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Ren Z, Xiao L, Xie Y, Huang Z, Lin S, Si L, Wang G. Effects of testosterone dose on depression-like behavior among castrated adult male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107046. [PMID: 38626557 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Previous research has shown a decrease in serum testosterone levels in male patients with depression. In recent years, the results of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to improve depression have been mixed. Using the classic CUMS model, we induced depressive-like behaviors in rats and observed a decrease in their serum testosterone levels along with an increase in androgen receptor expression in the hippocampus. We then performed castration and sham surgery on male rats and found that testosterone deprivation led to the manifestation of depressive-like behavior that could be ameliorated by TRT. Through a repeated measures experiment consisting of five blocks over a period of 25 days, we discovered that the reduction in depressive-like behavior in testosterone-deprived rats began 22 days after drug administration (0.5 and 0.25 mg/rat). Furthermore, rats in 0.5mgT group showed the most significant improvements. Subsequently, this dose was used in CUMS rats and reduced the occurrence of depressive-like behaviors. Our study has demonstrated the complex interplay between depression and testosterone, as well as the intricate dose-response relationship between TRT and reduction in depression. Our research supports the use of TRT to alleviate depression, but dosage and duration of treatment are critical factors in determining efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyu Ren
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinping Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyuan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Lujia Si
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Taikang center for life and medical sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Joue G, Navarro-Schröder T, Achtzehn J, Moffat S, Hennies N, Fuß J, Döller C, Wolbers T, Sommer T. Effects of estrogen on spatial navigation and memory. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1037-1063. [PMID: 38407638 PMCID: PMC11031496 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06539-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Animal studies suggest that the so-called "female" hormone estrogen enhances spatial navigation and memory. This contradicts the observation that males generally out-perform females in spatial navigation and tasks involving spatial memory. A closer look at the vast number of studies actually reveals that performance differences are not so clear. OBJECTIVES To help clarify the unclear performance differences between men and women and the role of estrogen, we attempted to isolate organizational from activational effects of estrogen on spatial navigation and memory. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we tested the effects of orally administered estradiol valerate (E2V) in healthy, young women in their low-hormone menstrual cycle phase, compared to healthy, young men. Participants performed several first-person, environmentally rich, 3-D computer games inspired by spatial navigation and memory paradigms in animal research. RESULTS We found navigation behavior suggesting that sex effects dominated any E2 effects with men performing better with allocentric strategies and women with egocentric strategies. Increased E2 levels did not lead to general improvements in spatial ability in either sex but to behavioral changes reflecting navigation flexibility. CONCLUSION Estrogen-driven differences in spatial cognition might be better characterized on a spectrum of navigation flexibility rather than by categorical performance measures or skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Joue
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Tobias Navarro-Schröder
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Johannes Achtzehn
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology (CVK), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Scott Moffat
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 654 Cherry Street, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Nora Hennies
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Fuß
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and Sex Research, University Duisburg-Essen, Hohlweg 26, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Döller
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Wolbers
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Leipziger Straße 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Sommer
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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Boukari O, Khemissi W, Ghodhbane S, Lahbib A, Tebourbi O, Rhouma KB, Sakly M, Hallegue D. Effects of testosterone replacement on lipid profile, hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, and cognitive performance in castrated wistar rats. Arch Ital Urol Androl 2023; 95:11593. [PMID: 38193231 DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2023.11593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Androgen deficiency is associated with multiple biochemical and behavioral disorders. This study investigated the effects of testosterone replacement and Spirulina Platensis association on testosterone deficiency-induced metabolic disorders and memory impairment. METHODS Adult male rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups and received the following treatments for 20 consecutive days. CONTROL GROUP non-castrated rats received distilled water. Castrated group received distilled water. Testosterone treated group: castrated rats received 0.20 mg of testosterone dissolved in corn oil by subcutaneous injection (i.p.). Spirulina co-treated group: castrated rats received 0.20 mg of testosterone (i.p.) dissolved in corn oil followed by 1000 mg/kg of Spirulina per os. RESULTS Data showed that castration induced an increase in plasma ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase (PAL), cholesterol, and triglycerides level. Castrated rats showed a great elevation in SOD and CAT activities and MDA and H2O2 levels in the prostate, seminal vesicles, and brain. Testosterone deficiency was also associated with alteration of the spatial memory and exploratory behaviour. Testosterone replacement either alone or with Spirulina combination efficiently improved most of these biochemical parameters and ameliorated cognitive abilities in castrated rats. CONCLUSIONS Testosterone replacement either alone or in combination with Spirulina improved castration-induced metabolic, oxidative, and cognitive alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumayma Boukari
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Wahid Khemissi
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Soumaya Ghodhbane
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Aida Lahbib
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Olfa Tebourbi
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Khemais Ben Rhouma
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Mohsen Sakly
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
| | - Dorsaf Hallegue
- Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Bizerte.
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Zamir A, Ben Zeev T, Levi C, Einstein O, Ratamess NA, van Praag H, Hoffman JR. The effect of supraphysiological dose of nandrolone decanoate administration on the inflammatory, neurotrophin and behavioral response in adult and old male mice. Horm Behav 2023; 156:105444. [PMID: 38344953 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
This study examined the effect of 6 weeks of supraphysiological nandrolone decanoate (ND) administration in adult mice (7 months) on cognitive function and neuroinflammation during aging. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into ND (10 mg·kg-1·wk-1) or control (CTL) groups. Half of the mice were tested at a young (Y) age (ND-Y and CTL-Y), 1 week following final ND administration, while the remaining mice were tested at 16 months (O) (ND-O and CTL-O). Learning and memory were better in young mice compared to older mice, regardless of treatment. ND-O displayed decreased anxiety as compared to all other groups. TNFα and IL1β expression were higher in older mice, regardless of treatment. ND administration in young mice appeared to attenuate the neuroinflammatory response in aging mice as evidenced by decreased COX2, IL-4 and increased IL-10 expression in ND-O compared to CTL-O. BDNF AR and ER expression increased in ND-O compared to CTL-O. Results of the study indicated that supraphysiological ND administration had no negative effect on learning and memory but may attenuate anxiety in older mice. In addition, ND administration in young adult mice may attenuate the inflammatory response during aging, which may be related to elevations in both AR and ER expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zamir
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel
| | - T Ben Zeev
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel
| | - C Levi
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel
| | - O Einstein
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel
| | - N A Ratamess
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of New Jersey, USA
| | - H van Praag
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, USA
| | - J R Hoffman
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel.
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Fleischer AW, Frick KM. New perspectives on sex differences in learning and memory. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:526-538. [PMID: 37500421 PMCID: PMC10617789 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Females have historically been disregarded in memory research, including the thousands of studies examining roles for the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala in learning and memory. Even when included, females are often judged based on male-centric behavioral and neurobiological standards, generating and perpetuating scientific stereotypes that females exhibit worse memories compared with males in domains such as spatial navigation and fear. Recent research challenges these dogmas by identifying sex-specific strategies in common memory tasks. Here, we discuss rodent data illustrating sex differences in spatial and fear memory, as well as the neural mechanisms underlying memory formation. The influence of sex steroid hormones in both sexes is discussed, as is the importance to basic and translational neuroscience of studying sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Fleischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
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6
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Kang J, Yan J, Yan W. Testosterone ameliorated the behavioural deficits of gonadectomised rats and counteracted free radicals in a dosage-dependent manner. Behav Brain Res 2023; 450:114501. [PMID: 37207980 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone deficiency may induce behavioural changes in individuals. Oxidative stress resulting from a redox imbalance may be implicated in the initiation and progression of neurobehavioural disorders. However, whether exogenous testosterone intervention in male gonadectomised (GDX) rats ameliorates oxidative stress and plays a neuroprotective role remains unknown. Therefore, we examined this hypothesis by performing sham or gonadectomy surgeries on Sprague-Dawley rats with or without supplementation with different doses of testosterone propionate (TP). Open field and Morris water maze tests were performed, the serum and brain testosterone levels, and oxidative stress markers were analysed. GDX and lower TP doses (0.5mg/kg) induced reduced exploratory and motor behaviours, but impaired spatial learning and memory compared to Sham rats. Administration of physiological TP levels (0.75-1.25mg/kg) to the GDX rats restored the behaviour observed in the intact rats. However, higher TP doses (1.5-3.0mg/kg) induced increased exploratory and motor behaviours but impaired spatial learning and memory. These behavioural impairments were accompanied by a marked decrease in levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and an increase in lipid peroxidation levels in the substantia nigra and hippocampus. These findings indicate that TP administration can alter behavioural performance and induce memory and learning impairment, which may result from changes in redox homeostasis in male GDX animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Kang
- Affiliated Yiling Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Jixing Yan
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Wensheng Yan
- Department of Sports Medicine, Hebei Sport University, Shijiazhuang, PR China.
