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Coyoy-Salgado A, Segura-Uribe J, Salgado-Ceballos H, Castillo-Mendieta T, Sánchez-Torres S, Freyermuth-Trujillo X, Orozco-Barrios C, Orozco-Suarez S, Feria-Romero I, Pinto-Almazán R, Moralí de la Brena G, Guerra-Araiza C. Evaluating Sex Steroid Hormone Neuroprotection in Spinal Cord Injury in Animal Models: Is It Promising in the Clinic? Biomedicines 2024; 12:1478. [PMID: 39062051 PMCID: PMC11274729 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary mechanism of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) comprises the initial mechanical trauma due to the transmission of energy to the spinal cord, subsequent deformity, and persistent compression. The secondary mechanism of injury, which involves structures that remained undamaged after the initial trauma, triggers alterations in microvascular perfusion, the liberation of free radicals and neurotransmitters, lipid peroxidation, alteration in ionic concentrations, and the consequent cell death by necrosis and apoptosis. Research in the treatment of SCI has sought to develop early therapeutic interventions that mitigate the effects of these pathophysiological mechanisms. Clinical and experimental evidence has demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of sex-steroid hormone administration after traumatic brain injury and SCI. The administration of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone has been associated with neuroprotective effects, better neurological recovery, and decreased mortality after SCI. This review evaluated evidence supporting hormone-related neuroprotection over SCI and the possible underlying mechanisms in animal models. As neuroprotection has been associated with signaling pathways, the effects of these hormones are observed on astrocytes and microglia, modulating the inflammatory response, cerebral blood flow, and metabolism, mediating glutamate excitotoxicity, and their antioxidant effects. Based on the current evidence, it is essential to analyze the benefit of sex steroid hormone therapy in the clinical management of patients with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Coyoy-Salgado
- CONAHCyT-Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Julia Segura-Uribe
- Subdirección de Gestión de la Investigación, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Hermelinda Salgado-Ceballos
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Tzayaka Castillo-Mendieta
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Stephanie Sánchez-Torres
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Ximena Freyermuth-Trujillo
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Carlos Orozco-Barrios
- CONAHCyT-Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Sandra Orozco-Suarez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Iris Feria-Romero
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (H.S.-C.); (T.C.-M.); (S.S.-T.); (S.O.-S.)
| | - Rodolfo Pinto-Almazán
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Moralí de la Brena
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Farmacología, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Christian Guerra-Araiza
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Farmacología, Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
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Salahinejad A, Meuthen D, Attaran A, Niyogi S, Chivers DP, Ferrari MCO. Maternal exposure to bisphenol S reduces anxiety and impairs collective antipredator behavior of male zebrafish (Danio rerio) offspring through dysregulation of their serotonergic system. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 267:106800. [PMID: 38183773 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is a common endocrine-disrupting chemical globally used in several consumer and industrial products. Although previous studies suggested that BPS induces multiple effects in exposed organisms, very little is known about its intergenerational effect on offspring behavior and/or the potential underlying mechanisms. To this end, adult female zebrafish Danio rerio were exposed to BPS (0, 10, 30 µg/L) and 1 µg/L of 17-β-estradiol (E2) as a positive control for 60 days. Afterwards, female fish were bred with untreated males, and their offspring were raised to 6 months old in control water. Maternal exposure to BPS decreased male offspring anxiety and antipredator behaviors while boldness remained unaffected. Specifically, maternal exposure to 10 and 30 µg/L BPS and 1 µg/L E2 were found to impact male offspring anxiety levels as they decreased the total time that individuals spent in the dark zone in the light/dark box test and increased the total track length in the center of the open field test. In addition, maternal exposure to all concentrations of BPS and E2 disrupted antipredator responses of male offspring by decreasing shoal cohesion in the presence of chemical alarm cues derived from conspecifics, which communicated high risk. To elucidate the possible molecular mechanism underlying these neuro-behavioral effects of BPS, we assessed the serotonergic system via changes in mRNA expression of serotonin receptors, including the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1D subtypes, the serotonin transporter and monoamine oxidase (MAO). The impaired anxiety and antipredator responses were associated with reduced levels of 5-HT1A subtype and MAO mRNA expression within the brain of adult male offspring. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that maternal exposure to environmental concentrations of BPS can interfere with the serotonergic signaling pathway in the developing brain, subsequently leading to the onset of a suite of behavioral deficits in adult offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Salahinejad
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Denis Meuthen
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Anoosha Attaran
- Robart Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5K8, Canada
| | - Som Niyogi
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Douglas P Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
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Arjmand S, Bender D, Jakobsen S, Wegener G, Landau AM. Peering into the Brain's Estrogen Receptors: PET Tracers for Visualization of Nuclear and Extranuclear Estrogen Receptors in Brain Disorders. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1405. [PMID: 37759805 PMCID: PMC10526964 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptors (ERs) play a multitude of roles in brain function and are implicated in various brain disorders. The use of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for the visualization of ERs' intricate landscape has shown promise in oncology but remains limited in the context of brain disorders. Despite recent progress in the identification and development of more selective ligands for various ERs subtypes, further optimization is necessary to enable the reliable and efficient imaging of these receptors. In this perspective, we briefly touch upon the significance of estrogen signaling in the brain and raise the setbacks associated with the development of PET tracers for identification of specific ERs subtypes in the brain. We then propose avenues for developing efficient PET tracers to non-invasively study the dynamics of ERs in the brain, as well as neuropsychiatric diseases associated with their malfunction in a longitudinal manner. This perspective puts several potential candidates on the table and highlights the unmet needs and areas requiring further research to unlock the full potential of PET tracers for ERs imaging, ultimately aiding in deepening our understanding of ERs and forging new avenues for potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shokouh Arjmand
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark; (D.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Dirk Bender
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark; (D.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Steen Jakobsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark; (D.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
| | - Anne M. Landau
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark; (D.B.); (S.J.)
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He J, Yan JJ, Zha X, Ding XJ, Zhang YL, Lu Z, Xu XH. Sexually dimorphic effects of estrogen receptor 2 deletion in the dorsal raphe nucleus on emotional behaviors. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13195. [PMID: 36072992 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13195] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in emotional behaviors and affective disorders have been widely noted, of which sexually dimorphic secretion of gonadal steroid hormones such as estrogen is suspected to play a role. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. We noted that the expression of estrogen receptor 2 (Esr2, or ERβ), a key mediator of estrogen signaling in the brain, was enriched in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), a region involved in emotion regulation. To investigate whether DRN Esr2 expression confers sex-specific susceptibility or vulnerability in emotional behaviors, we generated a conditional allele of Esr2 that allowed for site-specific deletion of Esr2 in the DRN via local injection of Cre-expressing viruses. DRN-specific Esr2 deletion mildly increased anxiety behaviors in females, as shown by decreased time spent in the center zone of an open field in knockout females. By contrast, DRN Esr2 deletion had no effects on anxiety levels in males, as demonstrated by knockout males spending comparable time in the center zone of an open field and open arms of an elevated-plus maze. Furthermore, in the tail suspension test, DRN Esr2 deletion reduced immobility, a depression-like behavior, in a male-biased manner. Together, these results reveal sex-specific functions of DRN Esr2 in regulating emotional behaviors and suggest targeted manipulation of DRN Esr2 signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat sex-biased affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing He
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Jing Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Zha
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Ding
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Li Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
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Grieb ZA, Lonstein JS. Oxytocin interactions with central dopamine and serotonin systems regulate different components of motherhood. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210062. [PMID: 35858105 PMCID: PMC9272149 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0062] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of oxytocin in maternal caregiving and other postpartum behaviours has been studied for more than five decades. How oxytocin interacts with other neurochemical systems to enact these behavioural changes, however, is only slowly being elucidated. The best-studied oxytocin-neurotransmitter interaction is with the mesolimbic dopamine system, and this interaction is essential for maternal motivation and active caregiving behaviours such as retrieval of pups. Considerably less attention has been dedicated to investigating how oxytocin interacts with central serotonin to influence postpartum behaviour. Recently, it has become clear that while oxytocin-dopamine interactions regulate the motivational and pup-approach aspects of maternal caregiving behaviours, oxytocin-serotonin interactions appear to regulate nearly all other aspects including postpartum nursing, aggression, anxiety-like behaviour and stress coping strategy. Collectively, oxytocin's interactions with central dopamine and serotonin systems are thus critical for the entire suite of behavioural adaptations exhibited in the postpartum period, and these sites of interaction are potential pharmacological targets for where oxytocin could help to ameliorate deficits in maternal caregiving and poor postpartum mental health. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A. Grieb
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Joseph S. Lonstein
- Psychology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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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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Jorgensen C, Wang Z. Hormonal Regulation of Mammalian Adult Neurogenesis: A Multifaceted Mechanism. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10081151. [PMID: 32781670 PMCID: PMC7465680 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis—resulting in adult-generated functioning, integrated neurons—is still one of the most captivating research areas of neuroplasticity. The addition of new neurons in adulthood follows a seemingly consistent multi-step process. These neurogenic stages include proliferation, differentiation, migration, maturation/survival, and integration of new neurons into the existing neuronal network. Most studies assessing the impact of exogenous (e.g., restraint stress) or endogenous (e.g., neurotrophins) factors on adult neurogenesis have focused on proliferation, survival, and neuronal differentiation. This review will discuss the multifaceted impact of hormones on these various stages of adult neurogenesis. Specifically, we will review the evidence for hormonal facilitation (via gonadal hormones), inhibition (via glucocorticoids), and neuroprotection (via recruitment of other neurochemicals such as neurotrophin and neuromodulators) on newly adult-generated neurons in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Jorgensen
