1
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Zhong X, Li J, Xu X. Adolescent exposure to bisphenol-a antagonizes androgen regulation of social behavior in male mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2024; 105:107374. [PMID: 39097242 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Social behavior is sexually dimorphic, which is regulated by gonadal hormones in the brain. Our recent study found that exposure to low doses of bisphenol-A (BPA) during adolescence, permanently alters social behavior in adult male mice, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using adolescent gonadectomy (GDX) male mice with testosterone propionate (TP, 0.5 mg/kg) supplement (TP-GDX), this study showed that BPA antagonized promoting effects of TP on social interaction, sexual behavior, and aggression in GDX mice. BPA eliminated the reversal effects of TP on GDX-induced decrease in the number of immunoreactive to arginine vasopressin (AVP-ir) neurons in the medial amygdala (MeA) and the levels of AVP receptor 1a (V1aR) in the MeA and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, BPA removed down-regulation in the levels of dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) and DA receptor 1 (DR1) in the NAc of TP-GDX mice. BPA exposure reduced testosterone (T) levels in the brain and serum and the expression of androgen receptor (AR) protein in the amygdala and striatum of sham-operated and TP-GDX males. These results suggest that adolescent exposure to BPA inhibits regulation of androgen in AVP and DA systems of the brain regions associated with social behavior, and thus alters social behaviors of adult male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhong
- Life Science College, Key laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China
| | - Jisui Li
- Life Science College, Key laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Life Science College, Key laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, PR China.
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2
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Sheng JA, Tobet SA. Maternal immune activation with toll-like receptor 7 agonist during mid-gestation alters juvenile and adult developmental milestones and behavior. J Neuroendocrinol 2024; 36:e13417. [PMID: 38822791 PMCID: PMC11296912 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13417] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Infections during pregnancy are associated with increased risk for adult neuropsychiatric disease, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. In mouse models of maternal immune activation (MIA), different toll-like receptors (TLRs) are stimulated to initiate inflammatory responses in mother and fetus. The goal of this study was to determine sex-dependent aspects of MIA using a TLR7/8 agonist, Resiquimod (RQ), on neurodevelopment. RQ was administered to timed-pregnant mice on embryonic day (E) 12.5. At E15, maternal/fetal plasma cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Maternal cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were higher while tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-17 were lower in pregnant dams exposed to RQ. Fetal cytokines (E15) were altered at the same timepoint with fetal plasma IL-6 and IL-17 greater after RQ compared to vehicle, while IL-10 and TNF-α were higher in male fetuses but not female. Other timed-pregnant dams were allowed to give birth. MIA with RQ did not alter the female to male ratio of offspring born per litter. Body weights were reduced significantly in both sexes at birth, and over the next 5 weeks. Offspring from RQ-injected mothers opened their eyes 5 days later than controls. Similarly, female offspring from RQ-injected mothers exhibited pubertal delay based on vaginal opening 2-3 days later than control females. On the behavioral side, juvenile and adult male and female MIA offspring exhibited less social-like behavior in a social interaction test. Anhedonia-like behavior was greater in MIA adult female mice. This study provides support for sex-dependent influences of fetal antecedents for altered brain development and behavioral outputs that could be indicative of increased susceptibility for adult disorders through immune mechanisms. Future studies are needed to determine neural cellular and molecular mechanisms for such programming effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart A. Tobet
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Department of Psychiatry, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Mass General Hospital
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3
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Kyuragi Y, Oishi N, Hatakoshi M, Hirano J, Noda T, Yoshihara Y, Ito Y, Igarashi H, Miyata J, Takahashi K, Kamiya K, Matsumoto J, Okada T, Fushimi Y, Nakagome K, Mimura M, Murai T, Suwa T. Segmentation and Volume Estimation of the Habenula Using Deep Learning in Patients With Depression. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100314. [PMID: 38726037 PMCID: PMC11078767 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100314] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The habenula is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. However, its small structure limits the accuracy of segmentation methods, and the findings regarding its volume have been inconsistent. This study aimed to create a highly accurate habenula segmentation model using deep learning, test its generalizability to clinical magnetic resonance imaging, and examine differences between healthy participants and patients with depression. Methods This multicenter study included 382 participants (patients with depression: N = 234, women 47.0%; healthy participants: N = 148, women 37.8%). A 3-dimensional residual U-Net was used to create a habenula segmentation model on 3T magnetic resonance images. The reproducibility and generalizability of the predictive model were tested on various validation cohorts. Thereafter, differences between the habenula volume of healthy participants and that of patients with depression were examined. Results A Dice coefficient of 86.6% was achieved in the derivation cohort. The test-retest dataset showed a mean absolute percentage error of 6.66, indicating sufficiently high reproducibility. A Dice coefficient of >80% was achieved for datasets with different imaging conditions, such as magnetic field strengths, spatial resolutions, and imaging sequences, by adjusting the threshold. A significant negative correlation with age was observed in the general population, and this correlation was more pronounced in patients with depression (p < 10-7, r = -0.59). Habenula volume decreased with depression severity in women even when the effects of age and scanner were excluded (p = .019, η2 = 0.099). Conclusions Habenula volume could be a pathophysiologically relevant factor and diagnostic and therapeutic marker for depression, particularly in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kyuragi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoya Oishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Momoko Hatakoshi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jinichi Hirano
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamasa Noda
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yujiro Yoshihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuri Ito
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Igarashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jun Miyata
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kento Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kei Kamiya
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junya Matsumoto
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Okada
- Human Brain Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Fushimi
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Masaru Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taro Suwa
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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4
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Torres T, Adam N, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Naulé L. Reproductive function and behaviors: an update on the role of neural estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1408677. [PMID: 38978624 PMCID: PMC11228153 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1408677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility is becoming a major public health problem, with increasing frequency due to medical, environmental and societal causes. The increasingly late age of childbearing, growing exposure to endocrine disruptors and other reprotoxic products, and increasing number of medical reproductive dysfunctions (endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc.) are among the most common causes. Fertility relies on fine-tuned control of both neuroendocrine function and reproductive behaviors, those are critically regulated by sex steroid hormones. Testosterone and estradiol exert organizational and activational effects throughout life to establish and activate the neural circuits underlying reproductive function. This regulation is mediated through estrogen receptors (ERs) and androgen receptor (AR). Estradiol acts mainly via nuclear estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ. The aim of this review is to summarize the genetic studies that have been undertaken to comprehend the specific contribution of ERα and ERβ in the neural circuits underlying the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the expression of reproductive behaviors, including sexual and parental behavior. Particular emphasis will be placed on the neural role of these receptors and the underlying sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lydie Naulé
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
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5
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Haque R, Kurien SP, Setty H, Salzberg Y, Stelzer G, Litvak E, Gingold H, Rechavi O, Oren-Suissa M. Sex-specific developmental gene expression atlas unveils dimorphic gene networks in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4273. [PMID: 38769103 PMCID: PMC11106331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in the nervous system of each sex. However, the genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we create a comprehensive gene expression atlas of pure populations of hermaphrodites and males of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. We discover numerous differentially expressed genes, including neuronal gene families like transcription factors, neuropeptides, and G protein-coupled receptors. We identify INS-39, an insulin-like peptide, as a prominent male-biased gene expressed specifically in ciliated sensory neurons. We show that INS-39 serves as an early-stage male marker, facilitating the effective isolation of males in high-throughput experiments. Through complex and sex-specific regulation, ins-39 plays pleiotropic sexually dimorphic roles in various behaviors, while also playing a shared, dimorphic role in early life stress. This study offers a comparative sexual and developmental gene expression database for C. elegans. Furthermore, it highlights conserved genes that may underlie the sexually dimorphic manifestation of different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwanul Haque
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sonu Peedikayil Kurien
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hagar Setty
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gil Stelzer
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Einav Litvak
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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6
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Laine MA, Greiner EM, Shansky RM. Sex differences in the rodent medial prefrontal cortex - What Do and Don't we know? Neuropharmacology 2024; 248:109867. [PMID: 38387553 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex, particularly its medial subregions (mPFC), mediates critical functions such as executive control, behavioral inhibition, and memory formation, with relevance for everyday functioning and psychopathology. Despite broad characterization of the mPFC in multiple model organisms, the extent to which mPFC structure and function vary according to an individual's sex is unclear - a knowledge gap that can be attributed to a historical bias for male subjects in neuroscience research. Recent efforts to consider sex as a biological variable in basic science highlight the great need to close this gap. Here we review the knowns and unknowns about how rodents categorized as male or female compare in mPFC neuroanatomy, pharmacology, as well as in aversive, appetitive, and goal- or habit-directed behaviors that recruit the mPFC. We propose that long-standing dogmatic concepts of mPFC structure and function may not remain supported when we move beyond male-only studies, and that empirical challenges to these dogmas are warranted. Additionally, we note some common pitfalls in this work. Most preclinical studies operationalize sex as a binary categorization, and while this approach has furthered the inclusion of non-male rodents it is not as such generalizable to what we know of sex as a multidimensional, dynamic variable. Exploration of sex variability may uncover both sex differences and sex similarities, but care must be taken in their interpretation. Including females in preclinical research needs to go beyond the investigation of sex differences, improving our knowledge of how this brain region and its subregions mediate behavior and health. This article is part of the Special Issue on "PFC circuit function in psychiatric disease and relevant models".
