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Corre PHC, Mainwaring JM, Peralta KKZ, Lokman PM, Porteous R, Wibowo E. Low dose of propyl-pyrazole-triol, an agonist of estrogen receptor alpha, administration stimulates the Coolidge effect in fadrozole-treated male rats. Horm Behav 2024; 161:105520. [PMID: 38447331 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105520] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) α is involved in male sexual function. Here, we aim to investigate how ERα activation influences sexual satiety and the Coolidge effect (i.e., when a rat, that has reached sexual satiety, experiences an increased arousal after exposure to a novel sexual partner) in estrogen-deprived male rats. Male rats (8 per group) were treated daily for 29 days with either saline (Control group) or fadrozole dissolved in saline (1 mg/kg/day) 1 h before mating. On Days 13 and 29, rats treated with fadrozole received either no additional treatment (fadrozole group) or a single injection of propyl-pyrazole-triol (ERα-agonist group, dissolved in sesame oil, 1 mg/kg). Rats mated until reaching sexual satiety on Days 13 and 29. In these sessions, the Control group displayed higher frequency of intromission and ejaculation than the other groups. The ERα-agonist group mounted more frequently but reached sexual satiety sooner than the Control group. On Day 29, when exposed to a new sexual partner, the fadrozole-treated rats were less likely to display intromission than the other groups, or ejaculation than the Control group, or mounting than the ERα-agonist group. The Control group showed more ejaculatory behavior and shorter ejaculation latency than the other groups. Body weights, testosterone levels, estradiol levels, and ERα-immunoreactive cell counts in brain regions for sexual behavior were comparable between groups after 29 days of treatments. Our data suggest that estrogen helps regulate sexual satiety and the Coolidge effect in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Hanna C Corre
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | | | - K Kenn Z Peralta
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - P Mark Lokman
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Robert Porteous
- Otago Micro and Nanoscale Imaging, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Erik Wibowo
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
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Denney KA, Wu MV, Sun SED, Moon S, Tollkuhn J. Comparative analysis of gonadal hormone receptor expression in the postnatal house mouse, meadow vole, and prairie vole brain. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105463. [PMID: 37995608 PMCID: PMC11145901 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) and promiscuous meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are closely related, but only prairie voles display long-lasting pair bonds, biparental care, and selective aggression towards unfamiliar individuals after pair bonding. These social behaviors in mammals are largely mediated by steroid hormone signaling in the social behavior network (SBN) of the brain. Hormone receptors are reproducible markers of sex differences that can provide more information than anatomy alone and can even be at odds with anatomical dimorphisms. We reasoned that behaviors associated with social monogamy in prairie voles may emerge in part from unique expression patterns of steroid hormone receptors in this species, and that these expression patterns would be more similar across males and females in prairie than in meadow voles or the laboratory mouse. To obtain insight into steroid hormone signaling in the developing prairie vole brain, we assessed expression of estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1), estrogen receptor beta (Esr2), and androgen receptor (Ar) within the SBN, using in situ hybridization at postnatal day 14 in mice, meadow, and prairie voles. We found species-specific patterns of hormone receptor expression in the hippocampus and ventromedial hypothalamus, as well as species differences in the sex bias of these markers in the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These findings suggest the observed differences in gonadal hormone receptor expression may underlie species differences in the display of social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Denney
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Melody V Wu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Simón E D Sun
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Soyoun Moon
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Jessica Tollkuhn
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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Morishita M, Higo S, Iwata K, Ishii H. Sex and interspecies differences in ESR2-expressing cell distributions in mouse and rat brains. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:89. [PMID: 38111056 PMCID: PMC10726529 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00574-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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ESR2, a nuclear estrogen receptor also known as estrogen receptor β, is expressed in the brain and contributes to the actions of estrogen in various physiological phenomena. However, its expression profiles in the brain have long been debated because of difficulties in detecting ESR2-expressing cells. In the present study, we aimed to determine the distribution of ESR2 in rodent brains, as well as its sex and interspecies differences, using immunohistochemical detection with a well-validated anti-ESR2 antibody (PPZ0506). METHODS To determine the expression profiles of ESR2 protein in rodent brains, whole brain sections from mice and rats of both sexes were subjected to immunostaining for ESR2. In addition, to evaluate the effects of circulating estrogen on ESR2 expression profiles, ovariectomized female mice and rats were treated with low or high doses of estrogen, and the resulting numbers of ESR2-immunopositive cells were analyzed. Welch's t-test was used for comparisons between two groups for sex differences, and one-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey-Kramer test were used for comparisons among multiple groups with different estrogen treatments. RESULTS ESR2-immunopositive cells were observed in several subregions of mouse and rat brains, including the preoptic area, extended amygdala, hypothalamus, mesencephalon, and cerebral cortex. Their distribution profiles exhibited sex and interspecies differences. In addition, low-dose estrogen treatment in ovariectomized female mice and rats tended to increase the numbers of ESR2-immunopositive cells, whereas high-dose estrogen treatment tended to decrease these numbers. CONCLUSIONS Immunohistochemistry using the well-validated PPZ0506 antibody revealed a more localized expression of ESR2 protein in rodent brains than has previously been reported. Furthermore, there were marked sex and interspecies differences in its distribution. Our histological analyses also revealed estrogen-dependent changes in ESR2 expression levels in female brains. These findings will be helpful for understanding the ESR2-mediated actions of estrogen in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Morishita
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Shimpei Higo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Kinuyo Iwata
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Ishii
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8602, Japan.
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Ventura-Aquino E, Ågmo A. The elusive concept of sexual motivation: can it be anchored in the nervous system? Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1285810. [PMID: 38046659 PMCID: PMC10691110 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1285810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual motivation is an abstract concept referring to the mechanisms determining the responsivity to sexually relevant stimuli. This responsivity determines the likelihood of producing a sexual response and the intensity of that response. Both responsivity to stimuli and the likelihood of making a response as well as the intensity of response are characteristics of an individual. Therefore, we need to assume that the concept of sexual motivation materializes in physiological mechanisms within the individual. The aim of the present communication is to analyze the requisites for the endeavor to materialize sexual motivation. The first requisite is to provide an operational definition, making the concept quantifiable. We show that parameters of copulatory behavior are inappropriate. We argue that the intensity of sexual approach behaviors provides the best estimate of sexual motivation in non-human animals, whereas the magnitude of genital responses is an exquisite indicator of human sexual motivation. Having assured how to quantify sexual motivation, we can then proceed to the search for physiological or neurobiological underpinnings. In fact, sexual motivation only manifests itself in animals exposed to appropriate amounts of gonadal hormones. In female rats, the estrogen receptor α in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus is necessary for the expression of sexual approach behaviors. In male rats, androgen receptors within the medial preoptic area are crucial. Thus, in rats sexual motivation can be localized to specific brain structures, and even to specific cells within these structures. In humans, it is not even known if sexual motivation is materialized in the brain or in peripheral structures. Substantial efforts have been made to determine the relationship between the activity of neurotransmitters and the intensity of sexual motivation, particularly in rodents. The results of this effort have been meager. Likewise, efforts of finding drugs to stimulate sexual motivation, particularly in women complaining of low sexual desire, have produced dismal results. In sum, it appears that the abstract concept of sexual motivation can be reliably quantified, and the neurobiological bases can be described in non-human animals. In humans, objective quantification is feasible, but the neurobiological substrate remains enigmatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura-Aquino
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla, UNAM, Juriquilla, Mexico
| | - Anders Ågmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
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Bell D, Waldron VJ, Brown PL. Quantitative and qualitative sex difference in habenula-induced inhibition of midbrain dopamine neurons in the rat. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1289407. [PMID: 38025387 PMCID: PMC10679542 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1289407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Clinically relevant sex differences have been noted in a number of affective, behavioral, cognitive, and neurological health disorders. Midbrain dopamine neurons are implicated in several of these same disorders and consequently are under investigation for their potential role in the manifestation of these sex differences. The lateral habenula exerts significant inhibitory control over dopamine neuronal firing, yet little is known about sex differences in this particular neurocircuit. Methods We performed in vivo, single unit, extracellular recordings of dopamine neurons in female and male anesthetized rats in response to single pulse stimulation of the lateral habenula. In addition, we assessed baseline firing properties of lateral habenula neurons and, by immunochemical means, assessed the distribution of estrogen receptor alpha cells in the lateral habenula. Results Habenula-induced inhibition of dopamine neuronal firing is reduced in female rats relative to male rats. In addition, male rats had a higher prevalence of rebound excitation. Furthermore, the firing pattern of lateral habenula neurons was less variable in female rats, and female rats had a higher density of estrogen receptor alpha positive cells in the lateral habenula. Discussion We found that the dopamine neuronal response to habenular stimulation is both qualitatively and quantitatively different in female and male rats. These novel findings together with reports in the contemporary literature lead us to posit that the sex difference in dopamine inhibition seen here relate to differential firing properties of lateral habenula neurons resulting from the presence of sex hormones. Further work is needed to test this hypothesis, which may have implications for understanding the etiology of several mental health disorders including depression, schizophrenia, and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - P. Leon Brown
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Newell AJ, Jima D, Reading B, Patisaul HB. Machine learning reveals common transcriptomic signatures across rat brain and placenta following developmental organophosphate ester exposure. Toxicol Sci 2023; 195:103-122. [PMID: 37399109 PMCID: PMC10695431 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxicogenomics is a critical area of inquiry for hazard identification and to identify both mechanisms of action and potential markers of exposure to toxic compounds. However, data generated by these experiments are highly dimensional and present challenges to standard statistical approaches, requiring strict correction for multiple comparisons. This stringency often fails to detect meaningful changes to low expression genes and/or eliminate genes with small but consistent changes particularly in tissues where slight changes in expression can have important functional differences, such as brain. Machine learning offers an alternative analytical approach for "omics" data that effectively sidesteps the challenges of analyzing highly dimensional data. Using 3 rat RNA transcriptome sets, we utilized an ensemble machine learning approach to predict developmental exposure to a mixture of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in brain (newborn cortex and day 10 hippocampus) and late gestation placenta of male and female rats, and identified genes that informed predictor performance. OPE exposure had sex specific effects on hippocampal transcriptome, and significantly impacted genes associated with mitochondrial transcriptional regulation and cation transport in females, including voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels and subunits. To establish if this holds for other tissues, RNAseq data from cortex and placenta, both previously published and analyzed via a more traditional pipeline, were reanalyzed with the ensemble machine learning methodology. Significant enrichment for pathways of oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport chain was found, suggesting a transcriptomic signature of OPE exposure impacting mitochondrial metabolism across tissue types and developmental epoch. Here we show how machine learning can complement more traditional analytical approaches to identify vulnerable "signature" pathways disrupted by chemical exposures and biomarkers of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Newell
