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Lagunas N, Fernández-García JM, Blanco N, Ballesta A, Carrillo B, Arevalo MA, Collado P, Pinos H, Grassi D. Organizational Effects of Estrogens and Androgens on Estrogen and Androgen Receptor Expression in Pituitary and Adrenal Glands in Adult Male and Female Rats. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:902218. [PMID: 35815333 PMCID: PMC9261283 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.902218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones, such as androgens and estrogens, are known to exert organizational action at perinatal periods and activational effects during adulthood on the brain and peripheral tissues. These organizational effects are essential for the establishment of biological axes responsible for regulating behaviors, such as reproduction, stress, and emotional responses. Estradiol (E2), testosterone, and their metabolites exert their biological action through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, bounding to canonical receptors, such as estrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ, and androgen receptor (AR) or membrane receptors, such as the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), respectively. Expression of ERs and AR was found to be different between males and females both in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggesting a sex-dependent regulation of their expression and function. Therefore, studying the ERs and AR distribution and expression levels is key to understand the central and peripheral role of sex steroids in the establishment of sex-specific behaviors in males and females. We investigated the organizational effects of estrogens and androgens in the pituitary and adrenal glands of adult male and female rats. For this, selective blockade of AR with flutamide or 5α-reductase with finasteride or aromatase with letrozole during the first 5 days of life has been performed in male and female pups and then quantification of ERs and AR expression in both glands has been carried out in adulthood. Data show that inhibition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and E2 production during the first five postnatal days mainly decreases the ER expression in male to female values and AR expression in female to male levels in the pituitary gland and increases AR expression in female to male levels in the adrenal gland. In contrast, blocking the action of androgens differentially modulates the ERs in males and females and decreases AR in both males and females in both glands. Altogether, the results suggest that neonatal modifications of the androgen and estrogen pathways can potentially lead to permanent modifications of the neuroendocrine functions of the pituitary and adrenal glands in the adulthood of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Lagunas
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Fernández-García
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Villanueva, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Blanco
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Ballesta
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical Science and Health, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Carrillo
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Angeles Arevalo
- Neuroactive Steroids Lab, Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Collado
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Pinos
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Grassi
- Department of Psychobiology, National University of Distance Education, Madrid, Spain
- Neuroactive Steroids Lab, Cajal Institute, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Daniela Grassi
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Merii MH, Fardoun MM, El-Asmar K, Khalil MI, Eid A, Dhaini HR. Effect of BPA on CYP450s expression, and nicotine modulation, in fetal rat brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2022; 92:107095. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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de Matos Manoel B, da Silva Moreira S, Zampieri GM, Machado Pinheiro L, Jorge BC, Casali Reis AC, Leite Kassuya CA, Arena AC. Can maternal exposure to tamoxifen compromise sperm and behavioural parameters of male rat offspring? Reprod Toxicol 2022; 108:1-9. [PMID: 34974146 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen, a selective non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator, is the standard adjuvant endocrine treatment for breast cancer. Since information on the risk of using tamoxifen during pregnancy is still scarce, this study evaluated whether the in utero and lactational treatment with this drug could compromise reproductive and behavioural parameters in male offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to three doses of tamoxifen (0.12; 0.6; 3 μg/kg), by gavage, from gestational day 15 to lactational day 20. Tamoxifen exposure did not alter the anogenital distance in the male offspring; however, there was a significant increase in the body weight in the 0.12 μg/kg dose and a decrease in the 0.6 μg/kg dose. The male offspring treated with the highest