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León-Ahumada YZ, Herrera-Covarrubias D, García LI, Toledo-Cárdenas R, Rojas-Durán F, Manzo J, Coria-Avila GA. Pubertal stress in male rats: Effects on juvenile play behavior and adult sexual partner preference. Physiol Behav 2024; 284:114649. [PMID: 39069113 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114649] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Puberty is a period of brain organization impacting the expression of social and sexual behaviors. Here, we assessed the effects of an acute pubertal stressor (immune challenge) on the expression of juvenile play (short-term) and sexual partner preference (long-term) in male rats. Juvenile play was assessed over ten trials at postnatal days (PND) (31-40) with age- and sex-matched conspecifics, and at PND35 males received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1.5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline. Then, sexual partner preference was assessed at PND 60, 64, and 68, in a three-compartment chamber with a sexually receptive female and a male as potential partners simultaneously. The results confirmed that a single injection of LPS during puberty induced sickness signs indicative of an immune challenge. However, juvenile play was not affected by LPS treatment during the following days (PND36-40), nor was sexual behavior and partner preference for females in adulthood. These findings highlight that, while other studies have shown that LPS-induced immunological stress during puberty affects behavior and neuroendocrine responses, it does not affect juvenile play and sexual behavior in male rats. This suggests a remarkable resilience of these behavioral systems for adaptation to stressful experiences mediated by immune challenges during critical periods of development. These behaviors, however, might be affected by other types of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luis I García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | | | - Fausto Rojas-Durán
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | - Jorge Manzo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
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2
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Pramanik S, Devi M H, Chakrabarty S, Paylar B, Pradhan A, Thaker M, Ayyadhury S, Manavalan A, Olsson PE, Pramanik G, Heese K. Microglia signaling in health and disease - Implications in sex-specific brain development and plasticity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 165:105834. [PMID: 39084583 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Microglia, the intrinsic neuroimmune cells residing in the central nervous system (CNS), exert a pivotal influence on brain development, homeostasis, and functionality, encompassing critical roles during both aging and pathological states. Recent advancements in comprehending brain plasticity and functions have spotlighted conspicuous variances between male and female brains, notably in neurogenesis, neuronal myelination, axon fasciculation, and synaptogenesis. Nevertheless, the precise impact of microglia on sex-specific brain cell plasticity, sculpting diverse neural network architectures and circuits, remains largely unexplored. This article seeks to unravel the present understanding of microglial involvement in brain development, plasticity, and function, with a specific emphasis on microglial signaling in brain sex polymorphism. Commencing with an overview of microglia in the CNS and their associated signaling cascades, we subsequently probe recent revelations regarding molecular signaling by microglia in sex-dependent brain developmental plasticity, functions, and diseases. Notably, C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), calcium (Ca2+), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) emerge as molecular candidates significantly contributing to sex-dependent brain development and plasticity. In conclusion, we address burgeoning inquiries surrounding microglia's pivotal role in the functional diversity of developing and aging brains, contemplating their potential implications for gender-tailored therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Pramanik
- Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
| | - Harini Devi M
- Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Saswata Chakrabarty
- Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Berkay Paylar
- Biology, The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 70182, Sweden
| | - Ajay Pradhan
- Biology, The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 70182, Sweden
| | - Manisha Thaker
- Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Inc., 2425 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, USA
| | - Shamini Ayyadhury
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Arulmani Manavalan
- Department of Cariology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India
| | - Per-Erik Olsson
- Biology, The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 70182, Sweden
| | - Gopal Pramanik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835215, India.
| | - Klaus Heese
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133791, the Republic of Korea.
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3
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Barradas-Moctezuma M, Herrera-Covarrubias D, García LI, Carrillo P, Pérez-Estudillo CA, Manzo J, Pfaus JG, Coria-Avila GA. Cohabitation with receptive females under D2-type agonism in adulthood restores partner preference and brain dimorphism in the SDN-POA following neonatal gonadectomy in male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 163:106988. [PMID: 38342055 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.106988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Perinatal testosterone, or its metabolite estradiol, organize the brain toward a male phenotype. Male rodents with insufficient testosterone during this period fail to display sexual behavior and partner preference for receptive females in adulthood. However, cohabitation with non-reproductive conspecifics under the influence of a D2 agonist facilitates the expression of conditioned partner preference via Pavlovian learning in gonadally intact male rats. In the present experiment, three groups of neonatal PD1 males (N = 12/group) were either gonadectomized (GDX), sham-GDX, or left intact and evaluated for social preferences and sexual behaviors as adults. We then examined whether the effects of GDX could be reversed by conditioning the males via cohabitation with receptive females under the effects of the D2 agonist quinpirole (QNP) or saline, along with the size of some brain regions, such as the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), posterior dorsal medial amygdala (MeApd) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). Results indicated that neonatal GDX resulted in the elimination of male-typical sexual behavior, an increase in same-sex social preference, and a reduction of the area of the SDN-POA. However, GDX-QNP males that underwent exposure to receptive females in adulthood increased their social preference for females and recovered the size in the SDN-POA. Although neonatal GDX impairs sexual behavior and disrupts partner preference and brain dimorphism in adult male rats, Pavlovian conditioning under enhanced D2 agonism ameliorates the effects on social preference and restores brain dimorphism in the SDN-POA without testosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luis I García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | | | | | - Jorge Manzo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Sexual Health and Intervention, Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Genaro A Coria-Avila
- Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico.
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4
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Hernández A, Hoffman K, Reyes R, Fernández-Guasti A. Multiparity favors same-sex partner preference in male rats. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114842. [PMID: 38160811 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Same-sex partner preference is present in many mammals, including rodents. Several possible causal factors have been proposed for the establishment of this preference. The Fraternal Birth Order effect refers to the observation that older brothers increase the probability of homosexuality in men, but no experiment has analyzed this possibility. In this study, partner preference (tested in a three compartments box) and female and male sexual behavior (studied in a cylindrical arena) were evaluated in young male rats (3 months) born to multiparous mothers that had 4-6 previous gestations and around 12 months of age. Control groups were young male rats born to primiparous young (4 months) or aged (12 months) mothers. In the partner preference test, the males born to multiparous dams spent less time interacting with the receptive female and more time interacting with the sexually active male, and a 39% exhibited same-sex partner preference. This high percentage seems related to multiparity of their mothers and not to maternal age, because the males born to primiparous aged females (12 months) showed a similar low proportion of same-sex partner preference than the males born to young (4 months) primiparous females (4%). In the sexual behavior tests, no male born of a multiparous dam and with same-sex preference ejaculated and 54% displayed proceptivity and lordosis. Present results suggest that the fraternal birth order effect may occur also in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Hernández
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Coapa, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Kurt Hoffman
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Cinvestav-UAT, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Reyes
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Coapa, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Alonso Fernández-Guasti
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Coapa, CDMX, Mexico.