- Behavioral Science Department, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Psychology Department and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
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Zuloaga DG, Heck AL, De Guzman RM, Handa RJ. Roles for androgens in mediating the sex differences of neuroendocrine and behavioral stress responses. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:44. [PMID: 32727567 PMCID: PMC7388454 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00319-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol and testosterone are powerful steroid hormones that impact brain function in numerous ways. During development, these hormones can act to program the adult brain in a male or female direction. During adulthood, gonadal steroid hormones can activate or inhibit brain regions to modulate adult functions. Sex differences in behavioral and neuroendocrine (i.e., hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis) responses to stress arise as a result of these organizational and activational actions. The sex differences that are present in the HPA and behavioral responses to stress are particularly important considering their role in maintaining homeostasis. Furthermore, dysregulation of these systems can underlie the sex biases in risk for complex, stress-related diseases that are found in humans. Although many studies have explored the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in mediating sex differences in stress-related behaviors and HPA function, much less consideration has been given to the role of androgens. While circulating androgens can act by binding and activating androgen receptors, they can also act by metabolism to estrogenic molecules to impact estrogen signaling in the brain and periphery. This review focuses on androgens as an important hormone for modulating the HPA axis and behaviors throughout life and for setting up sex differences in key stress regulatory systems that could impact risk for disease in adulthood. In particular, impacts of androgens on neuropeptide systems known to play key roles in HPA and behavioral responses to stress (corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin, and oxytocin) are discussed. A greater knowledge of androgen action in the brain is key to understanding the neurobiology of stress in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley L Heck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Kawabata-Sakata Y, Nishiike Y, Fleming T, Kikuchi Y, Okubo K. Androgen-dependent sexual dimorphism in pituitary tryptophan hydroxylase expression: relevance to sex differences in pituitary hormones. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200713. [PMID: 32517612 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is a biogenic monoamine conserved across phyla that is implicated in diverse physiological and behavioural functions. On examining the expression of the rate-limiting enzymes in serotonin synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylases (TPHs), in the teleost medaka (Oryzias latipes), we found that males have much higher levels of tph1 expression as compared with females. This robust sexual dimorphism was found to probably result from the direct stimulation of tph1 transcription by androgen/androgen receptor binding to canonical bipartite androgen-responsive elements in its proximal promoter region. Our results further revealed that tph1 expression occurs exclusively in pro-opiomelanocortin (pomc)-expressing cells and that the resulting serotonin and its derivative melatonin inhibit the expression of the pituitary hormone genes, fshb, sl and tshb. This suggests that serotonin and/or melatonin synthesized in pomc-expressing cells act in a paracrine manner to suppress pituitary hormone levels. Consistent with these findings and the male-biased expression of tph1, the expression levels of fshb, sl and tshb were all higher in females than in males. Taken together, the male bias in tph1 expression and consequent serotonin/melatonin production presumably contribute to sex differences in the expression of pituitary hormones and ultimately in the physiological functions mediated by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukika Kawabata-Sakata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.,Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Thomas Fleming
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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10
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Jusuf EC, Abdullah N, Tahir AM, Tanra J, Hatta M. Interaction estrogen receptor polymorphism associates with psychosocial stress on menopausal women. ENFERMERIA CLINICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.07.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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11
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Stress, sex hormones, inflammation, and major depressive disorder: Extending Social Signal Transduction Theory of Depression to account for sex differences in mood disorders. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:3063-3079. [PMID: 31359117 PMCID: PMC6821593 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05326-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Social Signal Transduction Theory of Depression is a biologically plausible, multi-level theory that describes neural, physiologic, molecular, and genomic mechanisms that link experiences of social-environmental adversity with internal biological processes that drive depression pathogenesis, maintenance, and recurrence. Central to this theory is the hypothesis that interpersonal stressors involving social threat (e.g., social conflict, evaluation, rejection, isolation, and exclusion) upregulate inflammatory processes that can induce several depressive symptoms, including sad mood, anhedonia, fatigue, psychomotor retardation, and social-behavioral withdrawal. The original article describing this formulation (Psychol Bull 140:774-815, 2014) addressed critical questions involving depression onset and recurrence, as well as why depression is strongly predicted by early life stress and comorbid with anxiety disorders and certain physical disease conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, and cardiovascular disease. Here, we extend the theory to help explain sex differences in depression prevalence, which is a defining feature of this disorder. Central to this extension is research demonstrating that ovarian hormone fluctuations modulate women's susceptibility to stress, brain structure and function, and inflammatory activity and reactivity. These effects are evident at multiple levels and are highly context-dependent, varying as a function of several factors including sex, age, reproductive state, endogenous versus exogenous hormones, and hormone administration mode and dose. Together, these effects help explain why women are at greater risk for developing inflammation-related depressed mood and other neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders during the reproductive years, especially for those already at heightened risk for depression or in the midst of a hormonal transition period.
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Satué K, Fazio E, Ferlazzo A, Medica P. Intrafollicular and systemic serotonin, oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in cycling mares. Reprod Domest Anim 2019; 54:1411-1418. [PMID: 31373734 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The hypothesis that a local serotonergic network might also exist in the follicle of mares remains poorly documented, with exception for humans and laboratory species. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to clarify this possibility, investigating intrafollicular serotonin concentrations of the cycling mare at ovulation time. Sixty ovaries collected from 30 clinically healthy mares of slaughterhouse meat production with clinically normal reproductive tracts after slaughtering were evaluated. Blood samples were taken prior to sacrifice. Follicles were classified in three categories in relation to size, as small (20-30 mm), medium (31-40 mm) and large (>41 mm), and the follicular fluid samples were extracted from each follicle. Intrafollicular and systemic serotonin (5-HT), oestradiol-17β (E2 ) and progesterone (P4 ) were determined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and RIA, respectively. Intrafollicular 5-HT, E2 and P4 concentrations were higher than systemic ones (p < .05). 5-HT concentrations increased in larger compared to medium follicles, without differences compared to small size follicles (p < .05). 5-HT and E2 (r = .79) and 5-HT and P4 (r = .79; p < .05) were positively correlated. 5-HT and P4 concentrations in follicular fluid increased progressively with the increase in follicular size (p < .05). Follicle diameter and E2 (r = .85) and P4 (r = .68) were correlated (p < .05). Since serotonin interacts with steroids, its role on steroidogenesis during growth of the dominant follicle may be suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiuska Satué
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia, Spain
| | - Esterina Fazio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Sicilia, Italy
| | - Adriana Ferlazzo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Sicilia, Italy
| | - Pietro Medica
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Sicilia, Italy
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Hernández-Hernández OT, Martínez-Mota L, Herrera-Pérez JJ, Jiménez-Rubio G. Role of Estradiol in the Expression of Genes Involved in Serotonin Neurotransmission: Implications for Female Depression. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:459-471. [PMID: 29956632 PMCID: PMC6520586 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180628165107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In women, changes in estrogen levels may increase the incidence and/or symptomatology of depression and affect the response to antidepressant treatments. Estrogen therapy in females may provide some mood benefits as a single treatment or might augment clinical response to antidepressants that inhibit serotonin reuptake. OBJECTIVE We analyzed the mechanisms of estradiol action involved in the regulation of gene expression that modulates serotonin neurotransmission implicated in depression. METHOD Publications were identified by a literature search on PubMed. RESULTS The participation of estradiol in depression may include regulation of the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-2, monoamine oxidase A and B, serotonin transporter and serotonin-1A receptor. This effect is mediated by estradiol binding to intracellular estrogen receptor that interacts with estrogen response elements in the promoter sequences of tryptophan hydroxylase-2, serotonin transporter and monoamine oxidase-B. In addition to directly binding deoxyribonucleic acid, estrogen receptor can tether to other transcription factors, including activator protein 1, specificity protein 1, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β and nuclear factor kappa B to regulate gene promoters that lack estrogen response elements, such as monoamine oxidase-A and serotonin 1A receptor. CONCLUSION Estradiol increases tryptophan hydroxylase-2 and serotonin transporter expression and decreases the expression of serotonin 1A receptor and monoamine oxidase A and B through the interaction with its intracellular receptors. The understanding of molecular mechanisms of estradiol regulation on the protein expression that modulates serotonin neurotransmission will be helpful for the development of new and more effective treatment for women with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Tania Hernández-Hernández
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia Research Fellow Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegacion Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Lucía Martínez-Mota
- Laboratorio de Farmacologia Conductual, Direccion de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegacion Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - José Jaime Herrera-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Farmacologia Conductual, Direccion de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegacion Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Graciela Jiménez-Rubio
- Laboratorio de Farmacologia Conductual, Direccion de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegacion Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
