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Analysis of transcriptional levels of the oxytocin receptor in different areas of the central nervous system and behaviors in high and low licking rats. Behav Brain Res 2012; 228:176-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Arakawa H, Cruz S, Deak T. Attractiveness of illness-associated odorant cues in female rats is modulated by ovarian hormones, but not associated with pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Brain Behav Immun 2012; 26:40-9. [PMID: 21798342 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.07.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Odorant cues released by rodents play a key role in mate preference/selection. The goal of the following series of studies was to determine the impact of acute illness, and the potential role of the inflammatory response, on the release of illness-associated odor cues from female rats. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 μg/kg) and their soiled bedding was used as a stimulus to naïve male odor recipients. While odored bedding from sick males elicited a robust avoidance response evidenced by decreased sniffing, avoidance and burying behavior, odored bedding from sick females elicited only a reduction in sniffing, indicating a reduction in odor attractiveness. Odor cues from ovariectomized, but not sham-operated females decreased sniffing behavior and increased avoidance in male odor recipients. Acute estradiol benzoate (EB, 20 μg/kg) replacement into ovariectomized females restored the investigatory response of male recipients toward odor cues, while LPS administration into ovariectomized oil or EB treated females had little impact on odor attractiveness. Measurement of cytokines in both brain (the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus) and blood from female odor donors indicated increased expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 following LPS, which was not affected by EB treatment. These findings illustrate a critical sexual dimorphism by demonstrating that acute illness reduces the attractiveness of female odor, whereas odor cues from sick males are highly aversive. Moreover, the attractiveness of female odor appears to be associated with circulating ovarian hormone levels, but not central or peripheral inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St. HFSII, Rm. S251, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Marriott LK, McGann-Gramling KR, Hauss-Wegrzyniak B, Sheldahl LC, Shapiro RA, Dorsa DM, Wenk GL. Estrogen replacement regimen and brain infusion of lipopolysaccharide differentially alter steroid receptor expression in the uterus and hypothalamus. Endocrine 2007; 32:317-28. [PMID: 18247162 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-008-9038-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2007] [Revised: 01/10/2008] [Accepted: 01/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The regimen of estrogen replacement can alter the consequences of estrogen therapy and stressors. To determine the long-term effects and interaction of these systems on the brain and periphery, adult female rats were infused with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the fourth ventricle of the brain for 4 weeks, and ovariectomized rats were administered either constant or pulsed regimens of estrogen replacement (17beta-estradiol) until sacrifice at 8 weeks. Constant, but not pulsed, estrogen replacement reduced ERalpha and increased HSP90, HSP70, and PR(B) uterine protein levels. Both estrogen regimens increased ERbeta, HSP27, and PR(A) uterine proteins. Both regimens reduced hypothalamic levels of ERalpha, but not ERbeta, HSP, or PR. No changes were observed in the hippocampus. Long-term brain infusion of LPS activated microglia and reduced body weight, but did not alter corticosterone or nitrotyrosine levels. LPS infusion into intact rats suppressed uterine weight, increased ERalpha and decreased HSP90 in the uterus. LPS did not alter uterine weight in ovariectomized rats treated with constant or pulsed estrogen. Together, these data suggest the timing of estrogen replacement and neuroinflammatory stressors can profoundly affect uterine and hypothalamic steroid receptor expression and may be important parameters to consider in the post-menopausal intervention with estrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Marriott
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Harris HA. Preclinical characterization of selective estrogen receptor beta agonists: new insights into their therapeutic potential. ERNST SCHERING FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS 2007:149-61. [PMID: 17824176 DOI: 10.1007/2789_2006_021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It has now been over 10 years since Jan-Ake Gustafsson revealed the existence of a second form of the estrogen receptor (ERbeta) at a 1996 Keystone Symposium. Since then, substantial success has been made in distinguishing its potential biological functions from the previously known form (now called ERalpha) and how it might be exploited as a drug target. Subtype selective agonists have been particularly useful in this regard and suggest that ERbeta agonists may be useful for a variety of clinical applications without triggering classic estrogenic side effects such as uterine stimulation. These applications include inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, and sepsis. This manuscript will summarize illustrative data for three ERbeta selective agonists, ERB-041, WAY-202196, and WAY-200070.
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Affiliation(s)
- H A Harris
- Wyeth Research, Women's Health Research Institute, 500 Arcola Rd, RN-3163, 19426 Collegeville PA, USA.
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Abstract
The unexpected discovery of a second form of the estrogen receptor (ER), designated ERbeta, surprised and energized the field of estrogen research. In the 9 yr since its identification, the remarkable efforts from academic and industrial scientists of many disciplines have made significant progress in elucidating its biology. A powerful battery of tools, including knockout mice as well as a panel of receptor-selective agonists, has allowed an investigation into the role of ERbeta. To date, in vivo efficacy studies are limited to rodents. Current data indicate that ERbeta plays a minor role in mediating estrogen action in the uterus, on the hypothalamus/pituitary, the skeleton, and other classic estrogen target tissues. However, a clear role for ERbeta has been established in the ovary, cardiovascular system, and brain as well as in several animal models of inflammation including arthritis, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and sepsis. The next phase of research will focus on elucidating, at a molecular level, how ERbeta exerts these diverse effects and exploring the clinical utility of ERbeta-selective agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Harris
- Women's Health and Musculoskeletal Biology, Wyeth Research, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426, USA.