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Miller PA, Williams-Ikhenoba JG, Sankhe AS, Hoffe BH, Chee MJ. Neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and morphological characterization of melanin-concentrating hormone cells coexpressing cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25588. [PMID: 38335050 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) cells in the hypothalamus regulate fundamental physiological functions like energy balance, sleep, and reproduction. This diversity may be ascribed to the neurochemical heterogeneity among MCH cells. One prominent subpopulation of MCH cells coexpresses cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), and as MCH and CART can have opposing actions, MCH/CART+ and MCH/CART- cells may differentially modulate behavioral outcomes. However, it is not known if there are differences in the cellular properties underlying their functional differences; thus, we compared the neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and morphological properties of MCH cells in male and female Mch-cre;L10-Egfp reporter mice. Half of MCH cells expressed CART and were most prominent in the medial hypothalamus. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed differences in their passive and active membrane properties in a sex-dependent manner. Female MCH/CART+ cells had lower input resistances, but male cells largely differed in their firing properties. All MCH cells increased firing when stimulated, but their firing frequency decreases with sustained stimulation. MCH/CART+ cells showed stronger spike rate adaptation than MCH/CART- cells. The kinetics of excitatory events at MCH cells also differed by cell type, as the rising rate of excitatory events was slower at MCH/CART+ cells. By reconstructing the dendritic arborization of our recorded cells, we found no sex differences, but male MCH/CART+ cells had less dendritic length and fewer branch points. Overall, distinctions in topographical division and cellular properties between MCH cells add to their heterogeneity and help elucidate their response to stimuli or effect on modulating their respective neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aditi S Sankhe
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brendan H Hoffe
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Wheeler S, Rai-Bhogal R, Crawford DA. Abnormal Microglial Density and Morphology in the Brain of Cyclooxygenase 2 Knockin Mice. Neuroscience 2023; 534:66-81. [PMID: 37863307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.10.009] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a signaling molecule produced by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that is important in healthy brain development. Anomalies in the COX-2/PGE2 pathway due to genetic or environmental factors have been linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our previous studies showed that COX-2 deficient (COX-2-KI) mice exhibit sex-dependent molecular changes in the brain and associated autism-related behaviors. Here, we aim to determine the effect of COX-2-KI on microglial density and morphology in the developing brain. Microglia normally transition between an amoeboid or ramified morphology depending on their surroundings and are important for the development of the healthy brain, assisting with synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, and phagocytosis. We use COX-2-KI male and female mice to evaluate microglia density, morphology, and branch length and number in five brain regions (cerebellum, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex, and thalamus) at the gestational day 19 (G19) and postnatal day 25 (PN25). We discovered that COX2-KI females were affected at G19 with increased microglial density, altered percentage of amoeboid and ramified microglia, affected branch length, and decreased branching networks in a region-specific manner; these effects persisted to PN25 in select regions. Interestingly, while limited changes were found in G19 COX-2-KI males, at PN25 we found increased microglial density, higher percentages of ramified microglia, and increased branch counts, and length observed in nearly all brain regions tested. Overall, we show for the first time that the COX-2 deficiency in our ASD mouse model influences microglia morphology in a sex- and region- and stage-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wheeler
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
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7
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Morishita M, Kobayashi K, Mitsuzuka M, Takagi R, Ono K, Momma R, Tsuneoka Y, Horio S, Tsukahara S. Two-Step Actions of Testicular Androgens in the Organization of a Male-Specific Neural Pathway from the Medial Preoptic Area to the Ventral Tegmental Area for Modulating Sexually Motivated Behavior. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7322-7336. [PMID: 37722849 PMCID: PMC10621776 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0361-23.2023] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is a sexually dimorphic region of the brain that regulates social behaviors. The sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) of the MPOA has been studied to understand sexual dimorphism, although the anatomy and physiology of the SDN is not fully understood. Here, we characterized SDN neurons that contribute to sexual dimorphism and investigated the mechanisms underlying the emergence of such neurons and their roles in social behaviors. A target-specific neuroanatomical study using transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of Calb1, a gene expressed abundantly in the SDN, revealed that SDN neurons are divided into two subpopulations, GABA neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), where they link to the dopamine system (CalbVTA neurons), and GABA neurons that extend axons in the MPOA or project to neighboring regions (CalbnonVTA neurons). CalbVTA neurons were abundant in males, but were scarce or absent in females. There was no difference in the number of CalbnonVTA neurons between sexes. Additionally, we found that emergence of CalbVTA neurons requires two testicular androgen actions that occur first in the postnatal period and second in the peripubertal period. Chemogenetic analyses of CalbVTA neurons indicated a role in modulating sexual motivation in males. Knockdown of Calb1 in the MPOA reduced the intromission required for males to complete copulation. These findings provide strong evidence that a male-specific neural pathway from the MPOA to the VTA is organized by the two-step actions of testicular androgens for the modulation of sexually motivated behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The MPOA is a sexually dimorphic region of the brain that regulates social behaviors, although its sexual dimorphism is not fully understood. Here, we describe a population of MPOA neurons that contribute to the sexual dimorphism. These neurons only exist in masculinized brains, and they project their axons to the ventral tegmental area, where they link to the dopamine system. Emergence of such neurons requires two testicular androgen actions that occur first in the postnatal period and second in the peripubertal period. These MPOA neurons endow masculinized brains with a neural pathway from the MPOA to the ventral tegmental area and modulate sexually motivated behavior in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Morishita
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Kaito Kobayashi
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Moeri Mitsuzuka
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Ryo Takagi
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Kota Ono
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Rami Momma
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Yousuke Tsuneoka
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo 43-8540, Japan
| | - Shuhei Horio
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
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8
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Cignarella A, Vegeto E, Bolego C, Trabace L, Conti L, Ortona E. Sex-oriented perspectives in immunopharmacology. Pharmacol Res 2023; 197:106956. [PMID: 37820857 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106956] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Several immunopharmacological agents are effective in the treatment of cancer and immune-mediated conditions, with a favorable impact on life expectancy and clinical outcomes for a large number of patients. Nevertheless, response variation and undesirable effects of these drugs represent major issues, and overall efficacy remains unpredictable. Males and females show a distinct difference in immune system responses, with females generally mounting stronger responses to a variety of stimuli. Therefore, exploring sex differences in the efficacy and safety of immunopharmacological agents would strengthen the practice of precision medicine. As a pharmacological target highlight, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) is the first functionally characterized ligand of the coinhibitory programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1). The PD-L1/PD-1 crosstalk plays an important role in the immune response and is relevant in cancer, infectious and autoimmune disease. Sex differences in the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors are well documented, with male patients responding better than female patients. Similarly, higher efficacy of and adherence to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in chronic inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease have been reported in male patients. The pharmacological basis of sex-specific responses to immune system modulating drugs is actively investigated in other settings such as stroke and type 1 diabetes. Advances in therapeutics targeting the endothelium could soon be wielded against autoimmunity and metabolic disorders. Based on the established sexual dimorphism in immune-related pathophysiology and disease presentation, sex-specific immunopharmacological protocols should be integrated into clinical guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bolego
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Lucia Conti
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Ortona
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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9
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Balthazart J, Roselli CE. Hormonal, Genetic, Immunological: An Array of Mechanisms but How Do They Interact, If at All? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:2963-2971. [PMID: 36376746 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles E Roselli
- Department of Chemical, Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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10
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Cornil CA, Balthazart J. Contribution of birds to the study of sexual differentiation of brain and behavior. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105410. [PMID: 37567061 PMCID: PMC10543621 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral neuroendocrinology has largely relied on mammalian models to understand the relationship between hormones and behavior, even if this discipline has historically used a larger diversity of species than other fields. Recent advances revealed the potential of avian models in elucidating the neuroendocrine bases of behavior. This paper provides a review focused mainly on the contributions of our laboratory to the study of sexual differentiation in Japanese quail and songbirds. Quail studies have firmly established the role of embryonic estrogens in the sexual differentiation of male copulatory behavior. While most sexually differentiated features identified in brain structure and physiology result from the different endocrine milieu of adults, a few characteristics are organized by embryonic estrogens. Among them, a sex difference was identified in the number and morphology of microglia which is not associated with sex differences in the concentration/expression of neuroinflammatory molecules. The behavioral role of microglia and neuroinflammatory processes requires further investigations. Sexual differentiation of singing in zebra finches is not mediated by the same endocrine mechanisms as male copulatory behavior and "direct" genetic effect, i.e., not mediated by gonadal steroids have been identified. Epigenetic contributions have also been considered. Finally sex differences in specific aspects of singing behavior have been identified in canaries after treatment of adults with exogenous testosterone suggesting that these aspects of song are differentiated during ontogeny. Integration of quail and songbirds as alternative models has thus expanded understanding of the interplay between hormones and behavior in the control of sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Cornil
- GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liège, 15 Avenue Hippocrate (Bat. B36), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Jacques Balthazart
- GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liège, 15 Avenue Hippocrate (Bat. B36), 4000 Liège, Belgium
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11
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McCarthy MM. Neural Control of Sexually Dimorphic Social Behavior: Connecting Development to Adulthood. Annu Rev Neurosci 2023; 46:321-339. [PMID: 37001242 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-121522-110856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Rapid advances in the neural control of social behavior highlight the role of interconnected nodes engaged in differential information processing to generate behavior. Many innate social behaviors are essential to reproductive fitness and therefore fundamentally different in males and females. Programming these differences occurs early in development in mammals, following gonadal differentiation and copious androgen production by the fetal testis during a critical period. Early-life programming of social behavior and its adult manifestation are separate but yoked processes, yet how they are linked is unknown. This review seeks to highlight that gap by identifying four core mechanisms (epigenetics, cell death, circuit formation, and adult hormonal modulation) that could connect developmental changes to the adult behaviors of mating and aggression. We further propose that a unique social behavior, adolescent play, bridges the preweaning to the postpubertal brain by engaging the same neural networks underpinning adult reproductive and aggressive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA;
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12
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Temporal control of neuronal wiring. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 142:81-90. [PMID: 35644877 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Wiring an animal brain is a complex process involving a staggering number of cell-types born at different times and locations in the developing brain. Incorporation of these cells into precise circuits with high fidelity is critical for animal survival and behavior. Assembly of neuronal circuits is heavily dependent upon proper timing of wiring programs, requiring neurons to express specific sets of genes (sometimes transiently) at the right time in development. While cell-type specificity of genetic programs regulating wiring has been studied in detail, mechanisms regulating proper timing and coordination of these programs across cell-types are only just beginning to emerge. In this review, we discuss some temporal regulators of wiring programs and how their activity is controlled over time and space. A common feature emerges from these temporal regulators - they are induced by cell-extrinsic cues and control transcription factors capable of regulating a highly cell-type specific set of target genes. Target specificity in these contexts comes from cell-type specific transcription factors. We propose that the spatiotemporal specificity of wiring programs is controlled by the combinatorial activity of temporal programs and cell-type specific transcription factors. Going forward, a better understanding of temporal regulators will be key to understanding the mechanisms underlying brain wiring, and will be critical for the development of in vitro models like brain organoids.
