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Aerts EG, Griesgraber MJ, Shuping SL, Bowdridge EC, Hardy SL, Goodman RL, Nestor CC, Hileman SM. The effect of NK3-Saporin injection within the arcuate nucleus on puberty, the LH surge, and the response to Senktide in female sheep†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:275-287. [PMID: 37930247 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The timing of puberty onset is reliant on increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This elicits a corresponding increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) due to a lessening of sensitivity to the inhibitory actions of estradiol (E2). The mechanisms underlying the increase in GnRH release likely involve a subset of neurons within the arcuate (ARC) nucleus of the hypothalamus that contain kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin (KNDy neurons). We aimed to determine if KNDy neurons in female sheep are critical for: timely puberty onset; the LH surge; and the response to an intravenous injection of the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) agonist, senktide. Prepubertal ewes received injections aimed at the ARC containing blank-saporin (control, n = 5) or NK3-saporin (NK3-SAP, n = 6) to ablate neurons expressing NK3R. Blood samples taken 3/week for 65 days following surgery were assessed for progesterone to determine onset of puberty. Control ewes exhibited onset of puberty at 33.2 ± 3.9 days post sampling initiation, whereas 5/6 NK3-SAP treated ewes didn't display an increase in progesterone. After an artificial LH surge protocol, surge amplitude was lower in NK3-SAP ewes. Finally, ewes were treated with senktide to determine if an LH response was elicited. LH pulses were evident in both groups in the absence of injections, but the response to senktide vs saline was similar between groups. These results show that KNDy cells are necessary for timely puberty onset and for full expresson of the LH surge. The occurrence of LH pulses in NK3-SAP treated ewes may indicate a recovery from an apulsatile state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana G Aerts
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Max J Griesgraber
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Sydney L Shuping
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | | | - Steven L Hardy
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Robert L Goodman
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Casey C Nestor
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Stanley M Hileman
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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Xie Y, Shi X, Xiao K, Zhou L, Shu T, Du H, Yang J, Hu G. Sequences analysis and pituitary actions of tachykinins in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). Gene 2023:147592. [PMID: 37356741 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Tachykinins belong to a large, evolutionarily conserved family of brain/gut peptides that are involved in a variety of physiological functions in mammals, such as reproductive regulation. However, little information was available about tachykinins in ancient fish lineage. In the present study, we firstly identified three tachykinin genes (named tac1, tac3 and tac4) and three neurokinin receptors (named nk1r, nk2r and nk3r) from Chinese sturgeon brain and pituitary. Sequence analysis showed that tac1 encoded substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), tac3 encoded neurokinin B (NKB) and NKB-related peptide (NKBRP), and tac4 encoded hemokin 1 (HK-1) and hemokin 2 (HK-2), respectively. The luciferase reporter assay results showed that NK1R preferentially selected asSP, NK2R preferentially selected asNKA, and NK3R preferentially selected asNKB. Tissue expression analysis showed that the three tac genes were highly detected in the telencephalon and hypothalamus, whereas nkr genes were widely expressed in peripheral tissues. Spatio-temporal expression analysis showed that all three tac genes were highly expressed in unknown sex individuals. Intraperitoneal injection experiments showed that both asSP and asNKB could stimulate luteinizing hormone (LH) release in Chinese sturgeon serum. At the transcriptional level, asSP and asNKB could significantly reduce pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone beta (fshβ) mRNA expression, but induce pituitary growth hormone (gh) mRNA expression. In addition, estradiol (E2) could stimulate tac3 mRNA expression in hypothalamus. Taken together, this study provided information on the tachykinin family in Chinese sturgeon and demonstrates that asNKB and asSP could be involved in reproductive and growth regulation in pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyi Xie
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xuetao Shi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Project for Conservation of Fishes, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China; Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China
| | - Kan Xiao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Project for Conservation of Fishes, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China; Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China
| | - Lingling Zhou
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Tingting Shu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Project for Conservation of Fishes, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China; Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China
| | - Hejun Du
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Project for Conservation of Fishes, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China; Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Project for Conservation of Fishes, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China; Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, Hubei, 443100, China
| | - Guangfu Hu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
