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Woodruff JL, Bykalo MK, Loyo-Rosado FZ, Maissy ES, Sadek AT, Hersey M, Erichsen JM, Maxwell ND, Wilson MA, Wood SK, Hashemi P, Grillo CA, Reagan LP. Differential effects of high-fat diet on endocrine, metabolic and depressive-like behaviors in male and female rats. Appetite 2024; 199:107389. [PMID: 38697221 PMCID: PMC11139556 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107389] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The complications of obesity extend beyond the periphery to the central nervous system (CNS) and include an increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric co-morbidities like depressive illness. Preclinical studies support this concept, including studies that have examined the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) on depressive-like behaviors. Although women are approximately two-fold more likely to develop depressive illness compared to men, most preclinical studies have focused on the effects of HFD in male rodents. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to examine depressive-like behaviors in male and female rats provided access to a HFD. In agreement with prior studies, male and female rats provided a HFD segregate into an obesity phenotype (i.e., diet-induced obesity; DIO) or a diet resistant (DR) phenotype. Upon confirmation of the DR and DIO phenotypes, behavioral assays were performed in control chow, DR, and DIO rats. In the sucrose preference test, male DIO rats exhibited significant decreases in sucrose consumption (i.e., anhedonia) compared to male DR and male control rats. In the forced swim test (FST), male DIO rats exhibited increases in immobility and decreases in climbing behaviors in the pre-test sessions. Interestingly, male DR rats exhibited these same changes in both the pre-test and test sessions of the FST, suggesting that consumption of a HFD, even in the absence of the development of an obesity phenotype, has behavioral consequences. Female rats did not exhibit differences in sucrose preference, but female DIO rats exhibited increases in immobility exclusively in the test session of the FST, behavioral changes that were not affected by the stage of the estrous cycle. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that access to a HFD elicits different behavioral outcomes in male and female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Woodruff
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA; Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - M K Bykalo
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - F Z Loyo-Rosado
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - E S Maissy
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - A T Sadek
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - M Hersey
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - J M Erichsen
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - N D Maxwell
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - M A Wilson
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA; Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - S K Wood
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA; Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - P Hashemi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - C A Grillo
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA; Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - L P Reagan
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA; Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, USA.
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2
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Mosconi L, Nerattini M, Matthews DC, Jett S, Andy C, Williams S, Yepez CB, Zarate C, Carlton C, Fauci F, Ajila T, Pahlajani S, Andrews R, Pupi A, Ballon D, Kelly J, Osborne JR, Nehmeh S, Fink M, Berti V, Dyke JP, Brinton RD. In vivo brain estrogen receptor density by neuroendocrine aging and relationships with cognition and symptomatology. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12680. [PMID: 38902275 PMCID: PMC11190148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62820-7] [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: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
17β-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This in vivo brain 18F-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks. Effects were independent of age, plasma estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin, and were highly consistent, correctly classifying all women as being postmenopausal or premenopausal. Higher ER density in target regions was associated with poorer memory performance for both postmenopausal and perimenopausal groups, and predicted presence of self-reported mood and cognitive symptoms after menopause. These findings provide novel insights on brain ER density modulation by female neuroendocrine aging, with clinical implications for women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Boneu Yepez
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Francesca Fauci
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Trisha Ajila
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Alberto Pupi
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Douglas Ballon
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - James Kelly
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph R Osborne
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadek Nehmeh
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Fink
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Valentina Berti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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3
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Boo KJ, Kim DH, Cho E, Kim DH, Jeon SJ, Shin CY. Neonatal dysregulation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol induces impaired brain function in adult mice. Neuropharmacology 2024; 257:110045. [PMID: 38885736 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110045] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates neurotransmission linked to synaptic plasticity, cognition, and emotion. While it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the ECS in adulthood is relevant not only to central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, cognitive dysfunction, and depression but also to brain function, there are few studies on how dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period affects the manifestation and pathophysiology of CNS disorders later in life. In this study, DO34, a diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) inhibitor affecting endocannabinoid 2-AG production, was injected into C57BL/6N male mice from postnatal day (PND) 7 to PND 10, inducing dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period. Subsequently, we examined whether it affects neuronal function in adulthood through electrophysiological and behavioral evaluation. DO34-injected mice showed significantly decreased cognitive functions, attributed to impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The findings suggest that regulation of ECS activity in the neonatal period may induce enduring effects on adult brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Jun Boo
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Hyun Kim
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunbi Cho
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
| | - Se Jin Jeon
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24252, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chan Young Shin
- School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology and Department of Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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4
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St-Pierre J, Usselman CW, Scheede-Bergdahl C. Commentary: importance of considering sex and gender when designing cancer care programs. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:408. [PMID: 38834829 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08617-w] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Due to perceived methodological complications, scientific studies have often excluded females. As a result, male-based findings have been generalized to females, despite physiological and biological differences between sexes. Gender has been even less considered in the literature, with little exploration specifically beyond traditional man/woman representation. This practice is compounded by a lack of what sex and gender encompass, including their erroneous use as synonyms. Sex- and gender-based differences, which are not clearly defined and recognized in scientific literature, are disregarded in health care delivery and, specifically relevant to the focus of this commentary, the development of cancer care programs. Conversely, accounting for sex- and gender in anti-cancer treatments and pathways can help create effective and personalized programming which could lead to an increased likelihood of adoption and adherence to treatment protocols. Although sex- and gender-specific programming may not be necessary in all situations, awareness of the concepts and possible impact on cancer care programs is paramount as more inclusive and personalized methodologies take shape. The goals of this commentary are to (a) clarify the terms sex and gender and (b) raise awareness of their applications and considerations for cancer care program design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade St-Pierre
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Peri-Operative Program, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Celena Scheede-Bergdahl
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Peri-Operative Program, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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5
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Grissom NM, Glewwe N, Chen C, Giglio E. Sex mechanisms as nonbinary influences on cognitive diversity. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105544. [PMID: 38643533 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105544] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Essentially all neuropsychiatric diagnoses show some degree of sex and/or gender differences in their etiology, diagnosis, or prognosis. As a result, the roles of sex-related variables in behavior and cognition are of strong interest to many, with several lines of research showing effects on executive functions and value-based decision making in particular. These findings are often framed within a sex binary, with behavior of females described as less optimal than male "defaults"-- a framing that pits males and females against each other and deemphasizes the enormous overlap in fundamental neural mechanisms across sexes. Here, we propose an alternative framework in which sex-related factors encompass just one subset of many sources of valuable diversity in cognition. First, we review literature establishing multidimensional, nonbinary impacts of factors related to sex chromosomes and endocrine mechanisms on cognition, focusing on value- based decision-making tasks. Next, we present two suggestions for nonbinary interpretations and analyses of sex-related data that can be implemented by behavioral neuroscientists without devoting laboratory resources to delving into mechanisms underlying sex differences. We recommend (1) shifting interpretations of behavior away from performance metrics and towards strategy assessments to avoid the fallacy that the performance of one sex is worse than another; and (2) asking how much variance sex explains in measures and whether any differences are mosaic rather than binary, to avoid assuming that sex differences in separate measures are inextricably correlated. Nonbinary frameworks in research on cognition will allow neuroscience to represent the full spectrum of brains and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola M Grissom
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, United States of America.
| | - Nic Glewwe
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Cathy Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Erin Giglio
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, United States of America
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6
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Vasilakopoulou PB, Yanni AE, Fanarioti E, Dermon CR, Karathanos VT, Chiou A. Determination of Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids in the Liver of Wistar Rats after a Dietary Enrichment with Corinthian Currant ( Vitis vinifera L., var. Apyrena): A Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Study. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:11549-11560. [PMID: 38718199 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Corinthian currants are dried fruits produced from Vitis vinifera L. var. Apyrena grape. This study investigated the distribution of phenolic compounds in male Wistar rat livers following two distinct Corinthian currant long-term dietary intake protocols (3 and 10% w/w). Method optimization, comparing fresh and lyophilized tissues, achieved satisfactory recoveries (>70%) for most analytes. Enzymatic hydrolysis conditions (37 °C, pH 5.0) minimally affected phenolics, but enzyme addition showed diverse effects. Hydrolyzed lyophilized liver tissue from rats consuming Corinthian currants (3 and 10% w/w) exhibited elevated levels of isorhamnetin (20.62 ± 2.27 ng/g tissue and 33.80 ± 1.38 ng/g tissue, respectively), along with similar effects for kaempferol, quercetin, and chrysin after prolonged Corinthian currant intake. This suggests their presence as phase II metabolites in the fasting-state liver. This study is the first to explore phenolic accumulation in rat liver, simulating real conditions of dried fruit consumption, as seen herein with Corinthian currant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi B Vasilakopoulou
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry-Physical Chemistry of Foods, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou Ave., 176 76 Kallithea, Greece
| | - Amalia E Yanni
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry-Physical Chemistry of Foods, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou Ave., 176 76 Kallithea, Greece
| | - Eleni Fanarioti
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Catherine R Dermon
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Vaios T Karathanos
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry-Physical Chemistry of Foods, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou Ave., 176 76 Kallithea, Greece
- Agricultural Cooperatives' Union of Aeghion, Corinthou 201, 25100 Aeghion, Greece
| | - Antonia Chiou
- Laboratory of Chemistry-Biochemistry-Physical Chemistry of Foods, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, 70 El. Venizelou Ave., 176 76 Kallithea, Greece
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7
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Fang P, Yu LW, Espey H, Agirman G, Kazmi SA, Li K, Deng Y, Lee J, Hrncir H, Romero-Lopez A, Arnold AP, Hsiao EY. Sex-dependent interactions between prodromal intestinal inflammation and LRRK2 G2019S in mice promote endophenotypes of Parkinson's disease. Commun Biol 2024; 7:570. [PMID: 38750146 PMCID: PMC11096388 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06256-9] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) disruptions and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but how they may impact risk for PD remains poorly understood. Herein, we provide evidence that prodromal intestinal inflammation expedites and exacerbates PD endophenotypes in rodent carriers of the human PD risk allele LRRK2 G2019S in a sex-dependent manner. Chronic intestinal damage in genetically predisposed male mice promotes α-synuclein aggregation in the substantia nigra, loss of dopaminergic neurons and motor impairment. This male bias is preserved in gonadectomized males, and similarly conferred by sex chromosomal complement in gonadal females expressing human LRRK2 G2019S. The early onset and heightened severity of neuropathological and behavioral outcomes in male LRRK2 G2019S mice is preceded by increases in α-synuclein in the colon, α-synuclein-positive macrophages in the colonic lamina propria, and loads of phosphorylated α-synuclein within microglia in the substantia nigra. Taken together, these data reveal that prodromal intestinal inflammation promotes the pathogenesis of PD endophenotypes in male carriers of LRRK2 G2019S, through mechanisms that depend on genotypic sex and involve early accumulation of α-synuclein in myeloid cells within the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fang
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Lewis W Yu
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Hannah Espey
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Gulistan Agirman
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sabeen A Kazmi
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kai Li
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Research Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yongning Deng
