in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rodents, and highlight possible routes by which gonadal hormones influence frontal cortical circuit development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Delevich
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Madeline Klinger
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Nana J Okada
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Linda Wilbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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16
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Eyolfson E, Bhatt D, Wang M, Lohman AW, Mychasiuk R. Paternal exposure to exercise and/or caffeine and alcohol modify offspring behavioral and pathophysiological recovery from repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in adolescence. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:egbb12736. [PMID: 33876557 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Only recently has the scope of parental research expanded to include the paternal sphere with epidemiological studies implicating stress, nutrition and alcohol consumption in the neurobiological and behavioral characteristics of offspring. This study was designed to determine if paternal exposure to caffeine, alcohol and exercise prior to conception would improve or exacerbate offspring recovery from adolescent repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (RmTBI). Sires received 7 weeks of standard drinking water, or caffeine and ethanol and were housed in regular cages or cages with running wheels, prior to being mated to control females. At postnatal day 40, offspring were administered RmTBI or sham injuries and were assessed for post concussive symptomology. Post-mortem quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and changes in telomere length. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA's) were run on serum to detect levels of cytokines, chemokines and sex hormones. Paternal experience did not improve or exacerbate RmTBI behavioral outcomes. However, female and male offspring displayed unique responses to RmTBI and paternal experience, resulting in changes in physical, behavioral and molecular outcomes. Injury and paternal exercise modified changes in female offspring, whereas male offspring were affected by paternal exercise, caffeine and alcohol treatment. Additionally, paternal experience and RmTBI modified expression of many genes in the PFC, NAc, telomere length and levels of sex hormones. Although further exploration is required to understand the heterogeneity that exists in disease risk and resiliency, this study provides corroborating evidence that paternal experiences prior to conception influences offspring development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Eyolfson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dhyey Bhatt
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Melinda Wang
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander W Lohman
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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17
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Fleischer AW, Schalk JC, Wetzel EA, Hanson AM, Sem DS, Donaldson WA, Frick KM. Long-term oral administration of a novel estrogen receptor beta agonist enhances memory and alleviates drug-induced vasodilation in young ovariectomized mice. Horm Behav 2021; 130:104948. [PMID: 33571507 PMCID: PMC8680219 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Development of estrogen therapies targeting the β (ERβ) but not α (ERα) estrogen receptor is critically needed for the treatment of negative menopausal symptoms, as ERα activation increases health risks like cancer. Here, we determined the effects of long-term oral treatment with EGX358, a novel highly selective ERβ agonist, on memory, vasodilation, and affect in young ovariectomized mice. Mice were orally gavaged daily for 9 weeks with vehicle, 17β-estradiol (E2), the ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN), or EGX358 at doses that enhance memory when delivered acutely. Tail skin temperature was recorded as a proxy for vasodilation following injection of vehicle or senktide, a tachykinin receptor 3 agonist used to model hot flashes. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed in the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM), and depression-like behavior was measured in the tail suspension (TST) and forced swim tests (FST). Finally, memory was assessed in object recognition (OR) and object placement (OP) tasks. E2, DPN, and EGX358 reduced senktide-mediated increases in tail skin temperature compared to vehicle. All three treatments also enhanced memory in the OR and OP tasks, whereas vehicle did not. Although E2 increased time spent in the center of the OF, no other treatment effects were observed in the OF, EPM, TST, or FST. These data suggest that long-term ERβ activation can reduce hot flash-like symptoms and enhance spatial and object recognition memories in ovariectomized mice. Thus, the highly selective ERβ agonist EGX358 may be a promising avenue for reducing menopause-related hot flashes and memory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Fleischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
| | - Jayson C Schalk
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
| | - Edward A Wetzel
- Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
| | - Alicia M Hanson
- Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America; Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America.
| | - Daniel S Sem
- Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America; Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America.
| | - William A Donaldson
- Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
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18
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Tobore TO. On the theory of mental representation block. a novel perspective on learning and behavior. Commun Integr Biol 2021; 14:41-50. [PMID: 33796209 PMCID: PMC7971303 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2021.1898752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms behind memory, learning, and behavior is crucial to human development and significant research has been done in this area. Classical and operant conditioning and other theories of learning have elucidated different mechanisms of learning and how it modulates behavior. Even with advances in this area, questions remain on how to unlearn faulty ideas or extinguish maladaptive behaviors. In this paper, a novel theory to improve our understanding of this area is proposed. The theory proposes that as a consequence of the brain's energy efficiency evolutionary adaptations, all learning following memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and repeated reinforcements or strengthening over time, results in a phenomenon called mental representation block. The implications of this block on learning and behavior are significant and broad and include cognitive biases, belief in a creator or God, close-mindedness, dogmatism, physician misdiagnosis, racism, homophobia, and transphobia, susceptibility to deception and indoctrination, hate and love, artificial intelligence and creativity.
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19
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Qin C, Hu S, Zhang S, Zhao D, Wang Y, Li H, Peng Y, Shi L, Xu X, Wang C, Liu J, Cheng Y, Long J. Hydroxytyrosol Acetate Improves the Cognitive Function of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice in ERβ-dependent Manner. Mol Nutr Food Res 2021; 65:e2000797. [PMID: 33296142 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202000797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
SCOPE Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in the aging population; however, no effective therapy has been established. It has been previously demonstrated that daily intake of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a polyphenol in olive oil, at a daily dietary level mildly improves cognition in AD mice. In the present study, HT acetate (HT-ac), which is a natural derivative of HT in olive oil that exhibits better bioactivity than HT improves cognition. METHODS AND RESULTS HT-ac to APP/PS1 is orally administered to transgenic mice and used Aβ-treated neuronal cultures to explore the neuroprotective effects of HT-ac in preventing AD progression. It is found that HT-ac remarkably improved the escape latency, escape distance, and the number of platform crossings of AD mice in the water maze test by ameliorating neuronal apoptosis and decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels. It is further demonstrated that HT-ac stimulated the transcription of ERβ and enhanced neuronal viability and electrophysiological activity in primary neurons but that these beneficial effects of HT-ac are abolished upon ERβ deficiency. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that as the bioactive component of olive oil, HT-ac is a promising neuroprotective nutrient that may be used to alleviate AD-related cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Qin
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Shaoqin Hu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Shuangxi Zhang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Daina Zhao
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Yongyao Wang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Hua Li
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Yunhua Peng
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Le Shi
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Pharmacy School, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Changhe Wang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Jiankang Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Ying Cheng
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Jiangang Long
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
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20
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Ontogeny of spontaneous recognition memory in rodents. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 177:107361. [PMID: 33307181 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous recognition memory tasks explore thewhat,whereandwhencomponents of recognition memory. These tasks are widely used in rodents to assess cognitive function across the lifespan. While several neurodevelopmental and mental disorders present symptom onset in early life, very little is known about how memories are expressed in early life, and as a consequence how they may be affected in pathological conditions. In this review, we conduct an analysis of the studies examining the expression of spontaneous recognition memory in young rodents. We compiled studies using four different tasks: novel object recognition, object location, temporal order recognition and object place. First, we identify major sources of variability between early life spontaneous recognition studies and classify them for later comparison. Second, we use these classifications to explore the current knowledge on the ontogeny of each of these four spontaneous recognition memory tasks. We conclude by discussing the possible implications of the relative time of onset for each of these tasks and their respective neural correlates. In compiling this research, we hope to advance on establishing a developmental timeline for the emergence of distinct components of recognition memory, while also identifying key areas of focus for future research. Establishing the ontogenetic profile of rodent spontaneous recognition memory tasks will create a necessary blueprint for cognitive assessment in animal models of neurodevelopmental and mental disorders, a first step towards improved and earlier diagnosis as well as novel intervention strategies.