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Pottoo FH, Javed MN, Barkat MA, Alam MS, Nowshehri JA, Alshayban DM, Ansari MA. Estrogen and Serotonin: Complexity of Interactions and Implications for Epileptic Seizures and Epileptogenesis. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:214-231. [PMID: 29956631 PMCID: PMC6425080 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180628164432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A burgeoning literature documents the confluence of ovarian steroids and central serotonergic systems in the in-junction of epileptic seizures and epileptogenesis. Estrogen administration in animals reduces neuronal death from seizures by up-regulation of the prosurvival molecule i.e. Bcl-2, anti-oxidant potential and protection of NPY interneurons. Serotonin modulates epileptiform activity in either direction i.e administration of 5-HT agonists or reuptake inhibitors leads to the acti-vation of 5-HT3 and 5-HT1A receptors tending to impede focal and generalized seizures, while depletion of brain 5-HT along with the destruction of serotonergic terminals leads to expanded neuronal excitability hence abatement of seizure threshold in experimental animal models. Serotonergic neurotransmission is influenced by the organizational activity of ster-oid hormones in the growing brain and the actuation effects of steroids which come in adulthood. It is further established that ovarian steroids bring induction of dendritic spine proliferation on serotonin neurons thus thawing a profound effect on sero-tonergic transmission. This review features 5-HT1A and 5-HT3 receptors as potential targets for ameliorating seizure-induced neurodegeneration and recurrent hypersynchronous neuronal activity. Indeed 5-HT3 receptors mediate cross-talk be-tween estrogenic and serotonergic pathways, and could be well exploited for combinatorial drug therapy against epileptogen-esis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faheem Hyder Pottoo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Formerly University of Dammam), Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Noushad Javed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New-Delhi, India
| | - Md Abul Barkat
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, K.R.Mangalam University, Gurgaon, India
| | - Md Sabir Alam
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, K.R.Mangalam University, Gurgaon, India
| | - Javaid Ashraf Nowshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sc. and Tech., University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Dhafer Mahdi Alshayban
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Formerly University of Dammam), Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Azam Ansari
- Department of Epidemic Disease Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
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15
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Stincic TL, Rønnekleiv OK, Kelly MJ. Diverse actions of estradiol on anorexigenic and orexigenic hypothalamic arcuate neurons. Horm Behav 2018; 104:146-155. [PMID: 29626486 PMCID: PMC6196116 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Contribution to Special Issue on Fast effects of steroids. There is now compelling evidence for membrane-associated estrogen receptors in hypothalamic neurons that are critical for the hypothalamic control of homeostatic functions. It has been known for some time that estradiol (E2) can rapidly alter hypothalamic neuronal activity within seconds, indicating that some cellular effects can occur via membrane initiated events. However, our understanding of how E2 signals via membrane-associated receptors and how these signals impact physiological functions is only just emerging. Thus, E2 can affect second messenger systems including calcium mobilization and a plethora of kinases to alter cell excitability and even gene transcription in hypothalamic neurons. One population of hypothalamic neurons, the anorexigenic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, has long been considered to be a target of E2's actions based on gene (Pomc) expression studies. However, we now know that E2 can rapidly alter POMC neuronal activity within seconds and activate several intracellular signaling cascades that ultimately affect gene expression, actions which are critical for maintaining sensitivity to insulin in metabolically stressed states. E2 also affects the orexigenic Neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related Peptide (NPY/AgRP) neurons in similarly rapid but antagonistic manner. Therefore, this review will summarize our current state of knowledge of how E2 signals via rapid membrane-initiated and intracellular signaling cascades in POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons to regulate energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd L Stincic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Oline K Rønnekleiv
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Martin J Kelly
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
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16
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Ulhaq ZS, Kishida M. Brain Aromatase Modulates Serotonergic Neuron by Regulating Serotonin Levels in Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:230. [PMID: 29867763 PMCID: PMC5954033 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Teleost fish are known to express two isoforms of P450 aromatase, a key enzyme for estrogen synthesis. One of the isoforms, brain aromatase (AroB), cyp19a1b, is highly expressed during early development of zebrafish, thereby suggesting its role in brain development. On the other hand, early development of serotonergic neuron, one of the major monoamine neurons, is considered to play an important role in neurogenesis. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of AroB in development of serotonergic neuron by testing the effects of (1) estradiol (E2) exposure and (2) morpholino (MO)-mediated AroB knockdown. When embryos were exposed to E2, the effects were biphasic. The low dose of E2 (0.005 µM) significantly increased serotonin (5-HT) positive area at 48 hour post-fertilization (hpf) detected by immunohistochemistry and relative mRNA levels of tryptophan hydroxylase isoforms (tph1a, tph1b, and tph2) at 96 hpf measured by semi-quantitative PCR. To test the effects on serotonin transmission, heart rate and thigmotaxis, an indicator of anxiety, were analyzed. The low dose also significantly increased heart rate at 48 hpf and decreased thigmotaxis. The high dose of E2 (1 µM) exhibited opposite effects in all parameters. The effects of both low and high doses were reversed by addition of estrogen receptor (ER) blocker, ICI 182,780, thereby suggesting that the effects were mediated through ER. When AroB MO was injected to fertilized eggs, 5-HT-positive area was significantly decreased, while the significant decrease in relative tph mRNA levels was found only with tph2 but not with two other isoforms. AroB MO also decreased heart rate and increased thigmotaxis. All the effects were rescued by co-injection with AroB mRNA and by exposure to E2. Taken together, this study demonstrates the role of brain aromatase in development of serotonergic neuron in zebrafish embryos and larvae, implying that brain-formed estrogen is an important factor to sustain early development of serotonergic neuron.
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Testosterone levels in healthy men correlate negatively with serotonin 4 receptor binding. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 81:22-28. [PMID: 28426945 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The serotonergic system integrates sex steroid information and plays a central role in mood and stress regulation, cognition, appetite and sleep. This interplay may be critical for likelihood of developing depressive episodes, at least in a subgroup of sensitive individuals. The serotonin 4 receptor (5-HT4R) indexes central serotonergic tonus, which may be related to endogenous sex-steroid levels in the mentally healthy state even though this remains elusive. Here we evaluate if peripheral levels of estradiol and testosterone are associated with 5-HT4R binding as imaged by [11C]SB207145 positron emission tomography in a group of 41 healthy men. We estimated global 5-HT4R binding using a latent variable model framework, which models shared correlation between 5-HT4R across multiple brain regions (hippocampus, amygdala, posterior and anterior cingulate, thalamus, pallidostriatum and neocortex). We tested whether testosterone and estradiol predict global 5-HT4R, adjusting for age. We found that testosterone, but not estradiol, correlated negatively with global 5-HT4R levels (p=0.02) suggesting that men with high levels of testosterone have higher cerebral serotonergic tonus. Our findings corroborate the link between sex hormone levels and serotonin signalling. Future longitudinal studies in clinical relevant populations are needed to elucidate the potential importance of testosterone in the pathophysiology of e.g. major depression and its treatment.
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18
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Bethea CL, Mueller K, Reddy AP, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Effects of obesogenic diet and estradiol on dorsal raphe gene expression in old female macaques. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178788. [PMID: 28628658 PMCID: PMC5476244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The beneficial effects of bioidentical ovarian steroid hormone therapy (HT) during the perimenopause are gaining recognition. However, the positive effects of estrogen (E) plus or minus progesterone (P) administration to ovariectomized (Ovx) lab animals were recognized in multiple systems for years before clinical trials could adequately duplicate the results. Moreover, very large numbers of women are often needed to find statistically significant results in clinical trials of HT; and there are still opposing results being published, especially in neural and cardiovascular systems. One of the obvious differences between human and animal studies is diet. Laboratory animals are fed a diet that is low in fat and refined sugar, but high in micronutrients. In the US, a large portion of the population eats what is known as a "western style diet" or WSD that provides calories from 36% fat, 44% carbohydrates (includes 18.5% sugars) and 18% protein. Unfortunately, obesity and diabetes have reached epidemic proportions and the percentage of obese women in clinical trials may be overlooked. We questioned whether WSD and obesity could decrease the positive neural effects of estradiol (E) in the serotonin system of old macaques that were surgically menopausal. Old ovo-hysterectomized female monkeys were fed WSD for 2.5 years, and treated with placebo, Immediate E (ImE) or Delayed E (DE). Compared to old Ovx macaques on primate chow and treated with placebo or E, the WSD-fed monkeys exhibited greater individual variance and blunted responses to E-treatment in the expression of genes related to serotonin neurotransmission, CRH components in the midbrain, synapse assembly, DNA repair, protein folding, ubiquitylation, transport and neurodegeneration. For many of the genes examined, transcript abundance was lower in WSD-fed than chow-fed monkeys. In summary, an obesogenic diet for 2.5 years in old surgically menopausal macaques blunted or increased variability in E-induced gene expression in the dorsal raphe. These results suggest that with regard to function and viability in the dorsal raphe, HT may not be as beneficial for obese women as normal weight women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L. Bethea
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States of America
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Kevin Mueller
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States of America
| | - Arubala P. Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Technical University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, United States of America
| | - Steven G. Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States of America
| | - Henryk F. Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States of America
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
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Neuroendocrine Underpinnings of Increased Risk for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2016; 103:53-83. [PMID: 28061976 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of psychological trauma and the development of trauma-, stressor-, and anxiety-related mental illnesses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the current chapter, we examine the female hormonal systems that interact with psychobiological stress response systems to elicit maladaptive behavior and mental disease states in traumatized female populations. In addition, we provide a contemporary translational example of a stress vulnerability genomic profile (coding for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) that may underlie the specific susceptibilities observed in women. Translational scientific investigations such as those described herein may lead to the identification of risk and resilience factors for PTSD as well as enhanced clinical interventions for treating excessive fear and anxiety.
