Expression of genes for Kisspeptin (KISS1), Neurokinin B (TAC3), Prodynorphin (PDYN), and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (RFRP) across natural puberty in ewes

Pathogenesis of the crosstalk between reproductive function and stress in animals-part 1: Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympatho-adrenomedullary system and kisspeptin

Stress is defined as a disruption of the body homeostasis in response to modest as well as perceived challenge. Two main physiological routes, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) and the sympatho-adrenomedullary system (SAM), aim to maintain or restore homeostasis by mutual interaction. SAM is quickly-reacting as it primarily works through the nervous system-the sympathetic nervous system. In response to stress, signals are sent to activate the adrenal medulla which releases catecholamines (primarily adrenaline and norepinephrine). The catecholamines have a momentary effect on the body's organs that are prepared for a fight situation. At the same time, the stressor activates the HPA axis by signals from the brain causing secretion of the pituitary hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH acts on the adrenal cortex, which secretes glucocorticoids, including cortisol. Since HPA primarily works through hormones, the system is slightly slower than SAM and gives rise to a metabolic effect. While short-term stress response is an adaptive and beneficial process, chronic or excessive stress can lead to a range of negative health outcomes including reproductive disorders and infertility. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between stress and reproduction. This includes in particular kisspeptin, which is closely related to reproduction, as it is a powerful stimulator of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) system. The present review, through current knowledge in various male and female species, deals with the role of the SAM and the HPA, including the major action of kisspeptin and glucocorticoids that trigger the consequences of psychological or physiological stress on reproductive function.

Developmental sex differences in the peri-pubertal pattern of hypothalamic reproductive gene expression, including Kiss1 and Tac2, may contribute to sex differences in puberty onset

The mechanisms regulating puberty still remain elusive, as do the underlying causes for sex differences in puberty onset (girls before boys) and pubertal disorders. Neuroendocrine puberty onset is signified by increased pulsatile GnRH secretion, yet how and when various upstream reproductive neural circuits change developmentally to govern this process is poorly understood. We previously reported day-by-day peri-pubertal increases (Kiss1, Tac2) or decreases (Rfrp) in hypothalamic gene expression of female mice, with several brain mRNA changes preceding external pubertal markers. However, similar pubertal measures in males were not previously reported. Here, to identify possible neural sex differences underlying sex differences in puberty onset, we analyzed peri-pubertal males and directly compared them with female littermates. Kiss1 expression in male mice increased over the peri-pubertal period in both the AVPV and ARC nuclei but with lower levels than in females at several ages. Likewise, Tac2 expression in the male ARC increased between juvenile and older peri-pubertal stages but with levels lower than females at most ages. By contrast, both DMN Rfrp expressionand Rfrp neuronal activation strongly decreased in males between juvenile and peri-pubertal stages, but with similar levels as females. Neither ARC KNDy neuronal activation nor Kiss1r expression in GnRH neurons differed between males and females or changed with age. These findings delineate several peri-pubertal changes in neural populations in developing males, with notable sex differences in kisspeptin and NKB neuron developmental patterns. Whether these peri-pubertal hypothalamic sex differences underlie sex differences in puberty onset deserves future investigation.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2020

This paper is the forty-third consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2020 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).

Transcriptome Sequencing-Based Mining of Genes Associated With Pubertal Initiation in Dolang Sheep

Improving the fertility of sheep is an important goal in sheep breeding as it greatly increases the productivity. Dolang sheep is a typical representative breed of lamb in Xinjiang and is the main local sheep breed and meat source in the region. To explore the genes associated with the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep, the hypothalamic tissues of Dolang sheep prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal periods were collected for RNA-seq analysis on the Illumina platform, generating 64.08 Gb clean reads. A total of 575, 166, and 648 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in prepuberty_vs._puberty, postpuberty_vs._prepuberty, and postpuberty_vs._puberty analyses, respectively. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, the related genes involved in the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep were mined. Ten genes that have direct or indirect functions in the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep were screened using the GO and KEGG results. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR was used to verify the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. This study provided a new approach for revealing the mechanism of puberty initiation in sheep and provided a theoretical basis and candidate genes for the breeding of early-pubertal sheep by molecular techniques, and at the same time, it is also beneficial for the protection, development, and utilization of the fine genetic resources of Xinjiang local sheep.