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21
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Priyanka HP, Nair RS. Neuroimmunomodulation by estrogen in health and disease. AIMS Neurosci 2020; 7:401-417. [PMID: 33263078 PMCID: PMC7701372 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic homeostasis is maintained by the robust bidirectional regulation of the neuroendocrine-immune network by the active involvement of neural, endocrine and immune mediators. Throughout female reproductive life, gonadal hormones undergo cyclic variations and mediate concomitant modulations of the neuroendocrine-immune network. Dysregulation of the neuroendocrine-immune network occurs during aging as a cumulative effect of declining neural, endocrine and immune functions and loss of compensatory mechanisms including antioxidant enzymes, growth factors and co-factors. This leads to disruption of homeostasis and sets the stage for the development of female-specific age-associated diseases such as autoimmunity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and hormone-dependent cancers. Ovarian hormones especially estrogen, play a key role in the maintenance of health and homeostasis by modulating the nervous, endocrine and immune functions and thereby altering neuroendocrine-immune homeostasis. Immunologically estrogen's role in the modulation of Th1/Th2 immune functions and contributing to pro-inflammatory conditions and autoimmunity has been widely studied. Centrally, hypothalamic and pituitary hormones influence gonadal hormone secretion in murine models during onset of estrous cycles and are implicated in reproductive aging-associated acyclicity. Loss of estrogen affects neuronal plasticity and the ensuing decline in cognitive functions during reproductive aging in females implicates estrogen in the incidence and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Peripherally, sympathetic noradrenergic (NA) innervations of lymphoid organs and the presence of both adrenergic (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) on lymphocytes poise estrogen as a potent neuroimmunomodulator during health and disease. Cyclic variations in estrogen levels throughout reproductive life, perimenopausal surge in estrogen levels followed by its precipitous decline, concomitant with decline in central hypothalamic catecholaminergic activity, peripheral sympathetic NA innervation and associated immunosuppression present an interesting study to explore female-specific age-associated diseases in a new light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah P Priyanka
- Inspire Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Research in Health Sciences, Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai-600002, India
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22
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Renczés E, Borbélyová V, Steinhardt M, Höpfner T, Stehle T, Ostatníková D, Celec P. The Role of Estrogen in Anxiety-Like Behavior and Memory of Middle-Aged Female Rats. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:570560. [PMID: 33117285 PMCID: PMC7575693 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.570560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging in women is associated with low estrogen, but also with cognitive decline and affective disorders. Whether low estrogen is causally responsible for these behavioral symptoms is not clear. Thus, we aimed to examine the role of estradiol in anxiety-like behavior and memory in rats at middle age. Twelve-month old female rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or were treated with 1 mg/kg of letrozole-an aromatase inhibitor. In half of the OVX females, 10 μg/kg of 17β-estradiol was supplemented daily for 4 weeks. Vehicle-treated sham-operated and OVX females served as controls. For behavioral assessment open field, elevated plus maze and novel object recognition tests were performed. Interaction between ovarian condition and additional treatment had the main effect on anxiety-like behavior of rats in the open field test. In comparison to control females, OVX females entered less frequently into the center zone of the open field (p < 0.01) and showed lower novel object discrimination (p = 0.05). However, estradiol-supplemented OVX rats had higher number of center-zone entries (p < 0.01), spent more time in the center zone (p < 0.05), and showed lower thigmotaxis (p < 0.01) when compared to OVX group. None of the hormonal manipulations affected anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze test significantly, but a mild effect of interaction between ovarian condition and treatment was shown (p = 0.05). In conclusion, ovariectomy had slight negative effect on open-field ambulation and short-term recognition memory in middle-aged rats. In addition, a test-specific anxiolytic effect of estradiol supplementation was found. In contrast, letrozole treatment neither affected anxiety-like behavior nor memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emese Renczés
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Borbélyová
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Manuel Steinhardt
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tim Höpfner
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Thomas Stehle
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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23
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Joshi N, Chandler D. Sex and the noradrenergic system. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:167-176. [PMID: 33008523 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00012-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The central noradrenergic system comprises multiple brainstem nuclei whose cells synthesize and release the catecholamine transmitter norepinephrine (NE). The largest of these nuclei is the pontine locus coeruleus (LC), which innervates the vast majority of the forebrain. NE interacts with a number of pre- and postsynaptically expressed G protein-coupled receptors to affect a wide array of functions, including sensory signal processing, waking and arousal, stress responsiveness, mood, attention, and memory. Given the myriad functions ascribed to the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic (LC-NE) system, it is unsurprising that it is implicated in many disease states, including various mood, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. The LC-NE system is also notably sexually dimorphic with regard to its morphologic and anatomical features as well as how it responds to the peptide transmitter corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), a major mediator of the central stress response. The sex-biased morphology and signaling that is observed in the LC could then be considered a potential contributor to the differential prevalence of various diseases between men and women. This chapter summarizes the primary differences between the male and female LC, based primarily on preclinical observations and how these disparities may relate to differential diagnoses of several diseases between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal Joshi
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Daniel Chandler
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States.
