1
|
Picci G, Petro NM, Casagrande CC, Ott LR, Okelberry HJ, Rice DL, Coutant AT, Ende GC, Steiner EL, Wang YP, Stephen JM, Calhoun VD, Wilson TW. Anterior pituitary gland volume mediates associations between pubertal hormones and changes in transdiagnostic symptoms in youth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.17.594766. [PMID: 38798387 PMCID: PMC11118574 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.594766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The pituitary gland (PG) plays a central role in the production and secretion of pubertal hormones, with documented links to the emergence and increase in mental health symptoms known to occur during adolescence. Although much of the literature has focused on examining whole PG volume, recent findings suggest that there are associations among pubertal hormone levels, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), subregions of the PG, and elevated mental health symptoms (e.g., internalizing symptoms) during adolescence. Surprisingly, studies have not yet examined associations among these factors and increasing transdiagnostic symptomology, despite DHEA being a primary output of the anterior PG. Therefore, the current study sought to fill this gap by examining whether anterior PG volume specifically mediates associations between DHEA levels and changes in dysregulation symptoms in an adolescent sample ( N = 114, 9 - 17 years, M age = 12.87, SD = 1.88). Following manual tracing of the anterior and posterior PG, structural equation modeling revealed that greater anterior, not posterior, PG volume mediated the association between greater DHEA levels and increasing dysregulation symptoms across time, controlling for baseline dysregulation symptom levels. These results suggest specificity in the role of the anterior PG in adrenarcheal processes that may confer risk for psychopathology during adolescence. This work not only highlights the importance of separately tracing the anterior and posterior PG, but also suggests that transdiagnostic factors like dysregulation are useful in parsing hormone-related increases in mental health symptoms in youth.
Collapse
|
2
|
Vaidya N, Marquand AF, Nees F, Siehl S, Schumann G. The impact of psychosocial adversity on brain and behaviour: an overview of existing knowledge and directions for future research. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02556-y. [PMID: 38658773 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Environmental experiences play a critical role in shaping the structure and function of the brain. Its plasticity in response to different external stimuli has been the focus of research efforts for decades. In this review, we explore the effects of adversity on brain's structure and function and its implications for brain development, adaptation, and the emergence of mental health disorders. We are focusing on adverse events that emerge from the immediate surroundings of an individual, i.e., microenvironment. They include childhood maltreatment, peer victimisation, social isolation, affective loss, domestic conflict, and poverty. We also take into consideration exposure to environmental toxins. Converging evidence suggests that different types of adversity may share common underlying mechanisms while also exhibiting unique pathways. However, they are often studied in isolation, limiting our understanding of their combined effects and the interconnected nature of their impact. The integration of large, deep-phenotyping datasets and collaborative efforts can provide sufficient power to analyse high dimensional environmental profiles and advance the systematic mapping of neuronal mechanisms. This review provides a background for future research, highlighting the importance of understanding the cumulative impact of various adversities, through data-driven approaches and integrative multimodal analysis techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilakshi Vaidya
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andre F Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sebastian Siehl
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-Inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee AH, Kitagawa Y, Mirhashem R, Rodriguez M, Hilerio R, Bernard K. Do dimensions of childhood adversity differ in their direct associations with youth psychopathology? A meta-analysis. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-31. [PMID: 38584264 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000737] [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: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence supports the unique pathways by which threat and deprivation, two core dimensions of adversity, confer risk for youth psychopathology. However, the extent to which these dimensions differ in their direct associations with youth psychopathology remains unclear. The primary aim of this preregistered meta-analysis was to synthesize the associations between threat, deprivation, internalizing, externalizing, and trauma-specific psychopathology. Because threat is proposed to be directly linked with socioemotional development, we hypothesized that the magnitude of associations between threat and psychopathology would be larger than those with deprivation. We conducted a search for peer-reviewed articles in English using PubMed and PsycINFO databases through August 2022. Studies that assessed both threat and deprivation and used previously validated measures of youth psychopathology were included. One hundred and twenty-seven articles were included in the synthesis (N = 163,767). Results of our three-level meta-analyses indicated that adversity dimension significantly moderated the associations between adversity and psychopathology, such that the magnitude of effects for threat (r's = .21-26) were consistently larger than those for deprivation (r's = .16-.19). These differences were more pronounced when accounting for the threat-deprivation correlation. Additional significant moderators included emotional abuse and youth self-report of adversity. Findings are consistent with the Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology, with clinical, research, and policy implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Hyoeun Lee
- Department of Psychology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Mirhashem
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Micaela Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Romola Hilerio
- Department of Psychology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Kristin Bernard
