1
|
Immenschuh J, Thalhammer SB, Sundström-Poromaa I, Biegon A, Dumas S, Comasco E. Sex differences in distribution and identity of aromatase gene expressing cells in the young adult rat brain. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:54. [PMID: 37658400 PMCID: PMC10474706 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00541-8] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aromatase catalyzes the synthesis of estrogens from androgens. Knowledge on its regional expression in the brain is of relevance to the behavioral implications of these hormones that might be linked to sex differences in mental health. The present study investigated the distribution of cells expressing the aromatase coding gene (Cyp19a1) in limbic regions of young adult rats of both sexes, and characterized the cell types expressing this gene. METHODS Cyp19a1 mRNA was mapped using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Co-expression with specific cell markers was assessed with double FISH; glutamatergic, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic, glial, monoaminergic, as well as interneuron markers were tested. Automated quantification of the cells expressing the different genes was performed using CellProfiler. Sex differences in the number of cells expressing Cyp19a1 was tested non-parametrically, with the effect size indicated by the rank-biserial correlation. FDR correction for multiple testing was applied. RESULTS In the male brain, the highest percentage of Cyp19a1+ cells was found in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, followed by the medial preoptic area, the CA2/3 fields of the hippocampus, the cortical amygdaloid nucleus and the amygdalo-hippocampal area. A lower percentage was detected in the caudate putamen, the nucleus accumbens, and the ventromedial hypothalamus. In females, the distribution of Cyp19a1+ cells was similar but at a lower percentage. In most regions, the majority of Cyp19a1+ cells were GABAergic, except for in the cortical-like regions of the amygdala where most were glutamatergic. A smaller fraction of cells co-expressed Slc1a3, suggesting expression of Cyp19a1 in astrocytes; monoaminergic markers were not co-expressed. Moreover, sex differences were detected regarding the identity of Cyp19a1+ cells. CONCLUSIONS Females show overall a lower number of cells expressing Cyp19a1 in the limbic brain. In both sexes, aromatase is expressed in a region-specific manner in GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. These findings call for investigations of the relevance of sex-specific and region-dependent expression of Cyp19a1 in the limbic brain to sex differences in behavior and mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Immenschuh
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefan Bernhard Thalhammer
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Anat Biegon
- Department of Radiology and Neurology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | | | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Moreau J, Rabdeau J, Badenhausser I, Giraudeau M, Sepp T, Crépin M, Gaffard A, Bretagnolle V, Monceau K. Pesticide impacts on avian species with special reference to farmland birds: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:790. [PMID: 36107257 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10394-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
For decades, we have observed a major biodiversity crisis impacting all taxa. Avian species have been particularly well monitored over the long term, documenting their declines. In particular, farmland birds are decreasing worldwide, but the contribution of pesticides to their decline remains controversial. Most studies addressing the effects of agrochemicals are limited to their assessment under controlled laboratory conditions, the determination of lethal dose 50 (LD50) values and testing in a few species, most belonging to Galliformes. They often ignore the high interspecies variability in sensitivity, delayed sublethal effects on the physiology, behaviour and life-history traits of individuals and their consequences at the population and community levels. Most importantly, they have entirely neglected to test for the multiple exposure pathways to which individuals are subjected in the field (cocktail effects). The present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview for ecologists, evolutionary ecologists and conservationists. We aimed to compile the literature on the effects of pesticides on bird physiology, behaviour and life-history traits, collecting evidence from model and wild species and from field and lab experiments to highlight the gaps that remain to be filled. We show how subtle nonlethal exposure might be pernicious, with major consequences for bird populations and communities. We finally propose several prospective guidelines for future studies that may be considered to meet urgent needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Moreau
- Équipe Écologie Évolutive, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Juliette Rabdeau
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Isabelle Badenhausser
- Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Prairies Plantes Fourragères, INRAE, 86600, Lusignan, France
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- UMR IRD, CREEC, Université de Montpellier, 224-CNRS 5290, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie Et Évolution de La Sante (CREES), Montpellier, France
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS- La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Department of Zoology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Malaury Crépin
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Agathe Gaffard
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- LTSER "Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre", CNRS, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Karine Monceau
- UMR CNRS 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Batool F, Bilal RM, Hassan FU, Nasir TA, Rafeeque M, Elnesr SS, Farag MR, Mahgoub HAM, Naiel MAE, Alagawany M. An updated review on behavior of domestic quail with reference to the negative effect of heat stress. Anim Biotechnol 2021; 34:424-437. [PMID: 34355648 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1951281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Japanese quail originated from the wildlife environment and was first domesticated in Japan in 1595. Japanese quail has widely distributed in various parts of the world. This bird is characterized by its rapid growth rate, high rate of egg production, much lower space requirements, small size, good reproductive potential, short life cycle, resistance to diseases, early sexual maturity (from 39 to 50 days), better laying ability and shorter time of hatching compared with the different species of poultry. All these characteristics rendered it an excellent laboratory animal and a good economical animal protein source (for both egg and meat). Thermal stress was found to be the major limiting variable in poultry production, directly influencing bird welfare conditions. Previous research showed that heat stress in the production environment, induced by high ambient temperatures, may have a direct detrimental effect on welfare, meat quality, carcass characteristics, productivity, egg mass and egg quality. Furthermore, heat stress directly decreases quails' reproductive performance. As tiny, ground-dwelling birds, quail may appear unable to handle extreme temperatures, yet they have methods of fighting the heat. This review will help in developing and strengthening the core of the quail-based poultry sector. In addition, it provides aggregate information on the characteristics of the quail bird as a production unit in poultry farms as well as being an animal model for laboratory experiments. Also, this review provided deep insight into the domestication process and the impact of heat stress on production characteristics, which altered the domestic or Japanese quail substantially.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiza Batool