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jamie Lee
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Haley Hrncir
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Arlene Romero-Lopez
- UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Elaine Y Hsiao
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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8
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Jameson AN, Siemann JK, Grueter CA, Grueter B, McMahon DG. Effects of age and sex on photoperiod modulation of nucleus accumbens monoamine content and release in adolescence and adulthood. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2024; 16:100103. [PMID: 38585223 PMCID: PMC10990739 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2024.100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Day length, or photoperiod, is a reliable environmental cue encoded by the brain's circadian clock that indicates changing seasons and induces seasonal biological processes. In humans, photoperiod, age, and sex have been linked to seasonality in neuropsychiatric disorders, as seen in Seasonal Affective Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. The nucleus accumbens is a key locus for the regulation of motivated behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders. Using periadolescent and young adult male and female mice, here we assessed photoperiod's effect on serotonin and dopamine tissue content in the nucleus accumbens core, as well as on accumbal synaptic dopamine release and uptake. We found greater serotonin and dopamine tissue content in the nucleus accumbens from young adult mice raised in a Short winter-like photoperiod. In addition, dopamine release and clearance were greater in the nucleus accumbens from young adult mice raised in a Long summer-like photoperiod. Importantly, we found that photoperiod's effects on accumbal dopamine tissue content and release were sex-specific to young adult females. These findings support that in mice there are interactions across age, sex, and photoperiod that impact critical monoamine neuromodulators in the nucleus accumbens which may provide mechanistic insight into the age and sex dependencies in seasonality of neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis N. Jameson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Justin K. Siemann
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie A. Grueter
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - BradA. Grueter
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Douglas G. McMahon
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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9
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Turfe A, Westbrook SR, Lopez SA, Chang SE, Flagel SB. The effect of corticosterone on the acquisition of Pavlovian conditioned approach behavior is dependent on sex and vendor. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.586009. [PMID: 38562896 PMCID: PMC10983933 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.586009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Cues in the environment become predictors of biologically relevant stimuli, such as food, through associative learning. These cues can not only act as predictors but can also be attributed with incentive motivational value and gain control over behavior. When a cue is imbued with incentive salience, it attains the ability to elicit maladaptive behaviors characteristic of psychopathology. We can capture the propensity to attribute incentive salience to a reward cue in rats using a Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigm, in which the presentation of a discrete lever-cue is followed by the delivery of a food reward. Upon learning the cue-reward relationship, some rats, termed sign-trackers, develop a conditioned response directed towards the lever-cue; whereas others, termed goal-trackers, approach the food cup upon lever-cue presentation. Here, we assessed the effects of systemic corticosterone (CORT) on the acquisition and expression of sign- and goal-tracking behaviors in male and female rats, while examining the role of the vendor (Charles River or Taconic) from which the rats originated in these effects. Male and female rats from Charles River had a greater tendency to sign-track than those from Taconic. Administration of CORT enhanced the acquisition of sign-tracking behavior in males from Charles River and females from both vendors. Conversely, administration of CORT had no effect on the expression of the conditioned response. These findings demonstrate a role for CORT in cue-reward learning and suggest that inherent tendencies towards sign- or goal-tracking may interact with this physiological mediator of motivated behavior. Highlights Male and female rats from Charles River exhibit more sign-tracking relative to those from Taconic.Corticosterone increases the acquisition of sign-tracking in male rats from Charles River.Corticosterone increases the acquisition of sign-tracking in female rats, regardless of vendor.There is no effect of corticosterone on the expression of sign-tracking behavior in either male or female rats.
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10
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Raimondi GM, Eng AK, Kenny MP, Britting MA, Ostroff LE. Track-by-Day: A standardized approach to estrous cycle monitoring in biobehavioral research. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114860. [PMID: 38216058 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114860] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Despite known sex differences in brain function, female subjects are underrepresented in preclinical neuroscience research. This is driven in part by concerns about variability arising from estrous cycle-related hormone fluctuations, especially in fear- and anxiety-related research where there are conflicting reports as to whether and how the cycle influences behavior. The inconsistency may arise from a lack of common standards for tracking and reporting the cycle as opposed to inherent unpredictability in the cycle itself. The rat estrous cycle is conventionally tracked by assigning vaginal cytology smears to one of four qualitatively-defined stages. Although the cytology stages are of unequal length, the stage names are often, but not always, used to refer to the four cycle days. Subjective staging criteria and inconsistent use of terminology are not necessarily a problem in research on the cycle itself, but can lead to irreproducibility in neuroscience studies that treat the stages as independent grouping factors. We propose the explicit use of cycle days as independent variables, which we term Track-by-Day to differentiate it from traditional stage-based tracking, and that days be indexed to the only cytology feature that is a direct and rapid consequence of a hormonal event: a cornified cell layer formed in response to the pre-ovulatory 17β-estradiol peak. Here we demonstrate that cycle length is robustly regular with this method, and that the method outperforms traditional staging in detecting estrous cycle effects on Pavlovian fear conditioning and on a separate proxy for hormonal changes, uterine histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna M Raimondi
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Ashley K Eng
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Murphy P Kenny
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Madison A Britting
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Linnaea E Ostroff
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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11
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Reho JJ, Muskus PC, Bennett DM, Grobe CC, Burnett CML, Nakagawa P, Segar JL, Sigmund CD, Grobe JL. Modulatory effects of estrous cycle on ingestive behaviors and energy balance in young adult C57BL/6J mice maintained on a phytoestrogen-free diet. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 326:R242-R253. [PMID: 38284128 PMCID: PMC11213288 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00273.2023] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The estrous cycle is known to modify food, fluid, and electrolyte intake behaviors and energy homeostasis in various species, in part through fluctuations in estrogen levels. Simultaneously, commonly commercially available rodent dietary formulations greatly vary in soy protein content, and thereby the delivery of biologically active phytoestrogens. To explore the interactions among the estrous cycle, sodium, fluid, and caloric seeking behaviors, and energy homeostasis, young adult C57BL/6J female mice were maintained on a soy protein-free 2920x diet and provided water, or a choice between water and 0.15 mol/L NaCl drink solution. Comprehensive metabolic phenotyping was performed using a multiplexed Promethion (Sable Systems International) system, and estrous stages were determined via daily vaginal cytology. When provided food and water, estrous cycling had no major modulatory effects on intake behaviors or energy balance. When provided a saline solution drink choice, significant modulatory effects of the transition from diestrus to proestrus were observed upon fluid intake patterning, locomotion, and total energy expenditure. Access to saline increased total daily sodium consumption and aspects of energy expenditure, but these effects were not modified by the estrous stage. Collectively, these results indicate that when supplied a phytoestrogen-free diet, the estrous cycle has minor modulatory effects on ingestive behaviors and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice that are sensitive to sodium supply.NEW & NOTEWORTHY When provided a phytoestrogen-free diet, the estrous cycle had very little effect on food and water intake, physical activity, or energy expenditure in C57BL/6J mice. In contrast, when provided an NaCl drink in addition to food and water, the estrous cycle was associated with changes in intake behaviors and energy expenditure. These findings highlight the complex interactions among estrous cycling, dietary formulation, and nutrient presentation upon ingestive behaviors and energy homeostasis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Reho
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Patricia C Muskus
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Darby M Bennett
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Connie C Grobe
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Colin M L Burnett
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Pablo Nakagawa
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Segar
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Curt D Sigmund
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Justin L Grobe
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
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12
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Lindsey ML, Usselman CW, Ripplinger CM, Carter JR, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Sex as a biological variable for cardiovascular physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H459-H469. [PMID: 38099847 PMCID: PMC11219053 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00727.2023] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
There have been ongoing efforts by federal agencies and scientific communities since the early 1990s to incorporate sex and/or gender in all aspects of cardiovascular research. Scientific journals provide a critical function as change agents to influence transformation by encouraging submissions for topic areas, and by setting standards and expectations for articles submitted to the journal. As part of ongoing efforts to advance sex and gender in cardiovascular physiology research, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology recently launched a call for papers on Considering Sex as a Biological Variable. This call was an overwhelming success, resulting in 78 articles published in this collection. This review summarizes the major themes of the collection, including Sex as a Biological Variable Within: Endothelial Cell and Vascular Physiology, Cardiovascular Immunity and Inflammation, Metabolism and Mitochondrial Energy, Extracellular Matrix Turnover and Fibrosis, Neurohormonal Signaling, and Cardiovascular Clinical and Epidemiology Assessments. Several articles also focused on establishing rigor and reproducibility of key physiological measurements involved in cardiovascular health and disease, as well as recommendations and considerations for study design. Combined, these articles summarize our current understanding of sex and gender influences on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and provide insight into future directions needed to further expand our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Research Service, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States
| | - Jason R Carter
- Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States
| | - Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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13
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Hayes AMR, Kao AE, Ahuja A, Subramanian KS, Klug ME, Rea JJ, Nourbash AC, Tsan L, Kanoski SE. Early- but not late-adolescent Western diet consumption programs for long-lasting memory impairments in male but not female rats. Appetite 2024; 194:107150. [PMID: 38049033 PMCID: PMC11033621 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107150] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Early life Western diet (WD) consumption leads to impaired memory function, particularly for processes mediated by the hippocampus. However, the precise critical developmental window(s) during which WD exposure negatively impacts hippocampal function are unknown. Here, we exposed male and female rats to a WD model involving free access to a variety of high-fat and/or high-sugar food and drink items during either the early-adolescent period (postnatal days [PN] 26-41; WD-EA) or late-adolescent period (PN 41-56; WD-LA). Control (CTL) rats were given healthy standard chow throughout both periods. To evaluate long-lasting memory capacity well beyond the early life WD exposure periods, we performed behavioral assessments after both a short (4 weeks for WD-EA, 2 weeks for WD-LA) and long (12 weeks for WD-EA, 10 weeks for WD-LA) period of healthy diet intervention. Results revealed no differences in body weight or body composition between diet groups, regardless of sex. Following the shorter period of healthy diet intervention, both male and female WD-EA and WD-LA rats showed deficits in hippocampal-dependent memory compared to CTL rats. Following the longer healthy diet intervention period, memory impairments persisted in male WD-EA but not WD-LA rats. In contrast, in female rats the longer healthy diet intervention reversed the initial memory impairments in both WD-EA and WD-LA rats. Collectively, these findings reveal that early-adolescence is a critical period of long-lasting hippocampal vulnerability to dietary insults in male but not female rats, thus highlighting developmental- and sex-specific effects mediating the relationship between the early life nutritional environment and long-term cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M R Hayes
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alicia E Kao
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Arun Ahuja
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keshav S Subramanian
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Molly E Klug
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica J Rea
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anna C Nourbash
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda Tsan
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Scott E Kanoski
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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14