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Schwabe MR, Taxier LR, Frick KM. It takes a neural village: Circuit-based approaches for estrogenic regulation of episodic memory. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 59:100860. [PMID: 32781195 PMCID: PMC7669700 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive behaviors, such as episodic memory formation, are complex processes involving coordinated activity in multiple brain regions. However, much of the research on hormonal regulation of cognition focuses on manipulation of one region at a time or provides a single snapshot of how a systemic treatment affects multiple brain regions without investigating how these regions might interact to mediate hormone effects. Here, we use estrogenic regulation of episodic memory as an example of how circuit-based approaches may be incorporated into future studies of hormones and cognition. We first review basic episodic memory circuitry, rapid mechanisms by which 17β-estradiol can alter circuit activity, and current knowledge about 17β-estradiol's effects on episodic memory. Next, we outline approaches that researchers can employ to consider circuit effects in their estrogen research and provide examples of how these methods have been used to examine hormonal regulation of memory and other behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda R Schwabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
| | - Lisa R Taxier
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States.
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25
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Ma L, Xu Y, Zhou J, Li Y, Zhang X, Jiang W, Wang G, Li R. Brain estrogen alters the effects of the antidepressant sertraline in middle-aged female and male mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 516:110947. [PMID: 32702473 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Estrogens are important in regulating mood, especially for females. However, whether tissue-specific estrogen, such as brain estrogen, contributes to the effects of antidepressant treatment has not been determined. The present study used middle-aged aromatase gene knockout (Ar-/-) mice or overexpression (Thy1-Ar; hGFAP-Ar) mice as brain estrogen models to investigate whether brain estrogen synthesis alters the anti-depressive behaviors of sertraline treatment. Our results showed that depletion of brain estrogen increased depressive-like behavior in females, and elevated brain estrogen reduced depression-like behavior, regardless of sex. These genotype-related behaviors correlated with alterations of monoamine metabolism in the hippocampus (HPC) and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We also demonstrated that male and female Ar-/- mice exhibited an attenuation of sertraline-induced anti-depressive behaviors compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The present data suggest that brain estrogen alters depressive-like behaviors and changes the effectiveness of antidepressants in middle-aged mice, regardless of sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ma
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Jixuan Zhou
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinzhu Zhang
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Gang Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Rena Li
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Torromino G, Maggi A, De Leonibus E. Estrogen-dependent hippocampal wiring as a risk factor for age-related dementia in women. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 197:101895. [PMID: 32781107 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Women are more prone than men to develop age-related dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This has been linked to the marked decrease in circulating estrogens during menopause. This review proposes to change this perspective and consider women's vulnerability to developing AD as a consequence of sex differences in the neurobiology of memory, focusing on the hippocampus. The hippocampus of cognitively impaired subjects tends to shrink with age; however, in many cases, this can be prevented by exercise or cognitive training, suggesting that if you do not use the hippocampus you lose it. We will review the developmental trajectory of sex steroids-regulated differences on the hippocampus, proposing that the overall shaping action of sex-steroids results in a lower usage of the hippocampus in females, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to the effects of ageing, the "network fragility hypothesis". To explain why women rely less on hippocampus-dependent strategies, we propose a "computational hypothesis" that is based on experimental evidence suggesting that the direct effects of estrogens on hippocampal synaptic and structural plasticity during the estrous-cycle confers instability to the memory-dependent hippocampal network. Finally, we propose to counteract AD with training and/or treatments, such as orienteering, which specifically favour the use of the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Torromino
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Telethon Foundation, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Telethon Foundation, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Zuloaga DG, Heck AL, De Guzman RM, Handa RJ. Roles for androgens in mediating the sex differences of neuroendocrine and behavioral stress responses. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:44. [PMID: 32727567 PMCID: PMC7388454 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00319-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol and testosterone are powerful steroid hormones that impact brain function in numerous ways. During development, these hormones can act to program the adult brain in a male or female direction. During adulthood, gonadal steroid hormones can activate or inhibit brain regions to modulate adult functions. Sex differences in behavioral and neuroendocrine (i.e., hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis) responses to stress arise as a result of these organizational and activational actions. The sex differences that are present in the HPA and behavioral responses to stress are particularly important considering their role in maintaining homeostasis. Furthermore, dysregulation of these systems can underlie the sex biases in risk for complex, stress-related diseases that are found in humans. Although many studies have explored the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in mediating sex differences in stress-related behaviors and HPA function, much less consideration has been given to the role of androgens. While circulating androgens can act by binding and activating androgen receptors, they can also act by metabolism to estrogenic molecules to impact estrogen signaling in the brain and periphery. This review focuses on androgens as an important hormone for modulating the HPA axis and behaviors throughout life and for setting up sex differences in key stress regulatory systems that could impact risk for disease in adulthood. In particular, impacts of androgens on neuropeptide systems known to play key roles in HPA and behavioral responses to stress (corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin, and oxytocin) are discussed. A greater knowledge of androgen action in the brain is key to understanding the neurobiology of stress in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley L Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Abstract
This review highlights fifty years of progress in research on estradiol's role in regulating behavior(s). It was initially thought that estradiol was only involved in regulating estrus/menstrual cycles and concomitant sexual behavior, but it is now clear that estradiol also influences the higher order neural function of cognition. We provide a brief overview of estradiol's regulation of memory and some mechanisms which underlie its effects. Given systemically or directly into the hippocampus, to ovariectomized female rodents, estradiol or specific agonists, enhance learning and/or memory in a variety of rodent cognitive tasks. Acute (within minutes) or chronic (days) treatments enhance cognitive functions. Under the same treatment conditions, dendritic spine density on pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex increase which suggests that these changes are an important component of estrogen's ability to impact memory processes. Noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotoninergic activity are also altered in these areas following estrogen treatments. Memory enhancements and increased spine density by estrogens are not limited to females but are also present in castrate males. In the next fifty years, neuroscientists need to determine how currently described neural changes mediate improved memory, how interactions among areas important for memory promote memory and the potential significance of neurally derived estrogens in normal cognitive processing. Answering these questions may provide significant advances for treatment of dementias as well as age and neuro-degenerative disease related memory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Luine
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Maya Frankfurt
- Department of Science Education, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
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Paternal morphine self-administration produces object recognition memory deficits in female, but not male offspring. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1209-1221. [PMID: 31912193 PMCID: PMC7124995 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05450-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Parental drug use around or before conception can have adverse consequences for offspring. Historically, this research has focused on the effects of maternal substance use on future generations but less is known about the influence of the paternal lineage. This study focused on the impact of chronic paternal morphine exposure prior to conception on behavioral outcomes in male and female progeny. OBJECTIVES This study sought to investigate the impact of paternal morphine self-administration on anxiety-like behavior, the stress response, and memory in male and female offspring. METHODS Adult, drug-naïve male and female progeny of morphine-treated sires and controls were evaluated for anxiety-like behavior using defensive probe burying and novelty-induced hypophagia paradigms. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function was assessed by measuring plasma corticosterone levels following a restraint stressor in male and female progeny. Memory was probed using a battery of tests including object location memory, novel object recognition, and contextual fear conditioning. RESULTS Paternal morphine exposure did not alter anxiety-like behavior or stress-induced HPA axis activation in male or female offspring. Morphine-sired male and female offspring showed intact hippocampus-dependent memory: they performed normally on the long-term fear conditioning and object location memory tests. In contrast, paternal morphine exposure selectively disrupted novel object recognition in female, but not male, progeny. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that paternal morphine taking produces sex-specific and selective impairments in object recognition memory while leaving hippocampal function largely intact.