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13
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Aspesi D, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E. The role of androgens and estrogens in social interactions and social cognition. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00151-3. [PMID: 37080448 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Gonadal hormones are becoming increasingly recognized for their effects on cognition. Estrogens, in particular, have received attention for their effects on learning and memory that rely upon the functioning of various brain regions. However, the impacts of androgens on cognition are relatively under investigated. Testosterone, as well as estrogens, have been shown to play a role in the modulation of different aspects of social cognition. This review explores the impact of testosterone and other androgens on various facets of social cognition including social recognition, social learning, social approach/avoidance, and aggression. We highlight the relevance of considering not only the actions of the most commonly studied steroids (i.e., testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone), but also that of their metabolites and precursors, which interact with a plethora of different receptors and signalling molecules, ultimately modulating behaviour. We point out that it is also essential to investigate the effects of androgens, their precursors and metabolites in females, as prior studies have mostly focused on males. Overall, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of steroids such as androgens on behaviour is fundamental for a full understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, including that of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Aspesi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Noah Bass
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph; Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph.
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14
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Liang SL, Liao WL, Chen RS. Perinatal blockade of neuronal glutamine transport sex-differentially alters glutamatergic synaptic transmission and organization of neurons in the ventrolateral ventral media hypothalamus of adult rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13253. [PMID: 36949648 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Compared to male pups, perinatal female rats rely heavily on neuronal glutamine (Gln) transport for sustaining glutamatergic synaptic release in neurons of the ventrolateral ventral media nucleus of the hypothalamus (vlVMH). VMH mainly regulates female sexual behavior and increases glutamate release of perinatal hypothalamic neurons, permanently enhances dendrite spine numbers and is associated with brain and behavioral defeminization. We hypothesized that perinatal interruption of neuronal Gln transport may alter the glutamatergic synaptic transmission during adulthood. Perinatal rats of both sexes received an intracerebroventricular injection of a neuronal Gln uptake blocker, alpha-(methylamino) isobutyric acid (MeAIB, 5 mM), and were raised until adulthood. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and evoked EPSCs (eEPSCs) of vlVMH neurons in adult rats with the perinatal pretreatment were conducted and neuron morphology was subjected to post hoc examination. Perinatal MeAIB treatment sex-differentially increased mEPSC frequency in males, but decreased mEPSC amplitude and synaptic Glu release in females. The pretreatment sex-differentially decreased eEPSC amplitude in males but increased AMPA/NMDA current ratio in females, and changed the morphology of vlVMH neurons of adult rats to that of the opposite sex. Most alterations in the glutamatergic synaptic transmission resembled the changes occurring during MeAIB acute exposure in perinatal rats of both sexes. We conclude that perinatal blockade of neuronal Gln transport mediates changes via different presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms to induce sex-differential alterations of the glutamatergic synaptic transmission and organization of vlVMH neurons in adult rats. These changes may be permanent and associated with brain and behavior feminization and/or defeminization in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ling Liang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Lin Liao
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Rou-Shayn Chen
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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15
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Macht V, Vetreno R, Elchert N, Fisher R, Crews F. Indomethacin restores loss of hippocampal neurogenesis and cholinergic innervation and reduces innate immune expression and reversal learning deficits in adult male and female rats following adolescent ethanol exposure. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:470-485. [PMID: 36799290 PMCID: PMC10324169 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure causes long-term changes in the brain and behavior of adult male rodents, including persistent induction of innate immune pathways, reductions in hippocampal neurogenic and forebrain cholinergic neuronal markers, and reversal learning deficits. The current study tests the hypothesis that proinflammatory induction mediates AIE-induced (1) loss of adult neurogenesis (i.e., doublecortin (DCX) expressing immature neurons), (2) reductions in forebrain and hippocampal cholinergic markers, and (3) reversal learning deficits. METHODS Male and female rats underwent AIE (5.0 g/kg/day ethanol or water, i.g., 2 day-on/2 day-off from postnatal day (PND) 25-54), followed by a 2-week regimen of the anti-inflammatory compound indomethacin (4.0 g/kg/day, PND 56-69) or vehicle, after which one cohort was euthanized for immunohistochemical markers (PND 70) and the second underwent the Morris water maze to assess reversal learning. RESULTS AIE reduced adult (PND 70) DCX+ immunoreactivity (IR) and increased hippocampal expression of the innate immune signal's high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1 + IR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 + IR) in adult male and female rats. AIE also reduced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT+IR) in the basal forebrain and co-labeling of hippocampal vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT+) cholinergic terminals on DCX + IR neurons. Indomethacin treatment after AIE restored molecular endpoints to control levels and rescued AIE-induced reversal learning deficits in the Morris water maze in both sexes. Of note, indomethacin produced several adverse effects selectively in control conditions, highlighting the uniquely beneficial effect of indomethacin in AIE rats. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that in males and females, (1) AIE persistent neuroimmune induction mediates both the loss of adult hippocampal DCX and loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and their innervation to hippocampal targets, and (2) anti-inflammatory indomethacin treatment following AIE that restores these persistent molecular pathologies also restores spatial reversal learning deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Macht
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North, Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ryan Vetreno
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North, Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Natalie Elchert
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North, Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rachael Fisher
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North, Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Fulton Crews
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North, Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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16
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Saldanha CJ. Spatial and temporal specificity of neuroestradiol provision in the songbird. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13192. [PMID: 35983989 PMCID: PMC9889572 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones are often synthesized in multiple tissues, affect several different targets, and modulate numerous physiological endpoints. The mechanisms by which this modulation is achieved with temporal and spatial specificity remain unclear. 17β-estradiol for example, is made in several peripheral tissues and in the brain, where it affects a diverse set of behaviors. How is estradiol delivered to the right target, at the right time, and at the right concentration? In the last two decades, we have learned that aromatase (estrogen-synthase) can be induced in astrocytes following damage to the brain and is expressed at central synapses. Both mechanisms of estrogen provision confer spatial and temporal specificity on a lipophilic neurohormone with potential access to all cells and tissues. In this review, I trace the progress in our understanding of astrocytic and synaptic aromatization. I discuss the incidence, regulation, and functions of neuroestradiol provision by aromatization, first in astrocytes and then at synapses. Finally, I focus on a relatively novel hypothesis about the role of neuroestradiol in the orchestration of species-specific behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Saldanha
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, USA
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17
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Marquardt AE, VanRyzin JW, Fuquen RW, McCarthy MM. Social play experience in juvenile rats is indispensable for appropriate socio-sexual behavior in adulthood in males but not females. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1076765. [PMID: 36755666 PMCID: PMC9899815 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1076765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Social play is a dynamic and rewarding behavior abundantly expressed by most mammals during the juvenile period. While its exact function is debated, various rodent studies on the effects of juvenile social isolation suggest that participating in play is essential to appropriate behavior and reproductive success in adulthood. However, the vast majority of these studies were conducted in one sex only, a critical concern given the fact that there are known sex differences in play's expression: across nearly all species that play, males play more frequently and intensely than females, and there are qualitative sex differences in play patterns. Further limiting our understanding of the importance of play is the use of total isolation to prevent interactions with other juveniles. Here, we employed a novel cage design to specifically prevent play in rats while allowing for other forms of social interaction. We find that play deprivation during the juvenile period results in enduring sex-specific effects on later-life behavior, primarily in males. Males prevented from playing as juveniles exhibited decreased sexual behavior, hypersociability, and increased aggressiveness in adulthood, with no effects on these measures in females. Importantly, play deprivation had no effect on anxiety-like behavior, object memory, sex preference, or social recognition in either sex, showing the specificity of the identified impairments, though there were overall sex differences in many of these measures. Additionally, acute play deprivation impaired performance on a test of prosocial behavior in both sexes, indicating a difference in the motivation and/or ability to acquire this empathy-driven task. Together, these findings provide novel insight into the importance and function of juvenile social play and how this differs in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E. Marquardt