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Laine
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E M Greiner
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - R M Shansky
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Murray SH, Logan RJ, Sheehan AC, Paolone AR, McCormick CM. Developmental trajectory of social reward motivation from early adolescence into adulthood in female and male Long-Evans rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22495. [PMID: 38643359 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Most studies of adolescent and adult behavior involved one age group of each, whereas the dynamic changes in brain development suggest that there may be behavioral flux in adolescence. In two studies, we investigated developmental changes in social reward motivation in female and male Long-Evans rats from prepuberty to early adulthood in a social operant conditioning task. Given the earlier onset of puberty in females than in males, we predicted the course of social reward development would differ between the sexes. Overall, the pattern of results from both studies suggests that the trajectory of social motivation across adolescence is characterized by upward and downward shifts that do not depend on the sex of the rats. During training, in both studies, the mean number of social gate openings and percentage of social gate openings was higher at P30 (prepubertal, early adolescence) and P50 (late adolescence) than at P40 (mid adolescence) and P70 (adulthood) irrespective of sex. Nevertheless, the specific age comparisons that were significant depended on the study. In both studies, P30 rats had greater levels of social motivation than did adults in accessing a social reward when increased effort was required (progressive ratio tests). In an extinction test, only P30 and P50 rats continued to show more nose-pokes at the previously social gate than at the nonsocial gate, suggesting resistance to extinction. The results highlight the importance of characterizing behavior at several timepoints in adolescence to understand the neural mechanisms, many of which show similar discontinuities as they develop across adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shealin H Murray
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Ryanne J Logan
- Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Andrew C Sheehan
- Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Arianna R Paolone
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Cheryl M McCormick
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
- Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
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8
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Donovan A, Assari S, Grella C, Shaheen M, Richter L, Friedman TC. Neuroendocrine mechanisms in the links between early life stress, affect, and youth substance use: A conceptual model for the study of sex and gender differences. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 73:101121. [PMID: 38253240 PMCID: PMC11088508 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101121] [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: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is defined as an acute or chronic stressor that negatively impacts a child's development. ELS is associated with substance use and mental health problems. This narrative literature review focuses on sex and gender differences in the effects of ELS on 1) adolescent neuroendocrine development; 2) pubertal brain maturation; and 3) development of internalizing symptoms and subsequent substance use. We posit that ELS may generate larger hormonal dysregulation in females than males during puberty, increasing internalizing symptoms and substance use. Future research should consider sex and gender differences in neuroendocrine developmental processes when studying the link between ELS and negative health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Donovan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Shervin Assari
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Christine Grella
- Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 10911 Weyburn Ave, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90024-2886, USA.
| | - Magda Shaheen
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Linda Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Partnership to End Addiction, 711 Third Ave, 5(th) Floor, Suite 500, New York City, NY 10017, USA.
| | - Theodore C Friedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
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9
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Lafta MS, Mwinyi J, Affatato O, Rukh G, Dang J, Andersson G, Schiöth HB. Exploring sex differences: insights into gene expression, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and pathology. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1340108. [PMID: 38449735 PMCID: PMC10915038 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1340108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased knowledge about sex differences is important for development of individualized treatments against many diseases as well as understanding behavioral and pathological differences. This review summarizes sex chromosome effects on gene expression, epigenetics, and hormones in relation to the brain. We explore neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and brain pathology aiming to explain the current state of the art. While some domains exhibit strong differences, others reveal subtle differences whose overall significance warrants clarification. We hope that the current review increases awareness and serves as a basis for the planning of future studies that consider both sexes equally regarding similarities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muataz S. Lafta
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Oreste Affatato
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gull Rukh
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Junhua Dang
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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10
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Tang S, Huang L, Lin F, Chen X, Wang Y, Xu J, Wang Y, Gao J, Xiao Q. Sex steroid and cognitive function among community-dwelling older men with or without vascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:147. [PMID: 38350861 PMCID: PMC10865607 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04727-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship of testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function among community-dwelling older men was inconclusive. To examine the association of serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function in older men with or without vascular risk factors (VRFs). METHODS This cross-sectional study consisted of 224 community-dwelling men aged 65-90 years in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. Serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The following five factors were defined as VRFs in this study: obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of testosterone and estradiol with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in participants with or without VRF. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was performed to account for the nonlinearity of these associations. RESULTS An inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship was found between testosterone concentration and MMSE score in men with one VRF (P overall =.003, non-linear P =.002). Estradiol showed an inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship with MMSE score independent of VRFs (men without VRF, P overall =.049, non-linear P =.015; men with one VRF, overall P =.007, non-linear P =.003; men with two or more VRFs, overall P =.009, non-linear P =.005). CONCLUSION In older men, an optimal level of sex steroid concentration may be beneficial to cognitive function and the VRFs should be considered when interpreting the relationship between sex steroid and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuning Tang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Limei Huang
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangting Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuqin Chen
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhui Wang
- Songjiang District Xinqiao Town Community Health Service Center, 201600, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixiang Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Junling Gao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qianyi Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Perez EC, Gehm KH, Lobo VG, Olvera M, Leasure JL. Adulthood effects of developmental exercise in rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22444. [PMID: 38131238 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Exercise is known to promote efficient function of stress circuitry. The developing brain is malleable and thus exercise during adolescence could potentially exert lasting beneficial effects on the stress response that would be detectable in adulthood. The current study determined whether adolescent wheel running was associated with reduced stress response in adulthood, 6 weeks after cessation of exercise. Male and female adolescent rats voluntarily ran for 6 weeks and then were sedentary for 6 weeks prior to 10 days of chronic restraint stress in adulthood. Fecal corticosterone levels were measured during stress, and escape from the restraint tube was assessed on the final day as a proxy for depressive-like behavior. Anxiety-like behavior was measured 24 h later with the elevated plus maze and locomotor behaviors with the open field. Brain and body measurements were taken immediately following behavioral testing. Developmental exercise and adulthood stress both exerted independent effects on physiological and behavioral outcomes in adulthood. Exercise history increased the odds ratio of escape from restraint stress in males, but did not influence other stress-induced behaviors. In summary, exercise early in life exerted lasting effects, but did not substantially alter the adulthood response to restraint stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Perez
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin H Gehm
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Valeria Gaume Lobo
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marcelle Olvera
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - J Leigh Leasure
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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12
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Picci G, Ott LR, Penhale SH, Taylor BK, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Okelberry HJ, Wang Y, Calhoun VD, Stephen JM, Wilson TW. Developmental changes in endogenous testosterone have sexually-dimorphic effects on spontaneous cortical dynamics. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6043-6054. [PMID: 37811842 PMCID: PMC10619376 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition from childhood to adolescence is associated with an influx of sex hormones, which not only facilitates physical and behavioral changes, but also dramatic changes in neural circuitry. While previous work has shown that pubertal hormones modulate structural and functional brain development, few of these studies have focused on the impact that such hormones have on spontaneous cortical activity, and whether these effects are modulated by sex during this critical developmental window. Herein, we examined the effect of endogenous testosterone on spontaneous cortical activity in 71 typically-developing youth (ages 10-17 years; 32 male). Participants completed a resting-state magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recording, structural MRI, and provided a saliva sample for hormone analysis. MEG data were source-reconstructed and the power within five canonical frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) was computed. The resulting power spectral density maps were analyzed via vertex-wise ANCOVAs to identify spatially specific effects of testosterone and sex by testosterone interactions, while covarying out age. We found robust sex differences in the modulatory effects of testosterone on spontaneous delta, beta, and gamma activity. These interactions were largely confined to frontal cortices and exhibited a stark switch in the directionality of the correlation from the low (delta) to high frequencies (beta/gamma). For example, in the delta band, greater testosterone related to lower relative power in prefrontal cortices in boys, while the reverse pattern was found for girls. These data suggest testosterone levels are uniquely related to the development of spontaneous cortical dynamics during adolescence, and such levels are associated with different developmental patterns in males and females within regions implicated in executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Picci