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Naulé L, Mancini A, Pereira SA, Gassaway BM, Lydeard JR, Magnotto JC, Kim HK, Liang J, Matos C, Gygi SP, Merkle FT, Carroll RS, Abreu AP, Kaiser UB. MKRN3 inhibits puberty onset via interaction with IGF2BP1 and regulation of hypothalamic plasticity. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e164178. [PMID: 37092553 PMCID: PMC10243807 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.164178] [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: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Makorin ring finger protein 3 (MKRN3) was identified as an inhibitor of puberty initiation with the report of loss-of-function mutations in association with central precocious puberty. Consistent with this inhibitory role, a prepubertal decrease in Mkrn3 expression was observed in the mouse hypothalamus. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of action of MKRN3 in the central regulation of puberty onset. We showed that MKRN3 deletion in hypothalamic neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells was associated with significant changes in expression of genes controlling hypothalamic development and plasticity. Mkrn3 deletion in a mouse model led to early puberty onset in female mice. We found that Mkrn3 deletion increased the number of dendritic spines in the arcuate nucleus but did not alter the morphology of GnRH neurons during postnatal development. In addition, we identified neurokinin B (NKB) as an Mkrn3 target. Using proteomics, we identified insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) as another target of MKRN3. Interactome analysis revealed that IGF2BP1 interacted with MKRN3, along with several members of the polyadenylate-binding protein family. Our data show that one of the mechanisms by which MKRN3 inhibits pubertal initiation is through regulation of prepubertal hypothalamic development and plasticity, as well as through effects on NKB and IGF2BP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydie Naulé
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alessandra Mancini
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sidney A. Pereira
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brandon M. Gassaway
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John R. Lydeard
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John C. Magnotto
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Han Kyeol Kim
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joy Liang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cynara Matos
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven P. Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Florian T. Merkle
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Institute of Metabolic Science and
- Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rona S. Carroll
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ana Paula Abreu
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ursula B. Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Sobrino V, Avendaño MS, Perdices-López C, Jimenez-Puyer M, Tena-Sempere M. Kisspeptins and the neuroendocrine control of reproduction: Recent progress and new frontiers in kisspeptin research. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 65:100977. [PMID: 34999056 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In late 2003, a major breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms that govern reproduction occurred with the identification of the reproductive roles of kisspeptins, encoded by the Kiss1 gene, and their receptor, Gpr54 (aka, Kiss1R). The discovery of this unsuspected reproductive facet attracted an extraordinary interest and boosted an intense research activity, in human and model species, that, in a relatively short period, established a series of basic concepts on the physiological roles of kisspeptins. Such fundamental knowledge, gathered in these early years of kisspeptin research, set the scene for the more recent in-depth dissection of the intimacies of the neuronal networks involving Kiss1 neurons, their precise mechanisms of regulation and the molecular underpinnings of the function of kisspeptins as pivotal regulators of all key aspects of reproductive function, from puberty onset to pulsatile gonadotropin secretion and the metabolic control of fertility. While no clear temporal boundaries between these two periods can be defined, in this review we will summarize the most prominent advances in kisspeptin research occurred in the last ten years, as a means to provide an up-dated view of the state of the art and potential paths of future progress in this dynamic, and ever growing domain of Neuroendocrinology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Sobrino
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Maria Soledad Avendaño
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Cecilia Perdices-López
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Jimenez-Puyer
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 14004 Cordoba, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
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Campo A, Dufour S, Rousseau K. Tachykinins, new players in the control of reproduction and food intake: A comparative review in mammals and teleosts. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1056939. [PMID: 36589829 PMCID: PMC9800884 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1056939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, the tachykinin system includes tachykinin genes, which encode one or two peptides each, and tachykinin receptors. The complexity of this system is reinforced by the massive conservation of gene duplicates after the whole-genome duplication events that occurred in vertebrates and furthermore in teleosts. Added to this, the expression of the tachykinin system is more widespread than first thought, being found beyond the brain and gut. The discovery of the co-expression of neurokinin B, encoded by the tachykinin 3 gene, and kisspeptin/dynorphin in neurons involved in the generation of GnRH pulse, in mammals, put a spotlight on the tachykinin system in vertebrate reproductive physiology. As food intake and reproduction are linked processes, and considering that hypothalamic hormones classically involved in the control of reproduction are reported to regulate also appetite and energy homeostasis, it is of interest to look at the potential involvement of tachykinins in these two major physiological functions. The purpose of this review is thus to provide first a general overview of the tachykinin system in mammals and teleosts, before giving a state of the art on the different levels of action of tachykinins in the control of reproduction and food intake. This work has been conducted with a comparative point of view, highlighting the major similarities and differences of tachykinin systems and actions between mammals and teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Campo