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7
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López-Taboada I, Sal-Sarria S, Vallejo G, Coto-Montes A, Conejo NM, González-Pardo H. Sexual dimorphism in spatial learning and brain metabolism after exposure to a western diet and early life stress in rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 257:113969. [PMID: 36181786 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Prolonged daily intake of Western-type diet rich in saturated fats and sugars, and exposure to early life stress have been independently linked to impaired neurodevelopment and behaviour in animal models. However, sex-specific effects of both environmental factors combined on spatial learning and memory, behavioural flexibility, and brain oxidative capacity have still not been addressed. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal and postnatal exposure to a high-fat and high-sugar diet (HFS), and exposure to early life stress by maternal separation in adult male and female Wistar rats. For this purpose, spatial learning and memory and behavioural flexibility were evaluated in the Morris water maze, and regional brain oxidative capacity and oxidative stress levels were measured in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Spatial memory, regional brain oxidative metabolism, and levels of oxidative stress differed between females and males, suggesting sexual dimorphism in the effects of a HFS diet and early life stress. Males fed the HFS diet performed better than all other experimental groups independently of early life stress exposure. However, behavioural flexibility evaluated in the spatial reversal leaning task was impaired in males fed the HFS diet. In addition, exposure to maternal separation or the HFS diet increased the metabolic capacity of the prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus in males and females. Levels of oxidative stress measured in the latter brain regions were also increased in groups fed the HFS diet, but maternal separation seemed to dampen regional brain oxidative stress levels. Therefore, these results suggest a compensatory effect resulting from the interaction between prolonged exposure to a HFS diet and early life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel López-Taboada
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Saúl Sal-Sarria
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Guillermo Vallejo
- Methodology area, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana Coto-Montes
- Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; Department of Morphology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Nélida M Conejo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Héctor González-Pardo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
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8
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Afrin S, Hossain A, Begum S. Effects of Moringa oleifera on working memory: an experimental study with memory-impaired Wistar rats tested in radial arm maze. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:314. [PMID: 36192762 PMCID: PMC9528094 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-06219-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Memory impairment is a serious problem that has a significant negative impact on survival and quality of life. When used for a long time, drugs used to treat memory loss become less effective and have more side effects, making therapy more difficult. Different medicinal plants are now being highlighted because of their valuable applications and low risk of adverse effects. Moringa oleifera is one of these plants that has gained much attention due to its diverse biological functions. The study aimed to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera on working memory in memory-impaired Wistar rats. RESULTS For this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats having 150-250 g bodyweight were divided equally into three groups: Group-I/normal memory group (treated with oral normal saline 5 ml/kg body weight), Group-II/memory-impaired group (induced by intraperitoneal ketamine 15 mg/kg body weight), and Group-III/experimental group (treated with oral Moringa oleifera 200 mg/kg bodyweight and intraperitoneal ketamine 15 mg/kg body weight). The experimental group showed significantly fewer working memory errors than the memory-impaired group. The experimental group also provides the lowest variability of WMEs among groups. Thus, the study concludes that M. oleifera can prevent ketamine-induced memory impairment in Wistar rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Afrin
- Department of Physiology, Marks Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Hossain
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. .,Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Shelina Begum
- Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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9
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Hilz EN, Gore AC. Sex-specific Effects of Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals on Brain Monoamines and Cognitive Behavior. Endocrinology 2022; 163:bqac128. [PMID: 35939362 PMCID: PMC9419695 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The period of brain sexual differentiation is characterized by the development of hormone-sensitive neural circuits that govern the subsequent presentation of sexually dimorphic behavior in adulthood. Perturbations of hormones by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during this developmental period interfere with an organism's endocrine function and can disrupt the normative organization of male- or female-typical neural circuitry. This is well characterized for reproductive and social behaviors and their underlying circuitry in the hypothalamus and other limbic regions of the brain; however, cognitive behaviors are also sexually dimorphic, with their underlying neural circuitry potentially vulnerable to EDC exposure during critical periods of brain development. This review provides recent evidence for sex-specific changes to the brain's monoaminergic systems (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine) after developmental EDC exposure and relates these outcomes to sex differences in cognition such as affective, attentional, and learning/memory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N Hilz
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA
| | - Andrea C Gore
- Correspondence: Andrea C. Gore, PhD, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W Dean Keeton St, Box C0875, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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10
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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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11
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Lucon-Xiccato T. The contribution of executive functions to sex differences in animal cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104705. [PMID: 35605792 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive sex differences have been reported in several vertebrate species, mostly in spatial abilities. Here, I review evidence of sex differences in a family of general cognitive functions that control behaviour and cognition, i.e., executive functions such as cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. Most of this evidence derives from studies in teleost fish. However, analysis of literature from other fields (e.g., biomedicine, genetic, ecology) concerning mammals and birds reveals that more than 40% of species investigated exhibit sex differences in executive functions. Among species, the direction and magnitude of these sex differences vary greatly, even within the same family, suggesting sex-specific selection due to species' reproductive systems and reproductive roles of males and females. Evidence also suggests that sex differences in executive functions might provide males and females highly differentiated cognitive phenotypes. To understand the evolution of cognitive sex differences in vertebrates, future research should consider executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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12
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Fainanta T, Jaroenporn S, Wititsuwankul P, Malaivijitnond S. Comparison of neuroprotective effects of dihydrotestosterone, 17β-estradiol, and Pueraria mirifica herb extract on cognitive impairment in androgen deficient male rats. Horm Behav 2022; 143:105198. [PMID: 35609404 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2), and Pueraria mirifica herb extract (PME; an alternative source of natural estrogens) on the (i) learning and memory in androgen-deficient male rats, and on the hippocampus expression levels of (ii) mRNA of genes associated with synaptic transmission and structure, neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid plaques, and (iii) total and phosphorylated tau proteins. The four-month-old male rats were sham-operated or orchidectomized (ODX). The ODX rats were divided into four groups, and orally treated for 2 months with either 1 mL/d of distilled water or 100 mg/kg/d of PME; or subcutaneously injected with 1 mg/kg/d of DHT or 80 μg/kg/d of E2. The impairment of spatial learning behavior and memory capacity in the ODX rats was prevented by DHT, E2, and PME. Recovery of the orchidectomy-induced deterioration of the synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of rats was ranked as E2 ≥ PME > DHT. Both DHT and PME mitigated the increased Tau3 and Tau4 mRNA levels, and Tau-5 and P-Tau Ser396 protein levels more than E2 (DHT ≥ PME > E2). Only DHT tended to decrease App mRNA expression level. In conclusion, DHT showed a stronger efficacy for mitigation of the impaired spatial learning behavior and memory capacity in androgen-deficient male rats compared to E2 and PME, and their mechanisms of action are slightly different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taratorn Fainanta
- Biological Sciences Program, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sukanya Jaroenporn
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Patteera Wititsuwankul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Suchinda Malaivijitnond
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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13
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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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14
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Tomm RJ, Seib DR, Kachkovski GV, Schweitzer HR, Tobiansky DJ, Floresco SB, Soma KK. Androgen synthesis inhibition increases behavioural flexibility and mPFC tyrosine hydroxylase in gonadectomized male rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13128. [PMID: 35583989 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural flexibility is essential to adapt to a changing environment and depends on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Testosterone administration decreases behavioural flexibility. It is well known that testosterone is produced in the gonads, but testosterone is also produced in the brain, including the mPFC and other nodes of the mesocorticolimbic system. It is unclear how testosterone produced in the brain versus the gonads influences behavioural flexibility. Here, in adult male rats, we assessed the effects of the androgen synthesis inhibitor abiraterone acetate (ABI) and long-term gonadectomy (GDX) on behavioural flexibility in two paradigms. In Experiment 1, ABI but not GDX reduced the number of errors to criterion and perseverative errors in a strategy set-shifting task. In Experiment 2, with a separate cohort of rats, ABI but not GDX reduced perseverative errors in a reversal learning task. In Experiment 1, we also examined tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-ir), and ABI but not GDX increased TH-ir in the mPFC. Our findings suggest that neurally-produced androgens modulate behavioural flexibility via modification of dopamine signalling in the mesocorticolimbic system. These results indicate that neurosteroids regulate executive functions and that ABI treatment for prostate cancer might affect cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Tomm
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Désirée R Seib
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - George V Kachkovski
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Helen R Schweitzer
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Daniel J Tobiansky
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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15
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Kohne S, Diekhof EK. Testosterone and estradiol affect adolescent reinforcement learning. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12653. [PMID: 35186450 PMCID: PMC8818269 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