dose exhibited a delay in the onset of puberty, evidenced by an increase in the age of preputial separation. Regarding sperm parameters, there was an increase in the sperm count in the cauda epididymis in the intermediate and highest dose groups, in addition to an increase in the number of static sperm and a decrease in the progressive sperm in the same groups. Moreover, an increase in the number of hyperplasia of the epithelial clear cells was observed in the epididymis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that maternal exposure to tamoxifen compromised the installation of puberty of the male offspring and the maturation of the epididymis, affecting sperm storage and motility in the adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz de Matos Manoel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brazil
| | - Suyane da Silva Moreira
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Morelli Zampieri
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Luísa Machado Pinheiro
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Campos Jorge
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Casali Reis
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Arielle Cristina Arena
- Departamet of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxicological Assistance (CEATOX), Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Univ. Estadual Paulista - Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Costa NO, Forcato S, Cavichioli AM, Pereira MRF, Gerardin DCC. In utero and lactational exposure to triclocarban: Age-associated changes in reproductive parameters of male rat offspring. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 401:115077. [PMID: 32479917 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial compound, widely used in personal care products, such as soaps, toothpaste, and shampoo. This agent is incompletely removed by wastewater treatment and represents an environmental contaminant. Studies show that TCC has been associated with some endocrine disruptions. In vitro, TCC demonstrated potent androgen-augmenting activity and aromatase inhibition. In this sense, exposure during critical periods of development (gestation and lactation) could lead to some adverse health outcomes in offspring. Therefore, the present study evaluated if maternal exposure to three different doses of TCC could interfere in the reproductive parameters of male offspring. Pregnant female Wistar rats were separated into four groups: vehicle Control (CTR); TCC 0.3 mg/kg (TCC 0.3); TCC 1.5 mg/kg (TCC 1.5); TCC 3.0 mg/kg (TCC 3.0). Dams were treated daily by oral gavage from gestational day 0 to lactational day 21. The males were evaluated in different timepoint: infancy (PND 21), puberty (PND 50) and adult life (PND 90-120). The histomorphometric analysis of testis and testosterone level were assessed on PND 21, 50, 120; sexual behavior and sperm parameters at adulthood. In the TCC 3.0 group, a decrease in the testis interstitial volume and an increase in testosterone levels were observed on PND 21. Moreover, there was a decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules on PND 50, and a decrease in sexual competency in adulthood. These results suggest that exposure to a human relevant dose of TCC may interfere with reproduction and could have implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathália Orlandini Costa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Simone Forcato
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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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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Nguyen TV, Jutras B, Monnier P, Muckle G, Velez M, Arbuckle TE, Saint-Amour D. Prenatal masculinization of the auditory system in infants: The MIREC-ID study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 104:33-41. [PMID: 30784903 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.02.015] [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: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in inner-ear function are detectable in infants, notably through the measurement of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Prevailing theories posit that prenatal exposure to high levels of androgens in boys may weaken OAEs, and that this phenomenon may predominantly affect the right ear/left hemisphere (Geschwind-Galaburda (GG) hypothesis). Yet, actual tests of these models have been difficult to implement in humans. Here we examined the relationship between markers of fetal androgen exposure collected at birth (anogenital distances (AGD); penile length/width, areolar/scrotal/vulvar pigmentation) and at 6 months of age (2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D)) with two types of OAEs, click-evoked OAEs (CEOAEs) and distortion-product OAEs (DPOAEs) (n = 49; 25 boys; 24 girls). We found that, in boys, scrotal pigmentation was inversely associated with the amplitude and reproducibility of CEOAEs in the right ear at 4 kHz, with trends also present in the same ear for mean CEOAE amplitude and CEOAE amplitude at 2 kHz. Penile length was inversely associated with the mean amplitude of DPOAEs