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Research Unit Unité Mixte de Recherche Biologie des Organsimes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR BOREA), Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développemen (IRD), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeTsion, Israel
| | - Sylvie Dufour
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Research Unit Unité Mixte de Recherche Biologie des Organsimes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR BOREA), Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développemen (IRD), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Karine Rousseau
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Research Unit Unité Mixte de Recherche Biologie des Organsimes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR BOREA), Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développemen (IRD), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Research Unit PhyMA Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation CNRS, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Karine Rousseau,
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McCarthy EA, Dischino D, Maguire C, Leon S, Talbi R, Cheung E, Schteingart CD, Rivière PJM, Reed SD, Steiner RA, Navarro VM. Inhibiting Kiss1 Neurons With Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists to Treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Vasomotor Symptoms. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e328-e347. [PMID: 34387319 PMCID: PMC8684497 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Recent evidence suggests that vasomotor symptoms (VMS) or hot flashes in the postmenopausal reproductive state and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the premenopausal reproductive state emanate from the hyperactivity of Kiss1 neurons in the hypothalamic infundibular/arcuate nucleus (KNDy neurons). OBJECTIVE We demonstrate in 2 murine models simulating menopause and PCOS that a peripherally restricted kappa receptor agonist (PRKA) inhibits hyperactive KNDy neurons (accessible from outside the blood-brain barrier) and impedes their downstream effects. DESIGN Case/control. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Mice. INTERVENTIONS Administration of peripherally restricted kappa receptor agonists and frequent blood sampling to determine hormone release and body temperature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES LH pulse parameters and body temperature. RESULTS First, chronic administration of a PRKA to bilaterally ovariectomized mice with experimentally induced hyperactivity of KNDy neurons reduces the animals' elevated body temperature, mean plasma LH level, and mean peak LH per pulse. Second, chronic administration of a PRKA to a murine model of PCOS, having elevated plasma testosterone levels and irregular ovarian cycles, suppresses circulating levels of LH and testosterone and restores normal ovarian cyclicity. CONCLUSION The inhibition of kisspeptin neuronal activity by activation of kappa receptors shows promise as a novel therapeutic approach to treat both VMS and PCOS in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCarthy
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Dischino
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Caroline Maguire
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Silvia Leon
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rajae Talbi
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eugene Cheung
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | - Susan D Reed
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Robert A Steiner
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Victor M Navarro
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Program in Neuroscience, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence: Victor M. Navarro PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, 221 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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7
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Talbi R, Ferrari K, Choi JH, Gerutshang A, McCarthy EA, Dischino D, León S, Navarro VM. Characterization of the Action of Tachykinin Signaling on Pulsatile LH Secretion in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqab074. [PMID: 33839770 PMCID: PMC8234505 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The alternation of the stimulatory action of the tachykinin neurokinin B (NKB) and the inhibitory action of dynorphin within arcuate (ARH) Kiss1 neurons has been proposed as the mechanism behind the generation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses through the pulsatile release of kisspeptin. However, we have recently documented that GnRH pulses still exist in gonadectomized mice in the absence of tachykinin signaling. Here, we document an increase in basal frequency and amplitude of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses in intact male mice deficient in substance P, neurokinin A (NKA) signaling (Tac1KO), and NKB signaling (Tac2KO and Tacr3KO). Moreover, we offer evidence that a single bolus of the NKB receptor agonist senktide to gonad-intact wild-type males increases the basal release of LH without changing its frequency. Altogether, these data support the dispensable role of the individual tachykinin systems in the generation of LH pulses. Moreover, the increased activity of the GnRH pulse generator in intact KO male mice suggests the existence of compensation by additional mechanisms in the generation of kisspeptin/GnRH pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajae Talbi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kaitlin Ferrari