During adolescence, gonadal hormones influence brain maturation and behavior. The impact of 17β-estradiol and testosterone on reinforcement learning was previously investigated in adults, but studies with adolescents are rare. We tested 89 German male and female adolescents (mean age ± sd = 14.7 ± 1.9 years) to determine the extent 17β-estradiol and testosterone influenced reinforcement learning capacity in a response time adjustment task. Our data showed, that 17β-estradiol correlated with an enhanced ability to speed up responses for reward in both sexes, while the ability to wait for higher reward correlated with testosterone primary in males. This suggests that individual differences in reinforcement learning may be associated with variations in these hormones during adolescence, which may shift the balance between a more reward- and an avoidance-oriented learning style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kohne
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Esther K. Diekhof
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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16
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David CD, Wyrosdic BN, Wan H, Lapp HE, Bartlett AA, Yitbarek S, Park JH. B6D2F1 mice that retain sexual behavior long term after castration outperform those that cease in the radial arm maze. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105627. [PMID: 34923212 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In rodents, gonadal steroids play a critical yet variable role in behaviors such as social interaction and cognitive performance. Gonadal steroids organize sex differences observed in spatial working memory, while the absence of activational effects induced by castration generally impedes spatial learning and memory. Although male sexual behavior is typically inhibited following castration, a significant proportion of gonadectomized B6D2F1 hybrid males retains the complete repertoire of male reproductive behavior. In a prior study, amyloid precursor protein and tau, proteins involved in cognitive behavior, facilitated steroid-independent male sex behavior in B6D2F1 hybrid male mice. We used this strain to investigate the relationship between gonadal steroid-independent male sexual behavior and cognition. After identifying "maters" (animals retaining steroid-independent male sex behavior) and "non-maters," we tested spatial memory in an 8-arm radial arm maze. Although neither group demonstrated a decrease in errors as a function of time, maters committed fewer errors compared to non-maters overall (p < 0.05). Maters also completed the maze more quickly than non-maters (p < 0.05). We measured mRNA expression of APP and MAPT as well as LEPR and D2R to probe potential roles of metabolism and motivation. Uniquely among maters, increased relative expression of D2R and LEPR in the hippocampus was associated with a longer latency to complete the maze during the last 3 or across all trials, respectively. These data demonstrate that maters outperform non-maters in the radial arm maze, warranting further study of potential differences in acquisition of spatial memory tasks or learning strategy between these groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline D David
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
| | - Brianna N Wyrosdic
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - HoYin Wan
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Hannah E Lapp
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrew A Bartlett
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Shewit Yitbarek
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Jin Ho Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
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17
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Spatial working memory is disparately interrelated with social status through different developmental stages in rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 416:113547. [PMID: 34437940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Social life necessitates cognitive competence to meet the dynamic demands of social development. The formation of dominance hierarchy is a general phenomenon in social groups. As an essential element of executive and cognitive function, working memory could influence and be influenced by social status in a dominance hierarchy. However, the direction and degree of the association between them through different developmental stages remain unclear. To address this issue and clarify the "cause or consequence" problem, we investigated the spatial working memory performance in a Y-maze and Morris water maze in home-caged sibling Wistar rats (N = 26 cages, three rats/cage) through three stages of their life: before (week 7), during (week 10), and after (week 20) assumed timings of the social dominance hierarchy formation (SDHF). We used the social dominance tube test during the assumed time of hierarchy formation (weeks 9-11) to measure the relative dominance status in each cage. Here, we found that higher working memory index before SDHF could be predictive of later acquisition of higher social status. Working memory performance declined for all animals during SDHF, in which agonistic conflicts are increased. However, living within an established hierarchical social network for several weeks deteriorated the working memory performance of dominant and middle-ranked animals, while the performance of subordinates improved and got significantly better than higher-ranked animals. In conclusion, while working memory and social status were correlated positively before dominance hierarchy formation, there was a trade-off between them after the formation of it. In contrast to the common view, these results highlight the adverse effect of higher social status on cognitive behavior.
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18
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Yang Y, Liang F, Gao J, Dong Y, Zhang Y, Yang G, Soriano SG, Feng HJ, Xie Z. Testosterone attenuates sevoflurane-induced tau phosphorylation and cognitive impairment in neonatal male mice. Br J Anaesth 2021; 127:929-941. [PMID: 34686310 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sevoflurane anaesthesia induces phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau and cognitive impairment in neonatal, but not adult, mice. The underlying mechanisms remain largely to be determined. Sex hormones can be neuroprotective, but little is known about the influence of testosterone on age-dependent anaesthesia effects. METHODS Six- and 60-day-old male mice received anaesthesia with sevoflurane 3% for 2 h daily for 3 days. Morris water maze, immunoassay, immunoblotting, co-immunoprecipitation, nanobeam technology, and electrophysiology were used to assess cognition; testosterone concentrations; tau phosphorylation; glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) activation; binding or interaction between tau and GSK3β; and neuronal activation in mice, cells, and neurones. RESULTS Compared with 60-day-old male mice, 6-day-old male mice had lower testosterone concentrations (3.03 [0.29] vs 0.44 [0.12] ng ml-1; P<0.01), higher sevoflurane-induced tau phosphorylation in brain (133 [20]% vs 100 [6]% in 6-day-old mice, P<0.01; 103 [8]% vs 100 [13]% in 60-day-old mice, P=0.77), and sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment. Testosterone treatment increased brain testosterone concentrations (1.76 [0.10] vs 0.39 [0.05] ng ml-1; P<0.01) and attenuated the sevoflurane-induced tau phosphorylation and cognitive impairment in neonatal male mice. Testosterone inhibited the interaction between tau and GSK3β, and attenuated sevoflurane-induced inhibition of excitatory postsynaptic currents in hippocampal neurones. CONCLUSIONS Lower brain testosterone concentrations in neonatal compared with adult male mice contributed to age-dependent tau phosphorylation and cognitive impairment after sevoflurane anaesthesia. Testosterone might attenuate the sevoflurane-induced tau phosphorylation and cognitive impairment by inhibiting the interaction between tau and GSK3β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyan Yang
- Department of Anesthesia, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China; Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Feng Liang
- Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China; Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuanlin Dong
- Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Yiying Zhang
- Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sulpicio G Soriano
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hua-Jun Feng
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhongcong Xie
- Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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19
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Rashidy-Pour A, Derafshpour L, Vafaei AA, Bandegi AR, Kashefi A, Sameni HR, Jashire-Nezhad N, Saboory E, Panahi Y. Effects of treadmill exercise and sex hormones on learning, memory and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in transient congenital hypothyroid rats. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 31:641-651. [PMID: 32826427 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Transient thyroid function abnormalities at birth exhibit intellectual developmental and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Given the well-known effects of physical activity and sex hormones on cognitive functions and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the present study examined the effects of treadmill exercise, sex hormones, and the combined treatment on learning and memory and hippocampal BDNF levels in transient congenital hypothyroid rats. To induce hypothyroidism, 6-propyl-2-thiouracil was added to the drinking water from the 6th day of gestation to the 21st postnatal day (PND). From PNDs 28 to 47, female and male pup rats received 17β-estradiol and testosterone, respectively, and about 30 min later, they were forced to run on the treadmill for 30 min once a day. On PNDs 48-55, spatial learning and memory of all rats tested in the water maze, which followed by measurement of BDNF in the hippocampus. Results showed that developmental hypothyroidism induced significant deficits in spatial learning and memory and hippocampal BDNF in both male and female rats. In both male and female hypothyroid rats, exercise and exercise plus sex hormones, but not sex hormones alone alleviated learning and memory deficits and all treatments (exercise, sex hormones, and the combined treatment) increased hippocampal BDNF. These disconnects in the effects of exercise, sex hormones and the combined treatment on behavioral and neurochemical outcomes suggest that a neurochemical mechanism other than hippocampal BDNF might contribute in the ameliorating effects of exercise on learning and memory deficits induced by developmental thyroid hormone insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rashidy-Pour
- Research Center of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan
| | - Leila Derafshpour
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia
| | - Abbas Ali Vafaei
- Research Center of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan
| | - Ahmad Reza Bandegi
- Research Center of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences
| | - Adel Kashefi
- Research Center of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan
| | - Hamid Reza Sameni
- Research Center of Nervous System Stem Cell, Semnan University of Medical sciences, Semnan
| | - Nahid Jashire-Nezhad
- Research Center of Nervous System Stem Cell, Semnan University of Medical sciences, Semnan
| | - Ehsan Saboory
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia
| | - Yosef Panahi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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20
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Yan W, Zhang T, Kang Y, Zhang G, Ji X, Feng X, Shi G. Testosterone ameliorates age-related brain mitochondrial dysfunction. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:16229-16247. [PMID: 34139672 PMCID: PMC8266321 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Brain mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced testosterone levels are common features of aging in men. Although evidence suggests that the two phenomena are interrelated, it is unclear whether testosterone supplementation ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging male brain. Here, we show that testosterone supplementation significantly alleviates exploratory behavioral deficits and oxidative damage in the substantia nigra and hippocampus of aging male rats. These effects were consistent with improved mitochondrial function, reflected by testosterone-induced increases in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), antioxidant enzyme (GSH-PX, catalase, and Mn-SOD) expression/activity, and mitochondrial respiratory complex activities in both brain regions. Furthermore, elevated PGC-1α, NRF-1, and TFAM expression (suggestive of enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis), increased citrate synthase activity, mtDNA copy number, and ND1, COX1, and ATP6 expression (indicative of increased mitochondrial content), as well as increased PINK1/Parkin and decreased P62 expression (suggesting mitophagy activation), were detected in the substantial nigra and hippocampus of aged male rats after testosterone supplementation. These findings suggest that testosterone supplementation may be a viable approach to ameliorating brain mitochondrial dysfunction and thus prevent or treat cognitive-behavioral deficits and neurodegenerative conditions associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Yan