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Dereje Jima
- Molecular Education, Technology, and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Benjamin Reading
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
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Waigi EW, Webb RC, Moss MA, Uline MJ, McCarthy CG, Wenceslau CF. Soluble and insoluble protein aggregates, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and vascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular diseases. GeroScience 2023; 45:1411-1438. [PMID: 36823398 PMCID: PMC10400528 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00748-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia refers to a particular group of symptoms characterized by difficulties with memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting about 6.2 million Americans aged 65 years and older. Likewise, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of disability and premature death, impacting 126.9 million adults in the USA, a number that increases with age. Consequently, CVDs and cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk of AD and cognitive impairment. They share important age-related cardiometabolic and lifestyle risk factors, that make them among the leading causes of death. Additionally, there are several premises and hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying the association between AD and CVD. Although AD and CVD may be considered deleterious to health, the study of their combination constitutes a clinical challenge, and investigations to understand the mechanistic pathways for the cause-effect and/or shared pathology between these two disease constellations remains an active area of research. AD pathology is propagated by the amyloid β (Aβ) peptides. These peptides give rise to small, toxic, and soluble Aβ oligomers (SPOs) that are nonfibrillar, and it is their levels that show a robust correlation with the extent of cognitive impairment. This review will elucidate the interplay between the effects of accumulating SPOs in AD and CVDs, the resulting ER stress response, and their role in vascular dysfunction. We will also address the potential underlying mechanisms, including the possibility that SPOs are among the causes of vascular injury in CVD associated with cognitive decline. By revealing common mechanistic underpinnings of AD and CVD, we hope that novel experimental therapeutics can be designed to reduce the burden of these devastating diseases. Graphical abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology leads to the release of Aβ peptides, and their accumulation in the peripheral organs has varying effects on various components of the cardiovascular system including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and vascular damage. Image created with BioRender.com.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily W Waigi
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Cententer (CTRC), Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - R Clinton Webb
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Cententer (CTRC), Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Univeristy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Melissa A Moss
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Univeristy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Mark J Uline
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Univeristy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Cameron G McCarthy
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Cententer (CTRC), Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Univeristy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Camilla Ferreira Wenceslau
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Cententer (CTRC), Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA.
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Univeristy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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Terrin F, Tesoriere A, Plotegher N, Dalla Valle L. Sex and Brain: The Role of Sex Chromosomes and Hormones in Brain Development and Parkinson's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1486. [PMID: 37296608 PMCID: PMC10252697 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones and genes on the sex chromosomes are not only key factors in the regulation of sexual differentiation and reproduction but they are also deeply involved in brain homeostasis. Their action is crucial for the development of the brain, which presents different characteristics depending on the sex of individuals. The role of these players in the brain is fundamental in the maintenance of brain function during adulthood as well, thus being important also with respect to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore the role of biological sex in the development of the brain and analyze its impact on the predisposition toward and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we focus on Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has a higher incidence in the male population. We report how sex hormones and genes encoded by the sex chromosomes could protect from the disease or alternatively predispose toward its development. We finally underline the importance of considering sex when studying brain physiology and pathology in cellular and animal models in order to better understand disease etiology and develop novel tailored therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Plotegher
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
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Zhdanova DY, Kovalev VI, Chaplygina AV, Bobkova NV, Poltavtseva RA, Sukhikh GT. YB-1 Protein Prevents Age-Related Decline in Plasma Estradiol in Aging Female 5xFAD Transgenic Mice. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093023010192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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Kumar R, Fatima F, Yadav G, Singh S, Haldar S, Alexiou A, Ashraf GM. Epigenetic Modifications by Estrogen and Androgen in Alzheimer's Disease. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:6-17. [PMID: 35232367 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220225110501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
For the development and maintenance of neuron networks in the brain, epigenetic mechanisms are necessary, as indicated by recent findings. This includes some of the high-order brain processes, such as behavior and cognitive functions. Epigenetic mechanisms could influence the pathophysiology or etiology of some neuronal diseases, altering disease susceptibility and therapy responses. Recent studies support epigenetic dysfunctions in neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). These dysfunctions in epigenetic mechanisms also play crucial roles in the transgenerational effects of the environment on the brain and subsequently in the inheritance of pathologies. The possible role of gonadal steroids in the etiology and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, has become the subject of a growing body of research over the last 20 years. Recent scientific findings suggest that epigenetic changes, driven by estrogen and androgens, play a vital role in brain functioning. Therefore, exploring the role of estrogen and androgen-based epigenetic changes in the brain is critical for the deeper understanding of AD. This review highlights the epigenetic modifications caused by these two gonadal steroids and the possible therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Faiza Fatima
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Garima Yadav
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Simran Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Subhagata Haldar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, 2770 NSW, Australia, and AFNP Med Austria, 1010 Wien, Austria
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Kim H, Park B, Kim SY, Kim J, Kim B, Jung KI, Lee SY, Hyun Y, Kim BN, Park S, Park MH. Cerebellar Gray Matter Volume and its Role in Executive Function, and Attention: Sex Differences by Age in Adolescents. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 20:621-634. [DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.4.621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hayeon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bumhee Park
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
- Office of Biostatistics, Ajou Research Institute for Innovative Medicine, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, Korea
| | - Shin-Young Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiyea Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bora Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu-In Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Yup Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yerin Hyun
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Subin Park
- Department of Research Planning, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min-Hyeon Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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PILLEROVÁ M, PASTOREK M, BORBÉLYOVÁ V, RILJAK V, FRICK KM, HODOSY J, TÓTHOVÁ Ľ. Sex steroid hormones in depressive disorders as a basis for new potential treatment strategies. Physiol Res 2022; 71:S187-S202. [PMID: 36647907 PMCID: PMC9906660 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The sex steroid hormones (SSHs) such as testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and their metabolites have important organizational and activational impacts on the brain during critical periods of brain development and in adulthood. A variety of slow and rapid mechanisms mediate both organizational and activational processes via intracellular or membrane receptors for SSHs. Physiological concentrations and distribution of SSHs in the brain result in normal brain development. Nevertheless, dysregulation of hormonal equilibrium may result in several mood disorders, including depressive disorders, later in adolescence or adulthood. Gender differences in cognitive abilities, emotions as well as the 2-3 times higher prevalence of depressive disorders in females, were already described. This implies that SSHs may play a role in the development of depressive disorders. In this review, we discuss preclinical and clinical studies linked to SSHs and development of depressive disorders. Our secondary aim includes a review of up-to-date knowledge about molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Understanding these molecular mechanisms might lead to significant treatment adjustments for patients with depressive disorders and to an amelioration of clinical outcomes for these patients. Nevertheless, the impact of SSHs on the brain in the context of the development of depressive disorders, progression, and treatment responsiveness is complex in nature, and depends upon several factors in concert such as gender, age, comorbidities, and general health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam PILLEROVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal PASTOREK
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Veronika BORBÉLYOVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Vladimír RILJAK
- Institute of Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karyn M. FRICK
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Július HODOSY
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľubomíra TÓTHOVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Hou Y, Zhao W, Yu H, Zhang F, Zhang HT, Zhou Y. Biochanin A alleviates cognitive impairment and hippocampal mitochondrial damage in ovariectomized APP/PS1 mice. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 100:154056. [PMID: 35338989 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogen deficiency leads to mitochondrial defects that precede Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated pathological changes in a postmenopausal mouse model. Biochanin A (BCA) is a phytoestrogen isolated from Trifolium pratense L. used to relieve postmenopausal problems in women. In previous work, we observed that oral BCA treatment led to neuroprotection in an ovariectomized rat model. The objective of this study was to investigate whether and how BCA protects against hippocampal mitochondrial damage in a postmenopausal model of AD. METHOD APP/PS1 mice underwent bilateral ovariectomy and then, seven days later, received oral BCA at 20 or 40 mg/kg, or oral estradiol at 0.5 mg/kg, daily for 90 days. Sham animals were not ovariectomized and received no additional treatments. Cognitive function was examined using the passive avoidance task, novel object recognition test, and Morris water maze test. The level of circulating estrogen in vivo was assessed indirectly by measuring the wet weight of the uterus. We detected Aβ deposition and PGC-1α in brain by immunohistochemistry; p62, by immunofluorescence; and ERα, ERβ, PGC-1α, NRF1, mtTFA, Drp1, OPA1, Mfn2, Beclin1, LC3B, Pink1, and Parkin by immunoblotting. RESULTS BCA treatment rescued cognitive decline and reduced Aβ deposition and BACE1 expression in the hippocampus of ovariectomized APP/PS1 mice. BCA reversed the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics caused by ovariectomy by increasing the expression of phospho-Drp1 (ser637), OPA1, and Mfn2. BCA reversed abnormal mitophagy induced by ovariectomy by increasing the expression of Beclin1, LC3B, Pink1, and Parkin, as well as by reducing the expression of p62. CONCLUSIONS BCA treatment enhances learning and memory abilities and alleviates AD symptoms in a postmenopausal model of AD. A possible mechanism is that BCA rescues the reduction of mitochondrial biogenesis, imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and abnormal mitophagy caused by ovariectomy. This study supports further research on BCA to develop treatments for postmenopausal women with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China
| | - Fangfang Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China
| | - Han-Ting Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, No. 16, Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao 266011, China.
| | - Yanmeng Zhou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619 Changcheng Street, Daiyue district, Taian 271021, China.
