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Nakahara TS, Camargo AP, Magalhães PHM, Souza MAA, Ribeiro PG, Martins-Netto PH, Carvalho VMA, José J, Papes F. Peripheral oxytocin injection modulates vomeronasal sensory activity and reduces pup-directed aggression in male mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19943. [PMID: 33203885 PMCID: PMC7673031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77061-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behaviors are shaped by hormones, which may act either by changing brain circuits or by modifying sensory detection of relevant cues. Pup-directed behaviors have been previously shown to change via action of hormones at the brain level. Here, we investigated hormonal control of pup-induced activity in the vomeronasal organ, an olfactory sensory structure involved in the detection of non-volatile chemosignals. Vomeronasal activity decreases as males switch from a pup-aggressive state to a non-aggressive parenting state, after they socially contact a female. RNA sequencing, qPCR, and in situ hybridization were used to identify expression, in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, of candidate GPCR hormone receptors chosen by in silico analyses and educated guesses. After identifying that oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are expressed in the vomeronasal organ, we injected the corresponding hormones in mice and showed that oxytocin administration reduced both pup-induced vomeronasal activity and aggressive behavior. Conversely, injection of an oxytocin receptor antagonist in female-primed male animals, which normally exhibit reduced vomeronasal activity, significantly increased the number of active vomeronasal neurons. These data link oxytocin to the modulation of olfactory sensory activity, providing a possible mechanism for changes in male behavior after social experience with females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago S Nakahara
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Antonio P Camargo
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Pedro H M Magalhães
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Mateus A A Souza
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Pedro G Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Paulo H Martins-Netto
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Vinicius M A Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Juliana José
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Fabio Papes
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil.
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Brailoiu GC, Deliu E, Tica AA, Rabinowitz JE, Tilley DG, Benamar K, Koch WJ, Brailoiu E. Nesfatin-1 activates cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus and elicits bradycardia in conscious rats. J Neurochem 2013; 126:739-48. [PMID: 23795642 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nesfatin-1, a peptide whose receptor is yet to be identified, has been involved in the modulation of feeding, stress, and metabolic responses. More recently, increasing evidence supports a modulatory role for nesfatin-1 in autonomic and cardiovascular activity. This study was undertaken to test if the expression of nesfatin-1 in the nucleus ambiguus, a key site for parasympathetic cardiac control, may be correlated with a functional role. As we have previously demonstrated that nesfatin-1 elicits Ca²⁺ signaling in hypothalamic neurons, we first assessed the effect of this peptide on cytosolic Ca²⁺ in cardiac pre-ganglionic neurons of nucleus ambiguus. We provide evidence that nesfatin-1 increases cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration via a Gi/o-coupled mechanism. The nesfatin-1-induced Ca²⁺ rise is critically dependent on Ca²⁺ influx via P/Q-type voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channels. Repeated administration of nesfatin-1 leads to tachyphylaxis. Furthermore, nesfatin-1 produces a dose-dependent depolarization of cardiac vagal neurons via a Gi/o-coupled mechanism. In vivo studies, using telemetric and tail-cuff monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, indicate that microinjection of nesfatin-1 into the nucleus ambiguus produces bradycardia not accompanied by a change in blood pressure in conscious rats. Taken together, our results identify for the first time that nesfatin-1 decreases heart rate by activating cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus. Our results indicate that nesfatin-1, one of the most potent feeding peptides, increases cytosolic Ca²⁺ by promoting Ca²⁺ influx via P/Q channels and depolarizes nucleus ambiguus neurons; both effects are Gi/o-mediated. In vivo studies indicate that microinjection of nesfatin-1 into nucleus ambiguus produces bradycardia in conscious rats. This is the first report that nesfatin-1 increases the parasympathetic cardiac tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cristina Brailoiu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Jójárt B, Márki A. Possible dynamic anchor points in a benzoxazinone derivative-human oxytocin receptor system--a molecular docking and dynamics calculation. J Mol Model 2007; 13:1-10. [PMID: 16676211 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-006-0112-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2005] [Accepted: 02/15/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we performed a molecular docking and dynamics simulation for a benzoxazinone-human oxytocin receptor system to determine the possible hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction points in the dynamic complex. After the homology modeling, the ligand was docked into the putative active using AutoDock 3.05. After the application of energetic and structural filters, the complexes obtained were further refined with a simulated annealing protocol (AMBER8) to remove steric clashes. Three complexes were selected for subjection to the molecular dynamics simulation (5 ns), and the results on the occurrence of average anchor points showed a stable complex between the benzoxazinone derivative and the receptor. The complex could be used as a good starting point for further analysis with site-directed mutagenesis, or further computational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Jójárt
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, 6721, Szeged, Hungary.
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Jójárt B, Martinek TA, Márki A. The 3D Structure of the Binding Pocket of the Human Oxytocin Receptor for Benzoxazine Antagonists, Determined by Molecular Docking, Scoring Functions and 3D-QSAR Methods. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2005; 19:341-56. [PMID: 16184436 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-005-7137-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2004] [Accepted: 05/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Molecular docking and 3D-QSAR studies were performed to determine the binding mode for a series of benzoxazine oxytocin antagonists taken from the literature. Structural hypotheses were generated by docking the most active molecule to the rigid receptor by means of AutoDock 3.05. The cluster analysis yielded seven possible binding conformations. These structures were refined by using constrained simulated annealing, and the further ligands were aligned in the refined receptor by molecular docking. A good correlation was found between the estimated deltaG(bind) and the pKi values for complex F. The Connolly-surface analysis, CoMFA and CoMSIA models q2(CoMFA) = 0.653, q2(CoMSA) = 0.630 and r2(pred,CoMFA) = 0.852 , r2(pred,CoMSIA) = 0.815) confirmed the scoring function results. The structural features of the receptor-ligand complex and the CoMFA and CoMSIA fields are in closely connected. These results suggest that receptor-ligand complex F is the most likely binding hypothesis for the studied benzoxazine analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Jójárt
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
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Williams PD, Bock MG, Evans BE, Freidinger RM, Gallicchio SN, Guidotti MT, Jacobson MA, Kuo MS, Levy MR, Lis EV, Michelson SR, Pawluczyk JM, Perlow DS, Pettibone DJ, Quigley AG, Reiss DR, Salvatore C, Stauffer KJ, Woyden CJ. Nonpeptide oxytocin antagonists: analogs of L-371,257 with improved potency. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1999; 9:1311-6. [PMID: 10340620 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(99)00181-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Structure-activity studies on the oxytocin antagonist 1 (L-371,257; Ki = 9.3 nM) have led to the identification of a related series of compounds containing an ortho-trifluoroethoxyphenylacetyl core which are orally bioavailable and have significantly improved potency in vitro and in vivo, e.g., compound 8 (L-374,943; Ki = 1.4 nM).
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Williams
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486, USA
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