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Lakhssassi K, Sarto MP, Marín B, Lahoz B, Folch J, Alabart JL, Serrano M, Calvo JH. Exploring differentially expressed genes in hypothalamic, pars tuberalis and pineal gland transcriptomes in different sexual behavior phenotypes in rams using RNA-Seq. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skac365. [PMID: 36331073 PMCID: PMC9833037 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive seasonality is a limiting factor in sheep production. Sexual behavior is a key element in reproductive efficiency, and this function is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. To understand the mechanisms of sexual behavior, transcriptomic sequencing technology was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus (HT), pars tuberalis (PT) and pineal gland (PG) in Rasa Aragonesa rams with different sexual behavior. Bioinformatics analysis of the 16,401 identified genes by RNA-Seq revealed 103 and 12 DEGs in the HT and the PG, respectively, at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 5% with an absolute value of expression ≥ 1 (log2FC). However, no DEGs were found in the PT. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs of HT were enriched mainly in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and signaling pathways, including notable candidate genes such as MTNR1A, CHRNA2, FSHB, LHB, GNRHR, AVP, PRL, PDYN, CGA, GABRD, and TSHB, which play a crucial role in sexual behavior. The GnRH and cAMP signaling pathways were also highlighted. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified potential pathways, dominated mainly by biological process category, that could be responsible for the differences in sexual behavior observed in rams. The intracellular protein transport and pattern specification process were enriched within the PT and the transcription factor binding and protein ubiquitination pathways for the PG. Thus, these pathways together may play an important role in the regulation of the sexual behavior in Rasa Aragonesa rams through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The validation of 5 DEGs using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) showed expression patterns like the found with RNA-Seq. Overall, these results contribute to understanding the genomic basis of sexual behavior in rams. Our study demonstrates that multiple networks and pathways orchestrate sexual behavior in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenza Lakhssassi
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
- INRA Instituts, 6356 Rabat, Morocco
| | - María Pilar Sarto
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Belén Marín
- Centre for Encephalopathies and Emerging Transmissible Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Belén Lahoz
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Folch
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Luis Alabart
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Malena Serrano
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Hugo Calvo
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
- ARAID, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
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González-Flores O, Pfaus JG, Luna-Hernández A, Montes-Narváez O, Domínguez-Ordóñez R, Tecamachaltzi-Silvarán MB, García-Juárez M. Estradiol and progesterone-induced lordosis behavior is modulated by both the Kisspeptin receptor and melanin-concentrating hormone in estradiol benzoate-primed rats. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105257. [PMID: 36115135 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of estradiol benzoate (E2B) and progesterone (P) induces intense lordosis behavior in ovariectomized rats primed peripherally with E2B. The present study tested the hypothesis that the Kisspeptin (Kiss) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) pathways regulate female sexual behavior induced by these steroid hormones. In Experiment 1, we tested the relevance of the Kiss pathway by ICV infusion of its inhibitor, kiss-234, before administration of E2B or P in estrogen-primed rats. Lordosis induced by E2B alone or with the addition of P was reduced significantly at 30, 120, and 240 min. In Experiment 2, ICV infusion of MCH 30 min before E2B or P significantly reduced lordosis in rats primed with E2B alone. These data support the hypothesis that the Kiss and MCH pathways, which can release or modulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), are involved in E2B- and P-induced lordosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar González-Flores
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
| | - James G Pfaus
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Ailyn Luna-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México; Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Omar Montes-Narváez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México; Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Raymundo Domínguez-Ordóñez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México; Licenciatura en Ingeniería Agronómica y Zootecnia, CRC, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México
| | | | - Marcos García-Juárez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México.