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Picci G, Casagrande CC, Ott LR, Petro NM, Christopher‐Hayes NJ, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Okelberry HJ, Wang Y, Stephen JM, Calhoun VD, Wilson TW. Dehydroepiandrosterone mediates associations between trauma-related symptoms and anterior pituitary volume in children and adolescents. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6388-6398. [PMID: 37853842 PMCID: PMC10681633 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The anterior pituitary gland (PG) is a potential locus of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity to early life stress, with documented associations between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and anterior PG volumes. In adults, elevated anxiety/depressive symptoms are related to diminished DHEA levels, and studies have shown a positive relationship between DHEA and anterior pituitary volumes. However, specific links between responses to stress, DHEA levels, and anterior pituitary volume have not been established in developmental samples. METHODS High-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans were collected from 137 healthy youth (9-17 years; Mage = 12.99 (SD = 1.87); 49% female; 85% White, 4% Indigenous, 1% Asian, 4% Black, 4% multiracial, 2% not reported). The anterior and posterior PGs were manually traced by trained raters. We examined the mediating effects of salivary DHEA on trauma-related symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic) and PG volumes as well as an alternative model examining mediating effects of PG volume on DHEA and trauma-related symptoms. RESULTS DHEA mediated the association between anxiety symptoms and anterior PG volume. Specifically, higher anxiety symptoms related to lower DHEA levels, which in turn were related to smaller anterior PG. CONCLUSIONS These results shed light on the neurobiological sequelae of elevated anxiety in youth and are consistent with adult findings showing suppressed levels of DHEA in those with greater comorbid anxiety and depression. Specifically, adolescents with greater subclinical anxiety may exhibit diminished levels of DHEA during the pubertal window, which may be associated with disruptions in anterior PG growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Picci
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain HealthBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Chloe C. Casagrande
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lauren R. Ott
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Nathan M. Petro
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | | | - Hallie J. Johnson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Madelyn P. Willett
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hannah J. Okelberry
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Yu‐Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | | | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri‐Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of technology, and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain HealthBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zinchuk MS, Druzhkova TA, Popova SB, Zhanina MY, Guekht AB, Gulyaeva NV. Early Adverse Family Experiences and Elevated Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Predict Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Females with Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders and Suicidal Ideation. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3181. [PMID: 38137402 PMCID: PMC10740784 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI), prevalent in patients with non-psychotic mental disorders (NPMD), is associated with numerous adverse outcomes. Despite active research into the clinical and psychological aspects of NSSI, the underlying biological mechanisms remain obscure. Early adverse experiences are believed to induce long-lasting changes in neuroendocrine mechanisms of stress control playing a key role in NSSI development. The aim of the study was to evaluate parameters potentially predicting development of NSSI in female patients with NPMD and suicidal ideation. Eighty female patients over 18 years with NPMD and suicidal ideation (40 with and 40 without NSSI) and 48 age matching women without evidence of mental illness (healthy controls) were enrolled. Diagnostic interviews and self-report measures were used to assess childhood maltreatment, presence, frequency, and characteristics of suicidal and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, the Beck Depression Inventory scale to assess severity of depression. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis markers, hormones, and neurotrophic factors were measured in blood serum. The likelihood of developing NSSI in patients with NPMD and suicidal ideation was associated with early adverse family history and elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as a result of early chronic stress experiences may represent critical biological mechanism promoting the development of NSSI behaviors in patients with NPMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail S. Zinchuk
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
| | - Tatiana A. Druzhkova
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
| | - Sofya B. Popova
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
| | - Marina Y. Zhanina
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
- Department of Functional Biochemistry of Nervous System, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117485 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alla B. Guekht
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V. Gulyaeva
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, 115419 Moscow, Russia; (M.S.Z.); (S.B.P.); (M.Y.Z.)
- Department of Functional Biochemistry of Nervous System, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117485 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Vargas TG, Mittal VA. The Critical Roles of Early Development, Stress, and Environment in the Course of Psychosis. ANNUAL REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 4:423-445. [PMID: 36712999 PMCID: PMC9879333 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-devpsych-121020-032354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Psychotic disorders are highly debilitating with poor prognoses and courses of chronic illness. In recent decades, conceptual models have shaped understanding, informed treatment, and guided research questions. However, these models have classically focused on the adolescent and early adulthood stages immediately preceding onset while conceptualizing early infancy through all of childhood as a unitary premorbid period. In addition, models have paid limited attention to differential effects of types of stress; contextual factors such as local, regional, and country-level characteristics or sociocultural contexts; and the timing of the stressor or environmental risk. This review discusses emerging research suggesting that (a) considering effects specific to neurodevelopmental stages prior to adolescence is highly informative, (b) understanding specific stressors and levels of environmental exposures (i.e., systemic or contextual features) is necessary, and (c) exploring the dynamic interplay between development, levels and types of stressors, and environments can shed new light, informing a specified neurodevelopmental and multifaceted diathesis-stress model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T G Vargas