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lauren R. Ott
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Samantha H. Penhale
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Brittany K. Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hallie J. Johnson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Madelyn P. Willett
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hannah J. Okelberry
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Yu‐Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri‐Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | | | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
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13
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Garcia-Segura LM, Méndez P, Arevalo MA, Azcoitia I. Neuroestradiol and neuronal development: Not an exclusive male tale anymore. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 71:101102. [PMID: 37689249 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
The brain synthesizes a variety of neurosteroids, including neuroestradiol. Inhibition of neuroestradiol synthesis results in alterations in basic neurodevelopmental processes, such as neurogenesis, neuroblast migration, neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis. Although the neurodevelopmental actions of neuroestradiol are exerted in both sexes, some of them are sex-specific, such as the well characterized effects of neuroestradiol derived from the metabolism of testicular testosterone during critical periods of male brain development. In addition, recent findings have shown sex-specific actions of neuroestradiol on neuroblast migration, neuritic growth and synaptogenesis in females. Among other factors, the epigenetic regulation exerted by X linked genes, such as Kdm6a/Utx, may determine sex-specific actions of neuroestradiol in the female brain. This review evidences the impact of neuroestradiol on brain formation in both sexes and highlights the interaction of neural steriodogenesis, hormones and sex chromosomes in sex-specific brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Garcia-Segura
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto Nacional de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pablo Méndez
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Angeles Arevalo
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto Nacional de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Iñigo Azcoitia
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto Nacional de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C José Antonio Nováis 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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14
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Bobotis BC, Braniff O, Gargus M, Akinluyi ET, Awogbindin IO, Tremblay MÈ. Sex differences of microglia in the healthy brain from embryonic development to adulthood and across lifestyle influences. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110752. [PMID: 37652267 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the central nervous system innate immune cells, play a critical role in maintaining a homeostatic environment in the brain throughout life. These cells exhibit an impressive range of functions and characteristics that help to ensure proper functioning of the brain. Notably, microglia can present differences in their genetic and physical traits, which can be influenced by a range of factors, including age, environmental exposures, disease, and sex. Remarkably, microglia have been found to express receptors for sex hormones, suggesting that these hormones may play a role in modulating microglial behavior and potentially contribute to sex differences. Additionally, sex-chromosomal factors were shown to impact microglial genetics and functioning. In this review, we will examine how microglial responses in homeostasis are impacted by their interaction with sex hormones and sex chromosomes. Specifically, our investigation will focus on examining this interaction from embryonic development to adulthood, and the influence of lifestyle elements on various microglial features, including density and distribution, morphology, transcriptome, and proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Braniff
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Makenna Gargus
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Ifeoluwa Oluleke Awogbindin
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neuroimmunology Group, Molecular Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Neurosciences Axis, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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15
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Björnholm L, Orell O, Kerkelä M, Honka U, Laasonen S, Riekki T, Surcel HM, Suvanto E, Veijola J. Maternal Thyroid Function During Pregnancy and Offspring White Matter Microstructure in Early Adulthood: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Thyroid 2023; 33:1245-1254. [PMID: 37498774 PMCID: PMC10611975 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2022.0699] [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] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background: The fetus is fully dependent on maternal thyroid hormones until mid-gestation and suboptimal maternal thyroid function has been associated with alterations in the neurodevelopment of the offspring. We used maternal free thyroxine (fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in early gestation to study the association of maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy and offspring brain white matter (WM) integrity in early adulthood. Methods: Our study population consisted of a total of 292 mother-child pairs. Maternal fT4 and TSH were used as predictors and offspring multimodal imaging measures of fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and magnetization transfer ratio (FA, MD, and MTR) as dependent variables. First, as Global analysis, all analyzed 14 WM tracts were studied simultaneously using linear-mixed effect models. Second, if a global effect was detected, a post hoc Tract-wise analysis was carried out using linear models individually in each WM tract. Study population was stratified by sex. Results: We found a positive association between maternal fT4 and offspring Global FA in males when adjusted for all maternal and offspring covariates (n = 114; β = 0.154; confidence interval = 0.045-0.263; p = 0.006). The finding was observed to be driven by multiple WM tracts, of which three projection fiber tracts and the forceps minor survived correcting for multiple comparisons in Tract-wise analysis. Conclusions: Maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy was observed to be associated with WM microstructure in male offspring in early adulthood. Our results suggest that maternal fT4 levels in early pregnancy may modulate axonal characteristics, with a long-term effect on offspring WM development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lassi Björnholm
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Olavi Orell
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Martta Kerkelä
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulriika Honka
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sini Laasonen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiina Riekki
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Eila Suvanto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital and MRC Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha Veijola
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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16
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Koebele SV, Bernaud VE, Northup-Smith SN, Willeman MN, Strouse IM, Bulen HL, Schrier AR, Newbern JM, DeNardo DF, Mayer LP, Dyer CA, Bimonte-Nelson HA. Gynecological surgery in adulthood imparts cognitive and brain changes in rats: A focus on hysterectomy at short-, moderate-, and long-term intervals after surgery. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105411. [PMID: 37659358 PMCID: PMC11060888 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105411] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Premenopausal hysterectomy is associated with a greater relative risk of dementia. We previously demonstrated cognitive impairments in adult rats six weeks after hysterectomy with ovarian conservation compared with intact sham-controls and other gynecological surgery variations. Here, we investigated whether hysterectomy-induced cognitive impairments are transient or persistent. Adult rats received sham-control, ovariectomy (Ovx), hysterectomy, or Ovx-hysterectomy surgery. Spatial working memory, reference memory, and anxiety-like behavior were tested either six-weeks post-surgery, in adulthood; seven-months post-surgery, in early middle-age; or twelve-months post-surgery, in late middle-age. Hysterectomy in adulthood yielded spatial working memory deficits at short-, moderate-, and long-term post-surgery intervals. Serum hormone levels did not differ between ovary-intact, but differed from Ovx, groups. Hysterectomy had no significant impact on healthy ovarian follicle or corpora lutea counts for any post-surgery timepoint compared with intact sham-controls. Frontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex were assessed for activity-dependent markers. In entorhinal cortex, there were alterations in FOSB and ΔFOSB expression during the early middle-age timepoint, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels at the adult timepoint. Collectively, results suggest a primary role for the uterus in regulating cognition, and that memory-related neural pathways may be modified following gynecological surgery. This is the first preclinical report of long-term effects of hysterectomy with and without ovarian conservation on cognition, endocrine, ovarian, and brain assessments, initiating a comprehensive framework of gynecological surgery effects. Translationally, findings underscore critical needs to decipher how gynecological surgeries, especially those involving the uterus, impact the brain and its functions, the ovaries, and overall aging from a systems perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie V Koebele
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Victoria E Bernaud
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Steven N Northup-Smith
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Mari N Willeman
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Isabel M Strouse
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Haidyn L Bulen
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Ally R Schrier
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Jason M Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Dale F DeNardo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | | | - Heather A Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA.