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Zhang K, Shen D, Huang S, Iqbal J, Huang G, Si J, Xue Y, Yang JL. The sexually divergent cFos activation map of fear extinction. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23748. [PMID: 38205315 PMCID: PMC10777019 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Exposure therapy is a common treatment for PTSD, but it has varying levels of efficacy depending on sex. In this study, we aimed to compare the sexual dimorphism in brain activation during the extinction of fear conditioning in male and female rats by detecting the c-fos levels in the whole brain. Methods Thirty-two rats (Male: n = 16; Female: n = 16) were randomly separated into the extinction group as well as the non-extinction group, and fear conditioning was followed by extinction and non-extinction, respectively. Subsequently, brain sections from the sacrificed animal were performed immunofluorescence and the collected data were analyzed by repeated two-way ANOVAs as well as Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results Our findings showed that most brain areas activated during extinction were similar in both male and female rats, except for the reuniens thalamic nucleus and ventral hippocampi. Furthermore, we found differences in the correlation between c-fos activation levels and freezing behavior during extinction between male and female rats. Specifically, in male rats, c-fos activation in the anterior cingulate cortex was negatively correlated with the freezing level, while c-fos activation in the retrosplenial granular cortex was positively correlated with the freezing level; but in female rats did not exhibit any correlation between c-fos activation and freezing level. Finally, the functional connectivity analysis revealed differences in the neural networks involved in extinction learning between male and female rats. In male rats, the infralimbic cortex and insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex, and dorsal dentate gyrus and dCA3 were strongly correlated after extinction. In female rats, prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala, insular cortex and dCA3, and anterior cingulate cortex and dCA1 were significantly correlated. Conclusion These results suggest divergent neural networks involved in extinction learning in male and female rats and provide a clue for improving the clinical treatment of exposure therapy based on the sexual difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dan Shen
- Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Dadao, Hongqi District, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Shihao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Javed Iqbal
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No. 77 Zhenbi Road, Shenzhen, 518118, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Gengdi Huang
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, No. 77 Zhenbi Road, Shenzhen, 518118, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jijian Si
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanxue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug Dependence Research, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
- Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Dadao, Hongqi District, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian-Li Yang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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15
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Kundakovic M, Tickerhoof M. Epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex differences in the brain and behavior. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:18-35. [PMID: 37968206 PMCID: PMC10841872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences are found across brain regions, behaviors, and brain diseases. Sexual differentiation of the brain is initiated prenatally but it continues throughout life, as a result of the interaction of three major factors: gonadal hormones, sex chromosomes, and the environment. These factors are thought to act, in part, via epigenetic mechanisms which control chromatin and transcriptional states in brain cells. In this review, we discuss evidence that epigenetic mechanisms underlie sex-specific neurobehavioral changes during critical organizational periods, across the estrous cycle, and in response to diverse environments throughout life. We further identify future directions for the field that will provide novel mechanistic insights into brain sex differences, inform brain disease treatments and women's brain health in particular, and apply to people across genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
| | - Maria Tickerhoof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
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16
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Dalla C, Jaric I, Pavlidi P, Hodes GE, Kokras N, Bespalov A, Kas MJ, Steckler T, Kabbaj M, Würbel H, Marrocco J, Tollkuhn J, Shansky R, Bangasser D, Becker JB, McCarthy M, Ferland-Beckham C. Practical solutions for including sex as a biological variable (SABV) in preclinical neuropsychopharmacological research. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 401:110003. [PMID: 37918446 PMCID: PMC10842858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110003] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, many funding agencies have released guidelines on the importance of considering sex as a biological variable (SABV) as an experimental factor, aiming to address sex differences and avoid possible sex biases to enhance the reproducibility and translational relevance of preclinical research. In neuroscience and pharmacology, the female sex is often omitted from experimental designs, with researchers generalizing male-driven outcomes to both sexes, risking a biased or limited understanding of disease mechanisms and thus potentially ineffective therapeutics. Herein, we describe key methodological aspects that should be considered when sex is factored into in vitro and in vivo experiments and provide practical knowledge for researchers to incorporate SABV into preclinical research. Both age and sex significantly influence biological and behavioral processes due to critical changes at different timepoints of development for males and females and due to hormonal fluctuations across the rodent lifespan. We show that including both sexes does not require larger sample sizes, and even if sex is included as an independent variable in the study design, a moderate increase in sample size is sufficient. Moreover, the importance of tracking hormone levels in both sexes and the differentiation between sex differences and sex-related strategy in behaviors are explained. Finally, the lack of robust data on how biological sex influences the pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), or toxicological effects of various preclinically administered drugs to animals due to the exclusion of female animals is discussed, and methodological strategies to enhance the rigor and translational relevance of preclinical research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Ivana Jaric
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavlina Pavlidi
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Anton Bespalov
- Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice (PAASP GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martien J Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Neurosciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, USA
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordan Marrocco
- Department of Biology, Touro University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Shansky
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02128, USA
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jill B Becker
- Department of Psychology and Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Baltimore MD, USA
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17
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Joo Y, Namgung E, Jeong H, Kang I, Kim J, Oh S, Lyoo IK, Yoon S, Hwang J. Brain age prediction using combined deep convolutional neural network and multi-layer perceptron algorithms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22388. [PMID: 38104173 PMCID: PMC10725434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49514-2] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical applications of brain age prediction have expanded, particularly in anticipating the onset and prognosis of various neurodegenerative diseases. In the current study, we proposed a deep learning algorithm that leverages brain structural imaging data and enhances prediction accuracy by integrating biological sex information. Our model for brain age prediction, built on deep neural networks, employed a dataset of 3004 healthy subjects aged 18 and above. The T1-weighted images were minimally preprocessed and analyzed using the convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm. The categorical sex information was then incorporated using the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) algorithm. We trained and validated both a CNN-only algorithm (utilizing only brain structural imaging data), and a combined CNN-MLP algorithm (using both structural brain imaging data and sex information) for age prediction. By integrating sex information with T1-weighted imaging data, our proposed CNN-MLP algorithm outperformed not only the CNN-only algorithm but also established algorithms, such as brainageR, in prediction accuracy. Notably, this hybrid CNN-MLP algorithm effectively distinguished between mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease groups by identifying variances in brain age gaps between them, highlighting the algorithm's potential for clinical application. Overall, these results underscore the enhanced precision of the CNN-MLP algorithm in brain age prediction, achieved through the integration of sex information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonji Joo
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Namgung
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyeonseok Jeong
- Department of Radiology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ilhyang Kang
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jinsol Kim
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sohyun Oh
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In Kyoon Lyoo
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sujung Yoon
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jaeuk Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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18
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Nerattini M, Rubino F, Jett S, Andy C, Boneu C, Zarate C, Carlton C, Loeb-Zeitlin S, Havryliuk Y, Pahlajani S, Williams S, Berti V, Christos P, Fink M, Dyke JP, Brinton RD, Mosconi L. Elevated gonadotropin levels are associated with increased biomarker risk of Alzheimer's disease in midlife women. FRONTIERS IN DEMENTIA 2023; 2:1303256. [PMID: 38774256 PMCID: PMC11108587 DOI: 10.3389/frdem.2023.1303256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Introduction In preclinical studies, menopausal elevations in pituitary gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and synaptic loss in female animals. Herein, we took a translational approach to test whether gonadotropin elevations are linked to AD pathophysiology in women. Methods We examined 191 women ages 40-65 years, carrying risk factors for late-onset AD, including 45 premenopausal, 67 perimenopausal, and 79 postmenopausal participants with clinical, laboratory, cognitive exams, and volumetric MRI scans. Half of the cohort completed 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) amyloid-β (Aβ) PET scans. Associations between serum FSH, LH and biomarkers were examined using voxel-based analysis, overall and stratified by menopause status. Associations with region-of-interest (ROI) hippocampal volume, plasma estradiol levels, APOE-4 status, and cognition were assessed in sensitivity analyses. Results FSH levels were positively associated with Aβ load in frontal cortex (multivariable adjusted P≤0.05, corrected for family wise type error, FWE), an effect that was driven by the postmenopausal group (multivariable adjusted PFWE ≤ 0.044). LH levels were also associated with Aβ load in frontal cortex, which did not survive multivariable adjustment. FSH and LH were negatively associated with gray matter volume (GMV) in frontal cortex, overall and in each menopausal group (multivariable adjusted PFWE ≤ 0.040), and FSH was marginally associated with ROI hippocampal volume (multivariable adjusted P = 0.058). Associations were independent of age, clinical confounders, menopause type, hormone therapy status, history of depression, APOE-4 status, and regional effects of estradiol. There were no significant associations with cognitive scores. Discussion Increasing serum gonadotropin levels, especially FSH, are associated with higher Aβ load and lower GMV in some AD-vulnerable regions of midlife women at risk for AD. These findings are consistent with preclinical work and provide exploratory hormonal targets for precision medicine strategies for AD risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Rubino
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Boneu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Loeb-Zeitlin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yelena Havryliuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Valentina Berti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paul Christos
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthew Fink
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Neurology and Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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19
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Sadie-Van Gijsen H, Kotzé-Hörstmann L. Rat models of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysregulation: Current trends, shortcomings and considerations for future research. Obes Res Clin Pract 2023; 17:449-457. [PMID: 37788944 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.09.010] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Rat diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysregulation (DIO/DIMD) is widely used as a pre-clinical model for human obesity and for testing weight-loss interventions. The aim of this review was to utilise a systematic literature survey of rat DIO/DIMD studies as a tool to document trends around study design and metabolic outcomes of these studies, and to consider ways in which the design of these studies may be improved to enhance the relevance thereof for human obesity research. In total, 110 comparisons between control and obesogenic dietary groups were included in the survey. Young male rats were found to be the model of choice, but fewer than 50% of studies provided comprehensive information about diet composition and energy intake. In addition, it was found that the majority of expected DIO/DIMD responses (hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, hypoadiponectinemia) occurred at < 80% frequency, drawing into question the concept of a "typical" or "appropriate" response. We discuss the impact of differences in diet composition and energy intake on metabolic outcomes against the context of large heterogeneity of obesogenic diets employed in rat DIO/DIMD studies, and provide recommendations for the improvement of reporting standards around diet composition and dietary intake. In addition, we highlight the lack of data from female and older rats and describe considerations around the inclusion of sex and age as a variable in rat DIO/DIMD studies, aiming towards improving the applicability of these studies as a model of human obesity, which is most prevalent in women and older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanél Sadie-Van Gijsen
- Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA), Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
| | - Liske Kotzé-Hörstmann
- Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA), Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; Institute for Sport and Exercise Medicine (ISEM), Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
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20
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Tanner MK, Hohorst AA, Mellert SM, Loetz EC, Baratta MV, Greenwood BN. Female rats are more responsive than are males to the protective effects of voluntary physical activity against the behavioral consequences of inescapable stress. Stress 2023; 26:2245492. [PMID: 37549016 PMCID: PMC10492196 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2245492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Common stress-related mental health disorders affect women more than men. Physical activity can provide protection against the development of future stress-related mental health disorders (i.e. stress resistance) in both sexes, but whether there are sex differences in exercise-induced stress resistance is unknown. We have previously observed that voluntary wheel running (VWR) protects both female and male rats against the anxiety- and exaggerated fear-like behavioral effects of inescapable stress, but the time-course and magnitude of VWR-induced stress resilience has not been compared between sexes. The goal of the current study was to determine whether there are sex differences in the time-course and magnitude of exercise-induced stress resistance. In adult female and male Sprague Dawley rats, 6 weeks of VWR produced robust protection against stress-induced social avoidance and exaggerated fear. The magnitude of stress protection was similar between the sexes and was independent of reactivity to shock, general locomotor activity, and circulating corticosterone. Interestingly, 3 weeks of VWR prevented both stress-induced social avoidance and exaggerated fear in females but only prevented stress-induced social avoidance in males. Ovariectomy altered wheel-running behavior in females such that it resembled that of males, however; 3 weeks of VWR still protected females against behavioral consequences of stress regardless of the absence of ovaries. These data indicate that female Sprague Dawley rats are more responsive to exercise-induced stress resistance than are males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret K. Tanner