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Ogawa S, Parhar IS. Role of Habenula in Social and Reproductive Behaviors in Fish: Comparison With Mammals. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:818782. [PMID: 35221943 PMCID: PMC8867168 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.818782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behaviors such as mating, parenting, fighting, and avoiding are essential functions as a communication tool in social animals, and are critical for the survival of individuals and species. Social behaviors are controlled by a complex circuitry that comprises several key social brain regions, which is called the social behavior network (SBN). The SBN further integrates social information with external and internal factors to select appropriate behavioral responses to social circumstances, called social decision-making. The social decision-making network (SDMN) and SBN are structurally, neurochemically and functionally conserved in vertebrates. The social decision-making process is also closely influenced by emotional assessment. The habenula has recently been recognized as a crucial center for emotion-associated adaptation behaviors. Here we review the potential role of the habenula in social function with a special emphasis on fish studies. Further, based on evolutional, molecular, morphological, and behavioral perspectives, we discuss the crucial role of the habenula in the vertebrate SDMN.
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15
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Cortes LR, Cisternas CD, Cabahug INKV, Mason D, Ramlall EK, Castillo-Ruiz A, Forger NG. DNA Methylation and Demethylation Underlie the Sex Difference in Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Arcuate Nucleus. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:636-648. [PMID: 34547753 PMCID: PMC8934748 DOI: 10.1159/000519671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurons expressing estrogen receptor (ER) ɑ in the arcuate (ARC) and ventromedial (VMH) nuclei of the hypothalamus sex-specifically control energy homeostasis, sexual behavior, and bone density. Females have more ERɑ neurons in the VMH and ARC than males, and the sex difference in the VMH is eliminated by neonatal treatment with testosterone or a DNA methylation inhibitor. OBJECTIVE Here, we tested the roles of testosterone and DNA methylation/demethylation in development of ERɑ in the ARC. METHODS ERɑ was examined at birth and weaning in mice that received vehicle or testosterone subcutaneously, and vehicle or DNA methyltransferase inhibitor intracerebroventricularly, as neonates. To examine effects of DNA demethylation on the ERɑ cell number in the ARC, mice were treated neonatally with small interfering RNAs against ten-eleven translocase enzymes. The methylation status of the ERɑ gene (Esr1) was determined in the ARC and VMH using pyrosequencing of bisulfite-converted DNA. RESULTS A sex difference in ERɑ in the ARC, favoring females, developed between birth and weaning and was due to programming effects of testosterone. Neonatal inhibition of DNA methylation decreased ERɑ in the ARC of females, and an inhibition of <underline>de</underline>methylation increased ERɑ in the ARC of males. The promoter region of Esr1 exhibited a small sex difference in percent of total methylation in the ARC (females > males) that was opposite to that in the VMH (males > females). CONCLUSION DNA methylation and demethylation regulate ERɑ cell number in the ARC, and methylation correlates with activation of Esr1 in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R Cortes
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Carla D Cisternas
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferrreyra INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Damian Mason
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Emma K Ramlall
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Nancy G Forger
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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16
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Ogawa S, Parhar IS. Functions of habenula in reproduction and socio-reproductive behaviours. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 64:100964. [PMID: 34793817 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Habenula is an evolutionarily conserved structure in the brain of vertebrates. Recent reports have drawn attention to the habenula as a processing centre for emotional decision-making and its role in psychiatric disorders. Emotional decision-making process is also known to be closely associated with reproductive conditions. The habenula receives innervations from reproductive centres within the brain and signals from key reproductive neuroendocrine regulators such as gonadal sex steroids, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and kisspeptin. In this review, based on morphological, biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological evidence we discuss an emerging role of the habenula in reproduction. Further, we discuss the modulatory role of reproductive endocrine factors in the habenula and their association with socio-reproductive behaviours such as mating, anxiety and aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Ogawa
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ishwar S Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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17
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Palmer-Hague JL, Wong STS, Wassersug RJ, Kingstone A, Wibowo E. Hormones and visual attention to sexual stimuli in older men: an exploratory investigation. Aging Male 2021; 24:106-118. [PMID: 34369279 DOI: 10.1080/13685538.2021.1960964] [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] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testosterone is associated with sexual desire and performance in men, but little is known about cognitive mechanisms underlying this relationship. Even less is known about the influence of estradiol, despite its production from testosterone, and high receptor density in brain regions related to male sexual behavior. METHOD We used eye-tracking to compare men's visual attention to images of fully clothed (i.e. neutral) and minimally clothed (i.e. sexy) models in three groups: androgen-deprived (n = 6) and not androgen-deprived with prostate cancer (n = 11), and healthy controls (n = 7). We also assessed effects of serum testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels. RESULTS We found no group effect for fixations to sexy compared to neutral images, and no influence of testosterone on either total fixations, or proportion of fixations to sexy images. In contrast, we found that sex hormone binding globulin positively predicted total fixations, and estradiol positively predicted proportion of total fixations on sexy images--regardless of androgen treatment status. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that visual attention to sexual stimuli in men may be significantly affected by hormones. This has potential implications for clinical populations that experience sexual side effects, such as prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samantha T S Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Richard J Wassersug
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alan Kingstone
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erik Wibowo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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18
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Guglielmotto M, Manassero G, Vasciaveo V, Venezia M, Tabaton M, Tamagno E. Estrogens Inhibit Amyloid-β-Mediated Paired Helical Filament-Like Conformation of Tau Through Antioxidant Activity and miRNA 218 Regulation in hTau Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 77:1339-1351. [PMID: 32804095 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as well as its progression and severity are known to be different in men and women, and cognitive decline is greater in women than in men at the same stage of disease and could be correlated at least in part on estradiol levels. OBJECTIVE In our work we found that biological sex influences the effect of amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) monomers on pathological tau conformational change. METHODS In this study we used transgenic mice expressing the wild-type human tau (hTau) which were subjected to intraventricular (ICV) injections of Aβ peptides in nanomolar concentration. RESULTS We found that Aβ42 produces pathological conformational changes and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in male or ovariectomized female mice but not in control females. The treatment of ovariectomized females with estradiol replacement protects against the pathological conformation of tau and seems to be mediated by antioxidant activity as well as the ability to modulate the expression of miRNA 218 linked to tau phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Our study indicates that factors as age, reproductive stage, hormone levels, and the interplay with other risk factors should be considered in women, in order to identify the best appropriate therapeutic approach in prevention of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Guglielmotto
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Giusi Manassero
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Valeria Vasciaveo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Marika Venezia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Massimo Tabaton
- Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIMI), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Elena Tamagno
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
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19
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Zhao W, Hou Y, Song X, Wang L, Zhang F, Zhang H, Yu H, Zhou Y. Estrogen Deficiency Induces Mitochondrial Damage Prior to Emergence of Cognitive Deficits in a Postmenopausal Mouse Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:713819. [PMID: 34335235 PMCID: PMC8319728 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.713819] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Estrogen deficiency contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in menopausal women. In the current study, we examined the impact of estrogen deficiency on mitochondrial function and cognition using a postmenopausal mouse model. Methods: Bilateral ovariectomy was conducted in adult females C57BL/6J. Cognitive function was examined using the Morris water maze (MWM) test at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months after ovariectomy. Neurodegeneration was assessed using an immunofluorescence assay of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) in the hippocampus and immunoblotting against postsynaptic density-95 (PSD95). Mitochondrial function in the hippocampus was assessed using immunoblotting for NDUFB8, SDHB, UQCRC2, MTCO1, and ATP5A1. Mitochondrial biogenesis was examined using immunoblotting for PGC-1α, NRF1, and mtTFA. Mitochondrion fission was assessed with immunoblotting for Drp1, whereas mitochondrion fusion was analyzed with immunoblotting for OPA1 and Mfn2. Mitophagy was examined with immunoblotting for PINK1 and LC3B. Mice receiving sham surgery were used as controls. Results: Ovariectomy resulted in significant learning and memory deficits in the MWM test at 3 months, but not at any earlier time points. At 2 weeks after ovariectomy, levels of Drp1 phosphorylated at Ser637 decreased in the hippocampus. At 1 month after ovariectomy, hippocampal levels of NDUFB8, SDHB, PGC-1α, mtTFA, OPA1, and Mfn2 were significantly reduced. At 2 months after ovariectomy, hippocampal levels of MAP2, PSD95, MTCO1, NRF1, and Pink1 were also reduced. At 3 months, levels of LC3B-II were reduced. Conclusions: The cognitive decline associated with estrogen deficiency is preceded by mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis, irregular mitochondrial dynamics, and decreased mitophagy. Thus, mitochondrial damage may contribute to cognitive impairment associated with estrogen deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Yue Hou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Xinxin Song
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Fangfang Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Hanting Zhang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - Yanmeng Zhou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
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20
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Armbruster D, Kirschbaum C, Strobel A. Androgenic morality? Associations of sex, oral contraceptive use and basal testosterone levels with moral decision making. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113196. [PMID: 33621608 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Aside from cultural, psychological, or situational factors, differences in moral judgements might also be influenced by biological variables. Since previous studies have reported stronger utilitarian tendencies in men, the relationship between testosterone and moral judgments has gained interest. Utilitarian judgements focus on the consequences of an action in terms of a cost-benefit analysis while deontological judgements are based on rules that are independent of an action's outcome or of situational features. We investigated decisions in moral dilemma situations in N = 157 young adults using a process dissociation approach to allow an independent estimate of underlying utilitarianism and deontology. Significant effects of sex (p = .009) and endocrine status (p = .011) on utilitarianism were found with the highest levels in men and the lowest in free cycling women while oral contraceptive users fell in between. Furthermore, there were correlations of salivary testosterone with utilitarianism in free cycling women (r = .303) and with deontology in men (r = -0.263) while no significant associations between testosterone and moral choices were found in oral contraceptive users. However, the duration of contraceptive use correlated negatively with deontology (r = -.316). The findings underscore the role of sex, endocrine status as well as testosterone in moral judgements but also point to specific associations depending on sex and oral contraceptive use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Armbruster