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Benmansour S, Adeniji OS, Privratsky AA, Frazer A. Effects of Long-Term Treatment with Estradiol and Estrogen Receptor Subtype Agonists on Serotonergic Function in Ovariectomized Rats. Neuroendocrinology 2016; 103:269-81. [PMID: 26159182 PMCID: PMC4698103 DOI: 10.1159/000437268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Acute estradiol treatment was reported to slow the clearance of serotonin via activation of estrogen receptors (ER)β and/or GPR30 and to block the ability of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to slow serotonin clearance via activation of ERα. In this study, the behavioral consequences of longer-term treatments with estradiol or ER subtype-selective agonists and/or an SSRI were examined in the forced swim test (FST). Ovariectomized rats were administered the following for 2 weeks: estradiol, ERβ agonist (diarylpropionitrile, DPN), GPR30 agonist (G1), ERα agonist (PPT), and/or the SSRI sertraline. Similar to sertraline, longer-term treatment with estradiol, DPN or G1 induced an antidepressant-like effect. By contrast, PPT did not, even though it blocked the antidepressant-like effect of sertraline. Uterus weights, used as a peripheral measure of estrogenic activity, were increased by estradiol and PPT but not DPN or G1 treatment. A second part of this study investigated, using Western blot analyses in homogenates from hippocampus, whether these behavioral effects are accompanied by changes in the activation of specific signaling pathways and/or TrkB. Estradiol and G1 increased phosphorylation of Akt, ERK and TrkB. These effects were similar to those obtained after treatment with sertraline. Treatment with DPN increased phosphorylation of ERK and TrkB, but it did not alter that of Akt. Treatment with PPT increased phosphorylation of Akt and ERK without altering that of TrkB. In conclusion, activation of at least TrkB and possibly ERK may be involved in the antidepressant-like effect of estradiol, ERβ and GPR30 agonists whereas Akt activation may not be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloua Benmansour
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Opeyemi S. Adeniji
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Anthony A. Privratsky
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Alan Frazer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas 78229
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas 78284, USA
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Bethea CL, Reddy AP. Ovarian steroids regulate gene expression related to DNA repair and neurodegenerative diseases in serotonin neurons of macaques. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1565-78. [PMID: 25600110 PMCID: PMC4508249 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Depression often accompanies the perimenopausal transition and it often precedes overt symptomology in common neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Serotonin dysfunction is frequently found in the different etiologies of depression. We have shown that ovariectomized (Ovx) monkeys treated with estradiol (E) for 28 days supplemented with placebo or progesterone (P) on days 14-28 had reduced DNA fragmentation in serotonin neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus, and long-term Ovx monkeys had fewer serotonin neurons than intact controls. We questioned the effect of E alone or E+P (estradiol supplemented with progesterone) on gene expression related to DNA repair, protein folding (chaperones), the ubiquitin-proteosome, axon transport and NDD-specific genes in serotonin neurons. Ovx macaques were treated with placebo, E or E+P (n=3 per group) for 1 month. Serotonin neurons were laser captured and subjected to microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Increases were confirmed with qRT-PCR in five genes that code for proteins involved in repair of strand breaks and nucleotide excision. NBN1, PCNA (proliferating nuclear antigen), GADD45A (DNA damage-inducible), RAD23A (DNA damage recognition) and GTF2H5 (gene transcription factor 2H5) significantly increased with E or E+P treatment (all analysis of variance (ANOVA), P<0.01). Chaperone genes HSP70 (heat-shock protein 70), HSP60 and HSP27 significantly increased with E or E+P treatment (all ANOVA, P<0.05). HSP90 showed a similar trend. Ubiquinase coding genes UBEA5, UBE2D3 and UBE3A (Parkin) increased with E or E+P (all ANOVA, P<0.003). Transport-related genes coding kinesin, dynein and dynactin increased with E or E+P treatment (all ANOVA, P<0.03). SCNA (α-synuclein) and ADAM10 (α-secretase) increased (both ANOVA, P<0.02) but PSEN1 (presenilin1) decreased (ANOVA, P<0.02) with treatment. APP decreased 10-fold with E or E+P administration. Newman-Keuls post hoc comparisons indicated variation in the response to E alone versus E+P across the different genes. In summary, E or E+P increased gene expression for DNA repair mechanisms in serotonin neurons, thereby rendering them less vulnerable to stress-induced DNA fragmentation. In addition, E or E+P regulated four genes encoding proteins that are often misfolded or malfunctioning in neuronal populations subserving overt NDD symptomology. The expression and regulation of these genes in serotonergic neurons invites speculation that they may mediate an underlying disease process in NDDs, which in turn may be ameliorated or delayed with timely hormone therapy in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L. Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciencesm, Oregon National Primate Research Center Beaverton, OR 97006, Division of Neuroscience Oregon National Primate Research Center Beaverton, OR 97006, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR 97201
| | - Arubala P. Reddy
- Division of Reproductive Sciencesm, Oregon National Primate Research Center Beaverton, OR 97006
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Bethea CL, Kohama SG, Reddy AP, Urbanski HF. Ovarian steroids regulate gene expression in the dorsal raphe of old female macaques. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 37:179-191. [PMID: 26686671 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
With extended life spans in modern humans, menopause has become a significant risk factor for depression, anxiety, loss of cognitive functions, weight gain, metabolic disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical studies have found beneficial neural effects of ovarian steroid hormone therapy (HT) during the menopausal transition and data are emerging that it can be continued long term. To further understand molecular underpinnings of the clinical studies, we used quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to examine gene expression in the serotonergic dorsal raphe of old (>18 years) rhesus macaques, focusing on genes related to depression, cellular resilience, and neurodegenerative diseases. The animals were ovariectomized (Ovx, surgically menopausal) and subjected to either estradiol or estradiol plus progesterone HT, or to placebo, starting 2 months after Ovx and continuing for ∼ 4 years. Significant changes were observed in 36 of 48 genes examined that encode proteins supporting serotonin neurotransmission, synapse assembly, glutamate neurotransmission, DNA repair, chaperones, ubiquinases and transport motors, as well as genes encoding proteins that have potential to delay the onset of neuropathologies. The data reveal important gene targets for chronic HT that contribute to neural health. Alternatively, the loss of ovarian steroids may lead to loss of functions at the gene level that contribute to many of the observable neural deficits after menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Steven G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Arubala P Reddy
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech Health Science Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Kranz GS, Wadsak W, Kaufmann U, Savli M, Baldinger P, Gryglewski G, Haeusler D, Spies M, Mitterhauser M, Kasper S, Lanzenberger R. High-Dose Testosterone Treatment Increases Serotonin Transporter Binding in Transgender People. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 78:525-33. [PMID: 25497691 PMCID: PMC4585531 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men. Sex hormones modulating serotonergic transmission are proposed to partly underlie these epidemiologic findings. Here, we used the cross-sex steroid hormone treatment of transsexuals seeking sex reassignment as a model to investigate acute and chronic effects of testosterone and estradiol on serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) binding in female-to-male and male-to-female transsexuals. METHODS Thirty-three transsexuals underwent [(11)C]DASB positron emission tomography before start of treatment, a subset of which underwent a second scan 4 weeks and a third scan 4 months after treatment start. SERT nondisplaceable binding potential was quantified in 12 regions of interest. Treatment effects were analyzed using linear mixed models. Changes of hormone plasma levels were correlated with changes in regional SERT nondisplaceable binding potential. RESULTS One and 4 months of androgen treatment in female-to-male transsexuals increased SERT binding in amygdala, caudate, putamen, and median raphe nucleus. SERT binding increases correlated with treatment-induced increases in testosterone levels, suggesting that testosterone increases SERT expression on the cell surface. Conversely, 4 months of antiandrogen and estrogen treatment in male-to-female transsexuals led to decreases in SERT binding in insula, anterior, and mid-cingulate cortex. Increases in estradiol levels correlated negatively with decreases in regional SERT binding, indicating a protective effect of estradiol against SERT loss. CONCLUSIONS Given the central role of the SERT in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, these findings may lead to new treatment modalities and expand our understanding of the mechanism of action of antidepressant treatment properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Wadsak
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Daniela Haeusler
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine
| | | | - Markus Mitterhauser
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine
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Ploskonka SD, Eaton JL, Carr MS, Schmidt JV, Cushing BS. Developmental expression of estrogen receptor beta in the brain of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Dev Psychobiol 2015; 58:223-30. [PMID: 26419697 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Here, for the first time, the expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is characterized in the brains of the highly prosocial prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). ERβ immunoreactivity was compared in weanlings (postnatal Day 21) and adult males and females. The results indicate several major findings. First, unlike ERα, ERβ expression is not sexually dimorphic. Second, the adult pattern of ERβ-IR is established at the time of weaning, as there were no age-dependent effects on distribution. Finally, ERβ does not appear to be as widely distributed in voles compared with rats and mice. High levels of ERβ-IR were observed in several regions/nuclei within the medial pre-optic area, ventrolateral pre-optic nuclei, and in the hypothalamus, especially in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. The visualization of ERβ in prairie voles is important as the socially monogamous prairie vole functions as a human relevant model system for studying the expression of social behavior and social deficit disorders. Future studies will now be able to determine the effect of treatments on the expression and/or development of ERβ in this highly social species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D Ploskonka
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325
| | - Jennifer L Eaton
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325
| | - Michael S Carr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607
| | - Jennifer V Schmidt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607
| | - Bruce S Cushing
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325. .,Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968.