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, North Classroom Rm. 5005 F, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
| | - Alyssa A. Hohorst
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, North Classroom Rm. 5005 F, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
| | - Simone M. Mellert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, North Classroom Rm. 5005 F, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
| | - Esteban C. Loetz
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, North Classroom Rm. 5005 F, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
| | - Michael V. Baratta
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80302
| | - Benjamin N. Greenwood
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, North Classroom Rm. 5005 F, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
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21
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Massa MG, Scott RL, Cara AL, Cortes LR, Vander PB, Sandoval NP, Park JW, Ali SL, Velez LM, Wang HB, Ati SS, Tesfaye B, Reue K, van Veen JE, Seldin MM, Correa SM. Feeding neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive states in mice. iScience 2023; 26:107918. [PMID: 37817932 PMCID: PMC10561062 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Balance between metabolic and reproductive processes is important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. How the nervous system coordinates this balance is an active area of study. Herein, we demonstrate that somatostatin (SST) neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus alter feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of SST neurons increased food intake across sexes, ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. This ablation effect was only apparent in animals with low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of SST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of these effects. These studies indicate that SST hypothalamic neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive cues by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens to modulate feeding differentially based on energy stores. Thus, gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context dependent and gated by metabolic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G. Massa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachel L. Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Cara
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Laura R. Cortes
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Paul B. Vander
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Norma P. Sandoval
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jae W. Park
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sahara L. Ali
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Leandro M. Velez
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Huei-Bin Wang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Shomik S. Ati
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Bethlehem Tesfaye
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - J. Edward van Veen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marcus M. Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Correa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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22
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Benitah KC, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP. The enteric metabolite, propionic acid, impairs social behavior and increases anxiety in a rodent ASD model: Examining sex differences and the influence of the estrous cycle. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 231:173630. [PMID: 37640163 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173630] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that certain gut and dietary factors may worsen behavioral features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Treatment with propionic acid (PPA) has been found to create both brain and behavioral responses in rats that are characteristic of ASD in humans. A consistent male bias in human ASD prevalence has been observed, and several sex-differential genetic and hormonal factors have been suggested to contribute to this bias. The majority of PPA studies in relation to ASD focus on male subjects; research examining the effects of PPA in females is scarce. The present study includes two experiments. Experiment 1 explored sex differences in the effects of systemic administration of PPA (500 mg/kg, ip) on adult rodent social behavior and anxiety (light-dark test). Experiment 2 investigated differential effects of systemic administration of PPA (500 mg/kg) on social behavior and anxiety in relation to fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels during the adult rodent estrous cycle. PPA treatment impaired social behavior and increased anxiety in females to the same degree in comparison to PPA-treated males. As well, females treated with PPA in their diestrus phase did not differ significantly in comparison to females administered PPA in their proestrus phase, in terms of reduced social behavior and increased anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie C Benitah
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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23
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Pacifico P, Coy-Dibley JS, Miller RJ, Menichella DM. Peripheral mechanisms of peripheral neuropathic pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1252442. [PMID: 37781093 PMCID: PMC10537945 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1252442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), neuropathic pain that arises from a damage or disease affecting the peripheral nervous system, is associated with an extremely large disease burden, and there is an increasing and urgent need for new therapies for treating this disorder. In this review we have highlighted therapeutic targets that may be translated into disease modifying therapies for PNP associated with peripheral neuropathy. We have also discussed how genetic studies and novel technologies, such as optogenetics, chemogenetics and single-cell RNA-sequencing, have been increasingly successful in revealing novel mechanisms underlying PNP. Additionally, consideration of the role of non-neuronal cells and communication between the skin and sensory afferents is presented to highlight the potential use of drug treatment that could be applied topically, bypassing drug side effects. We conclude by discussing the current difficulties to the development of effective new therapies and, most importantly, how we might improve the translation of targets for peripheral neuropathic pain identified from studies in animal models to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Pacifico
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - James S. Coy-Dibley
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Richard J. Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Daniela M. Menichella
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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24
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Zucker I. The mixed legacy of the rat estrous cycle. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:55. [PMID: 37667337 PMCID: PMC10476291 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00542-7] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rat estrous cycle first characterized by Long and Evans in 1922 profoundly affected the course of endocrine research. Investigators took advantage of sex steroid hormone fluctuations associated with the cycle to assess hormonal influences on anxiety, depression, food intake, stress, brain structure and other traits. Similarities of the rat estrous and human menstrual cycles facilitated understanding of human reproductive physiology. I assessed the impact of awareness of the estrous cycle on the emergence of a sex bias that excluded female rats from biomedical research. METHODS Beginning with the 1918 volume of the American Journal of Physiology and ending in 1976 when the journal subdivided into several separate disciplinary journals, all studies conducted on rats were downloaded; the use of females, males, both sexes and sex left unspecified was tabulated for 485 articles. A second analysis tracked the number of rat estrous cycle studies across all disciplines listed in PubMed from 1950 to 2021. RESULTS The description and awareness of variability associated with the rat estrous cycle was correlated with a precipitous decline in investigations that incorporated both sexes, a marked increase in male-only studies and a striking sex bias that excluded female rats. The number of rat estrous cycles studies increased markedly from earlier decades to a peak in 2021. CONCLUSIONS The initial description the rat estrous cycle was correlated with a substantial decline in investigations that incorporated both sexes; one result was a marked increase in male-only studies and a striking sex bias that excluded female rats from biomedical research. Recognition of the advantages of studies that incorporate the rat estrous cycle has resulted in recent years in an increase of such investigations. Female rats and females of several other species are not more variable than their male counterparts across traits, arguing for female inclusion without requiring cycle monitoring. There, remain, however, many advantages of incorporating the estrous cycle in contemporary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving Zucker
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way West, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 3040 VLSB, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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25
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Nunamaker EA, Turner PV. Unmasking the Adverse Impacts of Sex Bias on Science and Research Animal Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2792. [PMID: 37685056 PMCID: PMC10486396 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172792] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex bias in biomedical and natural science research has been prevalent for decades. In many cases, the female estrous cycle was thought to be too complex an issue to model for, and it was thought to be simpler to only use males in studies. At times, particularly when studying efficacy and safety of new therapeutics, this sex bias has resulted in over- and under-medication with associated deleterious side effects in women. Many sex differences have been recognized that are unrelated to hormonal variation occurring during the estrous cycle. Sex bias also creates animal welfare challenges related to animal over-production and wastage, insufficient consideration of welfare (and scientific) impact related to differential housing of male vs female animals within research facilities, and a lack of understanding regarding differential requirements for pain recognition and alleviation in male versus female animals. Although many funding and government agencies require both sexes to be studied in biomedical research, many disparities remain in practice. This requires further enforcement of expectations by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee when reviewing protocols, research groups when writing grants, planning studies, and conducting research, and scientific journals and reviewers to ensure that sex bias policies are enforced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Nunamaker
- Global Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA;
| | - Patricia V. Turner
- Global Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA;
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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26
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Lyu Y, Wei X, Yang X, Li J, Wan G, Wang Y, Hao Z, Lu Y, Guo J, Shi J. 11-Ethoxyviburtinal improves chronic restraint stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors in gender-specific mice via PI3K/Akt and E 2 /ERβ signaling pathways. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4149-4165. [PMID: 37300355 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7876] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorder is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder that is more prevalent in females than in males. 11-Ethoxyviburtinal is an iridoid extracted from Valeriana jatamansi Jones, which has anxiolytic potential. The aim of the present work was to study the anxiolytic efficacy and mechanism of 11-ethoxyviburtinal in gender-specific mice. We first evaluated the anxiolytic-like efficacy of 11-ethoxyviburtinal in chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice of different sexes through behavioral experiments and biochemical indexes. In addition, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential targets and important pathways for the treatment of anxiety disorder with 11-ethoxyviburtinal. Finally, the influence of 11-ethoxyviburtinal on phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression, and anxiety-like behavior in mice was verified by western blotting, immunohistochemistry staining, antagonist intervention methods, and behavioral experiments. 11-ethoxyviburtinal alleviated the anxiety-like behaviors induced by CRS and inhibited neurotransmitter dysregulation and HPA axis hyperactivity. It inhibited the abnormal activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, modulated estrogen production, and promoted ERβ expression in mice. In addition, the female mice may be more sensitive to the pharmacological effects of 11-ethoxyviburtinal. 11-ethoxyviburtinal may exert its anxiolytic-like effects through PI3K/Akt and E2/ERβ signaling pathways. Meanwhile, by comparing the male and female mice, gender differences may affect the therapy and development of anxiety disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lyu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojia Wei
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayuan Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guohui Wan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Hao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Lu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyou Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinli Shi
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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27
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Birmingham EA, Wickens MM, Kirkland JM, Knouse MC, McGrath AG, Briand LA. Circulating ovarian hormones interact with protein interacting with C kinase (PICK1) within the medial prefrontal cortex to influence cocaine seeking in female mice. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105408. [PMID: 37541099 PMCID: PMC10543586 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105408] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) is an AMPA receptor binding protein that works in conjunction with glutamate receptor interacting protein (GRIP) to balance the number of GluA2-containing AMPARs in the synapse. In male mice, disrupting PICK1 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) leads to a decrease in cue-induced cocaine seeking and disrupting GRIP in the mPFC has the opposing effect, consistent with other evidence that removal of GluA2-containing AMPARs potentiates reinstatement. However, PICK1 does not seem to play the same role in female mice, as knockdown of either PICK1 or GRIP in the mPFC leads to similar increases in cue-induced cocaine seeking. These previous findings indicate that the role of PICK1 in the prefrontal cortex is sex specific. The goal of the current study was to examine whether ovarian hormones contribute to the effect of prefrontal PICK1 knockdown on reinstatement of cocaine seeking. While we replicated the increased cue-induced cocaine seeking in prefrontal PICK1 knockdown sham mice, we did not see any difference between the GFP control mice and PICK1 knockdowns following ovariectomy. However, this effect was driven primarily by an increase in cocaine seeking in ovariectomized GFP control mice while there was no effect ovariectomy in PICK1 knockdown mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that circulating ovarian hormones interact with the effects of PICK1 on cue-induced reinstatement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan M Wickens
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, United States of America
| | - Julia M Kirkland
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, United States of America
| | - Melissa C Knouse
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, United States of America
| | - Anna G McGrath
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, United States of America
| | - Lisa A Briand
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, United States of America; Neuroscience Program, Temple University, United States of America.