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan W. VanRyzin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rebeca W. Fuquen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Margaret M. McCarthy
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Margaret M. McCarthy
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18
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Breach MR, Lenz KM. Sex Differences in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Key Role for the Immune System. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 62:165-206. [PMID: 35435643 PMCID: PMC10286778 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences are prominent defining features of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the sex biases in these disorders can shed light on mechanisms leading to relative risk and resilience for the disorders, as well as more broadly advance our understanding of how sex differences may relate to brain development. The prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders is increasing, and the two most common neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit male-biases in prevalence rates and sex differences in symptomology. While the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders and their sex differences remain to be fully understood, increasing evidence suggests that the immune system plays a critical role in shaping development. In this chapter we discuss sex differences in prevalence and symptomology of ASD and ADHD, review sexual differentiation and immune regulation of neurodevelopment, and discuss findings from human and rodent studies of immune dysregulation and perinatal immune perturbation as they relate to potential mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. This chapter will give an overview of how understanding sex differences in neuroimmune function in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders could lend insight into their etiologies and better treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela R Breach
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kathryn M Lenz
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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19
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Ugidos IF, Pistono C, Korhonen P, Gómez-Budia M, Sitnikova V, Klecki P, Stanová I, Jolkkonen J, Malm T. Sex Differences in Poststroke Inflammation: a Focus on Microglia Across the Lifespan. Stroke 2022; 53:1500-1509. [PMID: 35468000 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.122.039138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and currently only few therapeutic options are available. Stroke is a sexually dimorphic disease contributing to the difficulty in finding efficient treatments. Poststroke neuroinflammation is geared largely by brain microglia and infiltrating peripheral immune cells and largely contributes to sex differences in the outcome of stroke. Microglia, since very early in the development, are sexually divergent, imprinting specific sex-related features. The diversity in terms of microglial density, morphology, and transcriptomic and proteomic profiles between sexes remains in the adulthood and is likely to contribute to the observed sex-differences on the postischemic inflammation. The impact of sexual hormones is fundamental: changes in terms of risk and severity have been observed for females before and after menopause underlining the importance of altered circulating sexual hormones. Moreover, aging is a driving force for changes that interact with sex, shifting the inflammatory response in a sex-dependent manner. This review summarizes the present literature on sex differences in stroke-induced inflammatory responses, with the focus on different microglial responses along lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene F Ugidos
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.).,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (I.F.U.)
| | - Cristiana Pistono
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Paula Korhonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Mireia Gómez-Budia
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Valeriia Sitnikova
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Pamela Klecki
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Iveta Stanová
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Jukka Jolkkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio (I.F.U., C.P., P.K., M.G.-B., V.S., P.K., I.S., J.J., T.M.)
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20
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Vaudin P, Augé C, Just N, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Mortaud S, Pillon D. When pharmaceutical drugs become environmental pollutants: Potential neural effects and underlying mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112495. [PMID: 34883077 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical drugs have become consumer products, with a daily use for some of them. The volume of production and consumption of drugs is such that they have become environmental pollutants. Their transfer to wastewater through urine, feces or rinsing in case of skin use, associated with partial elimination by wastewater treatment plants generalize pollution in the hydrosphere, including drinking water, sediments, soils, the food chain and plants. Here, we review the potential effects of environmental exposure to three classes of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. antibiotics, antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on neurodevelopment. Experimental studies analyzing their underlying modes of action including those related to endocrine disruption, and molecular mechanisms including epigenetic modifications are presented. In addition, the contribution of brain imaging to the assessment of adverse effects of these three classes of pharmaceuticals is approached.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Vaudin
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Corinne Augé
- UMR 1253, IBrain, University of Tours, INSERM, 37000, Tours, France
| | - Nathalie Just
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Mortaud
- Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires, UMR7355, CNRS, Université D'Orléans, 45000, Orléans, France
| | - Delphine Pillon
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
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21
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Stockman SL, Kight KE, Bowers JM, McCarthy MM. Neurogenesis in the neonatal rat hippocampus is regulated by sexually dimorphic epigenetic modifiers. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:9. [PMID: 35255959 PMCID: PMC8900308 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00418-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neurogenesis in the hippocampus endures across the lifespan but is particularly prolific during the first postnatal week in the developing rodent brain. The majority of new born neurons are in the dentate gyrus (DG). The number of new neurons born during the first postnatal week in the DG of male rat pups is about double the number in females. In other systems, the rate of cell proliferation is controlled by epigenetic modifications in stem cells. We, therefore, explored the potential impact of DNA methylation and histone acetylation on cell genesis in the developing DG of male and female rats.
Methods Cell genesis was assessed by quantification of BrdU + cells in the DG of neonatal rats following injections on multiple days. Methylation and acetylation were manipulated pharmacologically by injection of well vetted drugs. DNA methylation, histone acetylation and associated enzyme activity were measured using commercially available colorimetric assays. mRNA was quantified by PCR. Multiple group comparisons were made by one- or two-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc tests controlling for multiple comparisons. Two groups were compared by t test. Results We found higher levels of DNA methylation in male DG and treatment with the DNA methylating enzyme inhibitor zebularine reduced the methylation and correspondingly reduced cell genesis. The same treatment had no impact on either measure in females. By contrast, treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin-A, increased histone acetylation in the DG of both sexes but increased cell genesis only in females. Females had higher baseline histone deacetylase activity and greater inhibition in response to trichostatin-A treatment. The mRNA levels of the proproliferative gene brain-derived neurotrophic factor were greater in males and reduced by inhibiting both DNA methylation and histone deacetylation only in males.
Conclusions These data reveal a sexually dimorphic epigenetically based regulation of neurogenesis in the DG but the mechanisms establishing the distinct regulation involving DNA methylation in males and histone acetylation in females is unknown. Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus peaks in the early postnatal period and in the laboratory rat is significantly greater in males than females. Here we report divergent regulation of cell genesis in the neonatal dentate gyrus. DNA methylation is a critical regulator of the higher rates of proliferation in males. Conversely, histone acetylation is essential for cell genesis in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Stockman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - K E Kight
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - J M Bowers
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - M M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. .,University of Maryland Baltimore, Program in Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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22
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Tran-Guzman A, Culty M. Eicosanoid Biosynthesis in Male Reproductive Development: Effects of Perinatal Exposure to NSAIDs and Analgesic Drugs. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:842565. [PMID: 35295224 PMCID: PMC8915844 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.842565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing rates of infertility associated with declining sperm counts and quality, as well as increasing rates of testicular cancer are contemporary issues in the United States and abroad. These conditions are part of the Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome, which includes a variety of male reproductive disorders hypothesized to share a common origin based on disrupted testicular development during fetal and neonatal stages of life. Male reproductive development is a highly regulated and complex process that relies on an intricate coordination between germ, Leydig, and Sertoli cells as well as other supporting cell types, to ensure proper spermatogenesis, testicular immune privilege, and endocrine function. The eicosanoid system has been reported to be involved in the regulation of fetal and neonatal germ cell development as well as overall testicular homeostasis. Moreover, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics with abilities to block eicosanoid synthesis by targeting either or both isoforms of cyclooxygenase enzymes, have been found to adversely affect male reproductive development. This review will explore the current body of knowledge on the involvement of the eicosanoid system in male reproductive development, as well as discuss adverse effects of NSAIDs and analgesic drugs administered perinatally, focusing on toxicities reported in the testis and on major testicular cell types. Rodent and epidemiological studies will be corroborated by findings in invertebrate models for a comprehensive report of the state of the field, and to add to our understanding of the potential long-term effects of NSAID and analgesic drug administration in infants.