- Personality and Individual Differences, Institute of Psychology I, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology I, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Strobel
- Personality and Individual Differences, Institute of Psychology I, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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21
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Ambrase A, Lewis CA, Barth C, Derntl B. Influence of ovarian hormones on value-based decision-making systems: Contribution to sexual dimorphisms in mental disorders. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100873. [PMID: 32987043 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Women and men exhibit differences in behavior when making value-based decisions. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain these findings, stressing differences in functional lateralization of the brain, functional activation, neurotransmitter involvement and more recently, sex hormones. While a significant interaction of neurotransmitter systems and sex hormones has been shown for both sexes, decision-making in women might be particularly affected by variations of ovarian hormones. In this review we have gathered information from animal and human studies on how ovarian hormones affect decision-making processes in females by interacting with neurotransmitter systems at functionally relevant brain locations and thus modify the computation of decision aspects. We also review previous findings on impaired decision-making in animals and clinical populations with substance use disorder and depression, emphasizing how little we know about the role of ovarian hormones in aberrant decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiste Ambrase
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Carolin A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; Emotion Neuroimaging Lab, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication: Function, Structure, and Plasticity, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Barth
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany; TübingenNeuroCampus, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Research School and Graduate Network, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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22
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Tobiansky DJ, Fuxjager MJ. Sex Steroids as Regulators of Gestural Communication. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5822602. [PMID: 32307535 PMCID: PMC7316366 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gestural communication is ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom, occurring in species that range from humans to arthropods. Individuals produce gestural signals when their nervous system triggers the production of limb and body movement, which in turn functions to help mediate communication between or among individuals. Like many stereotyped motor patterns, the probability of a gestural display in a given social context can be modulated by sex steroid hormones. Here, we review how steroid hormones mediate the neural mechanisms that underly gestural communication in humans and nonhumans alike. This is a growing area of research, and thus we explore how sex steroids mediate brain areas involved in language production, social behavior, and motor performance. We also examine the way that sex steroids can regulate behavioral output by acting in the periphery via skeletal muscle. Altogether, we outline a new avenue of behavioral endocrinology research that aims to uncover the hormonal basis for one of the most common modes of communication among animals on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Tobiansky
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Tobiansky, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912.
| | - Matthew J Fuxjager
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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23
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Sagoshi S, Maejima S, Morishita M, Takenawa S, Otubo A, Takanami K, Sakamoto T, Sakamoto H, Tsukahara S, Ogawa S. Detection and Characterization of Estrogen Receptor Beta Expression in the Brain with Newly Developed Transgenic Mice. Neuroscience 2020; 438:182-197. [PMID: 32387645 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.047] [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: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Two types of nuclear estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, have been shown to be differentially involved in the regulation of various types of behaviors. Due to a lack of tools for identifying ERβ expression, detailed anatomical distribution and neurochemical characteristics of ERβ expressing cells and cellular co-expression with ERα remain unclear. We have generated transgenic mice ERβ-RFPtg, in which RFP was inserted downstream of ERβ BAC promotor. We verified RFP signals as ERβ by confirming: (1) high ERβ mRNA levels in RFP-expressing cells collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting; and (2) co-localization of ERβ mRNA and RFP proteins in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Strong ERβ-RFP signals were found in the PVN, medial preoptic area (MPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial amygdala (MeA), and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). In the MPOA and MeA, three types of cell populations were identified; those expressing both ERα and ERβ, and those expressing exclusively either ERα or ERβ. The majority of PVN and DRN cells expressed only ERβ-RFP. Further, ERβ-RFP positive cells co-expressed oxytocin in the PVN, and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and progesterone receptors in the DRN. In the MeA, some ERβ-RFP positive cells co-expressed oxytocin receptors. These findings collectively suggest that ERβ-RFPtg mice can be a powerful tool for future studies on ERβ function in the estrogenic regulation of social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Sagoshi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Sho Maejima
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Masahiro Morishita
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takenawa
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Akito Otubo
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Keiko Takanami
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Setouchi, Okayama 701-4303, Japan
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Sonoko Ogawa
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan.
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Dieni CV, Contemori S, Biscarini A, Panichi R. De Novo Synthesized Estradiol: A Role in Modulating the Cerebellar Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093316. [PMID: 32392845 PMCID: PMC7247543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The estrogen estradiol is a potent neuroactive steroid that may regulate brain structure and function. Although the effects of estradiol have been historically associated with gonadal secretion, the discovery that this steroid may be synthesized within the brain has expanded this traditional concept. Indeed, it is accepted that de novo synthesized estradiol in the nervous system (nE2) may modulate several aspects of neuronal physiology, including synaptic transmission and plasticity, thereby influencing a variety of behaviors. These modulations may be on a time scale of minutes via non-classical and often membrane-initiated mechanisms or hours and days by classical actions on gene transcription. Besides the high level, recent investigations in the cerebellum indicate that even a low aromatase expression can be related to the fast nE2 effect on brain functioning. These pieces of evidence point to the importance of an on-demand and localized nE2 synthesis to rapidly contribute to regulating the synaptic transmission. This review is geared at exploring a new scenario for the impact of estradiol on brain processes as it emerges from the nE2 action on cerebellar neurotransmission and cerebellum-dependent learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina V. Dieni
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Correspondence: (C.V.D.); (R.P.); Tel.: +1-(205)-996-8660 (C.V.D.); +39-075-5858205 (R.P.)
| | - Samuele Contemori
- Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia;
| | - Andrea Biscarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Roberto Panichi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
- Correspondence: (C.V.D.); (R.P.); Tel.: +1-(205)-996-8660 (C.V.D.); +39-075-5858205 (R.P.)
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25
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Uddin MS, Rahman MM, Jakaria M, Rahman MS, Hossain MS, Islam A, Ahmed M, Mathew B, Omar UM, Barreto GE, Ashraf GM. Estrogen Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Targets for Alzheimer's Dementia. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2654-2670. [PMID: 32297302 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01911-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Estrogens play a crucial physiological function in the brain; however, debates exist concerning the role of estrogens in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Women during pre-, peri-, or menopause periods are more susceptible for developing AD, suggesting the connection of sex factors and a decreased estrogen signaling in AD pathogenesis. Yet, the underlying mechanism of estrogen-mediated neuroprotection is unclarified and is complicated by the existence of estrogen-related factors. Consequently, a deeper analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and estrogen-metabolizing enzymes could interpret the importance of estrogen in age-linked cognitive alterations. Previous studies propose that hormone replacement therapy may attenuate AD onset in postmenopausal women, demonstrating that estrogen signaling is important for the development and progression of AD. For example, ERα exerts neuroprotection against AD by maintaining intracellular signaling cascades and study reported reduced expression of ERα in hippocampal neurons of AD patients. Similarly, reduced expression of ERβ in female AD patients has been associated with abnormal function in mitochondria and improved markers of oxidative stress. In this review, we discuss the critical interaction between estrogen signaling and AD. Moreover, we highlight the potential of targeting estrogen-related signaling for therapeutic intervention in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Motiar Rahman
- Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Md Jakaria
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Md Sohanur Rahman
- Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Md Sarwar Hossain
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Ariful Islam
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
| | - Muniruddin Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | - Ulfat Mohammed Omar
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - George E Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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26
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Scaffold attachment factor B: distribution and interaction with ERα in the rat brain. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 153:323-338. [PMID: 32086573 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01853-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Scaffold attachment factor (SAFB) 1 and its homologue SAFB2 are multifunctional proteins that are involved in various cellular mechanisms, including chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation, and are also corepressors of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Both SAFBs are expressed at high levels in the brain. However, the distributions of SAFB1 and SAFB2 have yet to be characterized in detail and it is unclear whether both proteins interact with ERα in the brain. In this study, we investigated the expression and distribution of both SAFBs and their interaction with ERα in adult male rat brain. Immunohistochemical staining showed that SAFB1 and SAFB2 have a similar distribution pattern and are widely expressed throughout the brain. Double-fluorescence immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analyses in primary cultures showed that the two SAFB proteins are localized in nuclei of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Of note, SAFB2 was also found in cytoplasmic regions in these cell lineages. Both SAFB proteins were also expressed in ERα-positive cells in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and arcuate and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that both SAFB proteins from the MPOA reciprocally interact with endogenous ERα. These results indicate that, in addition to a role in basal cellular function in the brain, the SAFB proteins may serve as ERα corepressors in hormone-sensitive regions.