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28
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Hersey M, Bartole MK, Jones CS, Newman AH, Tanda G. Are There Prevalent Sex Differences in Psychostimulant Use Disorder? A Focus on the Potential Therapeutic Efficacy of Atypical Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors. Molecules 2023; 28:5270. [PMID: 37446929 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychostimulant use disorders (PSUD) affect a growing number of men and women and exert sizable public health and economic burdens on our global society. Notably, there are some sex differences in the onset of dependence, relapse rates, and treatment success with PSUD observed in preclinical and clinical studies. The subtle sex differences observed in the behavioral aspects of PSUD may be associated with differences in the neurochemistry of the dopaminergic system between sexes. Preclinically, psychostimulants have been shown to increase synaptic dopamine (DA) levels and may downregulate the dopamine transporter (DAT). This effect is greatest in females during the high estradiol phase of the estrous cycle. Interestingly, women have been shown to be more likely to begin drug use at younger ages and report higher levels of desire to use cocaine than males. Even though there is currently no FDA-approved medication, modafinil, a DAT inhibitor approved for use in the treatment of narcolepsy and sleep disorders, has shown promise in the treatment of PSUD among specific populations of affected individuals. In this review, we highlight the therapeutic potential of modafinil and other atypical DAT inhibitors focusing on the lack of sex differences in the actions of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Hersey
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Claire S Jones
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Gianluigi Tanda
- Medication Development Program, NIDA IRP, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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29
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Hinds NM, Wojtas ID, Gallagher CA, Corbett CM, Manvich DF. Effects of sex and estrous cycle on intravenous oxycodone self-administration and the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior in rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1143373. [PMID: 37465001 PMCID: PMC10350507 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1143373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The increasing misuse of both prescription and illicit opioids has culminated in a national healthcare crisis in the United States. Oxycodone is among the most widely prescribed and misused opioid pain relievers and has been associated with a high risk for transition to compulsive opioid use. Here, we sought to examine potential sex differences and estrous cycle-dependent effects on the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone, as well as on stress-induced or cue-induced oxycodone-seeking behavior, using intravenous (IV) oxycodone self-administration and reinstatement procedures. Methods In experiment 1, adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone according to a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement in daily 2-h sessions, and a dose-response function was subsequently determined (0.003-0.03 mg/kg/inf). In experiment 2, a separate group of adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 8 sessions, followed by 0.01 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 10 sessions. Responding was then extinguished, followed by sequential footshock-induced and cue-induced reinstatement tests. Results In the dose-response experiment, oxycodone produced a typical inverted U-shape function with 0.01 mg/kg/inf representing the maximally effective dose in both sexes. No sex differences were detected in the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone. In the second experiment, the reinforcing effects of 0.01-0.03 mg//kg/inf oxycodone were significantly attenuated in females during proestrus/estrus as compared to metestrus/diestrus phases of the estrous cycle. Neither males nor females displayed significant footshock-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking, but both sexes exhibited significant cue-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking at magnitudes that did not differ either by sex or by estrous cycle phase. Discussion These results confirm and extend previous work suggesting that sex does not robustly influence the primary reinforcing effects of oxycodone nor the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior. However, our findings reveal for the first time that the reinforcing efficacy of IV oxycodone varies across the estrous cycle in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Hinds
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Ireneusz D. Wojtas
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Corinne A. Gallagher
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Claire M. Corbett
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Daniel F. Manvich
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, United States
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Sadee W, Wang D, Hartmann K, Toland AE. Pharmacogenomics: Driving Personalized Medicine. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:789-814. [PMID: 36927888 PMCID: PMC10289244 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized medicine tailors therapies, disease prevention, and health maintenance to the individual, with pharmacogenomics serving as a key tool to improve outcomes and prevent adverse effects. Advances in genomics have transformed pharmacogenetics, traditionally focused on single gene-drug pairs, into pharmacogenomics, encompassing all "-omics" fields (e.g., proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics). This review summarizes basic genomics principles relevant to translation into therapies, assessing pharmacogenomics' central role in converging diverse elements of personalized medicine. We discuss genetic variations in pharmacogenes (drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and receptors), their clinical relevance as biomarkers, and the legacy of decades of research in pharmacogenetics. All types of therapies, including proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, cells, genes, and irradiation, can benefit from genomics, expanding the role of pharmacogenomics across medicine. Food and Drug Administration approvals of personalized therapeutics involving biomarkers increase rapidly, demonstrating the growing impact of pharmacogenomics. A beacon for all therapeutic approaches, molecularly targeted cancer therapies highlight trends in drug discovery and clinical applications. To account for human complexity, multicomponent biomarker panels encompassing genetic, personal, and environmental factors can guide diagnosis and therapies, increasingly involving artificial intelligence to cope with extreme data complexities. However, clinical application encounters substantial hurdles, such as unknown validity across ethnic groups, underlying bias in health care, and real-world validation. This review address the underlying science and technologies germane to pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine, integrated with economic, ethical, and regulatory issues, providing insights into the current status and future direction of health care. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Personalized medicine aims to optimize health care for the individual patients with use of predictive biomarkers to improve outcomes and prevent adverse effects. Pharmacogenomics drives biomarker discovery and guides the development of targeted therapeutics. This review addresses basic principles and current trends in pharmacogenomics, with large-scale data repositories accelerating medical advances. The impact of pharmacogenomics is discussed, along with hurdles impeding broad clinical implementation, in the context of clinical care, ethics, economics, and regulatory affairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Sadee
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio (W.S., A.E.T.); Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.W.); Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (K.H.); Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (W.S.); and Aether Therapeutics, Austin, Texas (W.S.)
| | - Danxin Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio (W.S., A.E.T.); Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.W.); Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (K.H.); Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (W.S.); and Aether Therapeutics, Austin, Texas (W.S.)
| | - Katherine Hartmann
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio (W.S., A.E.T.); Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.W.); Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (K.H.); Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (W.S.); and Aether Therapeutics, Austin, Texas (W.S.)
| | - Amanda Ewart Toland
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio (W.S., A.E.T.); Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.W.); Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (K.H.); Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (W.S.); and Aether Therapeutics, Austin, Texas (W.S.)
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Santollo J, Rainer IL, Swanz L, Steineker MH, Holla S. Limited effects of dehydration on object discrimination in the novel object recognition paradigm in young and middle-aged male and female rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.28.546884. [PMID: 37425948 PMCID: PMC10327120 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Dehydration is associated with impaired cognitive function in humans. Limited animal research also suggests that disruptions in fluid homeostasis impair performance in cognitive tasks. We previously demonstrated that extracellular dehydration impaired performance in the novel object recognition memory test in a sex and gonadal hormone specific manner. The experiments in this report were designed to further characterize the behavioral effects of dehydration on cognitive function in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, we tested whether dehydration during the training trial in the novel object recognition paradigm would impact performance, while euhydrated, in the test trial. Regardless of hydration status during training, all groups spent more time investigating the novel object during the test trial. In Experiment 2, we tested whether aging exacerbated dehydration-induced impairments on test trial performance. Although aged animals spent less time investigating the objects and had reduced activity levels, all groups spent more time investigating the novel object, compared to the original object, during the test trial. Aged animals also had reduced water intake after water deprivation and, unlike the young adult rats, there was no sex difference in water intake. Together these results, in combination with our previous findings, suggest that disruptions in fluid homeostasis have limited effects on performance in the novel object recognition test and may only impact performance after specific types of fluid manipulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Santollo
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Ivanka L Rainer
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Lillian Swanz
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | | | - Sahana Holla
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
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Hinds NM, Wojtas ID, Gallagher CA, Corbett CM, Manvich DF. Effects of sex and estrous cycle on intravenous oxycodone self-administration and the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior in rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543393. [PMID: 37333293 PMCID: PMC10274722 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The increasing misuse of both prescription and illicit opioids has culminated in a national healthcare crisis in the United States. Oxycodone is among the most widely prescribed and misused opioid pain relievers and has been associated with a high risk for transition to compulsive opioid use. Here, we sought to examine potential sex differences and estrous cycle-dependent effects on the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone, as well as on stress-induced or cue-induced oxycodone-seeking behavior, using intravenous (IV) oxycodone self-administration and reinstatement procedures. In experiment 1, adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone according to a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement in daily 2-hr sessions, and a dose-response function was subsequently determined (0.003-0.03 mg/kg/inf). In experiment 2, a separate group of adult male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 8 sessions, followed by 0.01 mg/kg/inf oxycodone for 10 sessions. Responding was then extinguished, followed by sequential footshock-induced and cue-induced reinstatement tests. In the dose-response experiment, oxycodone produced a typical inverted U-shape function with 0.01 mg/kg/inf representing the maximally effective dose in both sexes. No sex differences were detected in the reinforcing efficacy of oxycodone. In the second experiment, the reinforcing effects of 0.01-0.03 mg//kg/inf oxycodone were significantly attenuated in females during proestrus/estrus as compared to metestrus/diestrus phases of the estrous cycle. Neither males nor females displayed significant footshock-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking, but both sexes exhibited significant cue-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking at magnitudes that did not differ either by sex or by estrous cycle phase. These results confirm and extend previous work suggesting that sex does not robustly influence the primary reinforcing effects of oxycodone nor the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior. However, our findings reveal for the first time that the reinforcing efficacy of IV oxycodone varies across the estrous cycle in female rats.