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30
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Vegeto E, Villa A, Della Torre S, Crippa V, Rusmini P, Cristofani R, Galbiati M, Maggi A, Poletti A. The Role of Sex and Sex Hormones in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Endocr Rev 2020; 41:5572525. [PMID: 31544208 PMCID: PMC7156855 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnz005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a wide class of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) with unknown etiology. Several factors were hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases, including genetic and environmental factors. Many of these diseases show a sex prevalence and sex steroids were shown to have a role in the progression of specific forms of neurodegeneration. Estrogens were reported to be neuroprotective through their action on cognate nuclear and membrane receptors, while adverse effects of male hormones have been described on neuronal cells, although some data also suggest neuroprotective activities. The response of the CNS to sex steroids is a complex and integrated process that depends on (i) the type and amount of the cognate steroid receptor and (ii) the target cell type-either neurons, glia, or microglia. Moreover, the levels of sex steroids in the CNS fluctuate due to gonadal activities and to local metabolism and synthesis. Importantly, biochemical processes involved in the pathogenesis of NDs are increasingly being recognized as different between the two sexes and as influenced by sex steroids. The aim of this review is to present current state-of-the-art understanding on the potential role of sex steroids and their receptors on the onset and progression of major neurodegenerative disorders, namely, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the peculiar motoneuron disease spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, in which hormonal therapy is potentially useful as disease modifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Vegeto
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Villa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute (DiSS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Rusmini
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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Minami A, Mikami Y, Kano T, Matsushita H, Fujita Y, Yoshimura M, Abe Y, Watanabe H, Hara M, Kurebayashi Y, Takahashi T, Kanazawa H, Wakatsuki A, Suzuki T. Mitigation of Memory Impairment in Ovariectomized Rats Using Garlic Powder Treated with Subcritical Water. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 43:546-549. [PMID: 32115513 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Women with estrogen deficiency are at the risk of suffering from neurological symptoms such as memory impairment. In the present study, we investigated the effect of garlic, Allium sativum L. (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae), treated with subcritical water on memory impairment in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were administered garlic powder for 84 d. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory was assessed using the Morris water maze test. Escape latency of the OVX rats increased compared with that of sham-operated rats. The prolonged escape latency of the OVX rats decreased to the level of that of sham-operated rats upon the administration of garlic powder (0.5% in feed). The weights of the body, uterus, and brain were not affected by the garlic powder administration. These results suggest that garlic powder treated with subcritical water mitigates memory impairment in OVX rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Minami
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Yasuyo Mikami
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Takahiro Kano
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Hiroshi Matsushita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine
| | - Yuka Fujita
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | | | - Yuki Abe
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | - Hiroaki Kanazawa
- Department of Functional Anatomy, School of Nursing, University of Shizuoka
| | - Akihiko Wakatsuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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32
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Yang Z, Yu W, Liu B, Yang M, Tao H. Estrogen receptor β induces autophagy of osteosarcoma through the mTOR signaling pathway. J Orthop Surg Res 2020; 15:50. [PMID: 32054506 PMCID: PMC7020596 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-1575-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) was considered as a tumor-inhibiting factor in estrogen-sensitive malignant tumors. In this study, we intended to investigate whether ERβ was involved in inducing autophagy in osteosarcoma. METHODS This is an experimental study. The associations between ERβ and autophagy were detected in osteosarcoma U2-OS cells which were treated with E2, E2 + 2,3-Bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propionitrile (DPN, ERβ agonists), E2 + DPN + water, E2 + DPN + 3-Methyladenine (3-MA, autophagy inhibitor), respectively. Cell viability and death were detected using cell counting kit 8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In addition, the expression of autophagy marker LC3II/I, sequestosome 1 (P62), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and phosphorylated-mTOR (p-mTOR) was determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS Cell viability was significantly decreased with DPN treatment, while was reversed with 3-MA treatment. DPN treatment decreased living cells proportion and increased cell apoptosis proportion, while 3-MA treatment reversed those changes. However, there were significant differences between the E2 group and the E2 + DPN + 3-MA group for the living cell proportion and cell apoptosis proportion, suggesting apoptosis and autophagy all were induced. In addition, DPN treatment upregulated the LC3II/I expression level and downregulated P62 and mTOR (mRNA level) and p-mTOR (protein level) expression levels. CONCLUSION ERβ inhibited the cell viability and mediated cell death by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in osteosarcoma. ERβ-induced autophagy in osteosarcoma was associated with downregulating the P62 expression level and inhibiting mTOR activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengming Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.1511 Jianghong Road, Binjiang District, Zhejiang, 310000 Hangzhou China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.1511 Jianghong Road, Binjiang District, Zhejiang, 310000 Hangzhou China
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.1511 Jianghong Road, Binjiang District, Zhejiang, 310000 Hangzhou China
| | - Minfei Yang
- Department of Emergency Room, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310000 Hangzhou China
| | - Huimin Tao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.1511 Jianghong Road, Binjiang District, Zhejiang, 310000 Hangzhou China
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Neurochemical Characterization of Neurons Expressing Estrogen Receptor β in the Hypothalamic Nuclei of Rats Using in Situ Hybridization and Immunofluorescence. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010115. [PMID: 31877966 PMCID: PMC6981915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogens play an essential role in multiple physiological functions in the brain, including reproductive neuroendocrine, learning and memory, and anxiety-related behaviors. To determine these estrogen functions, many studies have tried to characterize neurons expressing estrogen receptors known as ERα and ERβ. However, the characteristics of ERβ-expressing neurons in the rat brain still remain poorly understood compared to that of ERα-expressing neurons. The main aim of this study is to determine the neurochemical characteristics of ERβ-expressing neurons in the rat hypothalamus using RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) combined with immunofluorescence. Strong Esr2 signals were observed especially in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV), bed nucleus of stria terminalis, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), supraoptic nucleus, and medial amygdala, as previously reported. RNAscope ISH with immunofluorescence revealed that more than half of kisspeptin neurons in female AVPV expressed Esr2, whereas few kisspeptin neurons were found to co-express Esr2 in the arcuate nucleus. In the PVN, we observed a high ratio of Esr2 co-expression in arginine-vasopressin neurons and a low ratio in oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing factor neurons. The detailed neurochemical characteristics of ERβ-expressing neurons identified in the current study can be very essential to understand the estrogen signaling via ERβ.