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Prasad P, Ogawa S, Parhar IS. Role of serotonin in fish reproduction. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:195. [PMID: 26097446 PMCID: PMC4456567 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroendocrine mechanism regulates reproduction through the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis which is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. The HPG axis is regulated by a variety of internal as well as external factors. Serotonin, a monoamine neurotransmitter, is involved in a wide range of reproductive functions. In mammals, serotonin regulates sexual behaviors, gonadotropin release and gonadotropin-release hormone (GnRH) secretion. However, the serotonin system in teleost may also play unique role in the control of reproduction as the mechanism of reproductive control in teleosts is not always the same as in the mammalian models. In fish, the serotonin system is also regulated by natural environmental factors as well as chemical substances. In particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly detected as pharmaceutical contaminants in the natural environment. Those factors may influence fish reproductive functions via the serotonin system. This review summarizes the functional significance of serotonin in the teleosts reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvathy Prasad
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Satoshi Ogawa
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ishwar S Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia Selangor, Malaysia
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Effect of sex steroid hormones on the number of serotonergic neurons in rat dorsal raphe nucleus. Neurosci Lett 2015; 594:127-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Kelly MJ, Rønnekleiv OK. Minireview: neural signaling of estradiol in the hypothalamus. Mol Endocrinol 2015; 29:645-57. [PMID: 25751314 PMCID: PMC4415204 DOI: 10.1210/me.2014-1397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Kelly
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.J.K., O.K.R.) and Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (O.K.R.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239; and Division of Neuroscience (M.J.K., O.K.R.), Oregon National Primate Research Center; Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon 97006
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Bethea CL, Phu K, Belikova Y, Bethea SC. Localization and regulation of reproductive steroid receptors in the raphe serotonin system of male macaques. J Chem Neuroanat 2015; 66-67:19-27. [PMID: 25908331 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
We previously showed that tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) mRNAs are increased by the androgens, testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in serotonin neurons of male macaques. In addition, we observed that serotonin in axons of a terminal region were markedly decreased by aromatase inhibition and lack of estradiol (E) from metabolism of T. These observations implicated androgen receptors (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) in the transduction of steroid hormone actions in serotonin neurons. Due to the longer treatment period employed, the expression of the cognate nuclear receptors was sought. We used single and double immunohistochemistry to quantitate and phenotypically localize AR, ERα and ERβ in the dorsal raphe of male macaques. Male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) were castrated for 5-7 months and then treated for 3 months with [1] placebo, [2] T, [3] DHT (non-aromatizable androgen) plus ATD (steroidal aromatase inhibitor), or [4] Flutamide (FLUT; androgen antagonist) plus ATD (n = 5/group). After single labeling of each receptor, quantitative image analysis was applied and receptor positive neurons were counted. Double-label of raphe neurons for each receptor plus TPH2 determined whether the receptors were localized in serotonin neurons. There were significantly more AR-positive neurons in T- and DHT+ATD-treated groups (p = 0.0014) compared to placebo or FLUT+ATD-treated groups. There was no difference in the number of positive-neurons stained for ERα or ERβ⋅ Double-immunohistochemistry revealed that serotonin neurons did not contain AR. Rather, AR-positive nuclei were found in neighboring cells that are likely neurons. However, approximately 40% of dorsal raphe serotonin neurons contained ERα or ERβ⋅ In conclusion, the stimulatory effect of androgens on TPH2 and SERT mRNA expression is mediated indirectly by neighboring neurons contain AR. The stimulatory effect of E, derived from T metabolism, on serotonin transport is partially mediated directly via nuclear ERs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201, United States.
| | - Kenny Phu
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - Yelena Belikova
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - Sarah C Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
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Barth C, Villringer A, Sacher J. Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:37. [PMID: 25750611 PMCID: PMC4335177 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones have been implicated in neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, dendritic branching, myelination and other important mechanisms of neural plasticity. Here we review the evidence from animal experiments and human studies reporting interactions between sex hormones and the dominant neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate. We provide an overview of accumulating data during physiological and pathological conditions and discuss currently conceptualized theories on how sex hormones potentially trigger neuroplasticity changes through these four neurochemical systems. Many brain regions have been demonstrated to express high densities for estrogen- and progesterone receptors, such as the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the hippocampus. As the hippocampus is of particular relevance in the context of mediating structural plasticity in the adult brain, we put particular emphasis on what evidence could be gathered thus far that links differences in behavior, neurochemical patterns and hippocampal structure to a changing hormonal environment. Finally, we discuss how physiologically occurring hormonal transition periods in humans can be used to model how changes in sex hormones influence functional connectivity, neurotransmission and brain structure in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Barth
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Mind and Brain Institute Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Sacher
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany
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Citraro R, Gallelli L, Leo A, De Fazio P, Gallelli P, Russo E, De Sarro G. Effects of chronic sodium alendronate on depression and anxiety in a menopausal experimental model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2014; 129:65-71. [PMID: 25542587 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During menopause, lower levels of estrogen may induce bone resorption as well as anxiety and depression. Bisphosphonates represent the first choice in the treatment of osteoporosis and no data are available concerning their effects on comorbid behavior alterations. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of chronic alendronate (1 mg/kg/day) on depression and anxiety in an experimental animal model of menopause. METHODS Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized or sham operated at 6-7 months of age. Two weeks after surgery, rats were randomized into four treatment (24 consecutive weeks) groups: (1) vehicle-treated SHAM group, (2) alendronate-treated SHAM group, (3) vehicle-treated ovariectomized group, and (4) alendronate-treated ovariectomized group. After treatment, we evaluated both depressive- and anxiety-like behavior through forced swimming test (FST) and open-field test (OF). Finally, the inverted screen test was used to assess the incapacitating effects of ovariectomy in rats. RESULTS We documented a significant and time-related increase in immobility times and in anxiety-like behavior in rats with ovariectomy in comparison to control sham group. Alendronate at 3 months, but not at 6 months, significantly decreased both immobility time and anxiety levels, but it significantly increased motor performance. Using the Pearson's test, we documented a significant correlation between behavior and motor performance. CONCLUSION Despite the apparent effects of alendronate on animal behavior, in our experiments, such effects seem to be mediated by an increase in motor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Citraro
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Antonio Leo
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Pasquale De Fazio
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Gallelli
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Emilio Russo
- Science of Health Department, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
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Borrow AP, Cameron NM. Estrogenic mediation of serotonergic and neurotrophic systems: implications for female mood disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 54:13-25. [PMID: 24865152 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Clinical research has demonstrated a significant sex difference in the occurrence of depressive disorders. Beginning at pubertal onset, women report a higher incidence of depression than men. Women are also vulnerable to the development of depressive disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression. These disorders are associated with reproductive stages involving changes in gonadal hormone levels. Specifically, female depression and female affective behaviors are influenced by estradiol levels. This review argues two major mechanisms by which estrogens influence depression and depressive-like behavior: through interactions with neurotrophic factors and through an influence on the serotonergic system. In particular, estradiol increases brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels within the brain, and alters serotonergic expression in a receptor subtype-specific manner. We will take a regional approach, examining these effects of estrogens in the major brain areas implicated in depression. Finally, we will discuss the gaps in our current knowledge of the effects of estrogens on female depression, and the potential utility for estrogen receptor modulators in treatment for this disorder.