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17
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Valencia-Florez KB, Sánchez-Castillo H, Vázquez P, Zarate P, Paz DB. Stress, a Brief Update. Int J Psychol Res (Medellin) 2023; 16:105-121. [PMID: 38106958 PMCID: PMC10723744 DOI: 10.21500/20112084.5815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is fundamental for health and adaptation; it is an evolutionarily conserved response that involves several systems in the organism. The study of the stress response could be traced back to the end of the nineteenth century with George Beard's or Claude Bernard's work and, from that moment on, several studies that have allowed the elucidation of its neurobiology and the consequences of suffering from it were consolidated. In this theoretical review, we discuss the most relevant researches to our knowledge on the study of stress response, from the concept of stress, its neurobiology, the hormonal response during stress, as well as its regulation, the effects of acute and chronic stress, stress from cognition, the different stress responses during life, as well as its relationship with different psychiatric disorders. Taken together, the reviewed research updates the classic perspective on stress, increasing the factors that should be considered in research to explore the effects of stress on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Baruch Valencia-Florez
- Neuropsychopharmacology Lab. Psychobiology and Neurosciences Department. Psychology School National University of Mexico (UNAM)., MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversity of MexicoMexico
| | - Hugo Sánchez-Castillo
- Neuropsychopharmacology Lab. Psychobiology and Neurosciences Department. Psychology School National University of Mexico (UNAM)., MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversity of MexicoMexico
| | - Priscila Vázquez
- Neuropsychopharmacology Lab. Psychobiology and Neurosciences Department. Psychology School National University of Mexico (UNAM)., MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversity of MexicoMexico
| | - Pavel Zarate
- Ibeoramerican Society of Applied Neurosciences (SINA) , México.Ibeoramerican Society of Applied NeurosciencesMéxico
| | - Diana Berenice Paz
- Neuropsychopharmacology Lab. Psychobiology and Neurosciences Department. Sistema de Universidad Abierta y a Distancia (SUAyD), Psychology School, National University of Mexico (UNAM) , México.Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoNational University of MexicoMexico
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18
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Sun H, Hobert O. Temporal transitions in the postembryonic nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: Recent insights and open questions. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 142:67-80. [PMID: 35688774 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
After the generation, differentiation and integration into functional circuitry, post-mitotic neurons continue to change certain phenotypic properties throughout postnatal juvenile stages until an animal has reached a fully mature state in adulthood. We will discuss such changes in the context of the nervous system of the nematode C. elegans, focusing on recent descriptions of anatomical and molecular changes that accompany postembryonic maturation of neurons. We summarize the characterization of genetic timer mechanisms that control these temporal transitions or maturational changes, and discuss that many but not all of these transitions relate to sexual maturation of the animal. We describe how temporal, spatial and sex-determination pathways are intertwined to sculpt the emergence of cell-type specific maturation events. Finally, we lay out several unresolved questions that should be addressed to move the field forward, both in C. elegans and in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haosheng Sun
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA
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19
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Guoynes CD, Marler CA. Acute intranasal oxytocin dose enhances social preference for parents over peers in male but not female peri-adolescent California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 335:114230. [PMID: 36781024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114230] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Peri-adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by profound changes in the valence of social interactions with parents and peers. We hypothesized that the oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems, known for influencing social behavior, would be involved in the maintenance and breaking of bonding behavior expressed by very early peri-adolescent males and females. In rodents, OXT is associated with mother-pup bonding and may promote social attachment to members of the natal territory. AVP, on the other hand, can act in contrasting ways to OXT and has been associated with aggression and territoriality. Specifically, we predicted that in peri-adolescent male and female juveniles of the biparental and territorial California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), a) OXT would increase the social preferences for the parents over unfamiliar age-matched peers (one male and one female), and b) AVP would break the parent-offspring bond and either increase time in the neutral chamber and/or approach to their unfamiliar and novel peers. We examined anxiety and exploratory behavior using an elevated plus maze and a novel object task as a control. Peri-adolescent mice were administered an acute intranasal (IN) treatment of 0.5 IU/kg IN AVP, 0.5 IU/kg IN OXT, or saline control; five minutes later, the behavioral tests were conducted. As predicted, we found that IN OXT enhanced social preference for parents; however, this was only in male and not female peri-adolescent mice. IN AVP did not influence social preference in either sex. These effects appear specific to social behavior and not anxiety, as neither IN OXT nor AVP influenced behavior during the elevated plus maze or novel object tasks. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating that OXT may play a role in promoting peri-adolescent social preferences for parents and delaying weaning in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleigh D Guoynes
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Catherine A Marler
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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20
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Ladouceur CD, Henry T, Ojha A, Shirtcliff EA, Silk JS. Fronto-amygdala resting state functional connectivity is associated with anxiety symptoms among adolescent girls more advanced in pubertal maturation. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 60:101236. [PMID: 36996571 PMCID: PMC10063408 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early adolescence, with the onset of puberty, is an important period when sex differences in anxiety emerge, with girls reporting significantly higher anxiety symptoms than boys. This study examined the role of puberty on fronto-amygdala functional connectivity and risk of anxiety symptoms in 70 girls (age 11-13) who completed a resting state fMRI scan, self-report measures of anxiety symptoms and pubertal status, and provided basal testosterone levels (64 girls). Resting state fMRI data were preprocessed using fMRIPrep and connectivity indices were extracted from ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and amygdala regions-of-interest. We tested moderated mediation models and hypothesized that vmPFC-amygdala would mediate the relation between three indices of puberty (testosterone and adrenarcheal/gonadarcheal development) and anxiety, with puberty moderating the relation between connectivity and anxiety. Results showed a significant moderation effect of testosterone and adrenarcheal development in the right amygdala and a rostral/dorsal area of the vmPFC and of gonadarcheal development in the left amygdala and a medial area of the vmPFC on anxiety symptoms. Simple slope analyses showed that vmPFC-amygdala connectivity was negatively associated with anxiety only in girls more advanced in puberty suggesting that sensitivity to the effects of puberty on fronto-amygdala function could contribute to risk for anxiety disorders among adolescent girls.
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21
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Parker CG, Craig SE, Histed AR, Lee JS, Ibanez E, Pronitcheva V, Rhodes JS. New cells added to the preoptic area during sex change in the common clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 333:114185. [PMID: 36509136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in cell number in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) are documented across all major vertebrate lineages and contribute to differential regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and reproductive behavior between the sexes. Sex-changing fishes provide a unique opportunity to study mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation of the POA. In anemonefish (clownfish), which change sex from male to female, females have approximately twice the number of medium-sized cells in the anterior POA compared to males. This sex difference transitions from male-like to female-like during sex change. However, it is not known how this sex difference in POA cell number is established. This study tests the hypothesis that new cell addition plays a role. We initiated adult male-to-female sex change in 30 anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and administered BrdU to label new cells added to the POA at regular intervals throughout sex change. Sex-changing fish added more new cells to the anterior POA than non-changing fish, supporting the hypothesis. The observed effects could be accounted for by differences in POA volume, but they are also consistent with a steady trickle of new cells being gradually accumulated in the anterior POA before vitellogenic oocytes develop in the gonads. These results provide insight into the unique characteristics of protandrous sex change in anemonefish relative to other modes of sex change, and support the potential for future research in sex-changing fishes to provide a richer understanding of the mechanisms for sexual differentiation of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sarah E Craig
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Abigail R Histed
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joanne S Lee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Emma Ibanez
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Veronica Pronitcheva
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 E Daniel St, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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22
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Edwards PD, Toor I, Holmes MM. The Curious Case of the Naked Mole-Rat: How Extreme Social and Reproductive Adaptations Might Influence Sex Differences in the Brain. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 62:47-70. [PMID: 35301704 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Research in the neurobiology of sex differences is inherently influenced by the study species that are used. Some traditional animal research models, such as rats and mice, show certain sex differences in the brain that have been foundational to neurobiological research. However, subsequent work has demonstrated that these differences are not always generalizable, especially to species with different social structures and sex-associated roles or behaviors. One such example is the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), which has an unusual social structure among mammals. Naked mole-rats live in large groups where reproduction is restricted to a dominant female, called the "queen," and often only one breeding male. All other animals in the group, the "subordinates," are socially suppressed from reproduction and remain in a prepubescent state as adults, unless they are removed from the presence of the queen. These subordinates show little to no sex differences in external morphology, neural morphology, or behavior. However, there are a suite of neurobiological differences between subordinate and breeding naked mole-rats. After naked mole-rats attain breeding status, many of the classically sexually differentiated brain regions increase in volume (paraventricular nucleus, medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis). There are additionally social status differences in sex hormone receptor expression in the brain, as well as other changes in gene expression, some of which also show sex differences - though not always in the predicted direction based on other rodent studies. Data from naked mole-rats show that it is critical to consider the evolved social structure of a species when studying sex differences in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe D Edwards
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Ilapreet Toor
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Melissa M Holmes
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
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23
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Cloutier MÈ, Srivastava LK, Cermakian N. Exposure to Circadian Disruption During Adolescence Interacts With a Genetic Risk Factor to Modify Schizophrenia-relevant Behaviors in a Sex-dependent Manner. J Biol Rhythms 2022; 37:655-672. [PMID: 36168739 PMCID: PMC9749568 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221125363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