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Vit JP, Clauw DJ, Moallem T, Boudah A, Ohara PT, Jasmin L. Analgesia and hyperalgesia from CRF receptor modulation in the central nervous system of Fischer and Lewis rats. Pain 2006; 121:241-260. [PMID: 16495007 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2005] [Revised: 12/22/2005] [Accepted: 12/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the contribution of central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) to pain behavior. CRF is the principal modulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, in addition to acting on many other areas of the central nervous system. We compared nociceptive thresholds (heat and mechanical) and pain behavior in response to a sustained stimulus (formalin test) between Fischer and Lewis rats that have different HPA axis activity. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of CRF produced dose-dependent antinociception at a lower dose in Lewis (40 ng, paw pinch 71+/-0 g) compared to Fischer rats (200 ng, 112+/-3 g). The antinociceptive effect of CRF was mostly preserved in adrenalectomized Fischer rats. The i.c.v. administration of the CRF receptor antagonist, astressin, had a hyperalgesic effect, suggesting that CRF is tonically active. Lewis rats required higher doses of astressin (5 ng, paw pinch 51+/-1 g) to show nociceptive effects compared to Fischer rats (1 ng, 79+/-1 g). Only Lewis rats vocalized during mechanical stimulus, and this behavior was prevented by diazepam or morphine but was worsened by CRF, despite its antinociceptive property. In the formalin test, CRF and astressin had the largest effect on the interphase suggesting that they act on the endogenous pain inhibitory system. CRF also increased anxiety/fear-like behaviors in the forced swim and predator odor tests. Our results establish that central CRF is a key modulator of pain behavior and indicates that CRF effects on nociception are largely independent of its mood modulating effect as well as its control of the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Neurological Surgery and the W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Anatomy and the W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0723, USA
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Seale JV, Wood SA, Atkinson HC, Harbuz MS, Lightman SL. Gonadal steroid replacement reverses gonadectomy-induced changes in the corticosterone pulse profile and stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity of male and female rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2004; 16:989-98. [PMID: 15667454 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2004.01258.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of gonadal hormone replacement on the pulsatile parameters underlying basal circadian corticosterone secretion in castrated male and ovariectomized female rats using an automated sampling system. Blood was collected from freely moving, unanaesthetized rats every 10 min over a 24-h period and sampling was continued during a noise stress and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Castrated male rats had markedly higher corticosterone levels than intact controls. This was reflected by increased number and frequency of pulses in addition to an increase in the pulse height and amplitude under both basal circadian and stress conditions. Hormone replacement with either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone returned these corticosterone levels and circadian profile to those found in intact males, confirming an androgen-mediated effect. Ovariectomized females had significantly lower basal and stress-induced corticosterone levels with lower frequency and amplitude of corticosterone pulses than intact females. 17beta-oestradiol replacement returned basal levels, pulsatile measurements and stress-induced corticosterone levels to those found in intact females. Three hours post-LPS administration, castrated males demonstrated significantly higher values of parvocellular paraventricular nucleus (PVN) arginine vasopressin and corticotrophin-releasing factor and anterior pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA while ovariectomized females showed significantly lower levels of all three transcripts compared to intact controls. PVN glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels 3 h post-LPS administration were significantly decreased in castrated males and significantly increased in ovariectomized female rats. Replacement of gonadal steroids resulted in a return to the levels found in intact controls after LPS. Gonadal steroid replacement is sufficient to reverse changes in the pulsatile characteristics of corticosterone release after gonadectomy. In addition, gonadal steroid replacement reverses stress-induced alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. These data demonstrate a major contribution of gonadal steroids to the regulation of HPA axis activity and to the pulsatile characteristics of corticosterone release.
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Affiliation(s)
- J V Seale
- LINE, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson Street, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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Tonelli LH, Gunsolly CA, Belyavskaya E, Atwood AR, Sternberg EM. Increased pro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone transcription in hypophysiotropic neurons of Lewis rats. J Neuroimmunol 2004; 153:143-9. [PMID: 15265672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2004] [Revised: 05/06/2004] [Accepted: 05/07/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The expression of pro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (pro-TRH) mRNA was analyzed in the hypothalamus of inflammatory susceptible LEW/N and resistant F344/N rats at baseline and in adrenalectomized and lipopolysaccharide-treated animals. In saline-treated control animals, increased pro-TRH transcription was detected in LEW/N with respect to F344/N rats. This increased LEW/N pro-TRH expression was stable regardless of condition in contrast to F344/N increased pro-TRH transcription post-adrenalectomy and decreased pro-TRH after lipopolysaccharide administration. The LEW/N increase in pro-TRH mRNA was independent of changes in hormonal status suggesting alteration of the thyroid axis at the central level in this strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo H Tonelli
- Section on Neuroendocrine Immunology and Behavior, National Institute of Mental Health, DHHS, 36 Convent Drive MSC 4020, Building 36, Room 1A23, Bethesda, MD 20892-4020, USA
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Tonelli LH, Maeda S, Rapp KL, Sternberg EM. Differential induction of interleukin-I beta mRNA in the brain parenchyma of Lewis and Fischer rats after peripheral injection of lipopolysaccharides. J Neuroimmunol 2003; 140:126-36. [PMID: 12864980 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(03)00171-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) mRNA was compared in the brain of inflammatory susceptible LEW/N and resistant F344/N rats at 3, 6, and 12 h after peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline. No differences between strains were observed in the circumventricular organs (CVOs) and choroid plexus. At 12 h after LPS administration, increased IL-1beta mRNA expression was detected in the hypothalamus of LEW/N rats. In contrast, increased IL-1beta mRNA expression was detected in the cerebral cortex of F344/N rats. These data show region-specific differences of IL-1beta mRNA expression in the brain of these rat strains that differ in their susceptibility to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo H Tonelli
- Section of Neuroendocrine Immunology and Behavior, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, DHHS, 36 Convent Drive MSC 4020, Building 36, Room 1A23, Bethesda, MD 20892-4020, USA
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