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Cerpa V, Gonzalez A, Richerson GB. Diphtheria toxin treatment of Pet-1-Cre floxed diphtheria toxin receptor mice disrupts thermoregulation without affecting respiratory chemoreception. Neuroscience 2014; 279:65-76. [PMID: 25171790 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In genetically-modified Lmx1b(f/f/p) mice, selective deletion of LMX1B in Pet-1 expressing cells leads to failure of embryonic development of serotonin (5-HT) neurons. As adults, these mice have a decreased hypercapnic ventilatory response and abnormal thermoregulation. This mouse model has been valuable in defining the normal role of 5-HT neurons, but it is possible that developmental compensation reduces the severity of observed deficits. Here we studied mice genetically modified to express diphtheria toxin receptors (DTR) on Pet-1 expressing neurons (Pet-1-Cre/floxed DTR or Pet1/DTR mice). These mice developed with a normal complement of 5-HT neurons. As adults, systemic treatment with 2-35μg of diphtheria toxin (DT) reduced the number of tryptophan hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TpOH-ir) neurons in the raphe nuclei and ventrolateral medulla by 80%. There were no effects of DT on minute ventilation (VE) or the ventilatory response to hypercapnia or hypoxia. At an ambient temperature (TA) of 24°C, all Pet1/DTR mice dropped their body temperature (TB) below 35°C after DT treatment, but the latency was shorter in males than females (3.0±0.37 vs. 4.57±0.29days, respectively; p<0.001). One week after DT treatment, mice were challenged by dropping TA from 37°C to 24°C, which caused TB to decrease more in males than in females (29.7±0.31°C vs. 33.0±1.3°C, p<0.01). We conclude that the 20% of 5-HT neurons that remain after DT treatment in Pet1/DTR mice are sufficient to maintain normal baseline breathing and a normal response to CO2, while those affected include some essential for thermoregulation, in males more than females. In comparison to models with deficient embryonic development of 5-HT neurons, acute deletion of 5-HT neurons in adults leads to a greater defect in thermoregulation, suggesting that significant developmental compensation can occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Cerpa
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States; Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - A Gonzalez
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States; Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - G B Richerson
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States; Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
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Handa RJ, Weiser MJ. Gonadal steroid hormones and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:197-220. [PMID: 24246855 PMCID: PMC5802971 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis represents a complex neuroendocrine feedback loop controlling the secretion of adrenal glucocorticoid hormones. Central to its function is the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) where neurons expressing corticotropin releasing factor reside. These HPA motor neurons are a primary site of integration leading to graded endocrine responses to physical and psychological stressors. An important regulatory factor that must be considered, prior to generating an appropriate response is the animal's reproductive status. Thus, PVN neurons express androgen and estrogen receptors and receive input from sites that also express these receptors. Consequently, changes in reproduction and gonadal steroid levels modulate the stress response and this underlies sex differences in HPA axis function. This review examines the make up of the HPA axis and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and the interactions between the two that should be considered when exploring normal and pathological responses to environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Handa
- Department of Basic Medical Science, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States.
| | - Michael J Weiser
- DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., R&D Human Nutrition and Health, Boulder, CO 80301, United States
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Rivera HM, Bethea CL. Ovarian steroids increase PSD-95 expression and dendritic spines in the dorsal raphe of ovariectomized macaques. Synapse 2013; 67:897-908. [PMID: 23959764 DOI: 10.1002/syn.21702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) promote spinogenesis in several brain areas. Intracellular signaling cascades that promote spinogenesis involve RhoGTPases, glutamate signaling and synapse assembly. We found that in serotonin neurons, E ± P administration increases (a) gene and protein expression of RhoGTPases, (b) gene expression of glutamate receptors, and (c) gene expression of pivotal synapse assembly proteins. Therefore, in this study we determined whether structural changes in dendritic spines in the dorsal raphe follow the observed changes in gene and protein expression. Dendritic spines were examined with immunogold silver staining of a spine marker protein, postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and with Golgi staining. In the PSD-95 study, adult Ovx monkeys received placebo, E, P, or E + P for 1 month (n = 3/group). Sections were immunostained for PSD-95 and the number of PSD-95-positive puncta was determined with stereology. E, P, and E + P treatment significantly increased the total number of PSD-95-positive puncta (ANOVA, P = 0.04). In the golgi study, adult Ovx monkeys received placebo, E or E + P for 1 month (n = 3-4) and the midbrain was golgi-stained. A total of 80 neurons were analyzed with Neurolucida software. There was a significant difference in spine density that depended on branch order (two-way ANOVA). E + P treatment significantly increased spine density in higher-order (3°-5°) dendritic branches relative to Ovx group (Bonferroni, P < 0.05). In summary, E + P leads to the elaboration of dendritic spines on dorsal raphe neurons. The ability of E to induce PSD-95, but not actual spines, suggests either a sampling or time lag issue. Increased spinogenesis on serotonin dendrites would facilitate excitatory glutamatergic input and, in turn, increase serotonin neurotransmission throughout the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi M Rivera
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, 97006
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Bayer J, Bandurski P, Sommer T. Differential modulation of activity related to the anticipation of monetary gains and losses across the menstrual cycle. Eur J Neurosci 2013; 38:3519-26. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Bayer
- Department of Systems Neuroscience; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Martinistr. 52 Hamburg 20246 Germany
| | - Pia Bandurski
- Department of Systems Neuroscience; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Martinistr. 52 Hamburg 20246 Germany
| | - Tobias Sommer
- Department of Systems Neuroscience; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Martinistr. 52 Hamburg 20246 Germany
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Bethea CL, Reddy AP, Robertson N, Coleman K. Effects of aromatase inhibition and androgen activity on serotonin and behavior in male macaques. Behav Neurosci 2013; 127:400-14. [PMID: 23506438 DOI: 10.1037/a0032016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Aggression in humans and animals has been linked to androgens and serotonin function. To further our understanding of the effect of androgens on serotonin and aggression in male macaques, we sought to manipulate circulating androgens and the activity of aromatase; and to then determine behavior and the endogenous availability of serotonin. Male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) were castrated for 5-7 months and then treated for 3 months with (a) placebo; (b) testosterone (T); (c) T + Dutasteride (5a reductase inhibitor; AvodartTM); (d) T + Letrozole (nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor; FemeraTM); (e) Flutamide + ATD (androgen antagonist plus steroidal aromatase inhibitor); or (f) dihydrotestosterone (DHT) + ATD (n = 5/group). Behavioral observations were made during treatments. At the end of the treatment period, each animal was sedated with propofol and administered a bolus of fenfluramine (5 mg/kg). Fenfluramine causes the release of serotonin proportional to endogenous availability and in turn, serotonin stimulates the secretion of prolactin. Therefore, serum prolactin concentrations reflect endogenous serotonin. Fenfluramine significantly increased serotonin/prolactin in all groups (p < .0001). Fenfluramine-induced serotonin/prolactin in the T-treated group was significantly higher than the other groups (p < .0001). Castration partially reduced the serotonin/prolactin response and Letrozole partially blocked the effect of T. Complete inhibition of aromatase with ATD, a noncompetitive inhibitor, significantly and similarly reduced the fenfluramine-induced serotonin/prolactin response in the presence or absence of DHT. Neither aggressive behavior nor yawning (indicators of androgen activity) correlated with serotonin/prolactin, but posited aromatase activity correlated significantly with prolactin (p < .0008; r² = 0.95). In summary, androgens induced aggressive behavior but they did not regulate serotonin. Altogether, the data suggest that aromatase activity supports serotonin production and that androgens increase aggression by another mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA.