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17α Estradiol promotes plasticity of spared inputs in the adult amblyopic visual cortex. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19040. [PMID: 31836739 PMCID: PMC6910995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55158-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The promotion of structural and functional plasticity by estrogens is a promising approach to enhance central nervous system function in the aged. However, how the sensitivity to estrogens is regulated across brain regions, age and experience is poorly understood. To ask if estradiol treatment impacts structural and functional plasticity in sensory cortices, we examined the acute effect of 17α-Estradiol in adult Long Evans rats following chronic monocular deprivation, a manipulation that reduces the strength and selectivity of deprived eye vision. Chronic monocular deprivation decreased thalamic input from the deprived eye to the binocular visual cortex and accelerated short-term depression of the deprived eye pathway, but did not change the density of excitatory synapses in primary visual cortex. Importantly, we found that the classical estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ were robustly expressed in the adult visual cortex, and that a single dose of 17α-Estradiol reduced the expression of the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, decreased the integrity of the extracellular matrix and increased the size of excitatory postsynaptic densities. Furthermore, 17α-Estradiol enhanced experience-dependent plasticity in the amblyopic visual cortex, by promoting response potentiation of the pathway served by the non-deprived eye. The promotion of plasticity at synapses serving the non-deprived eye may reflect selectivity for synapses with an initially low probability of neurotransmitter release, and may inform strategies to remap spared inputs around a scotoma or a cortical infarct.
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35
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Long T, Yao JK, Li J, Kirshner ZZ, Nelson D, Dougherty GG, Gibbs RB. Estradiol and selective estrogen receptor agonists differentially affect brain monoamines and amino acids levels in transitional and surgical menopausal rat models. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 496:110533. [PMID: 31394142 PMCID: PMC6717664 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens have many beneficial effects in the brain. Previously, we evaluated the effects of two models of menopause (surgical vs. transitional) on multiple monoaminergic endpoints in different regions of the adult rat brain in comparison with levels in gonadally intact rats. Here we evaluated the effects of estrogen receptor (ER) agonist treatments in these same two models of menopause. Neurochemical endpoints were evaluated in the hippocampus (HPC), frontal cortex (FCX), and striatum (STR) of adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats and in rats that underwent selective and gradual ovarian follicle depletion by daily injection of 4-vinylcyclohexene-diepoxide (VCD), after 1- and 6-weeks treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2), or with selective ERα (PPT), ERβ (DPN), or GPR30 (G-1) agonists. Endpoints included serotonin (5-HT) and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid, dopamine (DA), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine, as well as the amino acids tryptophan (TRP) and tyrosine (TYR). Significant differences between the models were detected. OVX rats were much more sensitive to ER agonist treatments than VCD-treated rats. Significant differences between brain regions also were detected. Within OVX rats, more agonist effects were detected in the HPC than in any other region. One interesting finding was the substantial decrease in TRP and TYR detected in the HPC and FCX in response to agonist treatments, particularly in OVX rats. This is on top of the substantial decreases in TRP and TYR previously reported one week after OVX or VCD-treatments in comparison with gonadally intact controls. Other interesting findings included increases in the levels of 5-HT, DA, and NE in the HPC of OVX rats treated with DPN, increases in DA detected in the FCX of OVX rats treated with any of the ER agonists, and increases in 5-HT and DA detected in the STR of OVX rats treated with E2. Many effects that were observed after 1-week of treatment were no longer observed after 6-weeks of treatment, demonstrating that effects were temporary despite continued agonist treatment. Collectively, the results demonstrate significant differences in the effects of ER agonists on monoaminergic endpoints in OVX vs. VCD-treated rats that also were brain region-specific and time dependent. The fact that agonist treatments had lesser effects in VCD treated rats than in OVX rats may help to explain reports of lesser effects of estrogen replacement on cognitive performance in women that have undergone transitional vs. surgical menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Long
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Medical Research Service, Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Yao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Medical Research Service, Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Junyi Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Ziv Z Kirshner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Doug Nelson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - George G Dougherty
- Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Medical Research Service, Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Robert B Gibbs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
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36
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Uddin MS, Kabir MT. Emerging Signal Regulating Potential of Genistein Against Alzheimer's Disease: A Promising Molecule of Interest. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:197. [PMID: 31620438 PMCID: PMC6763641 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by pathological aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and tau protein; both of these are toxic to neurons. Currently, natural products are regarded as an alternative approach to discover novel multipotent drugs against AD. Dietary soy isoflavone genistein is one of the examples of such agents that occurs naturally and is known to exert a number of beneficial health effects. It has been observed that genistein has the capacity to improve the impairments triggered by Aβ and also it possesses the antioxidant potential to scavenge the AD-mediated generation of free radicals. Furthermore, genistein can interact directly with the targeted signaling proteins and also can stabilize their activity to combat AD. In order to advance the development of AD treatment, a better comprehension of the direct interactions of target proteins and genistein might prove beneficial. Therefore, this article focuses on the therapeutic effects and molecular targets of genistein, which has been found to target directly the Aβ and