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Knöchel C, Frickmann H, Nürnberger F. Effects of Sleep Deprivation by Olfactorily Induced Sexual Arousal Compared to Immobilization Stress and Manual Sleep Deprivation on Neuromessengers and Time Keeping Genes in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei and Other Cerebral Entities of Syrian Hamsters-An Immunohistochemical Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179169. [PMID: 34501759 PMCID: PMC8430648 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of sexual arousal induced by olfactory stimuli on the expression of neuromodulators, neurotransmitters and sexual steroid receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN, the circadian pacemaker of mammals) and other cerebral entities of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) compared to manual sleep deprivation and immobilization stress. The hamsters kept under a 12:12 hours (h) light:dark cycle were deprived of sleep by sexual stimulation, gentle manual handling or immobilization stress for 1 h at the beginning of the light phase and subsequently sacrificed at zeitgeber time 01:00, respectively; for comparison, hamsters were manually sleep deprived for 6 or 20 h or sacrificed after completing a full sleep phase. As demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, apart from various alterations after manual sleep deprivation, sexual stimulation caused down-regulation of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), vasointestinal peptide (VIP), serotonin (5-HT), substance P (SP), and met-enkephalin (ME) in the SCN. Somatostatin (SOM) was diminished in the medial periventricular nucleus (MPVN). In contrast, an increase in AVP was observed in the PVN, that of oxytocin (OXY) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) in the infundibular nucleus (IN), and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in the A7 neuron population of the brain stem (A7), respectively. Testosterone in plasma was increased. The results indicate that sexual arousal extensively influences the neuropeptide systems of the SCN, suggesting an involvement of the SCN in reproductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Knöchel
- Vitos Clincis of Forensic Psychiatry Eltville, 65346 Eltville, Germany;
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; or
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Frank Nürnberger
- Institute for Anatomy II, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Drosophila Corazonin Neurons as a Hub for Regulating Growth, Stress Responses, Ethanol-Related Behaviors, Copulation Persistence and Sexually Dimorphic Reward Pathways. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:jdb9030026. [PMID: 34287347 PMCID: PMC8293205 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal mechanisms by which complex behaviors are coordinated and timed often involve neuropeptidergic regulation of stress and reward pathways. Recent studies of the neuropeptide Corazonin (Crz), a homolog of the mammalian Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), have suggested its crucial role in the regulation of growth, internal states and behavioral decision making. We focus this review on Crz neurons with the goal to (1) highlight the diverse roles of Crz neuron function, including mechanisms that may be independent of the Crz peptide, (2) emphasize current gaps in knowledge about Crz neuron functions, and (3) propose exciting ideas of novel research directions involving the use of Crz neurons. We describe the different developmental fates of distinct subsets of Crz neurons, including recent findings elucidating the molecular regulation of apoptosis. Crz regulates systemic growth, food intake, stress responses and homeostasis by interacting with the short Neuropeptide F (sNPF) and the steroid hormone ecdysone. Additionally, activation of Crz neurons is shown to be pleasurable by interacting with the Neuropeptide F (NPF) and regulates reward processes such as ejaculation and ethanol-related behaviors in a sexually dimorphic manner. Crz neurons are proposed to be a motivational switch regulating copulation duration using a CaMKII-dependent mechanism described as the first neuronal interval timer lasting longer than a few seconds. Lastly, we propose ideas to use Crz neuron-induced ejaculation to study the effects of fictive mating and sex addiction in flies, as well as to elucidate dimorphic molecular mechanisms underlying reward behaviors and feeding disorders.
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Wu HM, Chang HM, Leung PCK. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs: Mechanisms of action and clinical applications in female reproduction. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100876. [PMID: 33045257 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Extra-hypothalamic GnRH and extra-pituitary GnRH receptors exist in multiple human reproductive tissues, including the ovary, endometrium and myometrium. Recently, new analogs (agonists and antagonists) and modes of GnRH have been developed for clinical application during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproductive technology (ART). Additionally, the analogs and upstream regulators of GnRH suppress gonadotropin secretion and regulate the functions of the reproductive axis. GnRH signaling is primarily involved in the direct control of female reproduction. The cellular mechanisms and action of the GnRH/GnRH receptor system have been clinically applied for the treatment of reproductive disorders and have widely been introduced in ART. New GnRH analogs, such as long-acting GnRH analogs and oral nonpeptide GnRH antagonists, are being continuously developed for clinical application. The identification of the upstream regulators of GnRH, such as kisspeptin and neurokinin B, provides promising potential to develop these upstream regulator-related analogs to control the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Ming Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsun-Ming Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3V5, Canada
| | - Peter C K Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3V5, Canada.
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RNAi-based screens uncover a potential new role for the orphan neuropeptide receptor Moody in Drosophila female germline stem cell maintenance. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243756. [PMID: 33307547 PMCID: PMC7732368 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is highly sensitive to changes in physiology and the external environment. Neuropeptides are evolutionarily conserved signaling molecules that regulate multiple physiological processes. However, the potential reproductive roles of many neuropeptide signaling pathways remain underexplored. Here, we describe the results of RNAi-based screens in Drosophila melanogaster to identify neuropeptides/neuropeptide receptors with potential roles in oogenesis. The screen read-outs were either the number of eggs laid per female per day over time or fluorescence microscopy analysis of dissected ovaries. We found that the orphan neuropeptide receptor encoded by moody (homologous to mammalian melatonin receptors) is likely required in somatic cells for normal egg production and proper germline stem cell maintenance. However, the egg laying screens had low signal-to-noise ratio and did not lead to the identification of additional candidates. Thus, although egg count assays might be useful for large-scale screens to identify oogenesis regulators that result in dramatic changes in oogenesis, more labor-intensive microscopy-based screen are better applicable for identifying new physiological regulators of oogenesis with more subtle phenotypes.
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