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tianyun Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yunxiao Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Guoliang Zhang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoming Ji
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xu Feng
- Hebei Laboratory Animal Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Geming Shi
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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21
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Elfouly A, Awny M, Ibrahim MK, Aboelsaad M, Tian J, Sayed M. Effects of Long-Acting Testosterone Undecanoate on Behavioral Parameters and Na + , K +-ATPase mRNA Expression in Mice with Alzheimer`s Disease. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:2238-2248. [PMID: 34036518 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that testosterone attenuates stress-induced mood dysfunction and memory deterioration. However, the exact mechanism is still unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the role of long-term testosterone undecanoate on the behavioral responses in AD induced by AlCl3 + D-galactose administration and the possible alteration of the gene expression level of the Na/K ATPase pump. Adult male mice received AlCl3 in drinking water (10 mg/kg/day) and (D-gal 200 mg/kg/day), subcutaneously for 90 consecutive days, then received a single intramuscular (I.M) injection of castor oil (vehicle) on day 91, while treated groups received a single I.M injection of either low (100 mg/kg/45 days) or high dose (500 mg/kg/45 days) respectively of long-acting testosterone undecanoate on day 91. The time spent in the interaction zone during the open field test, preference index to novel objects in the novel object recognition test, spontaneous alternation percentage (SAP) in Y-maze test, and escape latency time in the Morris water maze test were used to measure the locomotor activity, long-term memory, and spatial memory in mice, respectively. The results showed that testosterone undecanoate treatment improved locomotor activity, improved preference to novel objects, improved spatial memory, and reversed anxiety and depression induced by AlCl3 + D-galactose administration in male mice, suggesting the enhancement of behavioral and memory functions brought by testosterone treatment. Moreover, testosterone undecanoate treatment did alter gene expression levels of Na/K ATPase isoforms in the brain hippocampus. In most cases, altered gene expression was significant and correlated with the observed behavioral changes. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into the effects of long-acting testosterone undecanoate administration on locomotor activity, long-term memory, anxiety, and spatial memory in male mice with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Elfouly
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6Th University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - M Awny
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6Th University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - M K Ibrahim
- Department of Developmental Pharmacology, National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR), Giza, Egypt
| | - M Aboelsaad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Shorouk City, Egypt
| | - J Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences &, Marshall Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (MIIR), Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - M Sayed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Shorouk City, Egypt. .,Center of Drug Research Development (CDRD), The British University in Egypt, El Shorouk City, Egypt.
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22
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Orsini CA, Blaes SL, Hernandez CM, Betzhold SM, Perera H, Wheeler AR, Ten Eyck TW, Garman TS, Bizon JL, Setlow B. Regulation of risky decision making by gonadal hormones in males and females. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:603-613. [PMID: 32919406 PMCID: PMC8027379 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00827-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric diseases characterized by dysregulated risky decision making are differentially represented in males and females. The factors that govern such sex differences, however, remain poorly understood. Using a task in which rats make discrete trial choices between a small, "safe" food reward and a large food reward accompanied by varying probabilities of footshock punishment, we recently showed that females are more risk averse than males. The objective of the current experiments was to test the extent to which these sex differences in risky decision making are mediated by gonadal hormones. Male and female rats were trained in the risky decision-making task, followed by ovariectomy (OVX), orchiectomy (ORX), or sham surgery. Rats were then retested in the task, under both baseline conditions and following administration of estradiol and/or testosterone. OVX increased choice of the large, risky reward (increased risky choice), an effect that was attenuated by estradiol administration. In contrast, ORX decreased risky choice, but testosterone administration was without effect in either ORX or sham males. Estradiol, however, decreased risky choice in both groups of males. Importantly, none of the effects of hormonal manipulation on risky choice were due to altered shock sensitivity or food motivation. These data show that gonadal hormones are required for maintaining sex-typical profiles of risk-taking behavior in both males and females, and that estradiol is sufficient to promote risk aversion in both sexes. The findings provide novel information about the mechanisms supporting sex differences in risk taking and may prove useful in understanding sex differences in the prevalence of psychiatric diseases associated with altered risk taking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A Orsini
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Shelby L Blaes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Caesar M Hernandez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Sara M Betzhold
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Hassan Perera
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Alexa-Rae Wheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tyler W Ten Eyck
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tyler S Garman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Barry Setlow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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Zhang KJ, Ramdev RA, Tuta NJ, Spritzer MD. Dose-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial learning strategies and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 121:104850. [PMID: 32892065 PMCID: PMC7572628 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that males outperform females on some spatial tasks. This may be due to the effects of sex steroids on spatial strategy preferences. Past experiments with male rats have demonstrated that low doses of testosterone bias them toward a response strategy, whereas high doses of testosterone bias them toward a place strategy. We investigated the effect of different testosterone doses on the ability of male rats to effectively employ these two spatial learning strategies. Furthermore, we quantified concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (pro-, mature-, and total BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. All rats were bilaterally castrated and assigned to one of three daily injection doses of testosterone propionate (0.125, 0.250, or 0.500 mg/rat) or a control injection of the drug vehicle. Using a plus-maze protocol, we found that a lower testosterone dose (0.125 mg) significantly improved rats' performance on a response task, whereas a higher testosterone dose (0.500 mg) significantly improved rats' performance on a place task. In addition, we found that a low dose of testosterone (0.125 mg) increased total BDNF in the striatum, while a high dose (0.500 mg) increased total BDNF in the hippocampus. Taken altogether, these results suggest that high and low levels of testosterone enhance performance on place and response spatial tasks, respectively, and this effect is associated with changes in BDNF levels within relevant brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Zhang
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - Rajan A. Ramdev
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas J. Tuta
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - Mark D. Spritzer
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A.,Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A.,Corresponding author: Mark Spritzer, Department of Biology, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA, phone: 802-443-5676, FAX: 802-443-2072,
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Premachandran H, Zhao M, Arruda-Carvalho M. Sex Differences in the Development of the Rodent Corticolimbic System. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:583477. [PMID: 33100964 PMCID: PMC7554619 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.583477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a growing body of research has shown sex differences in the prevalence and symptomatology of psychopathologies, such as depression, anxiety, and fear-related disorders, all of which show high incidence rates in early life. This has highlighted the importance of including female subjects in animal studies, as well as delineating sex differences in neural processing across development. Of particular interest is the corticolimbic system, comprising the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex. In rodents, these corticolimbic regions undergo dynamic changes in early life, and disruption to their normative development is believed to underlie the age and sex-dependent effects of stress on affective processing. In this review, we consolidate research on sex differences in the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex across early development. First, we briefly introduce current principles on sexual differentiation of the rodent brain. We then showcase corticolimbic regional sex differences in volume, morphology, synaptic organization, cell proliferation, microglia, and GABAergic signaling, and explain how these differences are influenced by perinatal and pubertal gonadal hormones. In compiling this research, we outline evidence of what and when sex differences emerge in the developing corticolimbic system, and illustrate how temporal dynamics of its maturational trajectory may differ in male and female rodents. This will help provide insight into potential neural mechanisms underlying sex-specific critical windows for stress susceptibility and behavioral emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mudi Zhao
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maithe Arruda-Carvalho
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
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25
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Hernandez CM, Orsini C, Wheeler AR, Ten Eyck TW, Betzhold SM, Labiste CC, Wright NG, Setlow B, Bizon JL. Testicular hormones mediate robust sex differences in impulsive choice in rats. eLife 2020; 9:58604. [PMID: 32985975 PMCID: PMC7521924 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in choosing optimally between immediate and delayed rewards are associated with numerous psychiatric disorders. Such ‘intertemporal’ choice is influenced by genetic and experiential factors; however, the contributions of biological sex are understudied and data to date are largely inconclusive. Rats were used to determine how sex and gonadal hormones influence choices between small, immediate and large, delayed rewards. Females showed markedly greater preference than males for small, immediate over large, delayed rewards (greater impulsive choice). This difference was neither due to differences in food motivation or reward magnitude perception, nor was it affected by estrous cycle. Ovariectomies did not affect choice in females, whereas orchiectomies increased impulsive choice in males. These data show that male rats exhibit less impulsive choice than females and that this difference is at least partly maintained by testicular hormones. These differences in impulsive choice could be linked to gender differences across multiple neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caesar M Hernandez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Caitlin Orsini