tau to control the intracellular signaling pathways responsible for neurons death in the AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Wang YX, Zhu L, Li LX, Xu HN, Wang HG, An D, Heng B, Zhao Q, Liu YQ. Postnatal Expression Patterns of Estrogen Receptor Subtypes and Choline Acetyltransferase in Different Regions of the Papez Circuit. Dev Neurosci 2019; 41:203-211. [PMID: 31536986 DOI: 10.1159/000502686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Papez circuit is crucial for several brain functions, including long-term memory and emotion. Estradiol modulates cognitive functions based on the expression pattern of its receptor subtypes including estrogen receptor (ER) α, β, and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30). Similarly, the activity in the cholinergic system correlates with several brain functions, such as learning and memory. In this study, we used immunofluorescence to examine the expression patterns of ERβ and Western blotting to analyze GPR30 and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression, in different regions of the Papez circuit, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, anterior nucleus of the thalamus, and cingulum in female rats at postnatal days (PND) 1, 10, and 56. Our main finding was that the highest expression of ERβ and GPR30 was noted in each brain area of the Papez circuit in the PND1 rats, whereas the expression of ChAT was the highest in PND10 rats. These results provide vital information on the postnatal expression patterns of ER subtypes and ChAT in different regions of the Papez circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xiang Wang
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Li-Xia Li
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui-Nan Xu
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Di An
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Heng
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan-Qiang Liu
- Department of Zoology and Developmental Biology,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China,
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Mitchnick KA, Mendell AL, Wideman CE, Jardine KH, Creighton SD, Muller AM, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ, Winters BD. Dissociable involvement of estrogen receptors in perirhinal cortex-mediated object-place memory in male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:98-108. [PMID: 31125759 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens and the estrogen receptors (ER) - ERα, ERβ, and the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) - are implicated in various forms of hippocampus (HPC)-dependent memory. However, the involvement of ER-related mechanisms in perirhinal cortex (PRh), which is necessary for object memory, remains much less clear. Moreover, there is a paucity of data assessing ER contributions to cognition in males,despite documented sex differences at the cellular level.We hypothesized that estrogens in PRh are important for object memory in males, assessingthe role of 17-βestradiol (E2), ERα, ERβ, GPER, and their downstream signaling pathways, in PRh-mediated object-in-place (OiP) memory in gonadally-intact male rats. Intra-PRh administration of E2 enhanced both long-term memory (LTM; 24 h) and short-term memory (STM; 20 min). Conversely, aromatase inhibition with letrozole impaired LTM and STM. The semi-selective ER inhibitor ICI 182780 impaired LTM, but not STM. This effect may be due to inhibition of ERβ, as the ERβagonist DPN, but not ERαagonist PPT, enhanced LTM. GPER was also found to be necessary in PRh, as the antagonist G15 impaired both LTM and STM. Western blot analyses demonstrated that phosphorylation levels of the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK2 isoform), awell-establisheddownstream signaling pathway activated by estrogens through ERα/ERβ, was elevated in PRh 5 min following OiP learning.We also reportincreased levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK; p46 and p54 isoforms) phosphorylation in PRh 5 min following learning,consistent with recent research linking GPER activation and JNK signaling in the HPC. This effect was abolished by intra-PRh administration of G15, but not letrozole, suggesting that JNK signaling is triggered via GPER activation during OiP learning, and is possibly E2-independent, similar to findings in the HPC. These results, therefore, reveal interesting dissociations between the roles of various ERs, possibly involving both estrogen-dependent and independent mechanisms, in PRh-mediated object-place learning in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista A Mitchnick
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada.
| | - Ari L Mendell
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Cassidy E Wideman
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Kristen H Jardine
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Samantha D Creighton
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada
| | | | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Neil J MacLusky
- Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Boyer D Winters
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada; Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Canada.
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Total Polysaccharides of Lily Bulb Ameliorate Menopause-Like Behavior in Ovariectomized Mice: Multiple Mechanisms Distinct from Estrogen Therapy. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:6869350. [PMID: 31428228 PMCID: PMC6683782 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6869350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study has demonstrated the effects of aqueous extract of lily bulb in alleviating menopause-related psychiatric symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. This study sought to further investigate the psychotropic effects of total polysaccharides of lily bulb (TPLB) against anxiety, depression, and cognitive deterioration and the underlying mechanisms in OVX mice using behavioral, neurochemical, molecular, and proteomic approaches in comparison with estrogen therapy. While TPLB and estradiol showed similar effects in reducing OVX-induced anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment, the psychotropic effects of TPLB were more closely associated with the predominant activation of estrogen receptors (ERs) and regulation of brain regional neurotransmitters and neurotrophins with minor effects on the uterus. Estradiol had similar potencies in binding affinity at ERα and ERβ, which caused widespread genetic and epigenetic effects. In contrast, TPLB displayed a higher affinity at ERβ than ERα, triggering the specific Ras/Akt/ERK/CREB signaling pathway without affecting any epigenetic activity. TPLB additionally modulated multiple proteins associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress, but estradiol did not. These results indicate that TPLB has comparable efficacy in reducing menopause-associated neuropsychological symptoms with a better safety profile compared to estrogen therapy. We suggest that TPLB could serve as a novel agent for menopause syndrome.