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23
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Joglekar R, Cauley M, Lipsich T, Corcoran DL, Patisaul HB, Levin ED, Meyer JN, McCarthy MM, Murphy SK. Developmental nicotine exposure and masculinization of the rat preoptic area. Neurotoxicology 2022; 89:41-54. [PMID: 35026373 PMCID: PMC8917982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine is a neuroteratogenic component of tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes, and other products and can exert sex-specific effects in the developing brain, likely mediated through sex hormones. Estradiol modulates expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rats, and plays critical roles in neurodevelopmental processes, including sexual differentiation of the brain. Here, we examined the effects of developmental nicotine exposure on the sexual differentiation of the preoptic area (POA), a brain region that normally displays robust structural sexual dimorphisms and controls adult mating behavior in rodents. Using a rat model of gestational exposure, developing pups were exposed to nicotine (2 mg/kg/day) via maternal osmotic minipump (subcutaneously, sc) throughout the critical window for brain sexual differentiation. At postnatal day (PND) 4, a subset of offspring was analyzed for epigenetic effects in the POA. At PND40, all offspring were gonadectomized, implanted with a testosterone-releasing capsule (sc), and assessed for male sexual behavior at PND60. Following sexual behavior assessment, the area of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the POA (SDN-POA) was measured using immunofluorescent staining techniques. In adults, normal sex differences in male sexual behavior and in the SDN-POA area were eliminated in nicotine-treated animals. Using novel analytical approaches to evaluate overall masculinization of the adult POA, we identified significant masculinization of the nicotine-treated female POA. In neonates (PND4), nicotine exposure induced trending alterations in methylation-dependent masculinizing gene expression and DNA methylation levels at sexually-dimorphic differentially methylated regions, suggesting that developmental nicotine exposure is capable of triggering masculinization of the rat POA via epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Joglekar
- Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Marty Cauley
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Taylor Lipsich
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - David L. Corcoran
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Heather B. Patisaul
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA
| | - Edward D. Levin
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Joel N. Meyer
- Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Margaret M. McCarthy
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Durham, NC 27708 USA
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Male sex bias in early and late onset neurodevelopmental disorders: shared aspects and differences in autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104577. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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25
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Stranahan AM. Visceral adiposity, inflammation, and hippocampal function in obesity. Neuropharmacology 2021; 205:108920. [PMID: 34902347 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The 'apple-shaped' anatomical pattern that accompanies visceral adiposity increases risk for multiple chronic diseases, including conditions that impact the brain, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, distinguishing between the consequences of visceral obesity, as opposed to visceral adiposity-associated metabolic and cardiovascular pathologies, presents certain challenges. This review summarizes current literature on relationships between adipose tissue distribution and cognition in preclinical models and highlights unanswered questions surrounding the potential role of tissue- and cell type-specific insulin resistance in these effects. While gaps in knowledge persist related to insulin insensitivity and cognitive impairment in obesity, several recent studies suggest that cells of the neurovascular unit contribute to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, and this review interprets those findings in the context of progressive metabolic dysfunction in the CNS. Signalling between cerebrovascular endothelial cells, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons has been linked with memory deficits in visceral obesity, and this article describes the cellular changes in each of these populations with respect to their role in amplification or diminution of peripheral signals. The picture emerging from these studies, while incomplete, implicates pro-inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia in various stages of obesity-induced hippocampal dysfunction. As in the parable of the five blind wanderers holding different parts of an elephant, considerable work remains in order to assemble a model for the underlying mechanisms linking visceral adiposity with age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Stranahan
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1462 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
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26
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Bauer AZ, Swan SH, Kriebel D, Liew Z, Taylor HS, Bornehag CG, Andrade AM, Olsen J, Jensen RH, Mitchell RT, Skakkebaek NE, Jégou B, Kristensen DM. Paracetamol use during pregnancy - a call for precautionary action. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:757-766. [PMID: 34556849 PMCID: PMC8580820 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00553-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), otherwise known as acetaminophen) is the active ingredient in more than 600 medications used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. APAP is widely used by pregnant women as governmental agencies, including the FDA and EMA, have long considered APAP appropriate for use during pregnancy when used as directed. However, increasing experimental and epidemiological research suggests that prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders. Here we summarize this evidence and call for precautionary action through a focused research effort and by increasing awareness among health professionals and pregnant women. APAP is an important medication and alternatives for treatment of high fever and severe pain are limited. We recommend that pregnant women should be cautioned at the beginning of pregnancy to: forego APAP unless its use is medically indicated; consult with a physician or pharmacist if they are uncertain whether use is indicated and before using on a long-term basis; and minimize exposure by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. We suggest specific actions to implement these recommendations. This Consensus Statement reflects our concerns and is currently supported by 91 scientists, clinicians and public health professionals from across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Z Bauer
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - David Kriebel
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Paediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Anderson M Andrade
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rigmor H Jensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Niels E Skakkebaek
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France
| | - David M Kristensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France.
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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27
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Delage CI, Nys G, Fillet M, Cornil CA. Effect of cyclo‑oxygenase inhibition on embryonic microglia and the sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Horm Behav 2021; 134:105024. [PMID: 34256221 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105024] [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: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Enduring sex differences in the brain are established during a developmental process known as brain sexual differentiation and are mainly driven by estrogens during a critical period. In rodents, the masculinization of the preoptic area by estrogens derived from the central aromatization of testosterone depends in part on the interaction between microglia and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a pro-inflammatory hormone of the prostanoid subclass. In contrast, in birds, estrogens produced by females induce a demasculinization, but whether an interaction with the neuro-immune system is involved in this process is unknown. This study addressed this question by testing the effects of blockade of cyclo‑oxygenases (COX), the rate-limiting enzymes for prostanoid synthesis, on embryonic microglia and the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior using the Japanese quail as an animal model. The results show that COX inhibition does not affect the behavior of females, but impairs male sexual behavior and suppresses the sex difference in microglial profiles at embryonic day 12 (E12) in the medial preoptic nucleus by increasing the number of microglia in males only. However, neither prostanoid concentrations nor PGE2 receptors differed between sexes in the hypothalamus and preoptic area (HPOA) during development. Overall, these results uncovered a potential role of prostanoids in the demasculinization of Japanese quail. Moreover, the parallel effect of COX inhibition on behavior and microglia suggests an interaction between prostanoids and microglia in brain demasculinization, thus fueling the hypothesis of a conserved role of the neuroimmune system in the organization of the brain by estrogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte I Delage
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liege, Belgium
| | - Gwenael Nys
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Marianne Fillet
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Charlotte A Cornil
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liege, Belgium.