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Buwalda B, Schagen SB. Is basic research providing answers if adjuvant anti-estrogen treatment of breast cancer can induce cognitive impairment? Life Sci 2013; 93:581-8. [PMID: 23353876 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2012.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Adjuvant treatment of cancer by chemotherapy is associated with cognitive impairment in some cancer survivors. Breast cancer patients are frequently also receiving endocrine therapy with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and/or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to suppress the growth of estradiol sensitive breast tumors. Estrogens are well-known, however, to target brain areas involved in the regulation of cognitive behavior. In this review clinical and basic preclinical research is reviewed on the actions of estradiol, SERMs and AIs on brain and cognitive functioning to see if endocrine therapy potentially induces cognitive impairment and in that respect may contribute to the detrimental effects of chemotherapy on cognitive performance in breast cancer patients. Although many clinical studies may be underpowered to detect changes in cognitive function, current basic and clinical reports suggest that there is little evidence that AIs may have a lasting detrimental effect on cognitive performance in breast cancer patients. The clinical data on SERMs are not conclusive, but some studies do suggest that tamoxifen administration may form a risk for cognitive functioning particularly in older women. An explanation may come from basic preclinical research which indicates that tamoxifen often acts agonistic in the absence of estradiol but antagonistic in the presence of endogenous estradiol. It could be hypothesized that the negative effects of tamoxifen in older women is related to the so-called window of opportunity for estrogen. Administration of SERMs beyond this so-called window of opportunity may not be effective or might even have detrimental effects similar to estradiol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauke Buwalda
- Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Clark J, Alves S, Gundlah C, Rocha B, Birzin E, Cai SJ, Flick R, Hayes E, Ho K, Warrier S, Pai L, Yudkovitz J, Fleischer R, Colwell L, Li S, Wilkinson H, Schaeffer J, Wilkening R, Mattingly E, Hammond M, Rohrer S. Selective estrogen receptor-beta (SERM-beta) compounds modulate raphe nuclei tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH-1) mRNA expression and cause antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. Neuropharmacology 2012; 63:1051-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Kelly MJ, Rønnekleiv OK. Membrane-initiated actions of estradiol that regulate reproduction, energy balance and body temperature. Front Neuroendocrinol 2012; 33:376-87. [PMID: 22871514 PMCID: PMC3618441 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2012] [Revised: 07/07/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that many of the actions of estrogens in the central nervous system are mediated via intracellular receptor/transcription factors that interact with steroid response elements on target genes. However, there now exists compelling evidence for membrane estrogen receptors in hypothalamic and other brain neurons. But, it is not well understood how estrogens signal via membrane receptors, and how these signals impact not only membrane excitability but also gene transcription in neurons. Indeed, it has been known for sometime that estrogens can rapidly alter neuronal activity within seconds, indicating that some cellular effects can occur via membrane delimited events. In addition, estrogens can affect second messenger systems including calcium mobilization and a plethora of kinases to alter cell signaling. Therefore, this review will consider our current knowledge of rapid membrane-initiated and intracellular signaling by estrogens in the hypothalamus, the nature of receptors involved and how they contribute to homeostatic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J. Kelly
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006
| | - Oline K. Rønnekleiv
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
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Bethea CL, Reddy AP. Effect of ovarian steroids on gene expression related to synapse assembly in serotonin neurons of macaques. J Neurosci Res 2012; 90:1324-34. [PMID: 22411564 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the elementary structural units of neural plasticity. In a model of hormone replacement therapy (HT), we sought to determine the effect of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) on gene expression related to synapse assembly in a laser-captured preparation enriched for serotonin neurons from rhesus macaques. Microarray analysis was conducted (n = 2 animals/treatment), and the results were confirmed for pivotal genes with qRT-PCR on additional laser-captured material (n = 3 animals/treatment). Ovariectomized rhesus macaques were treated with placebo, E, or E + P via Silastic implants for 1 month. The midbrain was obtained, sectioned, and immunostained for tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). TPH-positive neurons were laser captured using an arcturus laser dissection microscope (Pixel II). RNA from laser-captured serotonin neurons was hybridized to Rhesus Affymetrix GeneChips for screening purposes. There was a twofold or greater change in the expression of 63 probe sets in the cell adhesion molecule (CAM) category, and 31 probe sets in the synapse assembly category were similarly altered in E- and E + P-treated animals. qRT-PCR assays showed that E treatment induced a significant increase in ephrin receptor A4 (EPHA4) and in integrin A8 (ITGA8) but not in ephrin receptor B4 (EPHB4) or integrin B8 (ITGB8) expression. E also increased expression of cadherin 11 (CDH11), neuroligin 3 (NLGN3), neurexin 3 (NRXN3), syndecan 2 (SCD2), and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) compared with placebo. Supplemental P treatment suppressed E-induced gene expression. In summary, ovarian steroids target gene expression of adhesion molecules in serotonin neurons that are important for synapse assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
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Rivera HM, Bethea CL. Ovarian steroids increase spinogenetic proteins in the macaque dorsal raphe. Neuroscience 2012; 208:27-40. [PMID: 22342969 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Revised: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the basic structural units of neuronal plasticity. Intracellular signaling cascades that promote spinogenesis have centered on RhoGTPases. We found that ovarian steroids increase gene expression of RhoGTPases [Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA), cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac)] in laser-captured serotonin neurons. We sought to confirm that the increases observed in gene expression translate to the protein level. In addition, a preliminary study was conducted to determine whether an increase in spines occurs via detection of the spine marker protein, postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95). Adult ovariectomized (Ovx) monkeys were treated with estradiol (E), progesterone (P), or E+P for 1 month. Sections through the dorsal raphe nucleus were immunostained for RhoA and Cdc42 (n=3-4/group). The number and positive pixel area of RhoA-positive cells and the positive pixel area of Cdc42-positive fibers were determined. On combining E- and E+P-treated groups, there was a significant increase in the average and total cell number and positive pixel area of RhoA-positive cells. E, P, and E+P treatments, individually or combined, also increased the average and total positive pixel area of Cdc42-positive fibers. With remaining sections from two animals in each group, we conducted a preliminary examination of the regulation of PSD-95 protein expression. PSD-95, a postsynaptic scaffold protein, was examined with immunogold silver staining (n=2/group), and the total number of PSD-95-positive puncta was determined with stereology across four levels of the dorsal raphe. E, P, and E+P treatment significantly increased the total number of PSD-95-positive puncta. Together, these findings indicate that ovarian steroids act to increase gene and protein expression of two pivotal RhoGTPases involved in spinogenesis and preliminarily indicate that an increased number of spines and/or synapses result from this action. Increased spinogenesis on serotonin dendrites would facilitate excitatory glutamatergic input and in turn, increase serotonin neuronal activity throughout the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Rivera
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
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Bethea CL, Reddy AP. Ovarian steroids increase glutamatergic related gene expression in serotonin neurons of macaques. Mol Cell Neurosci 2011; 49:251-62. [PMID: 22154832 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Revised: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the elementary structural units of neuronal plasticity and their proliferation and stabilization involve components of glutamate neurotransmission. In a model of hormone replacement therapy (HT), we sought the effect of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) on gene expression related to glutamate neurotransmission in a laser captured preparation enriched for serotonin neurons from rhesus macaques. Microarray analysis was conducted (n=2 animals/treatment) and then confirmed for pivotal genes with qRT-PCR on additional laser captured material (n=3 animals/treatment). Ovariectomized rhesus macaques were treated with either placebo, E or E+P via Silastic implants for 1month prior to euthanasia. The midbrain was obtained, sectioned and immunostained for TPH. TPH-positive neurons were laser captured using an Arcturus Laser Dissection Microscope (Pixel II). RNA from laser captured serotonin neurons (n=2 animals/treatment) was hybridized to Rhesus Affymetrix GeneChips for screening purposes. There was a 2-fold or greater change in the expression of 28 probe sets related to glutamate processes in E and E+P treated animals. Quantitative (q) RT-PCR was conducted for 11 genes with a custom Taqman PCR array containing monkey specific primers and analyzed with ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's test. The log of the relative expression values indicated that in general, the responses to E and E+P were similar. Comparison of the relative expression or log relative expression in Ovx-controls to combined E and E+P treated groups with t-tests showed a significant increase in AMPA1 (GRIA1), AMPA2 (GRIA2), AMPA4 (GRIA4), NMDA2a (GRIN2A), metabotrophic glutamate receptor (GRM1), glutamine synthetase (GLUL), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLUD), glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), the glutamate transporter 2 (SLC1A2) and the glutamate transporter 3 (SLC1A3) with steroid treatment. There was no effect of steroid treatment on gene expression of the glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). These data suggest that ovarian steroids target gene expression of ionotrophic and metabotrophic glutamate receptors in serotonin neurons. These receptors are present on dendritic spines and are necessary for spine maturation. The mRNAs coding for glutamate-related enzymes and transporters are likely derived from astrocytes or glutamate-containing terminals. Their induction by ovarian steroids indicates a complex upregulation of multiple components in the glutamate cycle and antioxidation, in addition to spine proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
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Prasansuklab A, Poovorawan Y, Tencomnao T. Modulation of human serotonin transporter expression by 5-HTTLPR in colon cells. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:6619-34. [PMID: 22072907 PMCID: PMC3210998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12106619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter and plays important roles in several of the human body's systems. Known as a primary target for psychoactive drug development, the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT, SERT) plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonergic function by reuptaking 5-HT. The allelic variation of 5-HTT expression is caused by functional gene promoter polymorphism with two principal variant alleles, 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). It has been demonstrated that 5-HTTLPR is associated with numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. The functional roles of 5-HTTLPR have been reported in human choriocarcinoma (JAR), lymphoblast and raphe cells. To date, the significance of 5-HTTLPR in gastrointestinal tract-derived cells has never been elucidated. Thus, the impact of 5-HTTLPR on 5-HTT transcription was studied in SW480 human colon carcinoma cells, which were shown to express 5-HTT. We found 42-bp fragment in long (L) allele as compared to short (S) allele, and this allelic difference resulted in 2-fold higher transcriptional efficiency of L allele (P < 0.05) as demonstrated using a functional reporter gene assay. Nevertheless, the transcriptional effect of estrogen and glucocorticoid on 5-HTT expression via 5-HTTLPR was not found in this cell line. Our study was the first to demonstrate the molecular role of this allelic variation in gastrointestinal tract cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchalee Prasansuklab
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; E-Mail:
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Viral Hepatitis Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; E-Mail:
| | - Tewin Tencomnao
- Center for Excellence in Omics-Nano Medical Technology Development Project, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +662-218-1081 (ext. 313); Fax: +662-218-1082
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Matragrano LL, Sanford SE, Salvante KG, Beaulieu M, Sockman KW, Maney DL. Estradiol-dependent modulation of serotonergic markers in auditory areas of a seasonally breeding songbird. Behav Neurosci 2011; 126:110-22. [PMID: 21942431 DOI: 10.1037/a0025586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Because no organism lives in an unchanging environment, sensory processes must remain plastic so that in any context, they emphasize the most relevant signals. As the behavioral relevance of sociosexual signals changes along with reproductive state, the perception of those signals is altered by reproductive hormones such as estradiol (E2). We showed previously that in white-throated sparrows, immediate early gene responses in the auditory pathway of females are selective for conspecific male song only when plasma E2 is elevated to breeding-typical levels. In this study, we looked for evidence that E2-dependent modulation of auditory responses is mediated by serotonergic systems. In female nonbreeding white-throated sparrows treated with E2, the density of fibers immunoreactive for serotonin transporter innervating the auditory midbrain and rostral auditory forebrain increased compared with controls. E2 treatment also increased the concentration of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA in the caudomedial mesopallium of the auditory forebrain. In a second experiment, females exposed to 30 min of conspecific male song had higher levels of 5-HIAA in the caudomedial nidopallium of the auditory forebrain than birds not exposed to song. Overall, we show that in this seasonal breeder, (a) serotonergic fibers innervate auditory areas; (b) the density of those fibers is higher in females with breeding-typical levels of E2 than in nonbreeding, untreated females; and (c) serotonin is released in the auditory forebrain within minutes in response to conspecific vocalizations. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that E2 acts via serotonin systems to alter auditory processing.