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Santollo J, Myers KE, Rainer IL, Edwards AA. Gonadal hormones in female rats protect against dehydration-induced memory impairments in the novel object recognition paradigm. Horm Behav 2019; 114:104547. [PMID: 31228420 PMCID: PMC6732238 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Dehydration impairs cognitive performance in humans and rodents, although studies in animal models are limited. Estrogens have both protective effects on fluid regulation and improve performance in certain cognitive tasks. We, therefore, tested whether sex and gonadal hormones influence object recognition memory during dehydration. Because past studies used fluid deprivation to induce dehydration, which is a mixture of intracellular and extracellular fluid loss, we tested the effects of osmotic (loss of intracellular fluid) and hypovolemic (loss of extracellular fluid) dehydration on object recognition memory. After training trials consisting of exposure to two identical objects, rats were either treated with hypertonic saline to induce osmotic dehydration, furosemide to induce hypovolemic dehydration, or received a control injection and then object recognition memory was tested by presenting the original and a novel object. After osmotic dehydration, regardless of group or treatment, all rats spent significantly more time investigating the novel object. After hypovolemic dehydration, regardless of treatment, both the males and estrous females spent significantly more time investigating the novel object. While the control-treated diestrous females also spent significantly more time investigating the novel object, the furosemide-treated diestrous females spent a similar amount of time investigating the novel and original object. Follow up studies determined that loss of ovarian hormones after ovariectomy, but not loss of testicular hormones after castration, resulted in impaired memory performance in the object recognition test after hypovolemic dehydration. This series of experiments provides evidence for a protective role of ovarian hormones on dehydration-induced memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Santollo
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
| | - Katherine E Myers
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States
| | - Ivanka L Rainer
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States
| | - Andrea A Edwards
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States
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Abstract
There are 3 common physiological estrogens, of which estradiol (E2) is seen to decline rapidly over the menopausal transition. This decline in E2 has been associated with a number of changes in the brain, including cognitive changes, effects on sleep, and effects on mood. These effects have been demonstrated in both rodent and non-human preclinical models. Furthermore, E2 interactions have been indicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. In normal brain aging, there are a number of systems that undergo changes and a number of these show interactions with E2, particularly the cholinergic system, the dopaminergic system, and mitochondrial function. E2 treatment has been shown to ameliorate some of the behavioral and morphological changes seen in preclinical models of menopause; however, in clinical populations, the effects of E2 treatment on cognitive changes after menopause are mixed. The future use of sex hormone treatment will likely focus on personalized or precision medicine for the prevention or treatment of cognitive disturbances during aging, with a better understanding of who may benefit from such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Russell
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Tennessee VA Health Systems, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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Pan Y, Xu J, Jin P, Yang Q, Zhu K, You M, Chen M, Hu F. Royal Jelly Ameliorates Behavioral Deficits, Cholinergic System Deficiency, and Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction in Ovariectomized Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24061149. [PMID: 30909491 PMCID: PMC6470943 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24061149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen deficiency after menopause is associated with autonomic nervous changes, leading to memory impairment and increased susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Royal jelly (RJ) from honeybees (Apis mellifera) has estrogenic activity. Here, we investigated whether RJ can improve behavior, cholinergic and autonomic nervous function in ovariectomized (OVX) cholesterol-fed rabbits. OVX rabbits on high-cholesterol diet were administered with RJ for 12 weeks. The results showed that RJ could significantly improve the behavioral deficits of OVX cholesterol-fed rabbits and image structure of the brain. RJ reduced body weight, blood lipid, as well as the levels of amyloid-beta (Aβ), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and malonaldehyde (MDA) in the brain. Moreover, RJ also increased the activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the brain, and enhanced heart rate variability (HRV) and Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in OVX cholesterol-fed rabbits. Furthermore, RJ was also shown to reduce the content of Evans blue and the expression levels of Aβ, beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1), and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and increase the expression level of LDL(low density lipoprotein) receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) in the brain. Our findings suggested that RJ has beneficial effects in neurological disorders of postmenopausal women, which were associated with reducing cholesterol and Aβ deposition, enhancing the estrogen levels and the activities of cholinergic and antioxidant systems, and ameliorating the blood⁻brain barrier (BBB) permeability and restoring autonomic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Pan
- Comparative medical Research Institute, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Jianqin Xu
- Comparative medical Research Institute, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Ping Jin
- The third clinical medical college, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Qinqin Yang
- Comparative medical Research Institute, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Keyan Zhu
- Comparative medical Research Institute, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Mengmeng You
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Minli Chen
- Comparative medical Research Institute, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Sheppard PAS, Choleris E, Galea LAM. Structural plasticity of the hippocampus in response to estrogens in female rodents. Mol Brain 2019; 12:22. [PMID: 30885239 PMCID: PMC6423800 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0442-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that estrogens affect neuroplasticity in a number of brain regions. In particular, estrogens modulate and mediate spine and synapse formation as well as neurogenesis in the hippocampal formation. In this review, we discuss current research exploring the effects of estrogens on dendritic spine plasticity and neurogenesis with a focus on the modulating factors of sex, age, and pregnancy. Hormone levels, including those of estrogens, fluctuate widely across the lifespan from early life to puberty, through adulthood and into old age, as well as with pregnancy and parturition. Dendritic spine formation and modulation are altered both by rapid (likely non-genomic) and classical (genomic) actions of estrogens and have been suggested to play a role in the effects of estrogens on learning and memory. Neurogenesis in the hippocampus is influenced by age, the estrous cycle, pregnancy, and parity in female rodents. Furthermore, sex differences exist in hippocampal cellular and molecular responses to estrogens and are briefly discussed throughout. Understanding how structural plasticity in the hippocampus is affected by estrogens and how these effects can influence function and be influenced by other factors, such as experience and sex, is critical and can inform future treatments in conditions involving the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. S. Sheppard
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Liisa A. M. Galea
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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Shimizu S, Matsushita H, Minami A, Kanazawa H, Suzuki T, Watanabe K, Wakatsuki A. Royal jelly does not prevent bone loss but improves bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Climacteric 2018; 21:601-606. [PMID: 30296854 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2018.1517739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Royal jelly (RJ) has been used for medical and nutritional purposes, and previous studies have indicated that it may have estrogenic activity. The present study investigated the effects of RJ on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS Rats (12 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups, namely Baseline, Sham, OVX, and OVX + RJ groups. Rats in the Baseline group were killed immediately, whereas rats in the OVX and OVX + RJ groups underwent bilateral ovariectomy and those in the Sham group underwent sham operation. RJ was administered to rats in the OVX + RJ group daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12-week period, bone mass, bone histomorphometry, and bone mechanics were analyzed. RESULTS Femur bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly lower in the OVX group than in the Sham group, and this decrease in BMD was not ameliorated by RJ administration. However, femur stiffness, as evaluated by a three-point bending test, was significantly higher in the OVX + RJ group than in the OVX group. CONCLUSION The findings of the present study suggest that RJ does not prevent bone loss, but does improve bone strength in OVX rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Shimizu
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan
| | - H Matsushita
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan
| | - A Minami
- b Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Shizuoka , Shizuoka , Japan
| | - H Kanazawa
- c Department of Functional Anatomy, School of Nursing , University of Shizuoka , Shizuoka , Japan
| | - T Suzuki
- b Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Shizuoka , Shizuoka , Japan
| | - K Watanabe
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan
| | - A Wakatsuki
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan