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27
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The effect of steroid hormone on the expression of the calcium-processing proteins in the immature female rat brain. J Chem Neuroanat 2020; 105:101767. [PMID: 32061997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2020.101767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The cytosolic calcium concentration is regulated by calcium-processing proteins such as transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 5 (TRPV5), TRPV6, sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 1 (PMCA1). Those calcium-processing proteins are important for physiological functions in the brain. The effects of steroid hormones on calcium-processing protein expressions in the brains are unknown. Thus, the effects of steroid hormones on the distribution, localization, and expressions of calcium-processing proteins in the brain were analyzed. Immature female rats were injected with estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), dexamethasone (DEX), and their antagonists (ICI 182,780 and RU486). We found that TRPV5 and TRPV6 proteins were highly expressed in the cerebral cortex (CT), hypothalamus (HY), and brain stem (BS) compared to that in the olfactory bulb (OB) and cerebellum (CB). Also, the NCX1 protein was highly expressed in CT and BS compared to that in OB, HY, and CB, and PMCA1 protein was highly expressed in CT compared to that in other brain regions. Furthermore, expression levels of TRPV5, TRPV6, NCX1, and PMCA1 proteins were regulated by E2, P4, and/or DEX in the CT and HY. In summary, calcium-processing proteins are widely expressed in the immature rat brain, and expressions of calcium-processing proteins in CT and HY indicated that they may regulate by E2, P4, and/or DEX and can be attenuated by antagonist treatment. These results indicate that steroid hormone regulation of TRPV5, TRPV6, NCX1, and PMCA1 proteins may serve as a critical regulator of cytosolic calcium absorption and release in the brain.
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28
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Guo H, Liu M, Zhang L, Wang L, Hou W, Ma Y, Ma Y. The Critical Period for Neuroprotection by Estrogen Replacement Therapy and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:485-500. [PMID: 31976839 PMCID: PMC7457406 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200123165652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
17β-Estradiol (estradiol or E2) is a steroid hormone that has been broadly applied as a neuroprotective therapy for a variety of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders such as ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Several laboratory and clinical studies have reported that Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) had no effect against these diseases in elderly postmenopausal women, and at worst, increased their risk of onset and mortality. This review focuses on the growing body of data from in vitro and animal models characterizing the potential underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways that govern successful neuroprotection by ERT, including the roles of E2 receptors in mediating neuroprotection, E2 genomic regulation of apoptosis- related pathways, membrane-bound receptor-mediated non-genomic signaling pathways, and the antioxidant mechanisms of E2. Also discussed is the current evidence for a critical period of effective treatment with estrogen following natural or surgical menopause and the outcomes of E2 administration within an advantageous time period. The known mechanisms governing the duration of the critical period include depletion of E2 receptors, the switch to a ketogenic metabolic profile by neuronal mitochondria, and a decrease in acetylcholine that accompanies E2 deficiency. Also the major clinical trials and observational studies concerning postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (HT) are summarized to compare their outcomes with respect to neurological disease and discuss their relevance to the critical period hypothesis. Finally, potential controversies and future directions for this field are discussed throughout the review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yaqun Ma
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Anesthesia and Operation Center, The First Medical Center to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; Tel: +86 010 66938152; E-mail: and Department of Anesthesiology, The Seventh Medical Center to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China; E-mail:
| | - Yulong Ma
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Anesthesia and Operation Center, The First Medical Center to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; Tel: +86 010 66938152; E-mail: and Department of Anesthesiology, The Seventh Medical Center to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China; E-mail:
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29
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Gegenhuber B, Tollkuhn J. Signatures of sex: Sex differences in gene expression in the vertebrate brain. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2020; 9:e348. [PMID: 31106965 PMCID: PMC6864223 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women and men differ in disease prevalence, symptoms, and progression rates for many psychiatric and neurological disorders. As more preclinical studies include both sexes in experimental design, an increasing number of sex differences in physiology and behavior have been reported. In the brain, sex-typical behaviors are thought to result from sex-specific patterns of neural activity in response to the same sensory stimulus or context. These differential firing patterns likely arise as a consequence of underlying anatomic or molecular sex differences. Accordingly, gene expression in the brains of females and males has been extensively investigated, with the goal of identifying biological pathways that specify or modulate sex differences in brain function. However, there is surprisingly little consensus on sex-biased genes across studies and only a handful of robust candidates have been pursued in the follow-up experiments. Furthermore, it is not known how or when sex-biased gene expression originates, as few studies have been performed in the developing brain. Here we integrate molecular genetic and neural circuit perspectives to provide a conceptual framework of how sex differences in gene expression can arise in the brain. We detail mechanisms of gene regulation by steroid hormones, highlight landmark studies in rodents and humans, identify emerging themes, and offer recommendations for future research. This article is categorized under: Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: General Principles Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Regulatory Mechanisms Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Sex Determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Gegenhuber
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
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30
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Ponti G, Farinetti A, Marraudino M, Panzica G, Gotti S. Postnatal genistein administration selectively abolishes sexual dimorphism in specific hypothalamic dopaminergic system in mice. Brain Res 2019; 1724:146434. [PMID: 31491419 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As demonstrated in previous studies, early postnatal genistein (GEN) administration to mice pups of both sexes, at doses similar to that of infant soy-based formulas, may affect the development of some steroid-sensitive neuronal circuits (i.e. nitrergic and vasopressinergic systems), causing irreversible alterations in adults. Here, we investigated the hypothalamic and mesencephalic dopaminergic system (identified with tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry). GEN administration (50 mg/kg) to mice of both sexes during the first week of postnatal life specifically affected tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry in the hypothalamic subpopulation of neurons, abolishing their sexual dimorphism. On the contrary, we did not observe any effects in the mesencephalic groups. Due to the large involvement of dopamine in circuits controlling rodent sexual behavior and food intake, these results clearly indicate that the early postnatal administration of GEN may irreversibly alter the control of reproduction, of energetic metabolism, and other behaviors. These results suggest the need for a careful evaluation of the use of soy products in both human and animal newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Ponti
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, 10-10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy; Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (T0), Italy.
| | - Alice Farinetti
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, 10-10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Marilena Marraudino
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, 10-10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - GianCarlo Panzica
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, 10-10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Stefano Gotti
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi-Montalcini", University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole, 10-10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
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31
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The Impact of Estradiol on Neurogenesis and Cognitive Functions in Alzheimer's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 40:283-299. [PMID: 31502112 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00733-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is described as cognitive and memory impairments with a sex-related epidemiological profile, affecting two times more women than men. There is emerging evidence that alternations in the hippocampal neurogenesis occur at the early stage of AD. Therapies that may effectively slow, stop, or regenerate the dying neurons in AD are being extensively investigated in the last few decades, but none has yet been found to be effective. The regulation of endogenous neurogenesis is one of the main therapeutic targets for AD. Mounting evidence indicates that the neurosteroid estradiol (17β-estradiol) plays a supporting role in neurogenesis, neuronal activity, and synaptic plasticity of AD. This effect may provide preventive and/or therapeutic approaches for AD. In this article, we discuss the molecular mechanism of potential estradiol modulatory action on endogenous neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function in AD.