DTNBP1 is a gene associated with schizophrenia. Postmortem studies found a reduced expression of DTNBP1 in regions associated with schizophrenia in patients' brains. Sandy (Sdy) mice have a loss-of-function mutation in Dtnbp1 gene, resulting in behavioral deficits and brain changes similar to those seen in patients with schizophrenia. We previously showed that exposing adult Sdy mice to circadian disruption led to an exacerbation of schizophrenia-relevant behaviors. Here we asked whether the interaction between this genetic risk factor and circadian disruption occurs during adolescence, a period when environmental insults can promote schizophrenia symptoms, and whether sex affects this interaction. Starting at postnatal day 21, wild-type (WT) and Sdy males and females were housed for 4 weeks either in a 12 h light:12 h dark (LD 12:12) cycle or under chronic jetlag (CJL). Then, after 2 weeks in LD 12:12, behavioral assessments were conducted, including elevated plus maze (EPM), novel object recognition (NOR), social interaction, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle. NOR and social novelty tests showed that, surprisingly, CJL during adolescence had opposite effects on WT and Sdy males, that is, behavioral deficits in WT males while rescuing preexisting deficits in Sdy mice. CJL led to decreased sociability in WT and Sdy mice while decreasing PPI only in females. Sdy mice showed decreased anxiety-like behavior compared with wild-type (WT), which was further accentuated by CJL in males. Thus, circadian disruption during adolescence, on its own or in association with Dtnbp1 mutation, can influence cognition, sociability, sensorimotor gating, and anxiety-like behaviors in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Ève Cloutier
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lalit K. Srivastava
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Lalit K. Srivastava, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; e-mail:
| | - Nicolas Cermakian
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Nicolas Cermakian, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; e-mail:
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24
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Heller C, Kimmig ACS, Kubicki MR, Derntl B, Kikinis Z. Imaging the human brain on oral contraceptives: A review of structural imaging methods and implications for future research goals. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 67:101031. [PMID: 35998859 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101031] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide over 150 million women use oral contraceptives (OCs), which are the most prescribed form of contraception in both the United States and in European countries. Sex hormones, such as estradiol and progesterone, are important endogenous hormones known for shaping the brain across the life span. Synthetic hormones, which are present in OCs, interfere with the natural hormonal balance by reducing the endogenous hormone levels. Little is known how this affects the brain, especially during the most vulnerable times of brain maturation. Here, we review studies that investigate differences in brain gray and white matter in women using OCs in comparison to naturally cycling women. We focus on two neuroimaging methods used to quantify structural gray and white matter changes, namely structural MRI and diffusion MRI. Finally, we discuss the potential of these imaging techniques to advance knowledge about the effects of OCs on the brain and wellbeing in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Heller
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
| | - Ann-Christin S Kimmig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, International Max Planck Research School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marek R Kubicki
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Lead Graduate School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Zora Kikinis
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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25
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Mohr MA, Michael NS, DonCarlos LL, Sisk CL. Sex differences in proliferation and attrition of pubertally born cells in the rat posterior dorsal medial amygdala. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 57:101141. [PMID: 35933923 PMCID: PMC9357828 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The rodent posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) evaluates and assigns valence to social sensory stimuli. The perception of social stimuli evolves during puberty, when the focus of social interactions shifts from kin to peers. Using the cell birthdate marker bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU), we previously discovered that more pubertally born cells are added to the rat MePD in males than females. Here we addressed several questions that remained unanswered by our previous work. First, to determine whether there are sex differences in cell proliferation within the MePD, we examined BrdU-immunoreactive (-ir) cells at 2 and 4 h following BrdU administration on postnatal day 30 (P30). The density of BrdU-ir cells was greater in males than in females, indicating greater proliferation in males. Proliferation was substantiated by double-label immunohistochemistry showing that MePD BrdU-ir cells colocalize proliferating cell nuclear antigen, but not the cell death marker Caspase3. We next studied longer time points (2-21 days) following BrdU administration on P30 and found that the rate of cell attrition is higher in males. Finally, triple-label immunohistochemistry of P30-born MePD cells revealed that some of these cells differentiate into neurons or astrocytes within three weeks of cell birth, with no discernable sex differences. The demonstration of pubertal neuro- and glio-genesis in the MePD of male and female rats adds a new dimension to developmental plasticity of the MePD that may contribute to pubertal changes in the perception of social stimuli in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Mohr
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Lydia L DonCarlos
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Cheryl L Sisk
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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26
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Culbert KM, Milá Roa A, Stevens K, Sisk CL, Burt SA, Klump KL. Pubertal emergence of testosterone effects on depressive symptoms in boys. JCPP ADVANCES 2022; 2. [DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Culbert
- Department of Psychology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
| | - Antonio Milá Roa
- Department of Psychology University of Nevada Las Vegas Nevada USA
| | - Kimberly Stevens
- Department of Psychology University of Nevada Las Vegas Nevada USA
| | - Cheryl L. Sisk
- Neuroscience Program Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
| | - S. Alexandra Burt
- Department of Psychology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
| | - Kelly L. Klump
- Department of Psychology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
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27
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Lund CI, Engdahl B, Rosseland LA, Stubhaug A, Grimnes G, Furberg AS, Steingrímsdóttir ÓA, Nielsen CS. The association between age at menarche and chronic pain outcomes in women: the Tromsø Study, 2007 to 2016. Pain 2022; 163:1790-1799. [PMID: 35239542 PMCID: PMC9393800 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Sex differences in chronic pain are well established with documented predominance in women. This study assessed relationships between age at menarche and chronic pain, site-specific chronic pain, pain characteristics, and chronic widespread pain (CWP). We used data from the Tromsø Study conducted in 2007 to 2008 and 2015 to 2016 (Tromsø 6 and Tromsø 7 waves) including participants aged 30 to 99 years. The associations between age at menarche and chronic pain were examined in Tromsø 6 (n = 6449), Tromsø 7 (n = 5681), and the combination of Tromsø 6 and Tromsø 7 (n = 12,130). Tromsø 7 data were used further to examine the associations between age at menarche and site-specific chronic pain, 4 pain characteristics (pain duration, pain intensity, episode duration, and episode frequency), and CWP. All analyses were adjusted for body mass index, age, and economic status of the household in childhood. Lower age at menarche was associated with an increased risk of chronic pain in all 3 samples (risk ratio for each year delay in menarche 0.98, 95% CI [0.97 to 0.99] across samples). Risk differences were -0.014, CI 95% (-0.02 to -0.005) in Tromsø 6, -0.011, CI 95% (-0.02 to -0.02) in Tromsø 7, and -0.012, CI 95% (-0.02 to -0.01) in the combined sample. Age at menarche was significantly associated with chronic pain in the neck, abdomen, and both arms, and CWP. Of the 4 pain characteristics, pain duration was statistically significant. We conclude that early menarche is an independent risk factor for pain across a broad spectrum of pain outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte I. Lund
- Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Research and Development, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bo Engdahl
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Leiv A. Rosseland
- Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Research and Development, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Audun Stubhaug
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Pain Management and Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guri Grimnes
- Division of Clinical Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT—the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anne-Sofie Furberg
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ólöf A. Steingrímsdóttir
- Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Research and Development, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christopher S. Nielsen
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Pain Management and Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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28
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Gilfarb RA, Leuner B. GABA System Modifications During Periods of Hormonal Flux Across the Female Lifespan. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:802530. [PMID: 35783228 PMCID: PMC9245048 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.802530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The female lifespan is marked by periods of dramatic hormonal fluctuation. Changes in the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone, in addition to the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, are among the most significant and have been shown to have widespread effects on the brain. This review summarizes current understanding of alterations that occur within the GABA system during the major hormonal transition periods of puberty, the ovarian cycle, pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as reproductive aging. The functional impacts of altered inhibitory activity during these times are also discussed. Lastly, avenues for future research are identified, which, if pursued, can broaden understanding of the GABA system in the female brain and potentially lead to better treatments for women experiencing changes in brain function at each of these hormonal transition periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Gilfarb
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Benedetta Leuner,
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29
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Campbell CE, Mezher AF, Tyszka JM, Nagel BJ, Eckel SP, Herting MM. Associations between testosterone, estradiol, and androgen receptor genotype with amygdala subregions in adolescents. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 137:105604. [PMID: 34971856 PMCID: PMC8925279 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105604] [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: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Much is known about the development of the whole amygdala, but less is known about its structurally and functionally diverse subregions. One notable distinguishing feature is their wide range of androgen and estrogen receptor densities. Given the rise in pubertal hormones during adolescence, sex steroid levels as well as receptor sensitivity could influence age-related subregion volumes. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the associations between the total amygdala and its subregion volumes in relation to sex hormones - estradiol and free testosterone (FT) - as a function of age and genetic differences in androgen receptor (AR) sensitivity in a sample of 297 adolescents (46% female). In males, we found small effects of FT-by-age interactions in the total amygdala, portions of the basolateral complex, and the cortical and medial nuclei (CMN), with the CMN effects being moderated by AR sensitivity. For females, small effects were seen with increased genetic AR sensitivity relating to smaller basolateral complexes. However, none of these small effects passed multiple comparisons. Future larger studies are necessary to replicate these small, yet possibly meaningful effects of FT-by-age associations and modulation by AR sensitivity on amygdala development to ultimately determine if they contribute to known sex differences in emotional neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E. Campbell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90089-2520
| | - Adam F. Mezher
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90089-2520