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ji Hae Choi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Achi Gerutshang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth A McCarthy
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Dischino
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Silvia León
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Víctor M Navarro
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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8
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Torres E, Velasco I, Franssen D, Heras V, Gaytan F, Leon S, Navarro VM, Pineda R, Candenas ML, Romero-Ruiz A, Tena-Sempere M. Congenital ablation of Tacr2 reveals overlapping and redundant roles of NK2R signaling in the control of reproductive axis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2021; 320:E496-E511. [PMID: 33427049 PMCID: PMC8828271 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00346.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tachykinin (TAC) signaling is an important element in the central control of reproduction. TAC family is mainly composed of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and NKB, which bind preferentially to NK1, NK2, and NK3 receptors, respectively. While most studies have focused on the reproductive functions of NKB/NK3R, and to a lesser extent SP/NK1R, the relevance of NK2R, encoded by Tacr2, remains poorly characterized. Here, we address the physiological roles of NK2R in regulating the reproductive axis by characterizing a novel mouse line with congenital ablation of Tacr2. Activation of NK2R evoked acute luteinizing hormone (LH) responses in control mice, similar to those of agonists of NK1R and NK3R. Despite the absence of NK2R, Tacr2-/- mice displayed only partially reduced LH responses to an NK2R agonist, which, nonetheless, were abrogated after blockade of NK3R in Tacr2-/- males. While Tacr2-/- mice displayed normal pubertal timing, LH pulsatility was partially altered in Tacr2-/- females in adulthood, with suppression of basal LH levels, but no changes in the number of LH pulses. In addition, trends for increase in breeding intervals were detected in Tacr2-/- mice. However, null animals of both sexes were fertile, with no changes in estrous cyclicity or sex preference in social behavioral tests. In conclusion, stimulation of NK2R elicited LH responses in mice, while congenital ablation of Tacr2 partially suppressed basal and stimulated LH secretion, with moderate reproductive impact. Our data support a modest, albeit detectable, role of NK2R in the control of the gonadotropic axis, with partially overlapping and redundant functions with other tachykinin receptors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have explored here the impact of congenital ablation of the gene (Tacr2) encoding the tachykinin receptor, NK2R, in terms of neuroendocrine control of the reproductive axis, using a novel Tacr2 KO mouse line. Our data support a modest, albeit detectable, role of NK2R in the control of the gonadotropic axis, with partially overlapping and redundant functions with other tachykinin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Encarnacion Torres
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Velasco
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Delphine Franssen
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Violeta Heras
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Gaytan
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Silvia Leon
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victor M Navarro
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rafael Pineda
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - M Luz Candenas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Romero-Ruiz
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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9
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Naulé L, Maione L, Kaiser UB. Puberty, A Sensitive Window of Hypothalamic Development and Plasticity. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqaa209. [PMID: 33175140 PMCID: PMC7733306 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Puberty is a developmental period characterized by a broad range of physiologic changes necessary for the acquisition of adult sexual and reproductive maturity. These changes mirror complex modifications within the central nervous system, including within the hypothalamus. These modifications result in the maturation of a fully active hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the neuroendocrine cascade ensuring gonadal activation, sex steroid secretion, and gametogenesis. A complex and finely regulated neural network overseeing the HPG axis, particularly the pubertal reactivation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, has been progressively unveiled in the last 3 decades. This network includes kisspeptin, neurokinin B, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons as well as glial cells. In addition to substantial modifications in the expression of key targets, several changes in neuronal morphology, neural connections, and synapse organization occur to establish mature and coordinated neurohormonal secretion, leading to puberty initiation. The aim of this review is to outline the current knowledge of the major changes that neurons secreting GnRH and their neuronal and glial partners undergo before and after puberty. Emerging mediators upstream of GnRH, uncovered in recent years, are also addressed herein. In addition, the effects of sex steroids, particularly estradiol, on changes in hypothalamic neurodevelopment and plasticity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydie Naulé
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luigi Maione
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Paris Saclay University, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Bicêtre Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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10