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Alexa-Rae Wheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Tyler W Ten Eyck
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Sara M Betzhold
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Chase C Labiste
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Noelle G Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Barry Setlow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
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26
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Karalexi MA, Georgakis MK, Dimitriou NG, Vichos T, Katsimpris A, Petridou ET, Papadopoulos FC. Gender-affirming hormone treatment and cognitive function in transgender young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 119:104721. [PMID: 32512250 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have examined whether steroid hormone treatment in transgender individuals may affect cognitive function; yet, their limited power does not allow firm conclusions to be drawn. We leveraged data from to-date literature aiming to explore the effect of gender-affirming hormone administration on cognitive function in transgender individuals. METHODS A search strategy of MEDLINE was developed (through June 1, 2019) using the key terms transgender, hormone therapy and cognitive function. Eligible were (i) cohort studies examining the longitudinal effect of hormone therapy on cognition, and (ii) cross-sectional studies comparing the cognitive function between treated and non-treated individuals. Standardized mean differences (Hedges' g) were pooled using random-effects models. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. OUTCOMES Ten studies (seven cohort and three cross-sectional) were eligible representing 234 birth-assigned males (aM) and 150 birth-assigned females (aF). The synthesis of cohort studies (n = 5) for visuospatial ability following hormone treatment showed a statistically significant enhancement among aF (g = 0.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.29, 0.82) and an improvement with a trend towards statistical significance among aM (g = 0.28, 95%CI: -0.01, 0.58). By contrast, no adverse effects of hormone administration were shown. No heterogeneity was evident in most meta-analyses. INTERPRETATION Current evidence does not support an adverse impact of hormone therapy on cognitive function, whereas a statistically significant enhancing effect on visuospatial ability was shown in aF. New longitudinal studies with longer follow-up should explore the long-term effects of hormone therapy, especially the effects on younger individuals, where there is greater scarcity of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Karalexi
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marios K Georgakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos G Dimitriou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Vichos
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Katsimpris
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Th Petridou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fotios C Papadopoulos
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
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27
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Oosthuizen MK. Exploratory behaviour, memory and neurogenesis in the social Damaraland mole-rat ( Fukomys damarensis). J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb221093. [PMID: 32532860 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.221093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Both exploratory behaviour and spatial memory are important for survival in dispersing animals. Exploratory behaviour is triggered by novel environments and having a better spatial memory of the surroundings provides an adaptive advantage to the animals. Spatial challenges can also affect neurogenesis in the hippocampus by increasing cell proliferation and enhancing survival of young neurons. In social Damaraland mole-rat colonies, the social hierarchy is largely based on body size. Individuals with different social statuses in these colonies display different dispersal behaviours and as behavioural differences have been linked to dispersal behaviour, I investigated exploratory behaviour, memory and hippocampal neurogenesis in wild-captured Damaraland mole-rats. Dispersal behaviour gives rise to differential exploratory behaviour in Damaraland mole-rats; they readily explored in a novel environment but resident, worker mole-rats explored more slowly. In the Y-maze, animals entered the escape hole significantly faster by the second day; however, they did not make fewer wrong turns with successive days of the experiment. Female dispersers did not show any improvement in time to reach the escape hole or the number of wrong turns over the 4 day experimental period. Damaraland male and female dispersers employ different dispersal strategies, and this is evident in their approach to the learning task. Females are less motivated to complete the task, leading to a difference in behaviour, and this has important survival implications for the different sexes. Finally, in the context of memory, adult neurogenesis does not seem to be a good marker in mole-rats as it is generally low and has not been investigated thoroughly enough to determine which and how other factors can influence it in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Oosthuizen
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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28
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Jiménez-Rubio G, Herrera-Pérez JJ, Martínez-Becerril HA, Márquez-Baltazar MS, Martínez-Mota L. Age-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial memory in male rats. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104748. [PMID: 32222529 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Decreased spatial memory is common in aging populations and reduces their quality of life. Although its role is still controversial, low testosterone (T) may contribute to impaired cognition in aged men. This study aimed to identify the role of T in age-related deficiencies in spatial memory among male rats. Young adult (3 months old) and aged (21 months old) Wistar rats were assigned to independent groups: intact, orchidectomized, or orchidectomized + subcutaneous pellets of T propionate. The phases of spatial memory acquisition (4 daily trials/4 days) and spatial memory retention (1 trial/day, 3 and 12 days after acquisition) were evaluated using the Barnes maze. Compared with young adults, aged intact rats took longer to find the goal, made more mistakes, and showed only slight improvements in goal sector exploration across the acquisition period. The young orchidectomized rats showed no improvement in performance over the days during the acquisition phase. T treatment in hormonally deprived old rats produced a small improvement in goal sector exploration and number of errors during the acquisition phase. Meanwhile, in young adults, this treatment improved the goal sector searching in the retention phase (12 days after acquisition training). Our results suggested that age-related spatial memory deficits cannot be entirely explained by the decline in T levels; however, this androgen produced subtle and mild beneficial effects on spatial memory in young and old males. Taken together, our findings suggest age differences in the role of T on spatial memory in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Jiménez-Rubio
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, 14370 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - José Jaime Herrera-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, 14370 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hilda Angélica Martínez-Becerril
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, 14370 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martín Sergio Márquez-Baltazar
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, 14370 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Lucía Martínez-Mota
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, 14370 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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29
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Testosterone enhances mitochondrial complex V function in the substantia nigra of aged male rats. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:10398-10414. [PMID: 32445551 PMCID: PMC7346067 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in coordinated motor behavior and mitochondrial complex V activity have been observed in aged males. Testosterone supplementation can improve coordinated motor behavior in aged males. We investigated the effects of testosterone supplementation on mitochondrial complex V function in the substantia nigra (a brain region that regulates motor activity) in aged male rats. These rats exhibited diminished ATP levels, attenuated mitochondrial complex V activity, and reduced expression of 3 of the 17 mitochondrial complex V subunits (ATP6, ATP8 and ATP5C1) in the substantia nigra. Testosterone supplementation increased ATP levels, mitochondrial complex V activity, and ATP6, ATP8 and ATP5C1 expression in the substantia nigra of the rats. Conversely, orchiectomy reduced mitochondrial complex V activity, downregulated ATP6 and ATP8 expression, and upregulated ATP5C1, ATP5I and ATP5L expression in the substantia nigra. Testosterone replacement reversed those effects. Thus, testosterone enhanced mitochondrial complex V function in the substantia nigra of aged male rats by upregulating ATP6 and ATP8. As potential testosterone targets, these two subunits may to some degree maintain nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in aged males.
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30
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Carbia PS, Brown C. Seasonal variation of sexually dimorphic spatial learning implicates mating system in the intertidal Cocos Frillgoby (Bathygobius cocosensis). Anim Cogn 2020; 23:621-628. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-020-01366-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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31
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Jaeger ECB, Miller LE, Goins EC, Super CE, Chyr CU, Lower JW, Honican LS, Morrison DE, Ramdev RA, Spritzer MD. Testosterone replacement causes dose-dependent improvements in spatial memory among aged male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104550. [PMID: 31901624 PMCID: PMC7080566 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone has been shown to have dose-dependent effects on spatial memory in males, but the effects of aging upon this relationship remain unclear. Additionally, the mechanism by which testosterone regulates memory is unknown, but may involve changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) within specific brain regions. We tested the effects of age and testosterone on spatial memory among male rats using two spatial memory tasks: an object-location memory task (OLMT) and the radial-arm maze (RAM). Castration had minimal effect on performance on the RAM, but young rats (2 months) performed significantly fewer working memory errors than aged rats (20 months), and aged rats performed significantly fewer reference memory errors. Both age and castration impaired performance on the OLMT, with only the young rats with intact gonads successfully performing the task. Subsequent experiments involved daily injections of either drug vehicle or one of four doses of testosterone propionate (0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1.00 mg/rat) given to castrated aged males. On the RAM, a low physiological dose (0.125 mg) and high doses (0.500-1.000 mg) of testosterone improved working memory, while an intermediate dose (0.250 mg) did not. On the OLMT, only the 0.250 mg T group showed a significant increase in exploration ratios from the exposure trials to the testing trials, indicating that this group remembered the position of the objects. Brain tissue (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum) was collected from all subjects to assay BDNF. We found no evidence that testosterone influenced BDNF, indicating that it is unlikely that testosterone regulates spatial memory through changes in BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza C B Jaeger
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - L Erin Miller
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Emily C Goins
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Chloe E Super
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Christina U Chyr
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - John W Lower
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Lauren S Honican
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Daryl E Morrison
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Rajan A Ramdev
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
| | - Mark D Spritzer
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA; Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA.