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32
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Duarte-Guterman P, Lieblich SE, Wainwright SR, Chow C, Chaiton JA, Watson NV, Galea LAM. Androgens Enhance Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Males but Not Females in an Age-Dependent Manner. Endocrinology 2019; 160:2128-2136. [PMID: 31219567 PMCID: PMC6736050 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Androgens (testosterone and DHT) increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis by increasing survival of new neurons in male rats and mice via an androgen receptor pathway, but it is not known whether androgens regulate neurogenesis in female rats and whether the effect is age-dependent. We investigated the effects of DHT, a potent androgen, on neurogenesis in young adult and middle-aged male and female rats. Rats were gonadectomized and injected with the DNA synthesis marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The following day, rats began receiving daily injections of oil or DHT for 30 days. We evaluated cell proliferation (Ki67) and survival of new neurons (BrdU and BrdU/NeuN) in the hippocampus of male and female rats by using immunohistochemistry. As expected, DHT increased the number of BrdU+ cells in young males but surprisingly not in middle-aged males or in young and middle-aged females. In middle age, DHT increased the proportion of BrdU/NeuN cells, an effect driven by females. Androgen receptor expression also increased with aging in both female and male rats, which may contribute to a lack of DHT neurogenic effect in middle age. Our results indicate that DHT regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in a sex- and age-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Duarte-Guterman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephanie E Lieblich
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven R Wainwright
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carmen Chow
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jessica A Chaiton
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Neil V Watson
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Correspondence: Liisa A. M. Galea, PhD, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada. E-mail:
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33
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Worley NB, Dumais KM, Yuan JC, Newman LE, Alonso AG, Gillespie TC, Hobbs NJ, Breedlove SM, Jordan CL, Bredewold R, Veenema AH. Oestrogen and androgen receptor activation contribute to the masculinisation of oxytocin receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12760. [PMID: 31233647 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) often regulates social behaviours in sex-specific ways, and this may be a result of sex differences in the brain OT system. Adult male rats show higher OT receptor (OTR) binding in the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBNST) than adult female rats. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms that lead to this sex difference. First, we found that male rats have higher OTR mRNA expression in the pBNST than females at postnatal day (P) 35 and P60, which demonstrates the presence of the sex difference in OTR binding density at message level. Second, the sex difference in OTR binding density in the pBNST was absent at P0 and P3, but was present by P5. Third, systemic administration of the oestrogen receptor (ER) antagonist fulvestrant at P0 and P1 dose-dependently reduced OTR binding density in the pBNST of 5-week-old male rats, but did not eliminate the sex difference in OTR binding density. Fourth, pBNST-OTR binding density was lower in androgen receptor (AR) deficient genetic male rats compared to wild-type males, but higher compared to wild-type females. Finally, systemic administration of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid at P0 and P1 did not alter pBNST-OTR binding density in 5-week-old male and female rats. Interestingly, neonatal ER antagonism, AR deficiency, and neonatal valproic acid treatment each eliminated the sex difference in pBNST size. Overall, we demonstrate a role for neonatal ER and AR activation in setting up the sex difference in OTR binding density in the pBNST, which may underlie sexual differentiation of the pBNST and social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B Worley
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Kelly M Dumais
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Jingting C Yuan
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Laura E Newman
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Andrea G Alonso
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Tessa C Gillespie
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Hobbs
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Cynthia L Jordan
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Remco Bredewold
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Alexa H Veenema
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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34
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Stinson C, Logan SM, Bellinger LL, Rao M, Kinchington PR, Kramer PR. Estradiol Acts in Lateral Thalamic Region to Attenuate Varicella Zoster Virus Associated Affective Pain. Neuroscience 2019; 414:99-111. [PMID: 31271831 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) results in chicken pox and herpes zoster. Female rats show a higher level of herpes zoster associated pain than males, consistent with human studies. In this study, we addressed the novel hypothesis that sex difference in herpes zoster associated pain is due, in part, to estradiol modulating activity in the thalamus. To test this hypothesis a high and low physiological dose of estradiol was administered to castrated and ovariectomized rats and the affective pain response was measured after injection of VZV into the whisker pad. Thalamic infusion of the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 concomitant with a high dose of estradiol addressed the role of estradiol binding to its receptor to effect pain. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (pERK) positive cells were measured in excitatory (glutaminase positive) and inhibitory (glutamate decarboxylase 67 positive) cells of the lateral thalamic region. Our results show that a high dose of estradiol significantly reduced the pain response in both males and females. pERK significantly increased in excitatory cells after treatment with a low dose of estradiol and increased in inhibitory cells after treatment with a high dose of estradiol. Administration of ICI 182,780 significantly increased the pain response, reduced expression of GABA related genes in the thalamic region and significantly reduced the number of inhibitory cells expressing pERK. The results suggest that estradiol attenuates herpes zoster pain by increasing the activity of inhibitory neurons within the thalamus and that this reduction includes an estrogen receptor dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Stinson
- Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, United States of America
| | - Shaun M Logan
- Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, United States of America
| | - Larry L Bellinger
- Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, United States of America
| | - Mahesh Rao
- Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, United States of America
| | - Paul R Kinchington
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Room 1020 EEI building 203 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Phillip R Kramer
- Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, United States of America.
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35
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Gintzler AR, Storman EM, Liu NJ. Estrogens as arbiters of sex-specific and reproductive cycle-dependent opioid analgesic mechanisms. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2019; 111:227-246. [PMID: 31421702 PMCID: PMC7136895 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The organization of estrogenic signaling in the CNS is exceedingly complex. It is comprised of peripherally and centrally synthesized estrogens, and a plethora of types of estrogen receptor that can localize to both the nucleus and the plasma membrane. Moreover, CNS estrogen receptors can exist independent of aromatase (aka estrogen synthase) as well as oligomerize with it, along with a host of other membrane signaling proteins. This ability of CNS estrogen receptors to either to physically pair or exist separately enables locally produced estrogens to act on multiple spatial levels, with a high degree of gradated regulation and plasticity, signaling either in-phase or out-of phase with circulating estrogens. This complexity explains the numerous contradictory findings regarding sex-dependent pain processing and sexually dimorphic opioid antinociception. This review highlights the increasing awareness that estrogens are major endogenous arbiters of both opioid analgesic actions and the mechanisms used to achieve them. This behooves us to understand, and possibly intercede at, the points of intersection of estrogenic signaling and opioid functionality. Factors that integrate estrogenic actions at subcellular, synaptic, and CNS regional levels are likely to be prime drug targets for novel pharmacotherapies designed to modulate CNS estrogen-dependent opioid functionalities and possibly circumvent the current opioid epidemic.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesia
- Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology
- Animals
- Aromatase
- Brain/physiology
- Dynorphins/physiology
- Estrogens/physiology
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Neurosecretory Systems/physiology
- Nociception/drug effects
- Nociception/physiology
- Receptors, Estrogen/physiology
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/drug effects
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/physiology
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/drug effects
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/physiology
- Reproduction/physiology
- Sex Characteristics
- Signal Transduction/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan R Gintzler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States.
| | - Emiliya M Storman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Nai-Jiang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
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36
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Witchey SK, Fuchs J, Patisaul HB. Perinatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure alters brain oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression in a sex- and region- specific manner: A CLARITY-BPA consortium follow-up study. Neurotoxicology 2019; 74:139-148. [PMID: 31251963 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-characterized endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) used in plastics, epoxy resins and other products. Neurodevelopmental effects of BPA exposure are a major concern with multiple rodent and human studies showing that early life BPA exposure may impact the developing brain and sexually dimorphic behaviors. The CLARITY-BPA (Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity) program was established to assess multiple endpoints, including neural, across a wide dose range. Studies from our lab as part of (and prior to) CLARITY-BPA have shown that BPA disrupts estrogen receptor expression in the developing brain, and some evidence of oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) disruption in the hypothalamus and amygdala. While BPA disruption of steroid hormone function is well documented, less is known about its capacity to alter nonapeptide signals. In this CLARITY-BPA follow up study, we used remaining juvenile rat tissues to test the hypothesis that developmental BPA exposure affects OTR expression across the brain. Perinatal BPA exposure (2.5, 25, or 2500 μg/kg body weight (bw)/day) spanned gestation and lactation with dams gavaged from gestational day 6 until birth and then the offspring gavaged directly through weaning. Ethinyl estradiol (0.5 μg/kg bw/day) was used as a reference estrogen. Animals of both sexes were sacrificed as juveniles and OTR expression assessed by receptor binding. Our results demonstrate prenatal exposure to BPA can eliminate sex differences in OTR expression in three hypothalamic regions, and that male OTR expression may be more susceptible. Our data also identify a sub-region of the BNST with sexually dimorphic OTR expression not previously reported in juvenile rats that is also susceptible to BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannah K Witchey
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States
| | - Joelle Fuchs
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States; Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States.
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Proteomic Analysis of the Maternal Preoptic Area in Rats. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:2314-2324. [PMID: 30847857 PMCID: PMC6776485 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02755-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The behavior of female rats changes profoundly as they become mothers. The brain region that plays a central role in this regulation is the preoptic area, and lesions in this area eliminates maternal behaviors in rodents. The molecular background of the behavioral changes has not been established yet; therefore, in the present study, we applied proteomics to compare protein level changes associated with maternal care in the rat preoptic area. Using 2-dimensional fluorescence gel electrophoresis followed by identification of altered spots with mass spectrometry, 12 proteins were found to be significantly increased, and 6 proteins showed a significantly reduced level in mothers. These results show some similarities with a previous proteomics study of the maternal medial prefrontal cortex and genomics approaches applied to the preoptic area. Gene ontological analysis suggested that most altered proteins are involved in glucose metabolism and neuroplasticity. These proteins may support the maintenance of increased neuronal activity in the preoptic area, and morphological changes in preoptic neuronal circuits are known to take place in mothers. An increase in the level of alpha-crystallin B chain (Cryab) was confirmed by Western blotting. This small heat shock protein may also contribute to maintaining the increased activity of preoptic neurons by stabilizing protein structures. Common regulator and target analysis of the altered proteins suggested a role of prolactin in the molecular changes in the preoptic area. These results first identified the protein level changes in the maternal preoptic area. The altered proteins contribute to the maintenance of maternal behaviors and may also be relevant to postpartum depression, which can occur as a molecular level maladaptation to motherhood.