| | - J. Michael Tyszka
- Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA 91125
| | - Bonnie J. Nagel
- Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA 97239-3098
| | - Sandrah P. Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033
| | - Megan M. Herting
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA 90033
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30
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Neves CN, Pillay N. Sociability, but not spatial memory, is correlated with regional brain volume variation in the striped mouse Rhabdomys spp. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113567. [PMID: 34508770 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113567] [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: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Local environmental conditions associated with different geographic areas may elicit variations in behavioural responses in animals, leading to concomitant differences in functional brain region volumes. We investigated the behavioural correlates of hippocampus and amygdala volumes in three sister taxa of the murid rodent genus Rhabdomys, occurring in different environments. We used a Barnes maze to test spatial memory, dyadic encounters to test social behaviour, and histological brain sections to calculate hippocampus and amygdala volumes. Arid-occurring R. pumilio made fewer errors and had shorter latencies in locating the escape tunnel compared to moist grassland-occurring R. d. dilectus and R. d. chakae in two probe trials, 48 and 96 h after the last learning trial. R. pumilio was more amicable than the R. dilectus subspecies in intra-specific dyadic encounters. R. pumilio had larger hippocampus and amygdala volumes than the other species. Smaller amygdala volumes were correlated with longer latencies in females for probe trial 1, but males showed similar latencies regardless of taxon. Higher amicability scores were correlated with larger amygdala volumes in all taxa. Higher amicability scores were correlated with larger hippocampus volumes in R. pumilio and R. d. chakae but smaller hippocampus volumes in R. d. dilectus. Correlative relationships between spatial memory and amygdala volume appeared 48 h, but not 96 h, after the last learning trial. Local environmental conditions may influence spatial navigation, but social correlates drive regional brain size within cryptic striped mouse taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Nikita Neves
- School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
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31
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Fowler C, Goerzen D, Madularu D, Devenyi GA, Chakravarty MM, Near J. Longitudinal characterization of neuroanatomical changes in the Fischer 344 rat brain during normal aging and between sexes. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 109:216-228. [PMID: 34775212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Animal models are widely used to study the pathophysiology of disease and to evaluate the efficacy of novel interventions, crucial steps towards improving disease outcomes in humans. The Fischer 344 (F344) wildtype rat is a common experimental background strain for transgenic models of disease and is one of the most frequently used models in aging research. Despite frequency of use, characterization of agerelated neuroanatomical change has not been performed in the F344 rat. To this end, we present a comprehensive longitudinal examination of morphometric change in 73 brain regions and at a voxel-wise level during normative aging in vivo in a mixed-sexcohort of F344 rats. We identified the greatest vulnerability to aging within the cortex, caudoputamen, hindbrain, and internal capsule, while the influence of sex was strongest in the caudoputamen, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus, many of which are implicated in memory and motor control circuits frequently affected by aging and neurodegenerative disease. These findings provide a baseline for neuroanatomical changes associated with aging in male and female F344 rats, to which data from transgenic models or other background strains can be compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Fowler
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Dana Goerzen
- Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Dan Madularu
- Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jamie Near
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre d'Imagerie Cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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32
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Seney ML, Glausier J, Sibille E. Large-Scale Transcriptomics Studies Provide Insight Into Sex Differences in Depression. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:14-24. [PMID: 33648716 PMCID: PMC8263802 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. We first review the well-known sex difference in incidence of MDD, with women being twice as likely to be diagnosed as men, and briefly summarize how the impact of MDD varies between men and women, with sex differences in symptoms, severity, and antidepressant drug response. We then attempt to deconstruct the biological bases for MDD and discuss implications for sex differences research. Next, we review findings from human postmortem studies, both from selected candidate gene studies and from well-powered, unbiased transcriptomics studies, which suggest distinct, and possibly opposite, molecular changes in the brains of depressed men and women. We then discuss inherent challenges of research on the human postmortem brain and suggest paths forward that rely on thoughtful cohort design. Although studies indicate that circulating gonadal hormones might underlie the observed sex differences in MDD, we discuss how additional sex-specific factors, such as genetic sex and developmental exposure to gonadal hormones, may also contribute to altered vulnerability, and we highlight various nuances that we believe should be considered when determining mechanisms underlying observed sex differences. Altogether, this review highlights not only how various sex-specific factors might influence susceptibility or resilience to depression, but also how those sex-specific factors might result in divergent pathology in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne L Seney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Jill Glausier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Etienne Sibille
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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33
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Sikes-Keilp C, Rubinow DR. In search of sex-related mediators of affective illness. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:55. [PMID: 34663459 PMCID: PMC8524875 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-021-00400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the rates of affective disorders have been recognized for decades. Studies of physiologic sex-related differences in animals and humans, however, have generally yielded little in terms of explaining these differences. Furthermore, the significance of these findings is difficult to interpret given the dynamic, integrative, and highly context-dependent nature of human physiology. In this article, we provide an overview of the current literature on sex differences as they relate to mood disorders, organizing existing findings into five levels at which sex differences conceivably influence physiology relevant to affective states. These levels include the following: brain structure, network connectivity, signal transduction, transcription/translation, and epigenesis. We then evaluate the importance and limitations of this body of work, as well as offer perspectives on the future of research into sex differences. In creating this overview, we attempt to bring perspective to a body of research that is complex, poorly synthesized, and far from complete, as well as provide a theoretical framework for thinking about the role that sex differences ultimately play in affective regulation. Despite the overall gaps regarding both the underlying pathogenesis of affective illness and the role of sex-related factors in the development of affective disorders, it is evident that sex should be considered as an important contributor to alterations in neural function giving rise to susceptibility to and expression of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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34
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Thomas KT, Zakharenko SS. MicroRNAs in the Onset of Schizophrenia. Cells 2021; 10:2679. [PMID: 34685659 PMCID: PMC8534348 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence implicates microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathology of schizophrenia. These small noncoding RNAs bind to mRNAs containing complementary sequences and promote their degradation and/or inhibit protein synthesis. A single miRNA may have hundreds of targets, and miRNA targets are overrepresented among schizophrenia-risk genes. Although schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, symptoms usually do not appear until adolescence, and most patients do not receive a schizophrenia diagnosis until late adolescence or early adulthood. However, few studies have examined miRNAs during this critical period. First, we examine evidence that the miRNA pathway is dynamic throughout adolescence and adulthood and that miRNAs regulate processes critical to late neurodevelopment that are aberrant in patients with schizophrenia. Next, we examine evidence implicating miRNAs in the conversion to psychosis, including a schizophrenia-associated single nucleotide polymorphism in MIR137HG that is among the strongest known predictors of age of onset in patients with schizophrenia. Finally, we examine how hemizygosity for DGCR8, which encodes an obligate component of the complex that synthesizes miRNA precursors, may contribute to the onset of psychosis in patients with 22q11.2 microdeletions and how animal models of this disorder can help us understand the many roles of miRNAs in the onset of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Thomas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stanislav S. Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Drzewiecki CM, Sellinger EP, Juraska JM. Impact of pubertal onset on region-specific Esr2 expression. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e13029. [PMID: 34463394 PMCID: PMC8448167 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In female rats, pubertal onset is associated with maturation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and mPFC-mediated behaviours. These behavioural and anatomical changes are likely a result of the effects of oestrogens at the nuclear oestrogen receptor (ER)β, which is expressed at higher levels than the ERα isoform in the adult mPFC. Researchers have previously quantified ERβ protein and Esr2 RNA in rodents during early postnatal development and adulthood, although an adolescent-specific trajectory of this receptor in the mPFC has not been documented. Given that Esr2 expression can fluctuate in the presence or absence of oestrogens, puberty and the subsequent rise in gonadal hormones could influence levels of ERβ in the adolescent brain. To further explore this, we used RNAscope® technology to quantify the amount of Esr2 mRNA in pre-pubertal adolescent, recently post-pubertal adolescent and adult female rats. We show that Esr2 expression decreases significantly in the mPFC, striatum and motor cortex between pre-pubertal adolescence and adulthood. In the mPFC, this decrease occurs rapidly at pubertal onset, with no significant decrease in Esr2 levels between the recently post-pubertal and adult cohort. By contrast, the striatum and motor cortex had no significant differences in the amount of Esr2 mRNA between pre- and post-pubertal females. Insofar as the amount of Esr2 expression is proportional to functional ERβ, these results suggest ERβ decreases in a region-specific pattern in response to pubertal onset and highlight a role for this receptor in the maturational events that occur in the female rat mPFC at puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly M. Drzewiecki
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820
- Currently at California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Elli P. Sellinger
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820
| | - Janice M. Juraska
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, 61820