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32
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Spritzer MD, Roy EA. Testosterone and Adult Neurogenesis. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10020225. [PMID: 32028656 PMCID: PMC7072323 DOI: 10.3390/biom10020225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well established that neurogenesis occurs throughout adulthood in select brain regions, but the functional significance of adult neurogenesis remains unclear. There is considerable evidence that steroid hormones modulate various stages of adult neurogenesis, and this review provides a focused summary of the effects of testosterone on adult neurogenesis. Initial evidence came from field studies with birds and wild rodent populations. Subsequent experiments with laboratory rodents have tested the effects of testosterone and its steroid metabolites upon adult neurogenesis, as well as the functional consequences of induced changes in neurogenesis. These experiments have provided clear evidence that testosterone increases adult neurogenesis within the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus through an androgen-dependent pathway. Most evidence indicates that androgens selectively enhance the survival of newly generated neurons, while having little effect on cell proliferation. Whether this is a result of androgens acting directly on receptors of new neurons remains unclear, and indirect routes involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoids may be involved. In vitro experiments suggest that testosterone has broad-ranging neuroprotective effects, which will be briefly reviewed. A better understanding of the effects of testosterone upon adult neurogenesis could shed light on neurological diseases that show sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Spritzer
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 802-443-5676
| | - Ethan A. Roy
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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33
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Neutering in dogs and cats: current scientific evidence and importance of adequate nutritional management. Nutr Res Rev 2020; 33:134-144. [PMID: 31931899 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422419000271] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Neutering or spaying is a commonly recommended veterinary procedure. However, veterinarians are often confronted with conflicting findings and differences in concepts regarding practice and proper nutritional management after the procedure. The objective of the present review was to bring to light the most recent literature, summarise it and discuss the findings focusing on the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs and cats, and to determine the appropriate nutritional management for these animals.
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Hong JH, Huang CY, Chang CH, Muo CH, Jaw FS, Lu YC, Chung CJ. Different androgen deprivation therapies might have a differential impact on cognition - An analysis from a population-based study using time-dependent exposure model. Cancer Epidemiol 2020; 64:101657. [PMID: 31918180 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the mainstay treatment for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer (PC). However, potential effects of ADT treatment on neurocognitive dysfunction remain unclear. The present study was conducted to assess the relation between ADT treatment and risk of cognitive decline in Asian men with PC. METHODS A population-based cohort of 24,464 men with PC, each newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2008, was selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Subjects were further grouped by treatment as non-ADT (n = 4685) or ADT (n = 12,740), members of the latter subjected to bilateral orchiectomy or medical treatment (ie, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, antiandrogens, or combination therapy). A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model with ADT as time-dependent covariate was used to generate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of subsequent cognitive decline, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). RESULTS ADT showed a significant association with overall risk of cognitive decline (HR = 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.31-1.74), especially for PD, dementia, and non-Alzheimer dementia (non-AZD). When stratified by various ADT regimens, antiandrogen-only recipients displayed significantly heightened risks of subsequent AD, non-AZD, and PD. However, combined androgen blockade also imposed an increased risk of PD. There was no apparent correlation between duration of ADT exposure and cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Various ADT therapies may have disparate impacts on cognitive function. Prospective studies exploring pertinent clinical characteristics more fully are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hua Hong
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Yuan Huang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Hsiang Chang
- Department of Urology, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Hsin Muo
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Fu-Shan Jaw
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Chuan Lu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Jung Chung
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Keawtep P, Pratchayasakul W, Arinno A, Apaijai N, Chunchai T, Kerdphoo S, Jaiwongkum T, Chattipakorn N, Chattipakorn SC. Combined dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor with low-dose testosterone exerts greater efficacy than monotherapy on improving brain function in orchiectomized obese rats. Exp Gerontol 2019; 123:45-56. [PMID: 31125595 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Both obesity and orchiectomy lead to the development of brain pathologies and cognitive decline. Testosterone replacement therapy (2 mg/kg/day TRT) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (vildagliptin) improved cognition in orchiectomized rats, and obese rats. However, both had no beneficial effects in brain of orchiectomized-obese rats. TRT (>2 mg/kg/day) is possible to attenuate brain defects in those rats, but high dose of TRT causes adverse effects. Then, combined effect of low-dose TRT (1 mg/kg/day) and vildagliptin on brain and cognitive functions in orchiectomized-obese rats should be investigated. Sixty male rats were fed with either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 28 weeks. At week 13, both ND and HFD-fed rats had either a sham-operation or an orchiectomy. At week 25, orchiectomized rats were treated with either: a vehicle, 2 mg/kg/day TRT, vildagliptin (3 mg/kg/day) or a combined vildagliptin with 1 mg/kg/day TRT for 4 weeks. Then, metabolic parameters, brain and cognitive functions were determined. Hippocampal oxidative stress, apoptosis, dendritic spine loss, microglial hyperactivity, and cognitive decline were found in orchiectomized ND-fed rats and sham-operated HFD-fed rats. Interestingly, orchiectomy aggravated these brain pathologies and cognitive decline in HFD-fed rats. In orchiectomized ND-fed rats, all treatments restored brain and cognitive functions. In orchiectomized HFD-fed rats, monotherapies ameliorated these brain pathologies, while the combined therapies had the greatest beneficial effect on the brains. These findings suggest the combined therapies may be the best therapeutic approach for restoring brain functions in the orchiectomized-obese condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puntarik Keawtep
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wasana Pratchayasakul
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Apiwan Arinno
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nattayaporn Apaijai
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Titikorn Chunchai
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sasiwan Kerdphoo
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Thidarat Jaiwongkum
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Siriporn C Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Carteri RB, Kopczynski A, Menegassi LN, Salimen Rodolphi M, Strogulski NR, Portela LV. Anabolic-androgen steroids effects on bioenergetics responsiveness of synaptic and extrasynaptic mitochondria. Toxicol Lett 2019; 307:72-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Chunchai T, Apaijai N, Keawtep P, Mantor D, Arinno A, Pratchayasakul W, Chattipakorn N, Chattipakorn SC. Testosterone deprivation intensifies cognitive decline in obese male rats via glial hyperactivity, increased oxidative stress, and apoptosis in both hippocampus and cortex. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2019; 226:e13229. [PMID: 30506942 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIM The study hypothesized that testosterone deprivation aggravates cognitive decline in obesity through increasing oxidative stress, glial activation, and apoptosis. METHODS Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were fed with either normal-diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks. At week 13, ND-fed rats and HFD-fed rats were randomly assigned to two subgroups to receive either a sham-operation or bilateral-orchiectomy (ORX). Rats were evaluated for metabolic parameters and cognition at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the operation. At the end of protocol, the reactive oxygen species (ROS), glial morphology, and cell apoptosis were determined in hippocampus and cortex. RESULTS Both HFD-fed groups developed obese-insulin resistance, but ND-fed rats did not. HFD-fed rats with sham-operation showed cognitive decline, when compared to ND-fed rats with sham-operation at all time points. At 4- and 8-week after ORX, the cognitive impairment of ND-fed rats and both HFD-fed groups was not different. However, 12-week after ORX, cognitive decline and of glial hyperactivity of HFD-fed rats had the greatest increase among all groups. Hippocampal ROS levels and apoptotic cells in both HFD-fed groups were equally increased, but the cortical ROS levels and apoptotic cells of HFD-fed rats with ORX were the highest ones. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that testosterone deprivation aggravates cognitive decline in obesity via increasing oxidative stress, glial activity and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titikorn Chunchai
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Nattayaporn Apaijai
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Puntarik Keawtep
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Duangkamol Mantor
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Apiwan Arinno
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Wasana Pratchayasakul
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Siriporn C. Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
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Yan XS, Yang ZJ, Jia JX, Song W, Fang X, Cai ZP, Huo DS, Wang H. Protective mechanism of testosterone on cognitive impairment in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:649-657. [PMID: 30632505 PMCID: PMC6352583 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.245477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease is strongly associated with a reduction in synaptic plasticity, which may be induced by oxidative stress. Testosterone is beneficial in learning and memory, although the underlying protective mechanism of testosterone on cognitive performance remains unclear. This study explored the protective mechanism of a subcutaneous injection of 0.75 mg testosterone on cognitive dysfunction induced by bilateral injections of amyloid beta 1-42 oligomers into the lateral ventricles of male rats. Morris water maze test results demonstrated that testosterone treatment remarkably reduced escape latency and path length in Alzheimer's disease rat models. During probe trials, testosterone administration significantly elevated the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and the number of platform crossings. However, flutamide, an androgen receptor antagonist, inhibited the protective effect of testosterone on cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease rat models. Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, western blot assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that the number of intact hippocampal pyramidal cells, the dendritic spine density in the hippocampal CA1 region, the immune response and expression level of postsynaptic density protein 95 in the hippocampus, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were increased with testosterone treatment. In contrast, testosterone treatment reduced malondialdehyde levels. Flutamide inhibited the effects of testosterone on all of these indicators. Our data showed that the protective effect of testosterone on cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease is mediated via androgen receptors to scavenge free radicals, thereby enhancing synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Sheng Yan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhan-Jun Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jian-Xin Jia
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xin Fang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhi-Ping Cai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Huo
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - He Wang