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Forestry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Rana M Bilal
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Faiz Ul Hassan
- Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Institute of Animal & Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Taquir A Nasir
- Department of Animal Science, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Majid Rafeeque
- Department of Animal Science, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Shaaban S Elnesr
- Faculty of Agriculture, Poultry Production Department, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Mayada R Farag
- Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Hany A M Mahgoub
- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Egypt
| | - Mohammed A E Naiel
- Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Production Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Alagawany
- Faculty of Agriculture, Poultry Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heindel JJ, Belcher S, Flaws JA, Prins GS, Ho SM, Mao J, Patisaul HB, Ricke W, Rosenfeld CS, Soto AM, Vom Saal FS, Zoeller RT. Data integration, analysis, and interpretation of eight academic CLARITY-BPA studies. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 98:29-60. [PMID: 32682780 PMCID: PMC7365109 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
"Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity" (CLARITY-BPA) was a comprehensive "industry-standard" Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant 2-year chronic exposure study of bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity that was supplemented by hypothesis-driven independent investigator-initiated studies. The investigator-initiated studies were focused on integrating disease-associated, molecular, and physiological endpoints previously found by academic scientists into an industry standard guideline-compliant toxicity study. Thus, the goal of this collaboration was to provide a more comprehensive dataset upon which to base safety standards and to determine whether industry-standard tests are as sensitive and predictive as molecular and disease-associated endpoints. The goal of this report is to integrate the findings from the investigator-initiated studies into a comprehensive overview of the observed impacts of BPA across the multiple organs and systems analyzed. For each organ system, we provide the rationale for the study, an overview of methodology, and summarize major findings. We then compare the results of the CLARITY-BPA studies across organ systems with the results of previous peer-reviewed studies from independent labs. Finally, we discuss potential influences that contributed to differences between studies. Developmental exposure to BPA can lead to adverse effects in multiple organs systems, including the brain, prostate gland, urinary tract, ovary, mammary gland, and heart. As published previously, many effects were at the lowest dose tested, 2.5μg/kg /day, and many of the responses were non-monotonic. Because the low dose of BPA affected endpoints in the same animals across organs evaluated in different labs, we conclude that these are biologically - and toxicologically - relevant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerrold J Heindel
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies Commonweal, Bolinas, CA 94924, United States.
| | - Scott Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, United States
| | - Gail S Prins
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL 60612, United States
| | - Shuk-Mei Ho
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 45267, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Jiude Mao
- Biomedical Sciences and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States
| | - William Ricke
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI 53705, United States
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Biomedical Sciences and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - Ana M Soto
- Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, United States
| | - Frederick S Vom Saal
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chiang VSC, Park JH. Glutamate in Male and Female Sexual Behavior: Receptors, Transporters, and Steroid Independence. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:589882. [PMID: 33328921 PMCID: PMC7732465 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.589882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The survival of animal species predicates on the success of sexual reproduction. Neurotransmitters play an integral role in the expression of these sexual behaviors in the brain. Here, we review the role of glutamate in sexual behavior in rodents and non-rodent species for both males and females. These encompass the release of glutamate and correlations with glutamate receptor expression during sexual behavior. We then present the effects of glutamate on sexual behavior, as well as the effects of antagonists and agonists on different glutamate transporters and receptors. Following that, we discuss the potential role of glutamate on steroid-independent sexual behavior. Finally, we demonstrate the interaction of glutamate with other neurotransmitters to impact sexual behavior. These sexual behavior studies are crucial in the development of novel treatments of sexual dysfunction and in furthering our understanding of the complexity of sexual diversity. In the past decade, we have witnessed the burgeoning of novel techniques to study and manipulate neuron activity, to decode molecular events at the single-cell level, and to analyze behavioral data. They pose exciting avenues to gain further insight into future sexual behavior research. Taken together, this work conveys the essential role of glutamate in sexual behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vic Shao-Chih Chiang
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jin Ho Park
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Balthazart J. Sexual partner preference in animals and humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:34-47. [PMID: 32450091 PMCID: PMC7484171 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in brain and behavior of animals including humans result from an interaction between biological and environmental influences. This is also true for the differences between men and women concerning sexual orientation. Sexual differentiation is mediated by three groups of biological mechanisms: early actions of sex steroids, more direct actions of sex-specific genes not mediated by gonadal sex steroids and epigenetic mechanisms. Differential interactions with parents and conspecifics have additionally long-term influences on behavior. This presentation reviews available evidence indicating that these different mechanisms play a significant role in the control of sexual partner preference in animals and humans, in other words the homosexual versus heterosexual orientation. Clinical and epidemiological studies of phenotypically selected populations indicate that early actions of hormones and genetic factors clearly contribute to the determination of sexual orientation. The maternal embryonic environment also modifies the incidence of male homosexuality via immunological mechanisms. The relative contribution of each of these mechanisms remains however to be determined.