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - V A Mittal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medical Social Sciences, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Whittle S, Pozzi E, Rakesh D, Kim JM, Yap MBH, Schwartz OS, Youssef G, Allen NB, Vijayakumar N. Harsh and Inconsistent Parental Discipline Is Associated With Altered Cortical Development in Children. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:989-997. [PMID: 35158076 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence suggests that parenting behaviors may affect child mental health via altering brain development. There is a scarcity of research, however, that has investigated associations between parenting behavior and brain structure using longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging. This study aimed to investigate associations between parenting behaviors and structural brain development across the transition from childhood to adolescence. METHODS Participants were 246 children who provided 436 magnetic resonance imaging datasets covering the age range from 8 to 13 years. Parents (94% mothers) completed self-report measures of parenting behavior, and both children and parents reported on child mental health. Factor analysis was used to identify dimensions of parental behavior. Linear mixed-effects models investigated associations between parenting behaviors and age-related change in cortical thickness and surface area and subcortical volume. Mediation models tested whether brain changes mediated associations between parenting behaviors and changes in internalizing/externalizing symptoms. RESULTS Hypothesized associations between parenting and amygdala, hippocampal, and frontal trajectories were not supported. Rather, higher levels of parent harsh/inconsistent discipline were associated with decreases in surface area in medial parietal and temporal pole regions and reduced cortical thinning in medial parietal regions. Some effects were present in female but not male children. There were no associations between these neurodevelopmental alterations and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into the links between parenting behavior and child neurodevelopment. Given the functions of implicated regions, findings may suggest that parental harsh/inconsistent discipline affects the development of neural circuits subserving sensorimotor and social functioning in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Elena Pozzi
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Divyangana Rakesh
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julia Minji Kim
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marie B H Yap
- School of Psychological Science, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Orli S Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - George Youssef
- Department of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pituitary volume in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: Preliminary evidence for alterations in pituitary maturation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 138:105662. [PMID: 35101833 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), typically observed in the context of various mental disorders, represents a highly prevalent and serious problem among adolescents. Based on studies linking NSSI with stress, alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning have been suggested to contribute to the development and maintenance of this behavior. While research has mainly focused on cortisol - the main hormonal output of this system - to our knowledge, no study has examined pituitary gland volume (PGV) - an alternative approach of assessing HPA axis functionality that is less state-dependent - in adolescents engaging in NSSI. METHODS Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed among n = 35 adolescents (aged 12-17 years) fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for NSSI disorder according to DSM-5 and n = 31 age-matched healthy controls; PGV was obtained by manual tracing. To test for group differences - our primary aim - a hierarchical linear regression model was computed, controlling for several potential confounding variables. Since adolescence reflects a time period for significant brain development - including changes in PGV - we also tested for an age-dependent group effect. In a second step, we aimed to investigate whether differences in PGV are accounted for by the experience of childhood adversity or psychopathology. Finally, following an exploratory approach, the dimensional association between PGV and various clinical characteristics (e.g., frequency of NSSI) were explored. RESULTS No evidence was found for overall volumetric differences between healthy control participants and adolescents engaging in NSSI (p > 0.05) - recognizing that small effect size differences could not be detected in the present study - but group membership significantly interacted with age in predicting PGV (p = 0.02). Particularly, while PGV increased linearly with age in healthy controls (B = 61.39, SE = 14.94, p < 0.01), no corresponding association was found in NSSI patients (B = 16.83, SE = 12.20, p = 0.17). PGV was not related to adverse experiences during childhood and none of the clinical characteristics (e.g., frequency of NSSI) significantly correlated with PGV (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION These results provide preliminary evidence for alterations in pituitary maturation in adolescents engaging in NSSI, although replication in longitudinal studies with larger samples is warranted.
Collapse
|
9
|
The Novel Competing Endogenous Long Noncoding RNA SM2 Regulates Gonadotropin Secretion in the Hu Sheep Anterior Pituitary by Targeting the Oar-miR-16b/TGF-β/SMAD2 Signaling Pathway. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060985. [PMID: 35326436 PMCID: PMC8947352 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary gonadotropins play a pivotal role in reproduction. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as important regulators in the hypothalamic−pituitary−ovarian (HPO) axis associated with reproduction. However, the contributions of lncRNAs to pituitary gonadotropin secretion remain largely unknown. Therefore, this work was performed to uncover the functional mechanisms of the novel lncRNA TCONS_00083279 (lncRNA SM2) and its potential targeting pathway oar-miR-16b/TGF-beta/SMAD2, which is associated with gonadotropin secretion in sheep pituitary cells. In the present study, the lncRNA SM2 showed high expression levels in the sheep pituitary gland, and it was located in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of pituitary cells. lncRNA SM2 knockdown inhibited pituitary cell proliferation and FSH and LH secretion. The function of the lncRNA SM2 was sponged by oar-miR-16b, and this regulated the growth and gonadotropin secretion of pituitary cells by modulating SMAD2, as shown by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. FSH and LH levels were both upregulated by SMAD2 overexpression. Moreover, the levels of the lncRNA SM2, SMAD2 and TGFR1, as well as FSH and LH, in sheep pituitary cells increased significantly under gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation (p < 0.05). This work illustrates that the lncRNA SM2 regulates gonadotropin secretion in the Hu sheep anterior pituitary by targeting the oar-miR-16b/TGF-β/SMAD2 signaling pathway, providing a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sheep reproduction.
Collapse
|