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Farag A, Lashen S, Eltaysh R. Histoarchitecture restoration of cerebellar sub-layers as a response to estradiol treatment following Kainic acid-induced spinal cord injury. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 376:309-323. [PMID: 30788578 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-02992-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One of the major impacts of spinal cord injury (SCI) is the cerebellar neurological malfunction and deformation of its sub-layers. This could be due to the enormous innervation of the spinocerebellar tract from the posterior gray horn in the spinal cord to the ipsilateral cerebellum. Although the neuroprotective role of estradiol in spinal cord (SC) injuries, as well as its ability to delay secondary cell death changes, is well-known, its effect on cerebellar layers is not fully investigated. In this study, a SCI model was achieved by injection of Kainic acid into SC of adult Male Wistar rats in order to assess the effects of SCI on the cerebellum. The animals were classified into SCI group (animals with SCI), estradiol-treated group (animals with SCI and received estradiol), control groups, and sham control group. The microscopical examination 24 h after induction of SCI revealed that KA induced the most characteristics of neurodegeneration including astrocytic propagation and microglial activation. The estradiol was injected intraperitoneally 20 min after induction of SCI, and the samples were collected at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days. Histologically, the estradiol reduced the inflammatory response, enhanced the recovery of molecular, granular, and Purkinje cell layers, and therefore aided in the restoration of layer organization. These findings were also confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and gene expression profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany Farag
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., P.O. box 35516, Mansoura, Egypt.
| | - S Lashen
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., P.O. box 35516, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - R Eltaysh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., P.O. box 35516, Mansoura, Egypt
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Kanaya M, Tsukahara S, Yamanouchi K. Neonatal septal lesions prevent behavioral defeminization caused by neonatal treatment with estradiol in female rats. Neurosci Lett 2019; 694:80-85. [PMID: 30472357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.11.032] [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: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Male rats rarely show lordosis, a female sexual behavior, because of strong inhibition of the behavior in the lateral septum. Because neonatal treatment with estradiol (E2) in female rats decreases lordosis, it is believed that the lateral septum is a target of E2 action to defeminize or masculinize the lordosis-inhibiting system. Here, we tested the hypothesis that disruption of the lateral septum before E2 treatment prevents the effect of neonatal E2 on lordosis. Female rats that underwent radiofrequency-induced septal lesions or sham operation on postnatal day 4 (PD4, day of birth = PD1) were subcutaneously injected with E2 or sesame oil vehicle alone on PD5. Vaginal opening and smears were checked. After sexual maturation, lordosis tests were performed. The effects of neonatal septal lesions on lordosis in male rats were also observed. Sham-operated and E2-treated female rats showed a reduction in lordosis and irregular estrous cycles. Conversely, septal lesioned and E2-treated females exhibited higher levels of lordosis, although their estrous cycles were irregular. These results suggest that neonatal septal lesions prevent females from being behaviorally defeminized by neonatal E2. Additionally, neonatally septal lesioned males displayed higher levels of lordosis than sham-operated males. These results suggest that E2, which is produced by the aromatization of testicular testosterone in the neonatal period, acts on the lateral septum to organize the lordosis-inhibiting system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moeko Kanaya
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan; Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Behavior and Environment Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan.
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
| | - Korehito Yamanouchi
- Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Behavior and Environment Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan
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Zafer D, Aycan N, Ozaydin B, Kemanli P, Ferrazzano P, Levine JE, Cengiz P. Sex differences in Hippocampal Memory and Learning following Neonatal Brain Injury: Is There a Role for Estrogen Receptor-α? Neuroendocrinology 2019; 109:249-256. [PMID: 30884486 PMCID: PMC6893032 DOI: 10.1159/000499661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal encephalopathy due to hypoxia-ischemia (HI) leads to severe, life-long morbidities in thousands of neonates born in the USA and worldwide each year. Varying capacities of long-term episodic memory, verbal working memory, and learning can present without cerebral palsy and have been associated with the severity of neonatal encephalopathy sustained at birth. Among children who sustain a moderate degree of HI at birth, girls have larger hippocampal volumes compared to boys. Clinical studies indicate that female neonatal brains are more resistant to the effects of neonatal HI, resulting in better long-term cognitive outcomes compared to males with comparable brain injury. Our most recent mechanistic studies have addressed the origins and cellular basis of sex differences in hippocampal neuroprotection following neonatal HI-related brain injury and implicate estrogen receptor-α (ERα) in the neurotrophin receptor-mediated hippocampal neuroprotection in female mice. This review summarizes the recent findings on ERα-dependent, neurotrophin-mediated hippocampal neuroprotection and weighs the evidence that this mechanism plays an important role in preservation of long-term memory and learning following HI in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dila Zafer
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nur Aycan
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Burak Ozaydin
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Pinar Kemanli
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Peter Ferrazzano
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jon E Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Pelin Cengiz
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,
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Kumar S, Singh O, Singh U, Goswami C, Singru PS. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1-6 (Trpv1-6) gene expression in the mouse brain during estrous cycle. Brain Res 2018; 1701:161-170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Kramer PR, Rao M, Stinson C, Bellinger LL, Kinchington PR, Yee MB. Aromatase Derived Estradiol Within the Thalamus Modulates Pain Induced by Varicella Zoster Virus. Front Integr Neurosci 2018; 12:46. [PMID: 30369871 PMCID: PMC6194186 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2018.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes zoster or shingles is the result of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and often results in chronic pain that lasts for months after visible symptoms subside. Testosterone often attenuates pain in males. Previous work demonstrates ovarian estrogen effects γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling in the thalamus, reducing pain but the role of testosterone within the thalamus is currently unknown. Because aromatase affects pain and is present in the thalamus we tested a hypothesis that testosterone converted to estrogen in the thalamus attenuates herpes zoster induced pain. To address this hypothesis, male Sprague-Dawley rats received whisker pad injection of either MeWo cells or MeWo cells containing VZV. To reduce aromatase derived estrogen in these animals we injected aromatase inhibitor letrozole systemically or infused it into the thalamus. To test if estrogen was working through the estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, 4, 4′, 4″-(4-Propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT) was infused concomitant with letrozole. Motivational and affective pain was measured after letrozole and/or PPT treatment. Vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) is important in pain signaling. Because estrogen effects VGAT expression we measured its transcript and protein levels after letrozole treatment. Virus injection and letrozole significantly increased the pain response but thalamic infusion of PPT reduced zoster pain. Letrozole increased the number of thalamic neurons staining for phosphorylated ERK (pERK) but decreased VGAT expression. The results suggest in male rats aromatase derived estradiol interacts with the ER to increase VGAT expression and increase neuronal inhibition in the thalamus to attenuate VZV induced pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip R Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Mahesh Rao
- Department of Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Crystal Stinson
- Department of Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Larry L Bellinger
- Department of Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Paul R Kinchington
- Department of Ophthalmology and of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Eye and Ear Foundation, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Michael B Yee
- Department of Ophthalmology and of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Eye and Ear Foundation, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Kraus K, Kleene R, Henis M, Braren I, Kataria H, Sharaf A, Loers G, Schachner M, Lutz D. A Fragment of Adhesion Molecule L1 Binds to Nuclear Receptors to Regulate Synaptic Plasticity and Motor Coordination. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7164-7178. [PMID: 29383692 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0901-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Proteolytic cleavage of the neuronal isoform of the murine cell adhesion molecule L1, triggered by stimulation of the cognate L1-dependent signaling pathways, results in the generation and nuclear import of an L1 fragment that contains the intracellular domain, the transmembrane domain, and part of the extracellular domain. Here, we show that the LXXLL and FXXLF motifs in the extracellular and transmembrane domain of this L1 fragment mediate the interaction with the nuclear estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and retinoid X receptor β (RXRβ). Mutations of the LXXLL motif in the transmembrane domain and of the FXXLF motif in the extracellular domain disturb the interaction of the L1 fragment with these nuclear receptors and, when introduced by viral transduction into mouse embryos in utero, result in impaired motor coordination, learning and memory, as well as synaptic connectivity in the cerebellum, in adulthood. These impairments are similar to those observed in the L1-deficient mouse. Our findings suggest that the interplay of nuclear L1 and distinct nuclear receptors is associated with synaptic contact formation and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Kraus
- Arbeitsgruppe für Biosynthese Neuraler Strukturen, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Kleene
- Arbeitsgruppe für Biosynthese Neuraler Strukturen, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melad Henis
- Institut für Strukturelle Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Ingke Braren
- Vector Core Unit, Institut für Experimentelle Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hardeep Kataria
- Arbeitsgruppe für Biosynthese Neuraler Strukturen, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Sharaf
- Institut für Strukturelle Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Gabriele Loers
- Arbeitsgruppe für Biosynthese Neuraler Strukturen, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xin Ling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
| | - David Lutz
- Arbeitsgruppe für Biosynthese Neuraler Strukturen, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
- Institut für Strukturelle Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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Zhou JN, Fang H. Transcriptional regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone gene in stress response. IBRO Rep 2018; 5:137-146. [PMID: 30591954 PMCID: PMC6303479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As a central player of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the corticotropin -releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) determine the state of HPA axis and play a key role in stress response. Evidence supports that during stress response the transcription and expression of CRH was finely tuned, which involved cis-element-transcriptional factor (TF) interactions and epigenetic mechanisms. Here we reviewed recent progress in CRH transcription regulation from DNA methylation to classic TFs regulation, in which a number of paired receptors were involved. The imbalance of multiple paired receptors in regulating the activity of CRH neurons indicates a possible molecular network mechanisms underlying depression etiology and directs novel therapeutic strategies of depression in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ning Zhou
- Corresponding author at: School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, PR China.