in both the right and left ears, as well as with DPOAE amplitude in the right ear at 2 kHz and the reproducibility of CEOAEs in the left ear at 2.8 kHz. Finally, AGD-scrotum in boys was positively associated in boys with the amplitude of DPOAEs in the left ear at 2.8 kHz. Unexpectedly, there were no sex differences in the amplitude or reproducibility of OAEs, nor, in girls, any associations between androgenic markers and auditory function. Nonetheless, these findings, reported for the first time in a sample of human infants, support both the prenatal-androgen-exposure and GG models as explanations for the masculinization of auditory function in male infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuong-Vi Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre [RI-MUHC), Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Benoît Jutras
- Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada; School of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Patricia Monnier
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre [RI-MUHC), Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec CHU Research Centre, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Maria Velez
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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Villeneuve DL, Breen M, Bencic DC, Cavallin JE, Jensen KM, Makynen EA, Thomas LM, Wehmas LC, Conolly RB, Ankley GT. Developing predictive approaches to characterize adaptive responses of the reproductive endocrine axis to aromatase inhibition: I. Data generation in a small fish model. Toxicol Sci 2013; 133:225-33. [PMID: 23492810 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive or compensatory responses to chemical exposure can significantly influence in vivo concentration-duration-response relationships. This study provided data to support development of a computational dynamic model of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of a model vertebrate and its response to aromatase inhibitors as a class of endocrine active chemicals. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were either exposed to the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole (0.5 or 30 μg/l) continuously for 1, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, or 28 days or exposed for 8 days and then held in control water (no fadrozole) for an additional 4, 8, 12, 16, or 20 days. The time course of effects on ovarian steroid production, circulating 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations, and expression of steroidogenesis-related genes in the ovary was measured. Exposure to 30 μg fadrozole/l significantly reduced plasma E2 and VTG concentrations after just 1 day and those effects persisted throughout 28 days of exposure. In contrast, ex vivo E2 production was similar to that of controls on day 8-28 of exposure, whereas transcripts coding for aromatase and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor were elevated, suggesting a compensatory response. Following cessation of fadrozole exposure, ex vivo E2 and plasma E2 concentrations exceeded and then recovered to control levels, but plasma VTG concentrations did not, even after 20 days of depuration. Collectively these data provide several new insights into the nature and time course of adaptive responses to an aromatase inhibitor that support development of a computational model (see companion article).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Villeneuve
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, USA.
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Bacchi AD, Ponte B, Vieira ML, de Paula JCC, Mesquita SFP, Gerardin DCC, Moreira EG. Developmental exposure to Passiflora incarnata induces behavioural alterations in the male progeny. Reprod Fertil Dev 2013; 25:782-9. [DOI: 10.1071/rd11307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 06/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Passiflora incarnata is marketed in many countries as a phytomedicine and is prescribed mainly as a sedative and anxiolytic. Even though the directions of most marketed phytomedicines recommend them to be used under medical supervision, reproductive and developmental studies are sparse and not mandatory for regulatory purposes. To evaluate the reproductive and developmental toxicity of P. incarnata, Wistar female rats were gavaged with 30 or 300 mg kg–1 of this herb from gestational Day (GD) 0 to postnatal Day (PND) 21. P. incarnata treatment did not influence dams’ bodyweight or food intake or their reproductive performance (post-implantation loss, litter size, litter weight). There was also no influence on the physical development of pups (bodyweight gain, day of vaginal opening or preputial separation) or their behaviour in the open-field at PND 22, 35 and 75. Sexual behaviour was disrupted in adult male pups exposed to 300 mg kg–1 of P. incarnata; in this group, only 3 out of 11 pups were sexually competent. This behavioural disruption was not accompanied by alterations in plasma testosterone levels, reproductive-related organs and glands weights or sperm count. It is hypothesised that aromatase inhibition may be involved in the observed effect.