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
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Kaufman MJ, Kanayama G, Hudson JI, Pope HG. Supraphysiologic-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid use: A risk factor for dementia? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:180-207. [PMID: 30817935 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Supraphysiologic-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with physiologic, cognitive, and brain abnormalities similar to those found in people at risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease and its related dementias (AD/ADRD), which are associated with high brain β-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (tau-P) protein levels. Supraphysiologic-dose AAS induces androgen abnormalities and excess oxidative stress, which have been linked to increased and decreased expression or activity of proteins that synthesize and eliminate, respectively, Aβ and tau-P. Aβ and tau-P accumulation may begin soon after initiating supraphysiologic-dose AAS use, which typically occurs in the early 20s, and their accumulation may be accelerated by other psychoactive substance use, which is common among non-medical AAS users. Accordingly, the widespread use of supraphysiologic-dose AAS may increase the numbers of people who develop dementia. Early diagnosis and correction of sex-steroid level abnormalities and excess oxidative stress could attenuate risk for developing AD/ADRD in supraphysiologic-dose AAS users, in people with other substance use disorders, and in people with low sex-steroid levels or excess oxidative stress associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J Kaufman
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Gen Kanayama
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James I Hudson
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Harrison G Pope
- Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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40
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Zarei F, Moradpour F, Moazedi AA, Pourmotabbed A, Veisi M. Nandrolone administration abolishes hippocampal fEPSP-PS potentiation and passive avoidance learning of adolescent male rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 97:130-139. [PMID: 30562047 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2018-0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite the chronic effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND), the acute effects of ND on passive avoidance learning (PAL) and memory and its mechanism have not been investigated. This research examines the acute effect of ND on PAL, CA1 synaptic plasticity, testosterone and corticosterone serum levels, and the role of androgenic receptors (ARs). Adolescent male rats were treated with ND, 30 min before training and retention and after training test. AR antagonist was applied 15 min before ND. Hippocampal slices were perfused by ND. ND administration had an inverted U-shape effect on acquisition of PAL and on testosterone and corticosterone serum levels. The consolidation was only affected by high dose of ND. ND significantly decreased the retention of PAL across all doses. The magnitude of field excitatory postsynaptic potential long term potentiation was lower than that of control slices. In addition, an attenuation of field excitatory postsynaptic potential population spike coupling was also observed. Nilutamide could nullify the ND impairment effect. We concluded although a single dose of ND could affect all stages of PAL, its effects were more potent on retrieval, possibly arising from the acute effect of ND on the alterations of CA1 synaptic plasticity. In addition, ND may induce its effects directly through ARs and indirectly through plasma testosterone and corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Zarei
- a Department of Biology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Farshad Moradpour
- b Fertility & Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.,c Department of Physiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ali Moazedi
- a Department of Biology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ali Pourmotabbed
- c Department of Physiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mozhgan Veisi
- c Department of Physiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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41
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Hormonal control of vas deferens fluid volume and aquaporin expression in rats. J Mol Histol 2018; 50:21-34. [PMID: 30430402 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-018-9804-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Precise regulation of vas deferens fluid volume which is important for sperm survival might be influenced by testosterone. In order to investigate changes in vas deferens fluid volume and aquoporins (AQP) isoforms expression under testosterone influence, orchidectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were given 125 and 250 µg/kg/day testosterone with or without flutamide, an androgen receptor blocker or finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor for seven consecutive days. Following treatment completion, vas deferens was perfused and changes in the fluid secretion rate and osmolality were determined in the presence of acetazolamide. Rats were then sacrificed and vas deferens was harvested for histology, tissue expression and distribution analyses of AQP-1, AQP-2, AQP-5, AQP-7 and AQP-9 proteins by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Our findings indicate that testosterone causes vas deferens fluid secretion rate to increase, which was antagonized by acetazolamide. Fluid osmolality increased following testosterone treatment and further increased when acetazolamide was given. Co-administration of flutamide or finasteride with testosterone causing both fluid secretion rate and osmolality to decrease. Histology revealed increased size of vas deferens lumen with increased thickness of vas deferens stroma. Expression of AQP-1, AQP-2 and AQP-9 were detected in vas deferens but not AQP-5 and AQP-7, and the levels of these proteins were increased by testosterone treatment mainly at the apical membrane of vas deferens epithelium. In conclusion, increased in vas deferens fluid secretion rate under testosterone influence mediated via the up-regulation of AQP-1, 2 and 9 might be important for vas deferens fluid homeostasis in order to ensure normal male fertility.
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Ramzan F, Azam AB, Monks DA, Zovkic IB. Androgen receptor is a negative regulator of contextual fear memory in male mice. Horm Behav 2018; 106:10-18. [PMID: 30172646 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Although sex-hormones have a well-documented role in memory formation, most literature has focused on estrogens, whereas the role of androgens and their receptor (the androgen receptor; AR) in fear memory is relatively unexplored. To address this gap, we used a transgenic mouse model of AR overexpression (CMV-AR) to determine if AR regulates fear memory, and if this effect can be reversed either by the removal of circulating androgens via gonadectomy, or by antagonising AR activity with flutamide. We found that AR overexpression results in reduced freezing in response to foot shock, and that this difference is reversed with both gonadectomy and flutamide treatment. Differences between genotypes were reinstated by testosterone replacement in gonadectomized mice, suggesting that reduced fear memory in mutants results from AR activation by testosterone and is not secondary to group differences in circulating testosterone. Potential transcriptional mechanisms by which CMV-AR exerts its effects on fear memory were assessed by quantitating the expression of memory-related genes in area CA1 of the hippocampus. Several genes that are altered with AR inhibition and activation, including genes that encode for the histone variant H2A.Z, cholinergic receptors, glutamate receptors, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Overall, our findings suggest that AR is a negative regulator of fear memory and identify potential gene targets through which AR may mediate this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firyal Ramzan
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Amber B Azam
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - D Ashley Monks
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Iva B Zovkic
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
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Khadijah Ramli NS, Giribabu N, Salleh N. Testosterone enhances expression and functional activity of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) and sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE) in vas deferens of sex-steroid deficient male rats. Steroids 2018; 138:117-133. [PMID: 30003911 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2018.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Effects of testosterone on expression and functional activity of ENaC, CFTR and NHE in vas deferens were investigated. METHODS Orchidectomized, adult male rats were given 125 and 250 μg/kg/day testosterone subcutaneously, with or without flutamide and finasteride for seven consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, rats were anesthetized and vas deferens were perfused. Changes in vas deferens fluid secretion rate, pH, HCO3-, Cl- and Na+ concentrations were recorded in the presence of amiloride and Cftr inh-172. Rats were then sacrificed and vas deferens were harvested and subjected for molecular biological analysis. RESULTS Testosterone treatment caused the fluid pH and HCO3- concentrations to decrease but secretion rate, Cl- and Na+ concentrations to increase, where upon amiloride administration, the pH and HCO3- concentration increased but Cl- and Na+ concentrations further increased. In testosterone-treated rats, administration of Cftr inh-172 caused all fluid parameters to decrease. In testosterone-treated rats co-administered with flutamide or finasteride, pH and HCO3- concentration increased but fluid secretion rate, Cl- and Na+ concentrations decreased and these parameters were not affected by amiloride or Cftr inh-172 administration. Under testosterone influence, CFTR and γ-ENaC were highly expressed at the apical membrane while NHE-1 and 4 were highly expressed at the basolateral membrane of vas deferens epithelium. Meanwhile, NHE-2 and 3 were highly expressed at the apical membrane. CONCLUSIONS Differential expression of ENaC, CFTR and NHE in vas deferens under testosterone influence indicated the important role of these transporters in creating optimal fluid microenvironment that is essential for preserving male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nelli Giribabu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Naguib Salleh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Wibowo E. Cognitive Impacts of Estrogen Treatment in Androgen-Deprived Males: What Needs to be Resolved. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 15:1043-1055. [PMID: 28294068 PMCID: PMC5652012 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170313122555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Many prostate cancer (PCa) patients are on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as part of their cancer treatments but ADT may lead to cognitive impairments. ADT depletes men of both androgen and estrogen. Whether estradiol supplementation can improve cognitive impairments in patients on ADT is understudied. Objective: To summarize data on the effects of estradiol treatment on cognitive function of androgen-deprived genetic male populations (PCa patients and male-to-female transsexuals) and castrated male animals. Method: Publications were identified by a literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: While some studies showed that estradiol improves cognitive function (most notably, spatial ability) for castrated rats, what remains uninvestigated are: 1) whether estradiol can improve cognition after long-term androgen deprivation, 2) how estradiol affects memory retention, and 3) how early vs. delayed estradiol treatment after castration influences cognition. For androgen-deprived genetic males, estradiol treatment may improve some cognitive functions (e.g., verbal and visual memory), but the findings are not consistent due to large variability in the study design between studies. Conclusion: Future studies are required to determine the best estradiol treatment protocol to maximize cognitive benefits for androgen-deprived genetic males. Tests that assess comparable cognitive domains in human and rodents are needed. What particularly under-investigated is how the effects of estradiol on cognitive ability intersect with other parameters; sleep, depression and physical fatigue. Such studies have clinical implications to improve the quality of life for both PCa patients on ADT as well as for male-to-female transsexuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Wibowo
- Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9. Canada
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45