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28
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Zhang Z, DiVittorio JR, Joseph AM, Correa SM. The Effects of Estrogens on Neural Circuits That Control Temperature. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6262699. [PMID: 33939822 PMCID: PMC8237993 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Declining and variable levels of estrogens around the time of menopause are associated with a suite of metabolic, vascular, and neuroendocrine changes. The archetypal adverse effects of perimenopause are vasomotor symptoms, which include hot flashes and night sweats. Although vasomotor symptoms are routinely treated with hormone therapy, the risks associated with these treatments encourage us to seek alternative treatment avenues. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogens on temperature regulation is a first step toward identifying novel therapeutic targets. Here we outline findings in rodents that reveal neural and molecular targets of estrogens within brain regions that control distinct components of temperature homeostasis. These insights suggest that estrogens may alter the function of multiple specialized neural circuits to coordinate the suite of changes after menopause. Thus, defining the precise cells and neural circuits that mediate the effects of estrogens on temperature has promise to identify strategies that would selectively counteract hot flashes or other negative side effects without the health risks that accompany systemic hormone therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Johnathon R DiVittorio
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alexia M Joseph
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Stephanie M Correa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Correspondence: Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., UCLA Dept. of Integrative Biology and Physiology 2028 Terasaki Life Sciences Building, 610 Charles E Young Drive East, Box 957239 Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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29
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Bhargava A, Arnold AP, Bangasser DA, Denton KM, Gupta A, Hilliard Krause LM, Mayer EA, McCarthy M, Miller WL, Raznahan A, Verma R. Considering Sex as a Biological Variable in Basic and Clinical Studies: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:219-258. [PMID: 33704446 PMCID: PMC8348944 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In May 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated its intent to "require applicants to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells." Since then, proposed research plans that include animals routinely state that both sexes/genders will be used; however, in many instances, researchers and reviewers are at a loss about the issue of sex differences. Moreover, the terms sex and gender are used interchangeably by many researchers, further complicating the issue. In addition, the sex or gender of the researcher might influence study outcomes, especially those concerning behavioral studies, in both animals and humans. The act of observation may change the outcome (the "observer effect") and any experimental manipulation, no matter how well-controlled, is subject to it. This is nowhere more applicable than in physiology and behavior. The sex of established cultured cell lines is another issue, in addition to aneuploidy; chromosomal numbers can change as cells are passaged. Additionally, culture medium contains steroids, growth hormone, and insulin that might influence expression of various genes. These issues often are not taken into account, determined, or even considered. Issues pertaining to the "sex" of cultured cells are beyond the scope of this Statement. However, we will discuss the factors that influence sex and gender in both basic research (that using animal models) and clinical research (that involving human subjects), as well as in some areas of science where sex differences are routinely studied. Sex differences in baseline physiology and associated mechanisms form the foundation for understanding sex differences in diseases pathology, treatments, and outcomes. The purpose of this Statement is to highlight lessons learned, caveats, and what to consider when evaluating data pertaining to sex differences, using 3 areas of research as examples; it is not intended to serve as a guideline for research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhargava
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arpana Gupta
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda M Hilliard Krause
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ragini Verma
- Diffusion and Connectomics In Precision Healthcare Research (DiCIPHR) lab, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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30
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Knickmeyer RC, Nguyen CT, Young JT, Haunton A, Kosorok MR, Gilmore JH, Styner M, Rothmond DA, Noble PL, Lenroot R, Weickert CS. Impact of gonadectomy on maturational changes in brain volume in adolescent macaques. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 124:105068. [PMID: 33260081 PMCID: PMC8121100 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood characterized by significant changes in global and regional brain tissue volumes. It is also a period of increasing vulnerability to psychiatric illness. The relationship between these patterns and increased levels of circulating sex steroids during adolescence remains unclear. The objective of the current study was to determine whether gonadectomy, prior to puberty, alters adolescent brain development in male rhesus macaques. Ninety-six structural MRI scans were acquired from 12 male rhesus macaques (8 time points per animal over a two-year period). Six animals underwent gonadectomy and 6 animals underwent a sham operation at 29 months of age. Mixed-effects models were used to determine whether gonadectomy altered developmental trajectories of global and regional brain tissue volumes. We observed a significant effect of gonadectomy on the developmental trajectory of prefrontal gray matter (GM), with intact males showing peak volumes around 3.5 years of age with a subsequent decline. In contrast, prefrontal GM volumes continued to increase in gonadectomized males until the end of the study. We did not observe a significant effect of gonadectomy on prefrontal white matter or on any other global or regional brain tissue volumes, though we cannot rule out that effects might be detected in a larger sample. Results suggest that the prefrontal cortex is more vulnerable to gonadectomy than other brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. Knickmeyer
- Michigan State University, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Room 2114, Bio Engineering Facility, 775 Woodlot Dr., East Lansing, MI, 48824 USA,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA
| | - Crystal T. Nguyen
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Biostatistics, Campus Box #7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7420, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Young
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA
| | - Anne Haunton
- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, 1219 Broad St, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
| | - Michael R. Kosorok
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Biostatistics, Campus Box #7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7420, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA
| | - Martin Styner
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Computer Science, Campus Box #3175, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175, USA.
| | - Debora A. Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Pamela L. Noble
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute for Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
| | - Rhoshel Lenroot
- University of New Mexico, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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31
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Seiffe A, Ramirez MF, Barrios CD, Albarrán MM, Depino AM. Early estradiol exposure masculinizes disease-relevant behaviors in female mice. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:2483-2499. [PMID: 33497491 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most psychiatric disorders show a sex bias in incidence, symptomatology, and/or response to treatment. Males are more susceptible to neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit activity disorder, while women are more prone to major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders after puberty. A striking difference between males and females in humans and other mammals is that males undergo a process of brain masculinization due to the early exposure to gonadal hormones. In rodents, this developmental organization of the brain is essential for adult males to express the appropriate sexual behaviors in the presence of a receptive female. Our goal was to determine whether this process of brain masculinization influences behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders. To this aim, we studied sex differences and the effect of neonatal 17β-estradiol benzoate treatment of female mice on different disease-relevant behaviors. Our analysis includes postnatal behavior, juvenile play, and adult tests for sociability, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and depression. Our results show that the sex differences observed in exploration, repetitive behaviors, and depression-related behaviors are largely reduced when females are neonatally treated with 17β-estradiol benzoate. These results suggest a role of neonatal sex steroids in the development of disease-relevant behaviors and provide evidence supporting a role for perinatal exposure to estrogens and androgens on the development and manifestation of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araceli Seiffe
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Federico Ramirez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Darío Barrios
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Milagros Albarrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amaicha Mara Depino
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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32
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Rurak GM, Woodside B, Aguilar-Valles A, Salmaso N. Astroglial cells as neuroendocrine targets in forebrain development: Implications for sex differences in psychiatric disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100897. [PMID: 33359797 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Astroglial cells are the most abundant cell type in the mammalian brain. They are implicated in almost every aspect of brain physiology, including maintaining homeostasis, building and maintaining the blood brain barrier, and the development and maturation of neuronal networks. Critically, astroglia also express receptors for gonadal sex hormones, respond rapidly to gonadal hormones, and are able to synthesize hormones. Thus, they are positioned to guide and mediate sexual differentiation of the brain, particularly neuronal networks in typical and pathological conditions. In this review, we describe astroglial involvement in the organization and development of the brain, and consider known sex differences in astroglial responses to understand how astroglial cell-mediated organization may play a role in forebrain sexual dimorphisms in human populations. Finally, we consider how sexually dimorphic astroglial responses and functions in development may lead to sex differences in vulnerability for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth M Rurak
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Barbara Woodside
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Natalina Salmaso
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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33
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Eyolfson E, Carr T, Khan A, Wright DK, Mychasiuk R, Lohman AW. Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in Mice during Adolescence Cause Sexually Dimorphic Behavioral Deficits and Neuroinflammatory Dynamics. J Neurotrauma 2020; 37:2718-2732. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Eyolfson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Thomas Carr
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Asher Khan
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David K. Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexander W. Lohman
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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34
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Eck SR, Bangasser DA. The effects of early life stress on motivated behaviors: A role for gonadal hormones. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:86-100. [PMID: 33022296 PMCID: PMC7744121 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Motivated behaviors are controlled by the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, consisting of projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), with input from structures including the medial preoptic area (mPOA). Sex differences are present in this circuit, and gonadal hormones (e.g., estradiol and testosterone) are important for regulating DA transmission. Early life stress (ELS) also regulates the mesocorticolimbic DA system. ELS modifies motivated behaviors and the underlying DA circuitry, increasing risk for disorders such as substance use disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia. ELS has been shown to change gonadal hormone signaling in both sexes. Thus, one way that ELS could impact mesocorticolimbic DA is by altering the efficacy of gonadal hormones. This review provides evidence for this idea by integrating the gonadal hormone, motivation, and ELS literature to argue that ELS alters gonadal hormone signaling to impact motivated behavior. We also discuss the importance of these effects in the context of understanding risk and treatments for psychiatric disorders in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R Eck
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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35
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Sex differences in health and disease: A review of biological sex differences relevant to cancer with a spotlight on glioma. Cancer Lett 2020; 498:178-187. [PMID: 33130315 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The influence of biological sex differences on human health and disease, while being increasingly recognized, has long been underappreciated and underexplored. While humans of all sexes are more alike than different, there is evidence for sex differences in the most basic aspects of human biology and these differences have consequences for the etiology and pathophysiology of many diseases. In a disease like cancer, these consequences manifest in the sex biases in incidence and outcome of many cancer types. The ability to deliver precise, targeted therapies to complex cancer cases is limited by our current understanding of the underlying sex differences. Gaining a better understanding of the implications and interplay of sex differences in diseases like cancer will thus be informative for clinical practice and biological research. Here we review the evidence for a broad array of biological sex differences in humans and discuss how these differences may relate to observed sex differences in various diseases, including many cancers and specifically glioblastoma. We focus on areas of human biology that play vital roles in healthy and disease states, including metabolism, development, hormones, and the immune system, and emphasize that the intersection of sex differences in these areas should not go overlooked. We further propose that mathematical approaches can be useful for exploring the extent to which sex differences affect disease outcomes and accounting for those in the development of therapeutic strategies.