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Najjar F, Ahmad M, Lagace D, Leenen FHH. Sex differences in depression-like behavior and neuroinflammation in rats post-MI: role of estrogens. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018; 315:H1159-H1173. [PMID: 30052050 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00615.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Patients with heart failure (HF) have a high prevalence of depression associated with a worse prognosis, particularly in older women. The present study evaluated whether sex and estrogens affect depression-like behavior and associated neuroinflammation induced by myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. MI was induced by occlusion of the left anterior descending artery in young adult male and female Wistar rats or in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats without and with estrogen [17β-estradiol (E2)] replacement. MI groups showed a comparable degree of cardiac dysfunction. Eight weeks post-MI, male rats with HF exhibited depression-like behaviors, including anhedonia and higher immobility in the sucrose preference and forced swim tests, which were not observed in female rats with HF. In the cued fear conditioning test, male but not female rats with HF froze more than sham rats. After OVX, female sham rats developed mild depression-like behaviors that were pronounced in OVX female rats post-MI and were largely prevented by E2 replacement. Cytokine levels in the plasma and paraventricular nucleus increased in both sexes with HF, but only male rats with HF showed an increase in cytokine levels in the prefrontal cortex. OVX alone did not affect cytokine levels, but OVX-MI caused significant increases in the prefrontal cortex, which were shifted to an anti-inflammatory pattern by E2 replacement. These results suggest that estrogens prevent depression-like behavior induced by HF post-MI in young adult female rats by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production and actions in the prefrontal cortex. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In contrast to male rats, female rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction do not develop depression-like behavior or increases in prefrontal cortex cytokines. However, after ovariectomy, female rats exhibit similar changes, which are prevented by 17β-estradiol replacement. Neuroinflammation in the prefrontal cortex in male subjects may contribute to depression-like behavior, whereas its estrogen-dependent absence in female subjects may protect against depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatimah Najjar
- Brain and Heart Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada
| | - Monir Ahmad
- Brain and Heart Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada
| | - Diane Lagace
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada
| | - Frans H H Leenen
- Brain and Heart Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute , Ottawa, Ontario , Canada
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Perinatal Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Phthalates Results in a Lower Number of Neurons and Synapses in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Decreased Cognitive Flexibility in Adult Male and Female Rats. J Neurosci 2018; 38:6864-6872. [PMID: 30012688 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0607-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth and organization of the developing brain are known to be influenced by hormones, but little is known about whether disruption of hormones affects cortical regions, such as mPFC. This region is particularly important given its involvement in executive functions and implication in the pathology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we examine the long-term effects of perinatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds, the phthalates, on the mPFC and associated behavior. This investigation is pertinent as humans are ubiquitously exposed to phthalates through a variety of consumer products and phthalates can readily cross the placenta and be delivered to offspring via lactation. Pregnant dams orally consumed an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates at 0, 200, or 1000 μg/kg/d through pregnancy and for 10 d while lactating. As adults, offspring were tested in an attentional set-shifting task, which assesses cognitive flexibility. Brains were also examined in adulthood for stereological quantification of the number of neurons, glia, and synapses within the mPFC. We found that, independent of sex, perinatal phthalate exposure at either dose resulted in a reduction in neuron number, synapse number, and size of the mPFC and a deficit in cognitive flexibility. Interestingly, the number of synapses was correlated with cognitive flexibility, such that rats with fewer synapses were less cognitively flexible than those with more synapses. These results demonstrate that perinatal phthalate exposure can have long-term effects on the cortex and behavior of both male and female rats.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans globally are exposed on a daily basis to a variety of phthalates, which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The effects of phthalate exposure on the developing brain, especially on cognitively relevant regions, such as the mPFC, are not known. Here, we use a rat model of human prenatal exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates and find that there is an appreciable reduction in neuron number, synapse number, and size of the mPFC and a deficit in cognitive flexibility. These results may have serious implications for humans given that the mPFC is involved in executive functions and is implicated in the pathology of many neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Denley MCS, Gatford NJF, Sellers KJ, Srivastava DP. Estradiol and the Development of the Cerebral Cortex: An Unexpected Role? Front Neurosci 2018; 12:245. [PMID: 29887794 PMCID: PMC5981095 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex undergoes rapid folding in an "inside-outside" manner during embryonic development resulting in the establishment of six discrete cortical layers. This unique cytoarchitecture occurs via the coordinated processes of neurogenesis and cell migration. In addition, these processes are fine-tuned by a number of extracellular cues, which exert their effects by regulating intracellular signaling pathways. Interestingly, multiple brain regions have been shown to develop in a sexually dimorphic manner. In many cases, estrogens have been demonstrated to play an integral role in mediating these sexual dimorphisms in both males and females. Indeed, 17β-estradiol, the main biologically active estrogen, plays a critical organizational role during early brain development and has been shown to be pivotal in the sexually dimorphic development and regulation of the neural circuitry underlying sex-typical and socio-aggressive behaviors in males and females. However, whether and how estrogens, and 17β-estradiol in particular, regulate the development of the cerebral cortex is less well understood. In this review, we outline the evidence that estrogens are not only present but are engaged and regulate molecular machinery required for the fine-tuning of processes central to the cortex. We discuss how estrogens are thought to regulate the function of key molecular players and signaling pathways involved in corticogenesis, and where possible, highlight if these processes are sexually dimorphic. Collectively, we hope this review highlights the need to consider how estrogens may influence the development of brain regions directly involved in the sex-typical and socio-aggressive behaviors as well as development of sexually dimorphic regions such as the cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. S. Denley
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. F. Gatford
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine J. Sellers
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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48
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Rivera HM, Stincic TL. Estradiol and the control of feeding behavior. Steroids 2018; 133:44-52. [PMID: 29180290 PMCID: PMC5864536 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This review lays out the evidence for the role of E2 in homeostatic and hedonic feeding across several species. While significant effort has been expended on homeostatic feeding research, more studies for hedonic feeding need to be conducted (i.e. are there increases in meal size and enhanced motivation to natural food rewards). By identifying the underlying neural circuitry involved, one can better delineate the mechanisms by which E2 influences feeding behavior. By utilizing more selective neural targeting techniques, such as optogenetics, significant progress can be made toward this goal. Together, behavioral and physiological techniques will help us to better understand neural deficits that can increase the risk for obesity in the absence of E2 (menopause) and aid in developing therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Rivera
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - T L Stincic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Tobiansky DJ, Wallin-Miller KG, Floresco SB, Wood RI, Soma KK. Androgen Regulation of the Mesocorticolimbic System and Executive Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:279. [PMID: 29922228 PMCID: PMC5996102 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence indicate that androgens, such as testosterone, modulate the mesocorticolimbic system and executive function. This review integrates neuroanatomical, molecular biological, neurochemical, and behavioral studies to highlight how endogenous and exogenous androgens alter behaviors, such as behavioral flexibility, decision making, and risk taking. First, we briefly review the neuroanatomy of the mesocorticolimbic system, which mediates executive function, with a focus on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Second, we present evidence that androgen receptors (AR) and other steroid receptors are expressed in the mesocorticolimbic system. Using sensitive immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques, ARs are detected in the VTA, NAc, mPFC, and OFC. Third, we describe recent evidence for local androgens ("neuroandrogens") in the mesocorticolimbic system. Steroidogenic enzymes are expressed in mesocorticolimbic regions. Furthermore, following long-term gonadectomy, testosterone is nondetectable in the blood but detectable in the mesocorticolimbic system, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. However, the physiological relevance of neuroandrogens remains unknown. Fourth, we review how anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) influence the mesocorticolimbic system. Fifth, we describe how androgens modulate the neurochemistry and structure of the mesocorticolimbic system, particularly with regard to dopaminergic signaling. Finally, we discuss evidence that androgens influence executive functions, including the effects of androgen deprivation therapy and AAS. Taken together, the evidence indicates that androgens are critical modulators of executive function. Similar to dopamine signaling, there might be optimal levels of androgen signaling within the mesocorticolimbic system for executive functioning. Future studies should examine the regulation and functions of neurosteroids in the mesocorticolimbic system, as well as the potential deleterious and enduring effects of AAS use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Tobiansky
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Daniel J. Tobiansky,
| | - Kathryn G. Wallin-Miller
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stan B. Floresco
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ruth I. Wood
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kiran K. Soma
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Wang S, Zhu J, Xu T. 17β-estradiol (E2) promotes growth and stability of new dendritic spines via estrogen receptor β pathway in intact mouse cortex. Brain Res Bull 2017; 137:241-248. [PMID: 29288734 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The steroid hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) remodels neural circuits at the synaptic level in the mammalian hippocampus and cortex. However, the underlying mechanism of synapse dynamics remains unclear. To elucidate the mechanism, we traced individual dendritic spines on layer V pyramidal neurons of the primary sensory cortex in adult female mice under E2 intervention using two-photon in vivo imaging microscopy. We confirmed the increase of the spine density upon E2 treatment in the intact mouse cortex. Furthermore, we found that this increase is due to the promotion of spine formation and the stability of newly formed spines. E2 treatment doesn't alter the elimination rate of pre-existing spines. Our results also indicate that the activation of the estrogen receptor β (ERβ) mimics the effects of E2 administration on spine dynamics. Taken together, our findings suggest that estrogen promotes growth and stability of new dendritic spines via the ERβ pathway in the intact cortex of female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofang Wang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; MOE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Tonghui Xu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; MOE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China.
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