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Valiño G, Dunlap K, Quintana L. Androgen receptors rapidly modulate non-breeding aggression in male and female weakly electric fish (Gymnotus omarorum). Horm Behav 2024; 159:105475. [PMID: 38154435 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105475] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The South American weakly electric fish, Gymnotus omarorum, displays territorial aggression year-round in both sexes. To examine the role of rapid androgen modulation in non-breeding aggression, we administered acetate cyproterone (CPA), a potent inhibitor of androgen receptors, to both male and females, just before staged agonistic interactions. Wild-caught fish were injected with CPA and, 30 min later, paired in intrasexual dyads. We then recorded the agonistic behavior which encompasses both locomotor displays and emission of social electric signals. We found that CPA had no discernible impact on the levels of aggression or the motivation to engage in aggressive behavior for either sex. However, CPA specifically decreased the expression of social electric signals in both males and female dyads. The effect was status-dependent as it only affected subordinate electrocommunication behavior, the emission of brief interruptions in their electric signaling ("offs"). This study is the first demonstration of a direct and rapid androgen effect mediated via androgen receptors on non-breeding aggression. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in non-breeding aggression in this teleost model allows us to better understand potentially conserved or convergent neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying aggression in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Valiño
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, MEC, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Kent Dunlap
- Department of Biology, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Laura Quintana
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, MEC, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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2
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Lorigo M, Mariana M, Lemos MC, Cairrao E. Vascular mechanisms of testosterone: The non-genomic point of view. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 196:105496. [PMID: 31655180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone (T) is the predominant endogenous androgen in the bloodstream. At the vascular level, T presents genomic and non-genomic effects, and both effects may overlap. The genomic actions assume that androgens can freely cross the plasma membrane of target cells and bind to nuclear androgen receptors, inducing gene transcription and protein synthesis. The non-genomic effects have a more rapid onset and may be related to the interaction with protein/receptor/ion channels of the plasma membrane. The key T effect at the vascular level is vasorelaxation, which is primarily due to its rapid effect. Thus, the main purpose of this review is to discuss the T non-genomic effects at the vascular level and the molecular pathways involved in its vasodilator effect observed in in vivo and in vitro studies. In this sense, the nuclear receptor activation, the influence of vascular endothelium and the activation or inhibition of ion channels (potassium and calcium channels, respectively) will be reviewed regarding all the data that corroborated or not. Moreover, this review also provides a brief update on the association of T with the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, namely metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. In summary, in this paper we consider the non-genomic vascular mode of action of androgen in physiological conditions and the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Lorigo
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Melissa Mariana
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Manuel C Lemos
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Elisa Cairrao
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
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3
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Ruamyod K, Watanapa WB, Shayakul C. Testosterone rapidly increases Ca 2+-activated K + currents causing hyperpolarization in human coronary artery endothelial cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 168:118-126. [PMID: 28223151 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone has endothelium-dependent vasodilatory effects on the coronary artery, with some reports suggesting endothelial ion channel involvement. This study employed the whole-cell patch clamp technique to investigate the effect of testosterone on ion channels in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) and the mechanisms involved. We found that 0.03-3μM testosterone significantly induced a rapid, concentration-dependent increase in total HCAEC current (EC50, 71.96±1.66nM; maximum increase, 59.13±8.37%; mean±SEM). The testosterone-enhanced currents consisted of small- and large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ currents (SKCa and BKCa currents), but not Cl- and nonselective cation currents. Either a non-permeant testosterone conjugate or the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) could increase HCAEC currents as well. The androgen receptor antagonist flutamide prevented this testosterone, testosterone conjugate, and DHT effect, while the estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant did not. Incubating HCAECs with pertussis toxin or protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 largely inhibited the testosterone effect, while pre-incubation with phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122, prostacyclin inhibitor indomethacin, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME or cytochrome P450 inhibitor MS-PPOH, did not. Finally, testosterone application induced HCAEC hyperpolarization within minutes; this effect was prevented by SKCa and BKCa current inhibitors apamin and iberiotoxin. This is the first electrophysiological demonstration of androgen-induced KCa current increase, leading to hyperpolarization, in any endothelial cell, and the first report of SKCa as a testosterone target. Our data show that testosterone rapidly increased whole-cell HCAEC SKCa and BKCa currents via a surface androgen receptor, Gi/o protein, and protein kinase A. This mechanism may explain rapid testosterone-induced coronary vasodilation seen in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katesirin Ruamyod
- Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
| | - Wattana B Watanapa
- Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
| | - Chairat Shayakul
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
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4
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Kumar A, Kumari S, Majhi RK, Swain N, Yadav M, Goswami C. Regulation of TRP channels by steroids: Implications in physiology and diseases. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 220:23-32. [PMID: 25449179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
While effects of different steroids on the gene expression and regulation are well established, it is proven that steroids can also exert rapid non-genomic actions in several tissues and cells. In most cases, these non-genomic rapid effects of steroids are actually due to intracellular mobilization of Ca(2+)- and other ions suggesting that Ca(2+) channels are involved in such effects. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels or TRPs are the largest group of non-selective and polymodal ion channels which cause Ca(2+)-influx in response to different physical and chemical stimuli. While non-genomic actions of different steroids on different ion channels have been established to some extent, involvement of TRPs in such functions is largely unexplored. In this review, we critically analyze the literature and summarize how different steroids as well as their metabolic precursors and derivatives can exert non-genomic effects by acting on different TRPs qualitatively and/or quantitatively. Such effects have physiological repercussion on systems such as in sperm cells, immune cells, bone cells, neuronal cells and many others. Different TRPs are also endogenously expressed in diverse steroid-producing tissues and thus may have importance in steroid synthesis as well, a process which is tightly controlled by the intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. Tissue and cell-specific expression of TRP channels are also regulated by different steroids. Understanding of the crosstalk between TRP channels and different steroids may have strong significance in physiological, endocrinological and pharmacological context and in future these compounds can also be used as potential biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Kumar
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India
| | - Shikha Kumari
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar Majhi
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India
| | - Nirlipta Swain
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India
| | - Manoj Yadav
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India
| | - Chandan Goswami
- School of Biology, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751005, India.
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Abstract
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of premature death in men. Epidemiological studies have shown a high prevalence of low serum testosterone levels in men with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, a low testosterone level is associated in some but not in all observational studies with an increase in cardiovascular events and mortality. Testosterone has beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors, which include cholesterol, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation: key mediators of atherosclerosis. A bidirectional relationship between low endogenous testosterone levels and concurrent illness complicates attempts to validate causality in this association and potential mechanistic actions are complex. Testosterone is a vasoactive hormone that predominantly has vasodilatory actions on several vascular beds, although some studies have reported conflicting effects. In clinical studies, acute and chronic testosterone administration increases coronary artery diameter and flow, improves cardiac ischaemia and symptoms in men with chronic stable angina and reduces peripheral vascular resistance in chronic heart failure. Although the mechanism of the action of testosterone on vascular tone in vivo is not understood, laboratory research has found that testosterone is an L-calcium channel blocker and induces potassium channel activation in vascular smooth muscle cells. Animal studies have consistently demonstrated that testosterone is atheroprotective, whereas testosterone deficiency promotes the early stages of atherogenesis. The translational effects of testosterone between in vitro animal and human studies, some of which have conflicting effects, will be discussed in this review. We review the evidence for a role of testosterone in vascular health, its therapeutic potential and safety in hypogonadal men with CVD, and some of the possible underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Kelly
- Department of Human Metabolism, Medical School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