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León S, Fergani C, Talbi R, Maguire CA, Gerutshang A, Seminara SB, Navarro VM. Tachykinin Signaling Is Required for Induction of the Preovulatory Luteinizing Hormone Surge and Normal Luteinizing Hormone Pulses. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:542-554. [PMID: 32512561 PMCID: PMC7722126 DOI: 10.1159/000509222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tachykinins (neurokinin A [NKA], neurokinin B [NKB], and substance P [SP]) are important components of the neuroendocrine control of reproduction by direct stimulation of Kiss1 neurons to control GnRH pulsatility, which is essential for reproduction. Despite this role of tachykinins in successful reproduction, knockout (KO) mice for Tac1 (NKA/SP) and Tac2 (NKB) genes are fertile, resembling the phenotype of human patients bearing NKB signaling mutations, who often reverse their hypogonadal phenotype. This suggests the existence of compensatory mechanisms among the different tachykinin ligand-receptor systems to maintain reproduction in the absence of one of them. In order to test this hypothesis, we generated complete tachykinin-deficient mice (Tac1/Tac2KO). Male mice displayed delayed puberty onset and decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility (frequency and amplitude of LH pulses) but preserved fertility. However, females did not show signs of puberty onset (first estrus) within 45 days after vaginal opening, they displayed a low frequency (but normal amplitude) of LH pulses, and 80% of them remained infertile. Further evaluation identified a complete absence of the preovulatory LH surge in Tac1/Tac2KO females as well as in wild-type females treated with NKB or SP receptor antagonists. These data confirmed a fundamental role of tachykinins in the timing of puberty onset and LH pulsatility and uncovered a role of tachykinin signaling in facilitation of the preovulatory LH surge. Overall, these findings indicate that tachykinin signaling plays a dominant role in the control of ovulation, with potential implications as a pathogenic mechanism and a therapeutic target to improve reproductive outcomes in women with ovulation impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia León
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chrysanthi Fergani
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rajae Talbi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caroline A Maguire
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Achi Gerutshang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephanie B Seminara
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victor M Navarro
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,
- Harvard Program in Neuroscience, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,
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11
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Abstract
The tachykinin family of peptides has emerged as a critical component of the central control of the reproductive axis. Mounting evidence suggests that neurokinin B (NKB) plays an essential role in sexual maturation and fertility by directly stimulating the release of kisspeptin, with the contribution of additional tachykinins (neurokinin A [NKA] and substance P [SP]) in the fine tuning of the activity of Kiss1 neurons. The expression of tachykinins increases in the hypothalamus before puberty and, therefore, they are considered as initiators of pubertal development by stimulating the awakening of Kiss1 neurons. This is supported by studies showing delayed or absent puberty onset in humans and mice devoid of tachykinin signaling, and the advancement of puberty onset in rodents subjected to chronic activation of tachykinin receptors. This review compiles the current knowledge on the role of tachykinins in the control of puberty onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor M Navarro
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
- Harvard Program in Neuroscience. Boston, 02115
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12
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Ogawa S, Ramadasan PN, Anthonysamy R, Parhar IS. Sexual Dimorphic Distribution of Hypothalamic Tachykinin1 Cells and Their Innervations to GnRH Neurons in the Zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:534343. [PMID: 33763023 PMCID: PMC7982876 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.534343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), encoded by TAC1/Tac1 gene are members of the tachykinin family, which exert their neuromodulatory roles in vertebrate reproduction. In mammals, SP and NKA have been shown to regulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion via kisspeptin neurons. On the other hand, the role of SP/NKA in the regulation of reproduction in non-mammalian vertebrates is not well known. In the present study, we first localized expression of tac1 mRNA in the brain of male and female zebrafish, Danio rerio. Next, using an antibody against zebrafish tachykinin1 (Tac1), we examined the neural association of SP/NKA neural processes with GnRH3 neurons, and with kisspeptin (kiss2) neurons, in the brains of male and female zebrafish. In situ hybridization showed an apparent male-dominant tac1 expression in the ventral telencephalic area, the anterior and posterior parts of the parvocellular preoptic nucleus, and the suprachiasmatic nucleus. On the other hand, there was female-dominant tac1 expression in the ventral periventricular hypothalamus. Confocal images of double-labeled zebrafish Tac1 and GnRH3 showed associations between Tac1-immunoreactive processes and GnRH3 neurons in the ventral telencephalic area. In contrast, there was no apparent proximity of Tac1 processes to kiss2 mRNA-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus. Lastly, to elucidate possible direct action of SP/NKA on GnRH3 or Kiss2 neurons, expression of SP/NKA receptor, tacr1a mRNA was examined in regions containing GnRH3 or Kiss2 neurons by in situ hybridization. Expression of tacr1a mRNA was seen in several brain regions including the olfactory bulb, preoptic area and hypothalamus, where GnRH3 and Kiss2 cells are present. These results suggest that unlike in mammals, Tac1 may be involved in male reproductive functions via direct action on GnRH3 neurons but independent of kisspeptin in the zebrafish.
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