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36
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Delage CI, Cornil CA. Estrogen‐dependent sex difference in microglia in the developing brain of Japanese quail (
Coturnix japonica
). Dev Neurobiol 2020; 80:239-262. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Charlotte Anne Cornil
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology GIGA Neurosciences University of Liège Liège Belgium
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37
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Krebs Ribeiro DC, Passoni MT, Meldola H, Curi TZ, da Silva GN, Tolouei SEL, Hey GS, Grechi N, dos Santos AC, Souza RIC, Spercoski KM, Ramos ATDA, Martino-Andrade AJ. Prenatal diclofenac exposure delays pubertal development and induces behavioral changes in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 96:380-389. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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38
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Barbosa MG, Jorge BC, Stein J, Santos Ferreira DA, Barreto ACDS, Reis ACC, Moreira SDS, Inocencio LCDL, Macorini LFB, Arena AC. Pre-pubertal exposure to ibuprofen impairs sperm parameters in male adult rats and compromises the next generation. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2020; 83:559-572. [PMID: 32615883 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2020.1786483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs in pediatric practice. This drug inhibits the cyclooxygenase enzyme, reducing the production of prostaglandin, an important mediator on male reproductive function. We examined if pre-pubertal treatment with ibuprofen in male rats can affect the reproductive parameters of these animals in adult life and on their descendants. Male rats (23 days old) received ibuprofen (0; 2.4; 7.2 or 14.3 mg/kg/day), per gavage, from postnatal day (PND) 23 to 53. At sexual maturity, treated males were placed with untreated females for obtaining the next generation (F1). The highest dose of ibuprofen interfered in sexual behavior and reduced the fertility potential of these animals in adulthood. Additionally, the ibuprofen treatment altered the sperm quantity and quality, as evidenced by a decrease in sperm motility and in the daily sperm production in the testis. Testosterone levels were also reduced by pre-pubertal treatment. The paternal treatment with this drug also influenced the reproductive outcomes of progeny. The male offspring from males treated exhibited acceleration in sperm transit time in the epididymis and the number and volume of Leydig cell nuclei were decreased, while the estrous cyclicity was displayed and the fertility potential reduced in the female offspring. The pre-pubertal ibuprofen-treatment caused negative reproductive impacts in adulthood, compromising sperm quality and quantity, as well as interfered in the reproductive outcomes of the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Gazoli Barbosa
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Campos Jorge
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Stein
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dayana Agnes Santos Ferreira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina da Silva Barreto
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Casali Reis
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Suyane Da Silva Moreira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Cesar De Lima Inocencio
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Arielle Cristina Arena
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP) , São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Botucatu, Brazil
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39
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Díaz-Estrada VX, Barradas-Moctezuma M, Herrera-Covarrubias D, Manzo J, Coria-Avila GA. Nature and nurture of sexual partner preference: Teachings from prenatal administration of acetaminophen in male rats. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104775. [PMID: 32422195 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The organizational-activational hypothesis indicates that activation of adult sexual behavior in males depends on organization of the masculine brain during the perinatal sensitive period. In the medial preoptic area such masculinization depends on a neuroendocrine cascade that includes exposure to testosterone, aromatization to estradiol, activation of estrogen receptors, synthesis of cyclooxygenase (COX), increase of prostaglandins, release of glutamate, and activation of AMPA receptors that result in the formation of more dendritic spines. Thus, in the present study we assessed the sexual partner preference (SPP) of adult male rats prenatally treated with acetaminophen (APAP), an analgesic/antipyretic drug that inhibits COX-2 and is commonly used and prescribed during pregnancy. Female rats received either saline (2 ml/kg s.c.) or APAP (50 mg/kg s.c.) every 12 h, during days 16-20 of pregnancy. At postnatal day PD60 half of the male offspring were exposed to sexual experience with receptive females during 5 trials, and the other half remained sexually naïve. At PD90 all them were tested for SPP with one sexually receptive female and one stud male. The results indicated that only APAP-naïve males failed to display SPP. However, APAP-experienced males displayed SPP for females. We discuss the effects of prenatal APAP in the disruption of unconditioned responses towards females (nature mechanisms), and the effects of sexual experience (nurture mechanisms) in the development of conditioned heterosexual preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- V X Díaz-Estrada
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91190 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - M Barradas-Moctezuma
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91190 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - D Herrera-Covarrubias
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91190 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - J Manzo
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91190 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - G A Coria-Avila
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91190 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
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40
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Albertini G, Etienne F, Roumier A. Regulation of microglia by neuromodulators: Modulations in major and minor modes. Neurosci Lett 2020; 733:135000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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41
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Tsukahara S, Morishita M. Sexually Dimorphic Formation of the Preoptic Area and the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis by Neuroestrogens. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:797. [PMID: 32848568 PMCID: PMC7403479 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular androgens during the perinatal period play an important role in the sexual differentiation of the brain of rodents. Testicular androgens transported into the brain act via androgen receptors or are the substrate of aromatase, which synthesizes neuroestrogens that act via estrogen receptors. The latter that occurs in the perinatal period significantly contributes to the sexual differentiation of the brain. The preoptic area (POA) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) are sexually dimorphic brain regions that are involved in the regulation of sex-specific social behaviors and the reproductive neuroendocrine system. Here, we discuss how neuroestrogens of testicular origin act in the perinatal period to organize the sexually dimorphic structures of the POA and BNST. Accumulating data from rodent studies suggest that neuroestrogens induce the sex differences in glial and immune cells, which play an important role in the sexually dimorphic formation of the dendritic synapse patterning in the POA, and induce the sex differences in the cell number of specific neuronal cell groups in the POA and BNST, which may be established by controlling the number of cells dying by apoptosis or the phenotypic organization of living cells. Testicular androgens in the peripubertal period also contribute to the sexual differentiation of the POA and BNST, and thus their aromatization to estrogens may be unnecessary. Additionally, we discuss the notion that testicular androgens that do not aromatize to estrogens can also induce significant effects on the sexually dimorphic formation of the POA and BNST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masahiro Morishita
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
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42
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Lian T, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang R, Gao H, Tai F, Yu Q. Neonatal exposure to chlordecone alters female social behaviors and central estrogen alpha receptor expression in socially monogamous mandarin voles. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020; 9:173-181. [PMID: 32670549 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlordecone (CD) is one of the common persistent organic pollutants in nature and has a profound impact on the environment and on public health. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that neonatal exposure of CD influences adult physiology and behavior due to its estrogenic properties. Using socially monogamous mandarin voles as an experimental animal model, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of neonatal exposure to CD on female social behaviors and central estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression in adulthood. After receiving a single subcutaneous injection with sesame seed oil (female control group), 17 beta-estradiol (E2 group), or CD group on postnatal Day 1, the social behaviors of adult animals and ERα expression in specific brain regions were assessed. The data indicated that CD or E2-treated female animals displayed increased affiliative behaviors and decreased aggressive behaviors with regard to the unfamiliar females in the social interaction test. In addition, CD or E2-treated female voles exhibited significant preferences to females over males in the sexual preference test. Moreover, CD-treated female animals exhibited higher levels of ERα expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the central amygdala, the medial amygdala and the medial preoptic area compared with those of the control voles. The results suggested that neonatal exposure to CD may masculinize female social behaviors, possibly via CD-induced changes in the ERα expression of relevant brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lian
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China.,Research Center for Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- China-Nepal Friendship Medical Research center of Rajiv Kumar Jha, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xiye Wang
- Research Center for Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Huan Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Changan South Road, Yanta District, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
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43
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Estradiol Increases Microglial Response to Lipopolysaccharide in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus during the Peripubertal Sensitive Period in Female Mice. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0505-19.2020. [PMID: 32554430 PMCID: PMC7333979 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0505-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensitive periods are times of development during which the effects of experience are unusually strong and long lasting. The peripubertal period has emerged as one such sensitive period, and a single administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during this time reduces hormone-induced sexual behavior in adult female mice. During periods of high synaptic turnover, maturation, and elimination, as occurs during this sensitive period, microglia are particularly active. Estradiol also regulates microglial numbers, morphology, and activation. In addition, a good deal of evidence suggests that estradiol may confer this vulnerability to the effects of a stressor during the peripubertal period. Therefore, we investigated the effects of estradiol on microglial morphology, cytokine levels, and the sickness response to LPS. Estradiol levels were manipulated by implanting an estradiol-filled SILASTIC capsule (or oil-filled control) in ovariectomized mice or by administering the aromatase inhibitor, formestane (or oil control), to ovary-intact mice. We found that (1) estradiol elevates basal microglial Iba1 immunoreactivity in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), (2) LPS induces higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the presence of estradiol, and (3) LPS causes hypothermia in the presence of estradiol. Taken together, these data suggest that estradiol enhances the effect of LPS during the pubertal sensitive period.