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Geng J, Wang L, Zhang L, Qin C, Song Y, Ma Y, Chen Y, Chen S, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Yang GY. Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Induced Cognitive Impairment Is Associated With Increase of Inflammatory Cytokine. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:129. [PMID: 29867440 PMCID: PMC5949351 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with diabetes suffer the higher risk of dementia and the underlying pathological mechanism of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes is not fully understood. In this study, we explore whether the cognitive impairment in the diabetic rat is associated with increased blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and the change of the inflammatory cytokine. Experimental diabetic rats were induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze in the normal and the diabetic rats, respectively. The spatial acquisition trials were conducted over five consecutive days and the probe test was performed on day 6, followed by working memory test on the next 4 days. Escape latency was recorded in the acquisition trials and working memory test; time spent in the target quadrant and the number of crossing the former platform were recorded in the probe test. BBB permeability was assessed by measuring the extravasation of IgG. The image of occludin and claudin-5 staining by a confocal microscope were acquired to measure the gap in the tight junction. Cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression were further examined by Real-time PCR. The time spent in the target quadrant within 30 s decreased in the 8-week STZ rats compared to that of the normal rats (p < 0.05), while no difference was seen in the performance of working memory between the diabetic and normal rats. IgG leakage significantly increased in the brain parenchyma of the 8-week STZ rats compared to the normal rats (p < 0.05). The immunostaining of occludin and claudin-5 suggested the gap in the tight junction increased in the 8-week STZ rats compared to the normal rats (p < 0.05). Moreover, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA also increased in the brain of 8-week STZ rats compared to the normal rats (p < 0.05). These results suggested that loss of BBB integrity might contribute to progressive impairment of cognitive in the diabetic rats. The increase of TNF-α and IL-6 expression might trigger the disruption of BBB in the brain, which eventually caused cognitive impairment in the 8-week STZ rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieli Geng
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linyuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuan Qin
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaying Song
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajing Chen
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongting Wang
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Yuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research Center, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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46
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Zhao J, Bian C, Liu M, Zhao Y, Sun T, Xing F, Zhang J. Orchiectomy and letrozole differentially regulate synaptic plasticity and spatial memory in a manner that is mediated by SRC-1 in the hippocampus of male mice. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 178:354-368. [PMID: 29452160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hippocampal synaptic plasticity is the basis of spatial memory and cognition and is strongly regulated by both testicular androgens (testosterone, T) and hippocampal estrogens (17β-estradiol, E2) converted from T by aromatase, which is inhibited by letrozole (LET), but the contribution of each pathway to spatial memory and the associated mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we first used orchiectomy (ORX) and LET injection to investigate the effects of T and hippocampal E2 on spatial memory and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Next, we examined the changes in steroid receptors and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) under these treatments. Finally, we constructed an SRC-1 RNA interference lentivirus and an AROM overexpression lentivirus to explore the roles of SRC-1 under T replacement and AROM overexpression. The results revealed spatial memory impairment only after LET. LET induced more actin depolymerization and greater losses of spines, synapses, and postsynaptic proteins compared with ORX. Moreover, although ERα and ERβ were affected by LET and ORX at similar levels, AR, GPR30, and SRC-1 were dramatically decreased by LET compared with ORX. Finally, the T and AROM overexpression-induced changes in synaptic proteins and actin polymerization were blocked by SRC-1 inhibition. These results demonstrate that testicular androgens play a limited role, whereas local E2 is more important for cognition, which may explain why castrated men such as eunuchs usually do not have cognitive disorders. These results also suggest a pivotal role of SRC-1 in the action of steroids; thus, SRC-1 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jikai Zhao
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chen Bian
- Department of Military Psychology, College of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mengying Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yangang Zhao
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fangzhou Xing
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China; School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiqiang Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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47
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Chronic Swimming Exercise Ameliorates Low-Soybean-Oil Diet-Induced Spatial Memory Impairment by Enhancing BDNF-Mediated Synaptic Potentiation in Developing Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Neurochem Res 2018; 43:1047-1057. [PMID: 29574667 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2515-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Exercise and low-fat diets are common lifestyle modifications used for the treatment of hypertension besides drug therapy. However, unrestrained low-fat diets may result in deficiencies of low-unsaturated fatty acids and carry contingent risks of delaying neurodevelopment. While aerobic exercise shows positive neuroprotective effects, it is still unclear whether exercise could alleviate the impairment of neurodevelopment that may be induced by certain low-fat diets. In this research, developing spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with chronic swimming exercise and/or a low-soybean-oil diet for 6 weeks. We found that performance in the Morris water maze was reduced and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus was suppressed by the diet, while a combination treatment of exercise and diet alleviated the impairment induced by the specific low-fat diet. Moreover, the combination treatment effectively increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR), which were both down-regulated by the low-soybean-oil diet in the hippocampus of developing SHR. These findings suggest that chronic swimming exercise can ameliorate the low-soybean-oil diet-induced learning and memory impairment in developing SHR through the up-regulation of BDNF and NMDAR expression.
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48
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Wagner BA, Braddick VC, Batson CG, Cullen BH, Miller LE, Spritzer MD. Effects of testosterone dose on spatial memory among castrated adult male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 89:120-130. [PMID: 29414025 PMCID: PMC5878712 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous research on the activational effects of testosterone on spatial memory has produced mixed results, possibly because such effects are dose-dependent. We tested a wide range of testosterone doses using two spatial memory tasks: a working-reference memory version of the radial-arm maze (RAM) and an object location memory task (OLMT). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were castrated or sham-castrated and given daily injections of drug vehicle (Oil Sham and Oil GDX) or one of four doses of testosterone propionate (0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1.000 mg T) beginning seven days before the first day of behavioral tests and continuing throughout testing. For the RAM, four arms of the maze were consistently baited on each day of testing. Testosterone had a significant effect on working memory on the RAM, with the Oil Sham, 0.125 mg T, and 0.500 mg T groups performing better than the Oil GDX group. In contrast, there was no significant effect of testosterone on spatial reference memory on the RAM. For the OLMT, we tested long-term memory using a 2 h inter-trial interval between first exposure to two identical objects and re-exposure after one object had been moved. Only the 0.125 and 0.500 mg T groups showed a significant increase in exploration of the moved object during the testing trials, indicating better memory than all other groups. Testosterone replacement restored spatial memory among castrated male rats on both behavioral tasks, but there was a complex dose-response relationship; therefore, the therapeutic value of testosterone is likely sensitive to dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A. Wagner
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | | | | | - Brendan H. Cullen
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - L. Erin Miller
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - Mark D. Spritzer
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A,Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A,Corresponding author: Mark Spritzer, Department of Biology, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA, phone: 802-443-5676, FAX: 802-443-2072
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49
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Murakami G, Hojo Y, Kato A, Komatsuzaki Y, Horie S, Soma M, Kim J, Kawato S. Rapid nongenomic modulation by neurosteroids of dendritic spines in the hippocampus: Androgen, oestrogen and corticosteroid. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30. [PMID: 29194818 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Memories are stored in synapses that consist of axon terminals and dendritic spines. Dendritic spines are postsynaptic structures of synapses and are essential for synaptic plasticity and cognition. Therefore, extensive investigations concerning the functions and structures of spines have been performed. Sex steroids and stress steroids have been shown to modulate hippocampal synapses. Although the rapid modulatory action of sex steroids on synapses has been studied in hippocampal neurones over several decades, the essential molecular mechanisms have not been fully understood. Here, a description of kinase-dependent signalling mechanisms is provided that can explain the rapid nongenomic modulation of dendritic spinogenesis in rat and mouse hippocampal slices by the application of sex steroids, including dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, oestradiol and progesterone. We also indicate the role of synaptic (classic) sex steroid receptors that trigger these rapid synaptic modulations. Moreover, we describe rapid nongenomic spine modulation by applying corticosterone, which is an acute stress model of the hippocampus. The explanations for the results obtained are mainly based on the optical imaging of dendritic spines. Comparisons are also performed with results obtained from other types of imaging, including electron microscopic imaging. Relationships between spine modulation and modulation of cognition are discussed. We recognise that most of rapid effects of exogenously applied oestrogen and androgen were observed in steroid-depleted conditions, including acute slices of the hippocampus, castrated male animals and ovariectomised female animals. Therefore, the previously observed effects can be considered as a type of recovery event, which may be essentially similar to hormone replacement therapy under hormone-decreased conditions. On the other hand, in gonadally intact young animals with high levels of endogenous sex hormones, further supplementation of sex hormones might not be effective, whereas the infusion of blockers for steroid receptors or kinases may be effective, with respect to suppressing sex hormone functions, thus providing useful information regarding molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Murakami
- Department of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Iruma, Saitama, Japan
| | - Y Hojo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Iruma, Saitama, Japan
| | - A Kato
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Y Komatsuzaki
- Department of Physics, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Horie
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - M Soma
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - J Kim
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Kawato
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
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50
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Lan HC, Lin JH, Chen CH, Chu PW, Cheng CP. Estradiol level of male rat is correlated with depression and anxiety after traumatic stress. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.4103/jmedsci.jmedsci_170_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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