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Cappon GD, Chapin RE, Hurtt ME, Wajnrajch MP, Burns-Naas LA. Impaired reproduction in adult male, but not female, rats following juvenile treatment with the aromatase inhibitor, exemestane. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 92:304-13. [PMID: 21678547 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exemestane is an irreversible steroidal inhibitor of cytochrome-P450 aromatase required for estrogen synthesis. The safety of the drug in the pediatric population, particularly in males, has not previously been evaluated. Given the increased interest in treating children with aromatase inhibitors, we undertook a study in rats to assess the potential for exemestane to alter reproductive development and function when administered to juveniles. METHODS Male and female rats were treated with exemestane at doses anticipated to produce exposures approximately 2- and 35-fold the expected clinical plasma exposure in young adult males during the period of reproductive maturation. After maturation, treated rats were mated to evaluate the potential impact on reproductive function. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION There were no effects on sexual maturation in either sex or on female reproductive function. Treatment of juvenile male rats caused increased cohabitation time and decreased copulation rates; pregnancy rates and litter size were not affected in rats that mated. Decreased testis (10-15%) and epididymis (20-30%) weights, and decreased Sertoli cell numbers were noted at all doses. This indicates that exemestane can reduce Sertoli cell proliferation during maturation. The sensitive window for this effect is expected to be limited to the period of Sertoli cell proliferation, which is completed by around postnatal day 15 in rats and before puberty in humans. Treatment beginning at a later time relative to the window for Sertoli cell proliferation or for a longer duration is not expected to have additional adverse effect as the effect was not shown to be degenerative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg D Cappon
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Inc.Groton Laboratories, Eastern Point Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
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10
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Copulatory efficiency and fertility in male rats exposed perinatally to flutamide. Reprod Toxicol 2011; 31:10-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2009] [Revised: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Bonthuis P, Cox K, Searcy B, Kumar P, Tobet S, Rissman E. Of mice and rats: key species variations in the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior. Front Neuroendocrinol 2010; 31:341-58. [PMID: 20457175 PMCID: PMC2910167 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Revised: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Mice and rats are important mammalian models in biomedical research. In contrast to other biomedical fields, work on sexual differentiation of brain and behavior has traditionally utilized comparative animal models. As mice are gaining in popularity, it is essential to acknowledge the differences between these two rodents. Here we review neural and behavioral sexual dimorphisms in rats and mice, which highlight species differences and experimental gaps in the literature, that are needed for direct species comparisons. Moving forward, investigators must answer fundamental questions about their chosen organism, and attend to both species and strain differences as they select the optimal animal models for their research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.J. Bonthuis
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - K.H. Cox
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - B.T. Searcy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - P. Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - S. Tobet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - E.F. Rissman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
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Augusto TM, Bruni-Cardoso A, Damas-Souza DM, Zambuzzi WF, Kühne F, Lourenço LB, Ferreira CV, Carvalho HF. Oestrogen imprinting causes nuclear changes in epithelial cells and overall inhibition of gene transcription and protein synthesis in rat ventral prostate. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 33:675-85. [PMID: 19925618 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2009.01008.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Oestrogen exposure during the early post-natal period affects male growth, physiology, and susceptibility to disease in adult life. The prostate gland is susceptible to this oestrogen imprinting, showing a reduced expression of the androgen receptor and inability to respond to androgen stimulus. In this context, we decided to study key signalling regulators of ventral prostate (VP) functioning after early postnatal exposure to high-dose oestrogen. Our results showed a decrease of mTOR phosphorylation and its direct downstream target 4EBP. It is known that mTOR-induced signalling is a pivotal pathway of cell metabolism, which is able to control gene transcription and protein synthesis. We then decided to investigate other indicators of a reduced metabolism in the oestrogenized prostate, and found that the luminal epithelial cells were shorter, less polarized and had smaller nuclei containing more compacted chromatin, suggesting that a general mechanism of regulating gene expression and protein synthesis could be installed in the epithelium of the oestrogenized VP. To evaluate this idea, we analysed nucleolar morphology, and measured the amount of ribosomes and the level of methylation of the 45S ribosomal RNA promoter region. These data indicated that the nucleolus was dismantled and that the methylation at the 45S promoter was increased ( approximately five-fold). Taken together, the results support the idea that the oestrogenized prostate maintains a very low transcriptional level and protein turnover by affecting canonical signalling pathways and promoting nuclear and nucleolar changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Augusto
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Piffer RC, Garcia PC, Pereira OC. Adult partner preference and sexual behavior of male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone. Physiol Behav 2009; 98:163-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Revised: 04/28/2009] [Accepted: 05/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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