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44
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Arambula SE, McCarthy MM. Neuroendocrine-Immune Crosstalk Shapes Sex-Specific Brain Development. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqaa055. [PMID: 32270188 PMCID: PMC7217281 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sex is an essential biological variable that significantly impacts multiple aspects of neural functioning in both the healthy and diseased brain. Sex differences in brain structure and function are organized early in development during the critical period of sexual differentiation. While decades of research establish gonadal hormones as the primary modulators of this process, new research has revealed a critical, and perhaps underappreciated, role of the neuroimmune system in sex-specific brain development. The immune and endocrine systems are tightly intertwined and share processes and effector molecules that influence the nervous system. Thus, a natural question is whether endocrine-immune crosstalk contributes to sexual differentiation of the brain. In this mini-review, we first provide a conceptual framework by classifying the major categories of neural sex differences and review the concept of sexual differentiation of the brain, a process occurring early in development and largely controlled by steroid hormones. Next, we describe developmental sex differences in the neuroimmune system, which may represent targets or mediators of the sexual differentiation process. We then discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of crosstalk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and highlight recent examples that shape sex differences in the brain. Finally, we review how early life events can perturb sex-specific neurodevelopment via aberrant immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl E Arambula
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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45
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McCarthy MM. A new view of sexual differentiation of mammalian brain. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 206:369-378. [PMID: 31705197 PMCID: PMC7196030 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Establishment of enduring sex differences in brain and behavior occurs during pre- or perinatal development, depending on species. For over 50 years the focus has been on gonadal steroid production by male fetuses and the impact on developing brain. An increasing awareness of the importance of sex chromosome complement has broadened the focus but identifying specific roles in development has yet to be achieved. Recent emphasis on transcriptomics has revealed myriad and unexpected differences in gene expression in specific regions of male and female brains which may produce sex differences, serve a compensatory role or provide latent sex differences revealed only in response to challenge. More surprising, however, has been the consistent observation of a central role for inflammatory signaling molecules and immune cells in masculinization of brain and behavior. The signal transduction pathways and specific immune cells vary by brain region, as does the neuroanatomical substrate subject to differentiation, reflecting substantial complexity emerging from what may be a common origin, the maternal immune system. A working hypothesis integrating these various ideas is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, MD, Baltimore, USA.
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46
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Vegeto E, Villa A, Della Torre S, Crippa V, Rusmini P, Cristofani R, Galbiati M, Maggi A, Poletti A. The Role of Sex and Sex Hormones in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Endocr Rev 2020; 41:5572525. [PMID: 31544208 PMCID: PMC7156855 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnz005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a wide class of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) with unknown etiology. Several factors were hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases, including genetic and environmental factors. Many of these diseases show a sex prevalence and sex steroids were shown to have a role in the progression of specific forms of neurodegeneration. Estrogens were reported to be neuroprotective through their action on cognate nuclear and membrane receptors, while adverse effects of male hormones have been described on neuronal cells, although some data also suggest neuroprotective activities. The response of the CNS to sex steroids is a complex and integrated process that depends on (i) the type and amount of the cognate steroid receptor and (ii) the target cell type-either neurons, glia, or microglia. Moreover, the levels of sex steroids in the CNS fluctuate due to gonadal activities and to local metabolism and synthesis. Importantly, biochemical processes involved in the pathogenesis of NDs are increasingly being recognized as different between the two sexes and as influenced by sex steroids. The aim of this review is to present current state-of-the-art understanding on the potential role of sex steroids and their receptors on the onset and progression of major neurodegenerative disorders, namely, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the peculiar motoneuron disease spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, in which hormonal therapy is potentially useful as disease modifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Vegeto
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Villa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute (DiSS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Rusmini
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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47
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Perez-Pouchoulen M, Yu SJ, Roby CR, Bonsavage N, McCarthy MM. Regulatory Control of Microglial Phagocytosis by Estradiol and Prostaglandin E2 in the Developing Rat Cerebellum. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 18:882-895. [PMID: 31435854 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01071-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are essential to sculpting the developing brain, and they achieve this in part through the process of phagocytosis which is regulated by microenvironmental signals associated with cell death and synaptic connectivity. In the rat cerebellum, microglial phagocytosis reaches its highest activity during the third postnatal week of development but the factors regulating this activity are unknown. A signaling pathway, involving prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulation of the estrogen synthetic enzyme aromatase, peaks during the 2nd postnatal week and is a critical regulator of Purkinje cell maturation. We explored the relationship between the PGE2-estradiol pathway and microglia in the maturing cerebellum. Toward that end, we treated developing rat pups with pharmacological inhibitors of estradiol and PGE2 synthesis and then stained microglia with the universal marker Iba1 and quantified microglia engaged in phagocytosis as well as phagocytic cups in the vermis and cerebellar hemispheres. Inhibition of aromatase reduced the number of phagocytic cups in the vermis, but not in the cerebellar hemisphere at postnatal day 17. Similar results were found after treatment with nimesulide and indomethacin, inhibitors of the PGE2-producing enzymes cyclooxygenase 1 and 2. In contrast, treatment with estradiol or PGE2 had little effect on microglial phagocytosis in the developing cerebellum. Thus, endogenous estrogens and prostaglandins upregulate the phagocytic activity of microglia during a select window of postnatal cerebellar development, but exogenous treatment with these same signaling molecules does not further increase the already high levels of phagocytosis. This may be due to an upper threshold or evidence of resistance to exogenous perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Perez-Pouchoulen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Stacey J Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Clinton R Roby
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Nicole Bonsavage
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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48
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Halievski K, Ghazisaeidi S, Salter MW. Sex-Dependent Mechanisms of Chronic Pain: A Focus on Microglia and P2X4R. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 375:202-209. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.265017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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49
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Pereira MRF, Aleixo JF, Cavalcanti LDF, Costa NO, Vieira ML, Ceravolo GS, Moreira EG, Gerardin DCC. Can maternal exposure to paracetamol impair reproductive parameters of male rat offspring? Reprod Toxicol 2020; 93:68-74. [PMID: 31926975 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Paracetamol is a widely used medication during gestation and lactation periods for the treatment of pain and fever. Several studies have shown that exposure to paracetamol can increase the incidence of cryptorchidism and decrease testosterone production. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate if maternal treatment with paracetamol during gestation and gestation/lactation periods can alter reproductive and behavioral parameters in male offspring. Female Wistar rats were treated daily by gavage with water or paracetamol (350 mg/kg/day) during gestation (CTRG and PARG) or gestation/lactation periods (CTRGL and PARGL). There were significant differences in histomorphometry (increased volume and total length of the seminiferous tubules) and weight of testes (PARG group) and copulatory behavior and testosterone levels (PARG and PARGL groups) at PND 120. Therefore, the present study showed that maternal exposure to paracetamol has an impact on the reproductive system and sexual behavior of male adult offspring suggesting an impaired in sexual hypothalamic differentiation at the beginning of the development of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeberson Fernando Aleixo
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Nathalia Orlandini Costa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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50
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Balin PDS, Jorge BC, Leite ARR, Borges CS, Oba E, Silva EJR, de Barros AL, Horta-Júnior JDAC, Arena AC. Maternal exposure to ibuprofen can affect the programming of the hypothalamus of the male offspring. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 111:104576. [PMID: 31911196 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits the activity of cyclooxygenase enzyme, leading to reduction in Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Due to the importance of PGE2 in promoting the brain masculinization in male fetus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to ibuprofen and their late repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Pregnant rats were exposed to ibuprofen (10, 30 or 60 mg/kg) or vehicle (control group) per gavage daily from gestational day 15 to day 21 after birth, and late reproductive effects were assessed during the sexual development and in the reproductive adult life in the male offspring. Males exposed to ibuprofen had a decrease in body weight and anogenital distance, as well as a delay in the ages of testicular descent and preputial separation. In adulthood, there was a decrease in the Leydig cells nuclei volume, testosterone levels and percentage of normal sperm morphology. All animals exposed to ibuprofen presented male copulatory behavior, however, in the presence of another male, they also presented a female-typical behavior. Maternal exposure to ibuprofen during the sensitive windows of brain development adversely impacted the reproductive parameters of male rats, suggesting an incomplete masculinization of the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola da Silva Balin
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Campos Jorge
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Andressa Rejani Ribeiro Leite
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Cibele Santos Borges
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Eunice Oba
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Erick José Ramo Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Aline Lima de Barros
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil
| | | | - Arielle Cristina Arena
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil; Center of Toxicological Assistance (CEATOX), Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo State, Brazil.
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