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Said SA, Isedowo R, Guerin C, Nar NN, Lillie L, Bukovac S, Simone JJ, Green MR, McCormick CM, Stuart JA. Effects of long-term dietary administration of estrogen receptor-beta agonist diarylpropionitrile on ovariectomized female ICR (CD-1) mice. GeroScience 2018; 40:393-403. [PMID: 30099673 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-018-0038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarylpropionitrile (DPN) is an estrogen receptor-β-specific agonist that has been linked to neuroprotection, preserving cognitive function with age, the suppression of anxiety-like behaviors, inhibition of cancer growth, and other positive properties. We hypothesized that DPN may have pro-longevity properties. DPN was administered via feed at a dose corresponding to approximately 3 mg/kg/day to ovariectomized female mice beginning at 7 months of age. Mice were followed for the duration of their lifespans while monitoring body mass, aspects of behavior, learning, memory, and frailty. DPN-treated mice gained more body mass over the first 2 years of age (17 months of the study). A test of voluntary running behavior at 24 months of age behavior revealed no deficits in DPN-treated mice, which were as likely as control mice to engage in extended bouts of wheel running, and did so at higher average speeds. DPN administration had anxiolytic-like effects when measured using an elevated plus maze at 9 months of age. A mouse frailty index was used to assess age-related changes. The correlation between age and frailty differed between control and DPN-treated mice. Overall, dietary DPN administration had some beneficial effects on the aging phenotype of ovariectomized female mice with few significant detrimental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry A Said
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Rachel Isedowo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Christilynn Guerin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Navreek N Nar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Leesa Lillie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Shawn Bukovac
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Jonathan J Simone
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Matthew R Green
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Cheryl M McCormick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Jeffrey A Stuart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
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Fang YY, Zeng P, Qu N, Ning LN, Chu J, Zhang T, Zhou XW, Tian Q. Evidence of altered depression and dementia-related proteins in the brains of young rats after ovariectomy. J Neurochem 2018; 146:703-721. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Yan Fang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Peng Zeng
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Na Qu
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Affiliated Mental Health Center; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Lin-Na Ning
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Jiang Chu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Teng Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Xin-Wen Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
| | - Qing Tian
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology; School of Basic Medicine; Tongji Medical College; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
- Institute for Brain Research; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan China
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Paletta P, Sheppard PAS, Matta R, Ervin KSJ, Choleris E. Rapid effects of estrogens on short-term memory: Possible mechanisms. Horm Behav 2018; 104:88-99. [PMID: 29847771 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Contribution to Special Issue on Fast effects of steroids. Estrogens affect learning and memory through rapid and delayed mechanisms. Here we review studies on rapid effects on short-term memory. Estradiol rapidly improves social and object recognition memory, spatial memory, and social learning when administered systemically. The dorsal hippocampus mediates estrogen rapid facilitation of object, social and spatial short-term memory. The medial amygdala mediates rapid facilitation of social recognition. The three estrogen receptors, α (ERα), β (ERβ) and the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) appear to play different roles depending on the task and brain region. Both ERα and GPER agonists rapidly facilitate short-term social and object recognition and spatial memory when administered systemically or into the dorsal hippocampus and facilitate social recognition in the medial amygdala. Conversely, only GPER can facilitate social learning after systemic treatment and an ERβ agonist only rapidly improved short-term spatial memory when given systemically or into the hippocampus, but also facilitates social recognition in the medial amygdala. Investigations into the mechanisms behind estrogens' rapid effects on short term memory showed an involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) kinase pathways. Recent evidence also showed that estrogens interact with the neuropeptide oxytocin in rapidly facilitating social recognition. Estrogens can increase the production and/or release of oxytocin and other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and acetylcholine. Therefore, it is possible that estrogens' rapid effects on short-term memory may occur through the regulation of various neurotransmitters, although more research is need on these interactions as well as the mechanisms of estrogens' actions on short-term memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Paletta
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Paul A S Sheppard
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Richard Matta
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Kelsy S J Ervin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Luine V, Serrano P, Frankfurt M. Rapid effects on memory consolidation and spine morphology by estradiol in female and male rodents. Horm Behav 2018; 104:111-118. [PMID: 29669258 PMCID: PMC6274598 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Contribution to Special Issue on Fast effects of steroids. Rapid, neurosteroid-like effects of estrogens on memory consolidation during recognition memory tasks in both male and female rodents are described. We discuss how these mnemonic changes are related to rapid estrogenic effects on dendritic spine density, the distribution of spine types and the expression of PSD95 and GluA2 within spines in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex, two areas critical for learning and memory. Overall, these data lead to the conclusion that estrogens are capable of exerting rapid and potent influences on memory and spine morphology in both sexes. The demonstration of estrogenic effects in males, which are used in the majority of memory studies, may provide a model for better understanding how hormone dependent changes in signaling pathways mediating memory and spinogenesis are coordinated to promote memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Luine
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Peter Serrano
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maya Frankfurt
- Department of Science Education, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
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Hanson AM, Perera KLIS, Kim J, Pandey RK, Sweeney N, Lu X, Imhoff A, Mackinnon AC, Wargolet AJ, Van Hart RM, Frick KM, Donaldson WA, Sem DS. A-C Estrogens as Potent and Selective Estrogen Receptor-Beta Agonists (SERBAs) to Enhance Memory Consolidation under Low-Estrogen Conditions. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4720-4738. [PMID: 29741891 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) is a drug target for memory consolidation in postmenopausal women. Herein is reported a series of potent and selective ERβ agonists (SERBAs) with in vivo efficacy that are A-C estrogens, lacking the B and D estrogen rings. The most potent and selective A-C estrogen is selective for activating ER relative to seven other nuclear hormone receptors, with a surprising 750-fold selectivity for the β over α isoform and with EC50s of 20-30 nM in cell-based and direct binding assays. Comparison of potency in different assays suggests that the ER isoform selectivity is related to the compound's ability to drive the productive conformational change needed to activate transcription. The compound also shows in vivo efficacy after microinfusion into the dorsal hippocampus and after intraperitoneal injection (0.5 mg/kg) or oral gavage (0.5 mg/kg). This simple yet novel A-C estrogen is selective, brain penetrant, and facilitates memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Hanson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - K L Iresha Sampathi Perera
- Department of Chemistry , Marquette University , P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53201-1881 , United States
| | - Jaekyoon Kim
- Department of Psychology , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , 2441 East Hartford Avenue , Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53211 , United States
| | - Rajesh K Pandey
- Department of Chemistry , Marquette University , P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53201-1881 , United States
| | - Noreena Sweeney
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - Xingyun Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - Andrea Imhoff
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - Alexander Craig Mackinnon
- Department of Pathology , Medical College of Wisconsin , 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue , Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53226 , United States
| | - Adam J Wargolet
- Department of Natural Science , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - Rochelle M Van Hart
- Department of Natural Science , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , 2441 East Hartford Avenue , Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53211 , United States
| | - William A Donaldson
- Department of Chemistry , Marquette University , P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee , Wisconsin 53201-1881 , United States
| | - Daniel S Sem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development , Concordia University Wisconsin , Mequon , Wisconsin 53097 , United States
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Pereira LM, Guimarães IM, Oliveira VE, Bastos CP, Ribeiro FM, Prado VF, Prado MA, Pereira GS. Estradiol effect on short-term object memory under hypocholinergic condition. Brain Res Bull 2018; 140:411-417. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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