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Chu X, Snoeren E, Södersten P, Ågmo A. Sexual incentive motivation and male and female copulatory behavior in female rats given androgen from postnatal day 20. Physiol Behav 2021; 237:113460. [PMID: 33991538 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Masculinization and feminization of rat sexual behavior has been supposed to occur during a short postnatal period. However, much data have made it evident that these processes may continue until adolescence. In the present study, we evaluated whether androgen treatment of females from postnatal day 20 and onwards could alter sexual motivation and behavior in a male direction. Juveniles were ovariectomized on day 20 and concurrently implanted with Silastic capsules containing either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. Controls were implanted with an empty capsule. Tests for sexual incentive motivation and male sexual behavior were performed every fifth day when the females were between 50 and 75 days of age. At day 80, a test for female sexual behavior was performed. Females treated with testosterone approached a female sexual incentive far more than a male incentive, showing that sexual motivation had been changed in a male-like direction. Dihydrotestosterone had a similar, albeit smaller, effect. Females implanted with an empty capsule approached both incentives equally. Testosterone produced a high level of mounting behavior, whereas intromission-like behavioral patterns were rare and ejaculation-like behavior was absent. In the test for female sexual behavior, the testosterone-treated animals displayed a relatively high lordosis quotient, far above that displayed in females implanted with dihydrotestosterone or an empty capsule. It is concluded that treatment with an aromatizable androgen during the peripubertal-adolescent period masculinizes sexual motivation and partly sexual behavior. A non-aromatizable androgen weakly masculinize sexual motivation without enhancing male sexual behavior. It appears that simultaneous actions on androgen and estrogen receptors are needed for significant masculinization during the period studied here. Since the testosterone-treated females displayed lordosis, sexual behavior was not defeminized. In sum, these results suggest that sexual differentiation continues well into the peripubertal and adolescent periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chu
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Eelke Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Per Södersten
- Karolinska Institutet, Novum, S-141 01 Hudddinge, Sweden
| | - Anders Ågmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
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The NIMH Intramural Longitudinal Study of the Endocrine and Neurobiological Events Accompanying Puberty: Protocol and rationale for methods and measures. Neuroimage 2021; 234:117970. [PMID: 33771694 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Delineating the relationship between human neurodevelopment and the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis during puberty is critical for investigating the increase in vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders that is well documented during this period. Preclinical research demonstrates a clear association between gonadal production of sex steroids and neurodevelopment; however, identifying similar associations in humans has been complicated by confounding variables (such as age) and the coactivation of two additional endocrine systems (the adrenal androgenic system and the somatotropic growth axis) and requires further elucidation. In this paper, we present the design of, and preliminary observations from, the ongoing NIMH Intramural Longitudinal Study of the Endocrine and Neurobiological Events Accompanying Puberty. The aim of this study is to directly examine how the increase in sex steroid hormone production following activation of the HPG-axis (i.e., gonadarche) impacts neurodevelopment, and, additionally, to determine how gonadal development and maturation is associated with longitudinal changes in brain structure and function in boys and girls. To disentangle the effects of sex steroids from those of age and other endocrine events on brain development, our study design includes 1) selection criteria that establish a well-characterized baseline cohort of healthy 8-year-old children prior to the onset of puberty (e.g., prior to puberty-related sex steroid hormone production); 2) temporally dense longitudinal, repeated-measures sampling of typically developing children at 8-10 month intervals over a 10-year period between the ages of eight and 18; 3) contemporaneous collection of endocrine and other measures of gonadal, adrenal, and growth axis function at each timepoint; and 4) collection of multimodal neuroimaging measures at these same timepoints, including brain structure (gray and white matter volume, cortical thickness and area, white matter integrity, myelination) and function (reward processing, emotional processing, inhibition/impulsivity, working memory, resting-state network connectivity, regional cerebral blood flow). This report of our ongoing longitudinal study 1) provides a comprehensive review of the endocrine events of puberty; 2) details our overall study design; 3) presents our selection criteria for study entry (e.g., well-characterized prepubertal baseline) along with the endocrinological considerations and guiding principles that underlie these criteria; 4) describes our longitudinal outcome measures and how they specifically relate to investigating the effects of gonadal development on brain development; and 5) documents patterns of fMRI activation and resting-state networks from an early, representative subsample of our cohort of prepubertal 8-year-old children.
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Maharjan DT, Syed AAS, Lin GN, Ying W. Testosterone in Female Depression: A Meta-Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Study. Biomolecules 2021; 11:409. [PMID: 33802106 PMCID: PMC7999217 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone's role in female depression is not well understood, with studies reporting conflicting results. Here, we use meta-analytical and Mendelian randomization techniques to determine whether serum testosterone levels differ between depressed and healthy women and whether such a relationship is casual. Our meta-analysis shows a significant association between absolute serum testosterone levels and female depression, which remains true for the premenopausal group while achieving borderline significance in the postmenopausal group. The results from our Mendelian randomization analysis failed to show any causal relationship between testosterone and depression. Our results show that women with depression do indeed display significantly different serum levels of testosterone. However, the directions of the effect of this relationship are conflicting and may be due to menopausal status. Since our Mendelian randomization analysis was insignificant, the difference in testosterone levels between healthy and depressed women is most likely a manifestation of the disease itself. Further studies could be carried out to leverage this newfound insight into better diagnostic capabilities culminating in early intervention in female depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhruba Tara Maharjan
- Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; (D.T.M.); (G.N.L.)
| | - Ali Alamdar Shah Syed
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Guan Ning Lin
- Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; (D.T.M.); (G.N.L.)
| | - Weihai Ying
- Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; (D.T.M.); (G.N.L.)
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Masi G, Berloffa S, Milone A, Brovedani P. Social withdrawal and gender differences: Clinical phenotypes and biological bases. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:751-763. [PMID: 33550643 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from everyday life suggests that differences in social behaviors between males and females exist, both in animal and in humans. These differences can be related to socio-cultural determinants, but also to specialized portions of the brain (the social brain), from the neurotransmitter to the neural network level. The high vulnerability of this system is expressed by the wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders associated with social dysfunctions, particularly social withdrawal. The principal psychiatric disorders with prominent social withdrawal are described, including hikikomori-like syndromes, and anxiety, depressive, autistic, schizophrenic, and personality disorders. It is hypothesized that social withdrawal can be partially independent from other symptoms and likely reflect alterations in the social brain itself, leading to a similar, transdiagnostic social dysfunction, reflecting defects in the social brain across a variety of psychopathological conditions. An overview is provided of gender effects in the biological determinants of social behavior, including: the anatomical structures of the social brain; the dimorphic brain structures, and the modulation of their development by sex steroids; gender differences in "social" neurotransmitters (vasopressin and oxytocin), and in their response to social stress. A better comprehension of gender differences in the phenotypes of social disorders and in the neural bases of social behaviors may provide new insights for timely, focused, innovative, and gender-specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Masi
- IRCCS Stella Maris, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Berloffa
- IRCCS Stella Maris, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Annarita Milone
- IRCCS Stella Maris, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Brovedani
- IRCCS Stella Maris, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
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Fruzzetti F, Fidecicchi T. Hormonal Contraception and Depression: Updated Evidence and Implications in Clinical Practice. Clin Drug Investig 2021; 40:1097-1106. [PMID: 32980990 DOI: 10.1007/s40261-020-00966-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hormonal contraceptives are used worldwide by more than 100 million women. Some studies have been published about the possible appearance of depressive symptoms when using hormonal contraceptives, but this link is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the literature on this issue, and to investigate the possible explanations of this problem based on animal and human studies. The main pathway responsible for menstrual cycle-related mood changes is the γ-aminobutyric acid pathway, which is sensitive to changes in the levels of progesterone and of its metabolites, the neurosteroids. In particular, allopregnanolone is a potentiating neurosteroid with anxiolytic and anti-convulsant effects whose levels change during a normal menstrual cycle together with progesterone levels. Progestins have different effects on allopregnanolone, mainly owing to their diverse androgenicity. Moreover, they might affect brain structure and function, even though the meaning of these changes has yet to be clarified. It is important to define the groups of women in which negative mood disorders are more likely to occur. Adolescence is a critical period and this age-specific vulnerability is complex and likely bidirectional. Moreover, women with a history of mood affective disorders or premenstrual dysphoric syndrome are at a higher risk when taking contraceptives. In this review, we aim to provide clinicians with advice on how to approach these difficult situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca Fruzzetti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pisa University Hospital of S. Chiara, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Via Roma 65, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Tiziana Fidecicchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pisa University Hospital of S. Chiara, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Via Roma 65, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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41
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Meeh KL, Rickel CT, Sansano AJ, Shirangi TR. The development of sex differences in the nervous system and behavior of flies, worms, and rodents. Dev Biol 2021; 472:75-84. [PMID: 33484707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how sex differences in innate animal behaviors arise has long fascinated biologists. As a general rule, the potential for sex differences in behavior is built by the developmental actions of sex-specific hormones or regulatory proteins that direct the sexual differentiation of the nervous system. In the last decade, studies in several animal systems have uncovered neural circuit mechanisms underlying discrete sexually dimorphic behaviors. Moreover, how certain hormones and regulatory proteins implement the sexual differentiation of these neural circuits has been illuminated in tremendous detail. Here, we discuss some of these mechanisms with three case-studies-mate recognition in flies, maturation of mating behavior in worms, and play-fighting behavior in young rodents. These studies illustrate general and unique developmental mechanisms to establish sex differences in neuroanatomy and behavior and highlight future challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L Meeh
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Clare T Rickel
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Alexander J Sansano
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Troy R Shirangi
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
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42