Collapse
|
7
|
Arndtsen C, Ballon J, Blackshear K, Corbett CB, Lee K, Peyer J, Holloway KS, Duncan KA. Atypical gene expression of neuroinflammatory and steroid related genes following injury in the photoperiodic Japanese quail. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 288:113361. [PMID: 31830471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Arndtsen
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Jason Ballon
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Katie Blackshear
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Cali B Corbett
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Jordan Peyer
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Kevin S Holloway
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA; Psychological Science, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Kelli A Duncan
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA; Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Majumdar G, Yadav G, Hamaide J, Coussement L, De Meyer T, Verhoye M, Vanden Berghe W, Van Der Linden A, Balthazart J. Molecular correlates of hypothalamic development in songbird ontogeny in comparison with the telencephalon. FASEB J 2020; 34:4997-5015. [PMID: 32052887 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902477r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Development of the songbird brain provides an excellent experimental model for understanding the regulation of sex differences in ontogeny. Considering the regulatory role of the hypothalamus in endocrine, in particular reproductive, physiology, we measured the structural (volume) and molecular correlates of hypothalamic development during ontogeny of male and female zebra finches. We quantified by relative quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rqPCR) the expression of 14 genes related to thyroid and steroid hormones actions as well as 12 genes related to brain plasticity at four specific time points during ontogeny and compared these expression patterns with the expression of the same genes as detected by transcriptomics in the telencephalon. These two different methodological approaches detected specific changes with age and demonstrated that in a substantial number of cases changes observed in both brain regions are nearly identical. Other genes however had a tissue-specific developmental pattern. Sex differences or interactions of sex by age were detected in the expression of a subset of genes, more in hypothalamus than telencephalon. These results correlate with multiple known aspects of the developmental and reproductive physiology but also raise a number of new functional questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Majumdar
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Garima Yadav
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Julie Hamaide
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Louis Coussement
- Biobix: Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim De Meyer
- Biobix: Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemie Van Der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jacques Balthazart
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, GIGA Neuroscience, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Patisaul HB. Achieving CLARITY on bisphenol A, brain and behaviour. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12730. [PMID: 31063678 PMCID: PMC10947534 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There is perhaps no endocrine disrupting chemical more controversial than bisphenol A (BPA). Comprising a high-volume production chemical used in a variety of applications, BPA has been linked to a litany of adverse health-related outcomes, including effects on brain sexual differentiation and behaviour. Risk assessors preferentially rely on classical guideline-compliant toxicity studies over studies published by academic scientists, and have generally downplayed concerns about the potential risks that BPA poses to human health. It has been argued, however, that, because traditional toxicity studies rarely contain neural endpoints, and only a paucity of endocrine-sensitive endpoints, they are incapable of fully evaluating harm. To address current controversies on the safety of BPA, the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the US Food and Drug Administration established the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA). CLARITY-BPA performed a classical regulatory-style toxicology study (Core study) in conjunction with multiple behavioural, molecular and cellular studies conducted by academic laboratories (grantee studies) using a collaboratively devised experimental framework and the same animals and tissues. This review summarises the results from the grantee studies that focused on brain and behaviour. Evidence of altered neuroendocrine development, including age- and sex-specific expression of oestrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ, and the abrogation of brain and behavioural sexual dimorphisms, supports the conclusion that developmental BPA exposure, even at doses below what regulatory agencies regard as "safe" for humans, contribute to brain and behavioural change. The consistency and the reproducibility of the effects across CLARITY-BPA and prior studies using the same animal strain and almost identical experimental conditions are compelling. Combined analysis of all of the data from the CLARITY-BPA project is underway at the NTP and a final report expected in late 2019.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Balthazart J. New concepts in the study of the sexual differentiation and activation of reproductive behavior, a personal view. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100785. [PMID: 31430485 PMCID: PMC6858558 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of this century, research methods in neuroendocrinology enjoyed extensive refinements and innovation. These advances allowed collection of huge amounts of new data and the development of new ideas but have not led to this point, with a few exceptions, to the development of new conceptual advances. Conceptual advances that took place largely resulted from the ingenious insights of several investigators. I summarize here some of these new ideas as they relate to the sexual differentiation and activation by sex steroids of reproductive behaviors and I discuss how our research contributed to the general picture. This selective review clearly demonstrates the importance of conceptual changes that have taken place in this field since beginning of the 21st century. The recent technological advances suggest that our understanding of hormones, brain and behavior relationships will continue to improve in a very fundamental manner over the coming years.