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Tang Y, Wang M, Chen C, Le X, Sun S, Yin Y. Cardiovascular protection with danshensu in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2012; 34:1596-601. [PMID: 21963501 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.34.1596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular protective effects of Danshensu, a water-soluble active component of Danshen, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR (male, 9 weeks old, n=30) were divided into three groups: 1) saline control (n=10); 2) a Danshensu (10 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) treatment group (n=10); and 3) a Valsartan (10 mg/kg/d, intragastrically (i.g.)) treatment group (n=10). Age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (n=10) were used as normotensive controls. Saline and drug treatments were administered for 6 weeks. When the rats were 15 weeks old, their hearts were excised and arrhythmias were induced by an ex vivo ischemia/reperfusion protocol. The heart weight to body weight index was significantly increased in SHR, and this increase was attenuated with Danshensu treatment (both p<0.05). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were also decreased with Danshensu treatment, from 145±3 and 103±10 mmHg to 116±7 and 87±2 mmHg in SHR and Danshensu-treated groups, respectively (both p<0.05). The incidences of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation decreased from 100 to 50% and 30% in SHR, respectively, with Danshensu treatment (both p<0.05). Serum nitric oxide content and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were significantly increased with Danshensu (both p<0.05). In addition, Danshensu increased the K(+) current density and Ca(2+) activated K(+) channel current density of mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from SHRs. Together, these results demonstrate that Danshensu imparts cardiovascular protection by modifying vascular responses during the progression of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqun Tang
- Research Division of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Niwa S, Ohya S, Kojima Y, Sasaki S, Yamamura H, Sakuragi M, Kohri K, Imaizumi Y. Down-Regulation of the Large-Conductance Ca 2+-Activated K + Channel, K Ca1.1 in the Prostatic Stromal Cells of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Biol Pharm Bull 2012; 35:737-44. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.35.737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Niwa
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | - Susumu Ohya
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | - Yoshiyuki Kojima
- Department of Nephro-urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | - Shoichi Sasaki
- Department of Nephro-urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | - Hisao Yamamura
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | | | - Kenjiro Kohri
- Department of Nephro-urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University
| | - Yuji Imaizumi
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University
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Matsumoto T, Kobayashi T, Ishida K, Hirasawa Y, Morita H, Honda T, Kamata K. Vasodilator effect of Cassiarin A, a novel antiplasmodial alkaloid from Cassia siamea, in rat isolated mesenteric artery. Biol Pharm Bull 2010; 33:844-8. [PMID: 20460764 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.33.844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effect induced by cassiarin A, a novel antiplasmodial alkaloid from Cassia siamea, in rings cut from rat superior mesenteric arteries. In rings precontracted with phenylephrine, cassiarin A induced a concentration-dependent relaxation. This relaxation was attenuated: 1) after removal of the endothelium or after pretreatment of rings with 100 microM of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or 10 microM of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), but not after pretreatment with 10 microM of indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor); and 2) after pretreatment of preparations with either a nonselective or selective inhibitor of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels [1 mM of tetraethylammonium or 100 nM of iberiotoxin, respectively]. The cassiarin A-induced relaxation was also attenuated by these BK(Ca) inhibitors in endothelium-denuded preparations. The cassiarin A-induced relaxation was not altered by treatment with the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel inhibitor glibenclamide (10 microM) or with the voltage-dependent K(+)-channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). In isolated mesenteric artery rings, cassiarin A tended to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels. These results suggest that in the rat mesenteric artery, cassiarin A-induced relaxation may be mediated by endothelial NO and may occur partly via BK(Ca)-channel activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Matsumoto
- Department of Physiology and Morphology, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
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9
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Calderone V, Spogli R, Martelli A, Manfroni G, Testai L, Sabatini S, Tabarrini O, Cecchetti V. Novel 1,4-Benzothiazine Derivatives as Large Conductance Ca2+-Activated Potassium Channel Openers. J Med Chem 2008; 51:5085-92. [DOI: 10.1021/jm701605f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Calderone
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Spogli
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alma Martelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Manfroni
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lara Testai
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy and Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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