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Kudo C, Harriott AM, Moskowitz MA, Waeber C, Ayata C. Estrogen modulation of cortical spreading depression. J Headache Pain 2023; 24:62. [PMID: 37237336 PMCID: PMC10214707 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-023-01598-x] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cortical spreading depression (CSD), a transient neuronal and glial depolarization that propagates slowly across the cerebral cortex, is the putative electrophysiological event underlying migraine aura and a headache trigger. Migraine is three times more prevalent in women than men, linked to circulating female hormones. High estrogen levels or estrogen withdrawal may be a migraine trigger for many women. We, therefore, aimed to examine whether sex, gonadectomy, and female hormone supplementation and withdrawal affect the susceptibility to CSD. METHODS To determine CSD susceptibility, we recorded the frequency of CSDs triggered during 2-h topical KCl application in intact or gonadectomized female and male rats, without or with estradiol or progesterone supplementation via daily intraperitoneal injections. Estrogen or progesterone treatment followed by withdrawal was studied in a separate cohort. To take the first step towards identifying potential mechanisms, we studied glutamate and GABAA receptor binding using autoradiography. RESULTS The CSD frequency in intact female rats was higher than intact male and ovariectomized rats. We did not detect a change in CSD frequency during different stages of the estrous cycle in intact females. Daily estrogen injections for three weeks did not change CSD frequency. However, one-week estrogen withdrawal after two weeks of treatment significantly increased CSD frequency compared with the vehicle group in gonadectomized females. The same protocol of estrogen treatment and withdrawal was ineffective in gonadectomized males. In contrast to estrogen, daily progesterone injections for three weeks elevated CSD susceptibility, and one-week withdrawal after two weeks of treatment partially normalized this effect. Autoradiography did not reveal significant changes in glutamate or GABAA receptor binding density after estrogen treatment and withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that females are more susceptible to CSD, and sexual dimorphism is abrogated by gonadectomy. Moreover, estrogen withdrawal after prolonged daily treatment enhances CSD susceptibility. These findings may have implications for estrogen-withdrawal migraine, although the latter tends to be without aura.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiho Kudo
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan
| | - Andrea M Harriott
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Stroke Service, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Michael A Moskowitz
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Christian Waeber
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Cenk Ayata
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Stroke Service, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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Criscuolo C, Chartampila E, Ginsberg SD, Scharfman HE. Stability of dentate gyrus granule cell mossy fiber BDNF protein expression with age and resistance of granule cells to Alzheimer's disease neuropathology in a mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.07.539742. [PMID: 37214931 PMCID: PMC10197599 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.07.539742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is important in development and maintenance of neurons and their plasticity. Hippocampal BDNF has been implicated Alzheimer's disease (AD) because hippocampal levels in AD patients and AD animal models are consistently downregulated, suggesting that reduced BDNF contributes to AD. However, the location where hippocampal BDNF protein is most highly expressed, the mossy fiber (MF) axons of dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs), has been understudied, and never in controlled in vivo conditions. We examined MF BDNF protein in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD. Tg2576 and wild type (WT) mice of both sexes were examined at 2-3 months of age, when amyloid-β (Aβ) is present in neurons but plaques are absent, and 11-20 months of age, after plaque accumulation. As shown previously, WT mice exhibited high levels of MF BDNF protein. Interestingly, there was no significant decline with age in either genotype or sex. Notably, we found a correlation between MF BDNF protein and GC ΔFosB, a transcription factor that increases after 1-2 weeks of elevated neuronal activity. Remarkably, there was relatively little evidence of Aβ in GCs or the GC layer even at old ages. Results indicate MF BDNF is stable in the Tg2576 mouse, and MF BDNF may remain unchanged due to increased GC neuronal activity, since BDNF expression is well known to be activity-dependent. The resistance of GCs to long-term Aβ accumulation provides an opportunity to understand how to protect other vulnerable neurons from increased Aβ levels and therefore has translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Criscuolo
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Elissavet Chartampila
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Helen E Scharfman
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Brakey DJ, Schatz KC, Paul MJ, Daniels D. The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in fluid and food intakes in vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats. Physiol Behav 2023; 262:114093. [PMID: 36706972 PMCID: PMC9974868 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Eating and drinking co-occur and many of the same mechanisms that control one are involved in the control of the other, making it difficult to isolate specific mechanisms for the control of fluid intake. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a peptide that seems to be involved in the endogenous control of both ingestive behaviors, but we lack a thorough understanding of how and where GLP-1 is acting to control fluid intake. Vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats are a model of hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus that have been used extensively for the study of vasopressin actions in behavior and physiology. Here, we propose that these rats, that eat normally but drink excessively, provide a useful model to dissociate central controls of food and fluid intakes. As an initial step toward establishing this model for these purposes, we focused on GLP-1. Similar to the effect observed after treatment with a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, the intake difference between wildtype and Brattleboro rats was largely a function in the number of licking bursts, indicating differences in post-ingestive feedback (e.g., satiation). When given central injections of a GLP-1R agonist, the effect on feeding was comparable between wildtype and Brattleboro rats, but the effect of drug on fluid intake was markedly exaggerated in Brattleboro rats. Additionally, Brattleboro rats did not respond to GLP-1R antagonism, whereas wildtype rats did. Taken together, these results suggest that Brattleboro rats exhibit a selective disruption to GLP-1's control of water intake. Overall, these experiments provide foundational studies of the ingestive behavior of Brattleboro rats and demonstrate the potential to use these rats to disentangle the effects of GLP-1 on food and fluid intakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destiny J Brakey
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kelcie C Schatz
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Matthew J Paul
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Derek Daniels
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Center for Ingestive Behavior Research, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Lamontagne-Kam DM, Davari S, Aristizabal-Henao JJ, Cho S, Chalil D, Mielke JG, Stark KD. Sex differences in hippocampal-dependent memory and the hippocampal lipidome in adolescent rats raised on diets with or without DHA. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2023; 192:102569. [PMID: 36966673 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest the effects of DHA supplementation on human memory may differ between females and males during infancy, adolescence, and early adulthood, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. As a result, this study sought to examine the spatial memory and brain lipidomic profiles in female and male adolescent rats with or without a DHA-enriched diet that began perinatally with the supplementation of dams. Spatial learning and memory were examined in adolescent rats using the Morris Water Maze beginning at 6 weeks of age and animals were sacrificed at 7 weeks of age to permit isolation of brain tissue and blood samples. Behavioral testing showed that there was a significant diet x sex interaction for two key measures of spatial memory (distance to zone and time spent in the correct quadrant during the probe test), with female rats benefiting the most from DHA supplementation. Lipidomic analyses suggest levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) and n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) containing phospholipid species were lower in the hippocampus of DHA supplemented compared with control animals, and principal component analyses revealed a potential dietary treatment effect for hippocampal PUFA. Females fed DHA had slightly more PE P-18:0_22:6 and maintained levels of PE 18:0_20:4 in the hippocampus in contrast with males fed DHA. Understanding how DHA supplementation during the perinatal and adolescent periods changes cognitive function in a sex-specific manner has important implications for determining the dietary requirements of DHA. This study adds to previous work highlighting the importance of DHA for spatial memory and provides evidence that further research needs to consider how DHA supplementation can cause sex-specific changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Lamontagne-Kam
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Saeideh Davari
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Juan J Aristizabal-Henao
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada; BPGbio Inc., 500 Old Connecticut Path Building B, Framingham, MA, 01701, USA
| | - Seungjae Cho
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Dan Chalil
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - John G Mielke
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ken D Stark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Sneddon EA, Masters BM, Ream KD, Fennell KA, DeMedio JN, Cash MM, Hollingsworth BP, Pandrangi S, Thach CM, Shi H, Radke AK. Sex chromosome and gonadal hormone contributions to binge-like and aversion-resistant ethanol drinking behaviors in Four Core Genotypes mice. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1098387. [PMID: 36960454 PMCID: PMC10027717 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While substantial research has focused on the contribution of sex hormones to driving elevated levels of alcohol drinking in female rodents, fewer studies have investigated how genetic influences may underlie sex differences in this behavior. Methods We used the Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model to explore the contribution of sex chromosome complement (XX/XY) and gonad type [ovaries (Sry-)/testes (Sry+)] to ethanol (EtOH) consumption and quinine-resistant drinking across two voluntary self-administration tasks: limited access consumption in the home cage and an operant response task. Results For limited access drinking in the dark, XY/Sry + (vs. XX/Sry +) mice consumed more 15% EtOH across sessions while preference for 15% EtOH vs. water was higher in XY vs. XX mice regardless of gonad type. XY chromosomes promoted quinine-resistant drinking in mice with ovaries (Sry-) and the estrous cycle did not affect the results. In the operant response task, responding for EtOH was concentration dependent in all genotypes except XX/Sry + mice, which maintained consistent response levels across all concentrations (5-20%) of EtOH. When increasing concentrations of quinine (100-500 μM) were added to the solution, FCG mice were insensitive to quinine-punished EtOH responding, regardless of sex chromosome complement. Sry + mice were further found to be insensitive to quinine when presented in water. Importantly, these effects were not influenced by sensitivity to EtOH's sedative effect, as no differences were observed in the time to lose the righting reflex or the time to regain the righting reflex between genotypes. Additionally, no differences in EtOH concentration in the blood were observed between any of the genotypes once the righting reflex was regained. Discussion These results provide evidence that sex chromosome complement regulates EtOH consumption, preference, and aversion resistance and add to a growing body of literature suggesting that chromosomal sex may be an important contributor to alcohol drinking behaviors. Examination of sex-specific genetic differences may uncover promising new therapeutic targets for high-risk drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Sneddon
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Brianna M. Masters
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Kiara D. Ream
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Kaila A. Fennell
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Jenelle N. DeMedio
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Miranda M. Cash
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Brynn P. Hollingsworth
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Sai Pandrangi
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Chloe M. Thach
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Haifei Shi
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Anna K. Radke
- Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
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De la Luz-Cuellar YE, Coffeen U, Mercado F, Granados-Soto V. Spinal dopaminergic D1-and D2-like receptors have a sex-dependent effect in an experimental model of fibromyalgia. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 948:175696. [PMID: 37003519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
There is evidence about the importance of sex in pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sex in the antiallodynic activity of spinal dopamine D1-and D2-like receptors in a model of fibromyalgia-type pain in rats. Reserpine induced the same extent of tactile allodynia in female and male rats. Intrathecal injection of SCH- 23390 (3-30 nmol, D1-like receptor antagonist), pramipexole (0.15-15 nmol) or quinpirole (1-10 nmol D2-like receptor agonists) increased withdrawal threshold in reserpine-treated female rats. Those drugs induced a greater antiallodynic effect in female rats. Sex-difference was also observed in a nerve injury model. Ovariectomy abated the antiallodynic effect of SCH- 23390 (30 nmol) in reserpine-treated rats, while systemic reconstitution of 17β-estradiol levels or intrathecal injection estrogen receptor-α agonist protopanaxatriol in ovariectomized reserpine-treated females restored the antiallodynic effect of SCH- 23390. Intrathecal administration of ICI-182,780 (estrogen receptor-α/β antagonist) or methyl-piperidino-pyrazole hydrate (estrogen receptor-α antagonist) abated 17β-estradiol-restored antiallodynic effect of SCH- 23390 in rats. In contrast, ovariectomy slightly reduced the effect of pramipexole (15 nmol) or quinpirole (10 nmol) in reserpine-treated rats, whereas systemic reconstitution of 17β-estradiol levels did not modify the antiallodynic effect of both drugs. Combination 17β-estradiol/progesterone, but not 17β-estradiol nor progesterone alone, restored the antiallodynic effect of pramipexole and quinpirole in the rats. Mifepristone (progesterone receptor antagonist) abated 17β-estradiol + progesterone restoration of antiallodynic effect of pramipexole and quinpirole. These data suggest that the antiallodynic effect of dopamine D1-and D2-like receptors in fibromyalgia-type pain depends on spinal 17β-estradiol/estrogen receptor-α and progesterone receptors, respectively.