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Hall E, Frey BN, Soares CN. Non-hormonal treatment strategies for vasomotor symptoms: a critical review. Drugs 2011; 71:287-304. [PMID: 21319867 DOI: 10.2165/11585360-000000000-00000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hot flashes (or flushes) are the most commonly reported symptoms during the menopause transition and early postmenopausal years, particularly in Western societies; they affect 60-90% of women and can lead to significant physical discomfort and functional impairment. The emergence of hot flashes and night sweats (also known as vasomotor symptoms [VMS]) coincide with a period in life that is also marked by dynamic changes in hormone and reproductive function that interconnect with the aging process, changes in metabolism, lifestyle behaviours and overall health. Estrogen-based therapies have long been the treatment of choice for women suffering from VMS. More recent concerns over long-term safety of menopausal hormone treatments, however, have led physicians and patients to pursue non-hormonal strategies to alleviate their symptoms. In this article, we review most of the efficacy and safety data on non-hormonal treatments for VMS published over the past 20 years. We discuss the evidence for treating symptomatic women in different clinical scenarios, e.g. VMS with and without concomitant depression or VMS following the use of anti-estrogen therapies. Overall, efficacy data support the use of some psychotropic medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and gabapentin. Complementary and alternative methods for VMS also showed limited but promising results, although more definitive studies are warranted. Clinicians should therefore be able to tailor treatment strategies for those who are unable or unwilling to use hormones to alleviate VMS and improve overall functioning and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Hall
- Mood Disorders Division & Women's Health Concerns Clinic, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Hiroi R, McDevitt RA, Morcos PA, Clark MS, Neumaier JF. Overexpression or knockdown of rat tryptophan hyroxylase-2 has opposing effects on anxiety behavior in an estrogen-dependent manner. Neuroscience 2010; 176:120-31. [PMID: 21182901 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Revised: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies showed that chronic estrogen treatment increases tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TpH2) mRNA in the caudal dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and this increase was associated with decreased anxiety. The present study explored the interaction of estrogen and targeted, bidirectional manipulation of TpH2 expression in the caudal DRN by knockdown or viral overexpression, to decrease or increase tryptophan hydroxylase expression respectively, on anxiety behavior. Rats were ovariectomized and replaced with empty or estradiol capsules (OVX, OVX/E, respectively). Animals received microinfusions of either antisense TpH2 or control morpholino oligonucleotides into caudal DRN and were later tested in the open field test. A separate group of animals were microinfused with TpH2-GFP or GFP-only herpes simplex viral vectors into caudal DRN and tested in the open field. The bidirectional impact of manipulations on TpH2 expression was confirmed using a combination of quantitative protein and mRNA measurements; TpH2 expression changes were limited to discrete subregions of DRN that were targeted by the manipulations. Estradiol decreased anxiety in all behavioral measures. In the OVX/E group, TpH2 knockdown significantly decreased time spent in the center of the open field, but not in the OVX group, suggesting that TpH2 knockdown reduced the anxiolytic effects of estrogen. Conversely, TpH2 overexpression in the OVX group mimicked the effects of estrogen, as measured by increased time spent in the center of the open field. These results suggest that estrogen and TpH2 in the caudal DRN have a critical interaction in regulating anxiety-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hiroi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Kelemen LE, Atkinson EJ, de Andrade M, Pankratz VS, Cunningham JM, Wang A, Hilker CA, Couch FJ, Sellers TA, Vachon CM. Linkage analysis of obesity phenotypes in pre- and post-menopausal women from a United States mid-western population. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2010; 11:156. [PMID: 21062459 PMCID: PMC2992490 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-11-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Obesity has a strong genetic influence, with some variants showing stronger associations among women than men. Women are also more likely to distribute weight in the abdomen following menopause. We investigated whether genetic loci link with obesity-related phenotypes differently by menopausal status. Methods We performed univariate and bivariate linkage analysis for the phenotypes of body mass index (BMI), waist (W) and hip (H) circumferences (WC, HC), and WH ratio (WHR) separately among 172 pre-menopausal and 405 post-menopausal women from 90 multigenerational families using a genome scan with 403 microsatellite markers. Bivariate analysis used pair-wise combinations of obesity phenotypes to detect linkage at loci with pleiotropic effects for genetically correlated traits. BMI was adjusted in models of WC, HC and WHR. Results Pre-menopausal women, compared to post-menopausal women, had higher heritability for BMI (h2 = 94% versus h2 = 39%, respectively) and for HC (h2 = 99% versus h2 = 43%, respectively), and lower heritability for WC (h2 = 29% versus h2 = 61%, respectively) and for WHR (h2 = 39% versus h2 = 57%, respectively). Among pre-menopausal women, the strongest evidence for linkage was for the combination of BMI and HC traits at 3p26 (bivariate LOD = 3.65) and at 13q13-q14 (bivariate LOD = 3.59). Among post-menopausal women, the highest level of evidence for genetic linkage was for HC at 4p15.3 (univariate LOD = 2.70) and 14q13 (univariate LOD = 2.51). WC was not clearly linked to any locus. Conclusions These results support a genetic basis for fat deposition that differs by menopausal status, and suggest that the same loci encode genes that influence general obesity (BMI) and HC, specifically, among pre-menopausal women. However, lower heritability among pre-menopausal women for WC and WHR suggests that pre-menopausal waist girth may be influenced to a greater extent by controllable environmental factors than post-menopausal waist girth. Possibly, targeted interventions for weight control among pre-menopausal women may prevent or attenuate post-menopausal abdominal weight deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda E Kelemen
- Department of Population Health Research, Alberta Health Services-Cancer Care, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Lubbers LS, Zafian PT, Gautreaux C, Gordon M, Alves SE, Correa L, Lorrain DS, Hickey GJ, Luine V. Estrogen receptor (ER) subtype agonists alter monoamine levels in the female rat brain. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2010; 122:310-7. [PMID: 20800684 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2010] [Revised: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the effects of subtype-selective ER agonists on monoamine levels in discrete regions of the female rat brain. Ovariectomized (ovx) rats were treated for 4 days with vehicle, 17β-estradiol (E; 0.05mg/kg), an ERβ agonist (C19; 3mg/kg) or an ERα agonist (PPT; 3mg/kg) and samples from brain regions were assessed for monoamines and metabolites. We also assessed effects of ERβ modulation on baseline and fenfluramine-induced release of monoamines in hippocampus using microdialysis. In the first study, E and the ERα agonist increased norepinephrine in cortex and all three ER ligands increased it in the ventral hippocampus. Changes in levels of the noradrenergic metabolite, MHPG and the dopaminergic metabolite, DOPAC were noted in brain areas of ER ligand-treated animals. E also increased levels of 5HIAA in three brain areas. In the microdialysis study, there were no differences among groups in baseline levels of monoamines. However, E and the ERβ agonist increased levels of the dopaminergic metabolite, HVA following fenfluramine. In summary, activation of the two nuclear ERs with selective agonists affects monoamine and metabolite levels in discrete brain areas, a number of which are known to play key roles in cognitive and affective function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura S Lubbers
- Department of Pharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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Orchiectomy modifies the antidepressant-like response of nicotine in the forced swimming test. Physiol Behav 2010; 101:456-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2009] [Revised: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 07/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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