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Rehbein E, Hornung J, Sundström Poromaa I, Derntl B. Shaping of the Female Human Brain by Sex Hormones: A Review. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:183-206. [PMID: 32155633 DOI: 10.1159/000507083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally sex hormones have been associated with reproductive and developmental processes only. Since the 1950s we know that hormones can have organizational effects on the developing brain and initiate hormonal transition periods such as puberty. However, recent evidence shows that sex hormones additionally structure the brain during important hormonal transition periods across a woman's life including short-term fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. However, a comprehensive review focusing on structural changes during all hormonal transition phases of women is still missing. Therefore, in this review structural changes across hormonal transition periods (i.e., puberty, menstrual cycle, oral contraceptive intake, pregnancy and menopause) were investigated in a structured way and correlations with sex hormones evaluated. Results show an overall reduction in grey matter and region-specific decreases in prefrontal, parietal and middle temporal areas during puberty. Across the menstrual cycle grey matter plasticity in the hippocampus, the amygdala as well as temporal and parietal regions were most consistently reported. Studies reporting on pre- and post-pregnancy measurements revealed volume reductions in midline structures as well as prefrontal and temporal cortices. During perimenopause, the decline in sex hormones was paralleled with a reduction in hippocampal and parietal cortex volume. Brain volume changes were significantly correlated with estradiol, testosterone and progesterone levels in some studies, but directionality remains inconclusive between studies. These results indicate that sex hormones play an important role in shaping women's brain structure during different transition periods and are not restricted to specific developmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rehbein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,
| | - Jonas Hornung
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Lead Graduate School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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43
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Naulé L, Maione L, Kaiser UB. Puberty, A Sensitive Window of Hypothalamic Development and Plasticity. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqaa209. [PMID: 33175140 PMCID: PMC7733306 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Puberty is a developmental period characterized by a broad range of physiologic changes necessary for the acquisition of adult sexual and reproductive maturity. These changes mirror complex modifications within the central nervous system, including within the hypothalamus. These modifications result in the maturation of a fully active hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the neuroendocrine cascade ensuring gonadal activation, sex steroid secretion, and gametogenesis. A complex and finely regulated neural network overseeing the HPG axis, particularly the pubertal reactivation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, has been progressively unveiled in the last 3 decades. This network includes kisspeptin, neurokinin B, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons as well as glial cells. In addition to substantial modifications in the expression of key targets, several changes in neuronal morphology, neural connections, and synapse organization occur to establish mature and coordinated neurohormonal secretion, leading to puberty initiation. The aim of this review is to outline the current knowledge of the major changes that neurons secreting GnRH and their neuronal and glial partners undergo before and after puberty. Emerging mediators upstream of GnRH, uncovered in recent years, are also addressed herein. In addition, the effects of sex steroids, particularly estradiol, on changes in hypothalamic neurodevelopment and plasticity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydie Naulé
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luigi Maione
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Paris Saclay University, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Bicêtre Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Drzewiecki CM, Juraska JM. The structural reorganization of the prefrontal cortex during adolescence as a framework for vulnerability to the environment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 199:173044. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.173044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Sears CG, Braun JM. Phthalate Exposure, Adolescent Health, and the Need for Primary Prevention. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2020; 49:759-770. [PMID: 33153678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Phthalates, a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are used widely in many consumer products, and exposure can interfere with a range of hormonal functions during early life. These disruptions may alter development during late childhood and adolescence. This article discusses the potential effects of phthalate exposure on adiposity, puberty, and neurodevelopment during late childhood and adolescence. It also highlights studies of behavioral interventions to reduce phthalate exposures and the roles of health care professionals and policy makers in preventing phthalate exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara G Sears
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA. https://twitter.com/JosephMBraun1
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Abstract
A number of studies reported the possible differences between men and women in movement disorders. Evidence shows that estrogens may have a neuroprotective effect and may modulate the neurodevelopment of the different brain structures. Movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy body, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, and dystonia among others display significant clinical differences between sexes, with structural differences in the dopaminergic pathways between men and women. Here we summarize the most relevant clinical aspects of some of the most common movement disorders, highlighting the differences in disease onset, clinical presentation, therapy, and outcomes. Increased recognition of these differences may help physicians better understand the pathophysiology of these conditions and provide a tailored therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Turcano
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
| | - Rodolfo Savica
- Department of Neurology and Health Science Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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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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48
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Gautam S, Kumar M, Kumar U, Dada R. Effect of an 8-Week Yoga-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Psycho-Neuro-Immune Axis, Disease Activity, and Perceived Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2259. [PMID: 32982898 PMCID: PMC7492675 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Various external stressors and environmental challenges lead to the provocation of the immune system in autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The inappropriate immune response further triggers the cascade of inflammatory changes resulting in precipitation of symptoms and hampers quality of life (QOL). The underlying psycho-somatic component of the disease requires a holistic approach to its treatment dimension rather than the use of pharmacotherapy. The applicability of mind-body interventions has become essential in today’s fast-paced life. Yoga, a mind-body technique, alters the mind’s capacity to facilitate systemic functioning at multiple organ system levels. Hence, we conducted this study to evaluate the impact of 8 weeks of a yoga-based lifestyle intervention (YBLI) on psycho-neuro-immune markers, gene expression patterns, and QOL in RA patients on routine medical therapy. A total of 66 patients were randomized into two groups: yoga group or non-yoga group and were assessed for a panel of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, and TGF-β), mind-body communicative markers (BDNF, DHEAS, β-endorphin, and sirtuin) and transcript levels of various genes (IL-6, TNF-α, NFKB1, TGF-β, and CTLA4). We assessed disease activity and QOL using the DAS28-ESR and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, respectively. Yoga group observed significant improvements in the levels of markers, which influenced the psycho-neuro-immune axis (p < 0.001) with an estimated effect size from small to medium range. In the yoga group, there was a significant reduction in DAS28-ESR (p < 0.001) and improvement seen in the physical health, psychological, social relationships domains (p < 0.001) of QOL, except environmental (p > 0.05). The yoga group showed downregulation of IL-6, TNF-α, and CTLA4 and upregulation of TGF-β. These results suggest that a decrease in disease activity after yoga practice is associated with a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines, the elevation of mind-body communicative markers, and normalization of various transcript levels, which improved QOL. Thus the adoption of YBLI improves clinical outcome in RA, and decreases systemic inflammation by its beneficial effects on psycho-neuro-immune axis and normalization of dysregulated transcripts. Thus YBLI may be used for RA patients as an adjunctive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Gautam
- Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Uma Kumar
- Department of Rheumatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rima Dada
- Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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49
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Harp SJ, Martini M, Lynch WJ, Rissman EF. Sexual Differentiation and Substance Use: A Mini-Review. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqaa129. [PMID: 32761086 PMCID: PMC7438703 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The organizational/activational hypothesis suggests that gonadal steroid hormones like testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) are important at 2 different times during the lifespan when they perform 2 different functions. First steroids "organize" brain structures early in life and during puberty, and in adults these same hormones "activate" sexually dimorphic behaviors. This hypothesis has been tested and proven valid for a large number of behaviors (learning, memory, social, and sexual behaviors). Sex differences in drug addiction are well established both for humans and animal models. Previous research in this field has focused primarily on cocaine self-administration by rats. Traditionally, observed sex differences have been explained by the sex-specific concentrations of gonadal hormones present at the time of the drug-related behavior. Studies with gonadectomized rodents establishes an activational role for E2 that facilitates vulnerability in females, and when E2 is combined with progesterone, addiction is attenuated. Literature on organizational actions of steroids is sparse but predicts that T, after it is aromatized to E2, changes aspects of the neural reward system. Here we summarize these data and propose that sex chromosome complement also plays a role in determining sex-specific drug-taking behavior. Future research is needed to disentangle the effects of hormones and sex chromosome complement, and we propose the four core genotype mouse model as an effective tool for answering these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Harp
- Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Mariangela Martini
- Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Wendy J Lynch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Emilie F Rissman
- Center for Human Health and the Environment and Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Sakhaie N, Sadegzadeh F, Mohammadnia A, Dadkhah M, Saadati H. Sex-dependent effects of postweaning exposure to an enriched environment on novel objective recognition memory and anxiety-like behaviors: The role of hippocampal BDNF level. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:396-408. [PMID: 32416621 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to enriched environment (EE) has been indicated to enhance cognitive functions, hippocampal neural plasticity, neurogenesis, long-term potentiation, and levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in laboratory animals. Also, studies on the sex-dependent effects of exposure to EE during adolescence on adult cognitive functions are less. This is important because the beneficial effects of EE may be predominant in the adolescence stage. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the effects of EE during adolescence (PND21-PND60) on novel objective recognition memory (NORM), anxiety-like behaviors, and hippocampal BDNF mRNA level in the adult male and female rats. Assessment of NORM and anxiety-like behaviors has been done by novel objective recognition task, open field (OF), and elevated plus maze (EPM), respectively. The expression of BDNF mRNA level was also evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. Our findings demonstrated that housing in the EE during adolescence improves NORM in adult male rats. Also, exposure to EE during adolescence had a different effect on anxiety-like behaviors in both sexes. Additionally, our results indicated an augmented BDNF level in the hippocampus of male and female rats. In conclusion, adolescent exposure to EE has sex-dependent effects on cognitive functions and anxiety-like behaviors and increases BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus of both male and female rats; thus, BDNF is an important factor that can mediate the beneficial effects of EE and running exercise on cognitive functions and psychiatric traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nona Sakhaie
- Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Farshid Sadegzadeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Alireza Mohammadnia
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Dadkhah
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Hakimeh Saadati
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Physiological Studies Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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