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Funke JR, Hwang EK, Wunsch AM, Baker R, Engeln KA, Murray CH, Milovanovic M, Caccamise AJ, Wolf ME. Persistent Neuroadaptations in the Nucleus Accumbens Core Accompany Incubation of Methamphetamine Craving in Male and Female Rats. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0480-22.2023. [PMID: 36792361 PMCID: PMC10016192 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0480-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapse is a major problem in treating methamphetamine use disorder. "Incubation of craving" during abstinence is a rat model for persistence of vulnerability to craving and relapse. While methamphetamine incubation has previously been demonstrated in male and female rats, it has not been demonstrated after withdrawal periods greater than 51 d and most mechanistic work used males. Here, we address both gaps. First, although methamphetamine intake was higher in males during self-administration training (6 h/d × 10 d), incubation was similar in males and females, with "incubated" craving persisting through withdrawal day (WD)100. Second, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core, we assessed synaptic levels of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs), as their elevation is required for expression of incubation in males. In both sexes, compared with saline-self-administering controls, CP-AMPAR levels were significantly higher in methamphetamine rats across withdrawal, although this was less pronounced in WD100-135 rats than WD15-35 or WD40-75 methamphetamine rats. We also examined membrane properties and NMDA receptor (NMDAR) transmission. In saline controls, MSNs from males exhibited lower excitability than females. This difference was eliminated after incubation because of increased excitability of MSNs from males. NMDAR transmission did not differ between sexes and was not altered after incubation. In conclusion, incubation persists for longer than previously described and equally persistent CP-AMPAR plasticity in NAc core occurs in both sexes. Thus, abstinence-related synaptic plasticity in NAc is similar in males and females although other methamphetamine-related behaviors and neuroadaptations show differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Funke
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
| | - Eun-Kyung Hwang
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
| | - Amanda M Wunsch
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Raines Baker
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
| | - Kimberley A Engeln
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
| | - Conor H Murray
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Mike Milovanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Aaron J Caccamise
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
| | - Marina E Wolf
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97212
- Department of Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
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Mosconi L, Jett S, Nerattini M, Andy C, Yepez CB, Zarate C, Carlton C, Kodancha V, Schelbaum E, Williams S, Pahlajani S, Loeb-Zeitlin S, Havryliuk Y, Andrews R, Pupi A, Ballon D, Kelly J, Osborne J, Nehmeh S, Fink M, Berti V, Matthews D, Dyke J, Brinton RD. In vivo Brain Estrogen Receptor Expression By Neuroendocrine Aging And Relationships With Gray Matter Volume, Bio-Energetics, and Clinical Symptomatology. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2573335. [PMID: 36909660 PMCID: PMC10002830 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2573335/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
17β-estradiol,the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This in vivo multi-modality neuroimaging study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks. Effects were independent of age and plasma estradiol levels, and were highly consistent, correctly classifying all women as being post-menopausal or not. Higher ER density was generally associated with lower gray matter volume and blood flow, and with higher mitochondria ATP production, possibly reflecting compensatory mechanisms. Additionally, ER density predicted changes in thermoregulation, mood, cognition, and libido. Our data provide evidence that ER density impacts brainstructure, perfusion and energy production during female endocrine aging, with clinical implications for women's health.
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Hasegawa R, Saito-Nakaya K, Gu L, Kanazawa M, Fukudo S. Maternal separation and TNBS-induced gut inflammation synergistically alter the sexually differentiated stress response in rats. Biopsychosoc Med 2023; 17:7. [PMID: 36841797 PMCID: PMC9960214 DOI: 10.1186/s13030-022-00258-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal maternal separation (MS) has been used to model long-lasting changes in behavior caused by neuroplastic changes associated with exposure to early-life stress. Earlier studies showed that transient gut inflammation can influence the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A prevailing paradigm of the etiology of IBS is that transient noxious events lead to long-lasting sensitization of the neural pain circuit, despite complete resolution of the initiating event. This study characterizes the changes in behaviors and neuroendocrine parameters after MS and early-phase trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. We tested the hypothesis that MS and gut inflammation synergistically induce (1) hyperactivity in male rats and anxiety-like behaviors in female rats and (2) activation of the HPA axis in female rats and deactivation of the HPA axis in male rats after colorectal distention (CRD). METHODS Male and female rat pups were separated from their dams for 180 min daily from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 14 (MS). Early-phase colitis was induced by colorectal administration with TNBS on PND 8. The elevated plus-maze test was performed at 7 weeks. Tonic CRD was performed at 60 mmHg for 15 min at 8 weeks. Plasma ACTH and serum corticosterone were measured at baseline or after the CRD. Analysis of variance was performed for comparison among controls, TNBS, MS, and MS + TNBS. RESULTS In male rats, the time spent in open arms significantly differed among the groups (p < 0.005). The time spent in open arms in male MS + TNBS rats was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.009) or TNBS rats (p < 0.031, post hoc test). Female rats showed no difference in the time spent in open arms among the groups. MS and gut inflammation induced an increase in plasma ACTH in female rats but not in male rats at baseline. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that MS and gut inflammation synergistically induce hyperactive behavior or exaggerated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function depending on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoko Hasegawa
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8575 Japan
| | - Kumi Saito-Nakaya
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8575 Japan ,grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8575 Japan
| | - Li Gu
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8575 Japan ,grid.410560.60000 0004 1760 3078Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Management, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Motoyori Kanazawa
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8575 Japan
| | - Shin Fukudo
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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Lamanna-Rama N, MacDowell KS, López G, Leza JC, Desco M, Ambrosio E, Soto-Montenegro ML. Neuroimaging revealed long-lasting glucose metabolism changes to morphine withdrawal in rats pretreated with the cannabinoid agonist CP-55,940 during periadolescence. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 69:60-76. [PMID: 36780817 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the long-term effects of a six and 14-week morphine withdrawal in rats pretreated with a cannabinoid agonist (CP-55,940, CP) during periadolescence. Wistar rats (33 males; 32 females) were treated with CP or its vehicle (VH) from postnatal day (PND) 28-38. At PND100, rats performed morphine self-administration (MSA, 15d/12 h/session). Eight groups were defined according to pretreatment (CP), treatment (morphine), and sex. Three [18F]FDG-PET brain images were acquired: after MSA, and after six and 14 weeks of withdrawal. PET data were analyzed with SPM12. Endocannabinoid (EC) markers were evaluated in frozen brain tissue at endpoint. Females showed a higher mean number of self-injections than males. A main Sex effect on global brain metabolism was found. FDG uptake in males was discrete, whereas females showed greater brain metabolism changes mainly in areas of the limbic system after morphine treatment. Moreover, the morphine-induced metabolic pattern in females was exacerbated when CP was previously present. In addition, the CP-Saline male group showed reduced CB1R, MAGL expression, and NAPE/FAAH ratio compared to the control group, and morphine was able to reverse CB1R and MAGL expression almost to control levels. In conclusion, females showed greater and longer-lasting metabolic changes after morphine withdrawal than males, indicating a higher vulnerability and a different sensitivity to morphine in subjects pre-exposed to CP. In contrast, males primarily showed changes in EC markers. Together, our results suggest that CP pre-exposure contributes to the modulation of brain metabolism and EC systems in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Lamanna-Rama
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain
| | - K S MacDowell
- CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología & Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Imas12, IUIN, Spain
| | - G López
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, National University for Distance Learning (UNED), Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Health Science, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR), Spain
| | - J C Leza
- CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología & Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Imas12, IUIN, Spain
| | - M Desco
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain; CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - E Ambrosio
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, National University for Distance Learning (UNED), Madrid, Spain.
| | - M L Soto-Montenegro
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Fisiopatología y Farmacología del Sistema Digestivo de la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (NEUGUT), Madrid, España.