Collapse
|
11
|
Chronic Antipsychotic Treatment Modulates Aromatase (CYP19A1) Expression in the Male Rat Brain. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 68:311-317. [PMID: 30968339 PMCID: PMC6511348 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01307-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Antipsychotic drugs, known as the antagonists of dopaminergic receptors, may also affect a large spectrum of other molecular signaling pathways in the brain. Despite the numerous ongoing studies on neurosteroid action and regulation, there are no reports regarding the influence of extended treatment with typical and atypical neuroleptics on brain aromatase (CYP19A1) expression. In the present study, we assessed for the first time aromatase mRNA and protein levels in the brain of rats chronically (28 days) treated with olanzapine, clozapine, and haloperidol using quantitative real-time PCR, end-point RT-PCR, and Western blotting. Both clozapine and haloperidol, but not olanzapine treatment, led to an increase of aromatase mRNA expression in the rat brain. On the other hand, aromatase protein level remained unchanged after drug administration. These results cast a new light on the pharmacology of examined antipsychotics and contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for their action. The present report also underlines the complex nature of potential interactions between neuroleptic pharmacological effects and physiology of brain neurosteroid pathways.
Collapse
|
12
|
Van der Linden A, Balthazart J. Rapid changes in auditory processing in songbirds following acute aromatase inhibition as assessed by fMRI. Horm Behav 2018; 104:63-76. [PMID: 29605635 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Contribution to Special Issue on Fast effects of steroids. This review introduces functional MRI (fMRI) as an outstanding tool to assess rapid effects of sex steroids on auditory processing in seasonal songbirds. We emphasize specific advantages of this method as compared to other more conventional and invasive methods used for this purpose and summarize an exemplary auditory fMRI study performed on male starlings exposed to different types of starling song before and immediately after the inhibition of aromatase activity by an i.p. injection of Vorozole™. We describe how most challenges that relate to the necessity to anesthetize subjects and minimize image- and sound-artifacts can be overcome in order to obtain a voxel-based 3D-representation of changes in auditory brain activity to various sound stimuli before and immediately after a pharmacologically-induced depletion of endogenous estrogens. Analysis of the fMRI data by assumption-free statistical methods identified fast specific changes in activity in the auditory brain regions that were stimulus-specific, varying over different seasons, and in several instances lateralized to the left side of the brain. This set of results illustrates the unique features of fMRI that provides opportunities to localize and quantify the brain responses to rapid changes in hormonal status. fMRI offers a new image-guided research strategy in which the spatio-temporal profile of fast neuromodulations can be identified and linked to specific behavioral inputs or outputs. This approach can also be combined with more localized invasive methods to investigate the mechanisms underlying the observed neural changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Laboratory, University of Antwerp, CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Jacques Balthazart
- Research Group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Balthazart J, Choleris E, Remage-Healey L. Steroids and the brain: 50years of research, conceptual shifts and the ascent of non-classical and membrane-initiated actions. Horm Behav 2018; 99:1-8. [PMID: 29305886 PMCID: PMC5880709 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This brief commentary reviews key steps in the history of steroid endocrinology that have resulted in important conceptual shifts. Our understanding of the "Fast Effects of Steroids" now reflect substantial progress, including the major concept that steroids act rapidly on a variety of physiological and behavioral responses, via mechanisms that are too fast to be fully accounted for by classical receptor-dependent regulation of gene transcription. Several so-called 'non-classical' mechanisms have been identified and include binding to membrane receptors and regulating non genomic signaling cascades. We survey the discovery of steroids, the initial characterization of their intracellular receptors, key progress in the understanding of the genomic effects of steroids and then the progressive discovery of the rapid non-classical and membrane-initiated actions of steroids. Foundational discoveries about brain steroid synthesis in neural processes and terminals has converged with emerging evidence for the rapid actions of steroids on brain and behavior. Had the rapid effects of steroids in the central nervous system been discovered first, these molecules would likely now be considered as a class of neurotransmitter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Luke Remage-Healey
- Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| |
Collapse
|