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Kim HJJ, Zagzoog A, Black T, Baccetto SL, Laprairie RB. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying brain region-specific endocannabinoid system modulation by estradiol across the rodent estrus cycle. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 195:27-45. [PMID: 36707154 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Neurological crosstalk between the endocannabinoid and estrogen systems has been a growing topic of discussion over the last decade. Although the main estrogenic ligand, estradiol (E2), influences endocannabinoid signaling in both male and female animals, the latter experiences significant and rhythmic fluctuations in E2 as well as other sex hormones. This is referred to as the menstrual cycle in women and the estrus cycle in rodents such as mice and rats. Consisting of 4 distinct hormone-driven phases, the rodent estrus cycle modulates both endocannabinoid and exogenous cannabinoid signaling resulting in unique behavioral outcomes based on the cycle phase. For example, cannabinoid receptor agonist-induced antinociception is greatest during proestrus and estrus, when circulating and brain levels of E2 are high, as compared to metestrus and diestrus when E2 concentrations are low. Pain processing occurs throughout the cerebral cortex and amygdala of the forebrain; periaqueductal grey of the midbrain; and medulla and spine of the hindbrain. As a result, past molecular investigations on these endocannabinoid-estrogen system interactions have focused on these specific brain regions. Here, we will bridge regional molecular trends with neurophysiological evidence of how plasma membrane estrogen receptor (ER) activation by E2 leads to postsynaptic endocannabinoid synthesis, retrograde signaling, and alterations in inhibitory neurotransmission. These signaling pathways depend on ER heterodimers, current knowledge of which will also be detailed in this review. Overall, the aim of this review article is to systematically summarize how the cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids change in expression and function in specific brain regions throughout the estrus cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Ji J Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Ayat Zagzoog
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Sarah L Baccetto
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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Jameson AN, Siemann JK, Melchior J, Calipari ES, McMahon DG, Grueter BA. Photoperiod Impacts Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Dynamics. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0361-22.2023. [PMID: 36781229 PMCID: PMC9937087 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0361-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian photoperiod, or day length, changes with the seasons and influences behavior to allow animals to adapt to their environment. Photoperiod is also associated with seasonal rhythms of affective state, as evidenced by seasonality of several neuropsychiatric disorders. Interestingly, seasonality tends to be more prevalent in women for affective disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the underlying neurobiological processes contributing to sex-linked seasonality of affective behaviors are largely unknown. Mesolimbic dopamine input to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) contributes to the regulation of affective state and behaviors. Additionally, sex differences in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway are well established. Therefore, we hypothesize that photoperiod may drive differential modulation of NAc dopamine in males and females. Here, we used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to explore whether photoperiod can modulate subsecond dopamine signaling dynamics in the NAc core of male and female mice raised in seasonally relevant photoperiods. We found that photoperiod modulates dopamine signaling in the NAc core, and that this effect is sex-specific to females. Both release and uptake of dopamine were enhanced in the NAc core of female mice raised in long, summer-like photoperiods, whereas we did not find photoperiodic effects on NAc core dopamine in males. These findings uncover a potential neural circuit basis for sex-linked seasonality in affective behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis N Jameson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Justin K Siemann
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - James Melchior
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Douglas G McMahon
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Brad A Grueter
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
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Martz JR, Vasquez A, Gillette R, Gore AC, Dominguez JM. The medial preoptic area and acute cocaine's stimulant effects in rats: Potential influences of estradiol and biological sex. Horm Behav 2023; 148:105296. [PMID: 36528006 PMCID: PMC9892259 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105296] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The medial preoptic area (mPOA) in the hypothalamus is an important integrator of neuroendocrine signaling and a key regulator of both natural and drug-induced reward. Although the mPOA modulates sex differences in other behaviors, whether it also modulates sex differences in cocaine response remains unclear. To help us better understand the mPOA's role in sex differences associated with cocaine response, we examined cocaine-induced changes in locomotion and neural activity in the mPOA of male and female rats. In addition, neural activity in the striatum, a brain area known to be involved in cocaine response, was examined for comparison purposes. Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos, was used as the marker of neural activity. Locomotion chambers were used to measure behavior, radioimmunoassays and vaginal lavages were used to determine hormonal status, and immunohistochemical assays were used to quantify Fos. To account for the effects of gonadal hormones, rats were left gonadally intact and categorized as either 'low-estradiol' or 'high-estradiol' based on their hormonal status on test day. Results indicate that high-estradiol females experienced greater cocaine-induced mPOA Fos-immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) and displayed greater cocaine-induced locomotion than low estradiol females. Conversely, high-estradiol males experienced less cocaine-induced mPOA Fos-ir and displayed less cocaine-induced locomotion than low-estradiol males. Cocaine-induced Fos-ir in the mPOA also correlated with cocaine-induced Fos-ir in areas of the striatum already associated with cocaine response. These findings further support the mPOA's role in the endocrine-mediated response to cocaine. It also identifies the mPOA as a contributor to sex differences in cocaine response and potential differences in vulnerability to developing cocaine use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Martz
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol & Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Adriana Vasquez
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ross Gillette
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Andrea C Gore
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Juan M Dominguez
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol & Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Massa MG, Scott RL, Cara AL, Cortes LR, Sandoval NP, Park JW, Ali S, Velez LM, Tesfaye B, Reue K, van Veen JE, Seldin M, Correa SM. Feeding Neurons Integrate Metabolic and Reproductive States in Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.25.525595. [PMID: 36747631 PMCID: PMC9900829 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Trade-offs between metabolic and reproductive processes are important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. Puberty and reproduction, as energetically taxing life stages, are often gated by metabolic availability in animals with ovaries. How the nervous system coordinates these trade-offs is an active area of study. We identify somatostatin neurons of the tuberal nucleus (TNSST) as a node of the feeding circuit that alters feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of TNSST neurons increased food intake across sexes, selective ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. Interestingly, this ablation effect was only apparent in animals with a low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of TNSST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of the effects of TNSST neurons on food intake. Together, these studies point to a mechanism whereby TNSST hypothalamic neurons modulate feeding by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens differentially based on energy stores. This research provides insight into how neural circuits integrate reproductive and metabolic signals, and illustrates how gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context-dependent and gated by metabolic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Massa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Rachel L Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alexandra L Cara
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Laura R Cortes
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Norma P Sandoval
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jae W Park
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sahara Ali
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Leandro M Velez
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Bethlehem Tesfaye
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - J Edward van Veen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Marcus Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Stephanie M Correa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
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47
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Przybysz JT, DiBrog AM, Kern KA, Mukherjee A, Japa JE, Waite MH, Mietlicki-Baase EG. Macronutrient intake: Hormonal controls, pathological states, and methodological considerations. Appetite 2023; 180:106365. [PMID: 36347305 PMCID: PMC10563642 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106365] [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: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A plethora of studies to date has examined the roles of feeding-related peptides in the control of food intake. However, the influence of these peptides on the intake of particular macronutrient constituents of food - carbohydrate, fat, and protein - has not been as extensively addressed in the literature. Here, the roles of several feeding-related peptides in controlling macronutrient intake are reviewed. Next, the relationship between macronutrient intake and diseases including diabetes mellitus, obesity, and eating disorders are examined. Finally, some key considerations in macronutrient intake research are discussed. We hope that this review will shed light onto this underappreciated topic in ingestive behavior research and will help to guide further scientific investigation in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan T Przybysz
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Adrianne M DiBrog
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Katherine A Kern
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Ashmita Mukherjee
- Psychology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Jason E Japa
- Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Mariana H Waite
- Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Elizabeth G Mietlicki-Baase
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA; Center for Ingestive Behavior Research, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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48
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Strain MM, Tongkhuya S, Wienandt N, Alsadoon F, Chavez R, Daniels J, Garza T, Trevino AV, Wells K, Stark T, Clifford J, Sosanya NM. Exploring combat stress exposure effects on burn pain in a female rodent model. BMC Neurosci 2022; 23:73. [PMID: 36474149 PMCID: PMC9724288 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-022-00759-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the military, constant physiological and psychological stress encountered by Soldiers can lead to development of the combat and operational stress reaction (COSR), which can effect pain management. Similar effects are seen in other populations subjected to high levels of stress. Using a model of COSR, our lab recently showed that four weeks of stress prior to an injury increases pain sensitivity in male rats. With the roles of women in the military expanding and recent studies indicating sex differences in stress and pain processing, this study sought to investigate how different amounts of prior stress exposure affects thermal injury-induced mechanosensitivity in a female rat model of COSR. Adult female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to the unpredictable combat stress (UPCS) procedure for either 2 or 4 weeks. The UPCS procedure included exposure to one stressor each day for four days. The stressors include: (1) sound stress for 30 min, (2) restraint stress for 4 h, (3) cold stress for 4 h, and (4) forced swim stress for 15 min. The order of stressors was randomized weekly. Mechanical and thermal sensitivity was tested twice weekly. After the UPCS procedure, a sub-set of rats received a thermal injury while under anesthesia. The development of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia was examined for 14 days post-burn. UPCS exposure increased mechanosensitivity after two weeks. Interestingly, with more stress exposure, females seemed to habituate to the stress, causing the stress-induced changes in mechanosensitivity to decrease by week three of UPCS. If thermal injury induction occurred during peak stress-induced mechanosensitivity, after two weeks, this resulted in increased mechanical allodynia in the injured hind paw compared to thermal injury alone. This data indicates a susceptibility to increased nociceptive sensitization when injury is sustained at peak stress reactivity. Additionally, this data indicates a sex difference in the timing of peak stress. Post-mortem examination of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) showed altered expression of p-TrkB in 4-week stressed animals given a thermal injury, suggesting a compensatory mechanism. Future work will examine treatment options for preventing stress-induced pain to maintain the effectiveness and readiness of the Warfighter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misty M. Strain
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Sirima Tongkhuya
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Nathan Wienandt
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Farah Alsadoon
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Roger Chavez
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Jamar Daniels
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Thomas Garza
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Alex V. Trevino
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Kenney Wells
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Thomas Stark
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - John Clifford
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
| | - Natasha M. Sosanya
- grid.420328.f0000 0001 2110 0308Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), JBSA Fort Sam Houston, 3698 Chambers Pass, San Antonio, TX 78234-4504 USA
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Franklin TR, Spilka NH, Keyser H, Maron M, Jagannathan K, Wetherill RR. Impact of the natural hormonal milieu on ventral striatal responses to appetitive cigarette smoking cues: A prospective longitudinal study. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2022; 5:100119. [PMID: 36844172 PMCID: PMC9948852 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background The female sex hormones estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) galvanize the ventral striatal reward pathway. E elevates ventral striatal dopamine and accelerates drug-cued reinstatement, while P has opposing 'protective' effects on drug-related behavior. We hypothesize that women may exhibit greater ventral striatal responses to smoking cues (SCs) during the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (MC) when E is high and unimpeded by P, and reduced responses during the late luteal phase when P is high. Methods To test our hypothesis, 24 naturally cycling cigarette-dependent women completed functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) sessions over the course of 3 MCs at select time points to reflect the early follicular (low E and P; LEP, control condition), late follicular (high E, low P; HE) and mid-luteal (high E, high P; HEP) MC phases. During fMRI sessions (counterbalanced by phase), women were exposed to a SC versus nonSC audio-visual clip. Ovulation was verified for each MC, and hormone levels were acquired prior to sessions. Results Contrasts within conditions showed that ventral striatal brain responses to SCs versus nonSCs were negligible during LEP and greater during HE (p=0.009) and HP (p=0.016). Contrasts across conditions showed that HE and HEP had greater responses than LEP (p=0.005), and HE had greater responses than HEP (p=0.049). Conclusions Results support and extend our retrospective cross-sectional study of the influence of the hormonal milieu on SC reactivity. Results are clinically relevant as they may guide novel, hormonally-informed and immediately translatable treatment strategies that can potentially reduce relapse in naturally cycling women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa R. Franklin
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Nathaniel H. Spilka
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Heather Keyser
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Melanie Maron
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Kanchana Jagannathan
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Reagan R. Wetherill
- The Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
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Kaluve AM, Le JT, Graham BM. Female rodents are not more variable than male rodents: a meta-analysis of preclinical studies of fear and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104962. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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