Kiss1 expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is lower in dairy cows of reduced fertility

We tested the hypothesis that divergent genetic merit for fertility of dairy cows is due to aberrant reproductive neuroendocrine function. The kisspeptin status of non-pregnant cows of either positive (POS) or negative (NEG) breeding values (BVs) for fertility was studied in three groups (n = 8), based on their previous post-partum period: POS cows, which had spontaneous ovarian cycles (POS-CYC) and NEG cows, which either cycled (NEG-CYC) or did not cycle (NEG-NONCYC). Ovarian cycles were synchronized, blood samples were taken to define endocrine status, and the animals were slaughtered in an artificial follicular phase. The brains and the pituitary glands were collected for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and in situ hybridization of hypothalamic GNRH1, Kiss1, TAC3, and PDYN and pituitary expression of LHB and FSHB. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and kisspeptin levels were quantified in snap frozen median eminence (ME). GNRH1 expression and GnRH levels in the ME were similar across groups. Kiss1 expression in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus was also similar across groups, but Kiss1 in the arcuate nucleus was almost 2-fold higher in POS-CYC cows than in NEG groups. TAC3 expression was higher in POS-CYC cows. The number of pituitary gonadotropes and the level of expression of LHB and FSHB were similar across groups. We conclude that the lower levels of Kiss1 and TAC3 in NEG cows with low fertility status and may lead to deficient GnRH and gonadotropin secretion.

Evidence that pubertal status impacts KNDy neurons in the gilt

Puberty onset is a complex physiological process which enables the capacity for reproduction through increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and subsequently luteinizing hormone (LH), secretion. While cells that coexpress kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) are believed to govern the timing of puberty, the degree to which KNDy neurons exist and are regulated by pubertal status remains to be determined in the gilt. Hypothalamic tissue from prepubertal and postpubertal, early follicular phase gilts was used to determine the expression of kisspeptin, NKB, and dynorphin within the ARC. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that the majority (> 74%) of ARC neurons that express mRNA for kisspeptin coexpressed mRNA for NKB and dynorphin. There were fewer ARC cells that expressed mRNA for dynorphin in postpubertal gilts compared to prepubertal gilts (P < 0.05), but the number of ARC cells expressing mRNA for kisspeptin or NKB was not different between groups. Within KNDy neurons, mRNA abundance for kisspeptin, NKB, and dynorphin of postpubertal gilts was the same as, less than, and greater than, respectively, prepubertal gilts. Immunostaining for kisspeptin did not differ between prepubertal and postpubertal gilts, but there were fewer NKB immunoreactive fibers in postpubertal gilts compared to prepubertal gilts (P < 0.05). Together, these data reveal novel information about KNDy neurons in gilts and supports the idea that NKB and dynorphin play a role in puberty onset in the female pig.

Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B, and Dynorphin Expression during Pubertal Development in Female Sheep

The neural mechanisms underlying increases in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion that drive puberty onset are unknown. Neurons coexpressing kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin, i.e., KNDy neurons, are important as kisspeptin and NKB are stimulatory, and dynorphin inhibitory, to GnRH secretion. Given this, we hypothesized that kisspeptin and NKB expression would increase, but that dynorphin expression would decrease, with puberty. We collected blood and hypothalamic tissue from ovariectomized lambs implanted with estradiol at five, six, seven, eight (puberty), and ten months of age. Mean LH values and LH pulse frequency were the lowest at five to seven months, intermediate at eight months, and highest at ten months. Kisspeptin and NKB immunopositive cell numbers did not change with age. Numbers of cells expressing mRNA for kisspeptin, NKB, or dynorphin were similar at five, eight, and ten months of age. Age did not affect mRNA expression per cell for kisspeptin or NKB, but dynorphin mRNA expression per cell was elevated at ten months versus five months. Thus, neither KNDy protein nor mRNA expression changed in a predictable manner during pubertal development. These data raise the possibility that KNDy neurons, while critical, may await other inputs for the initiation of puberty.

Expression of Neurokinin B Receptor in the Gingival Squamous Cell Carcinoma Bone Microenvironment

Gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) frequently invades the maxillary or mandibular bone, and bone destruction is known as a key prognostic factor in gingival SCCs. Recently, Neurokinin 3 receptor (NK-3R), the receptor ligand for NK-3, which is a member of the tachykinin family expressed in the central nervous system, was identified through pathway analysis as a molecule expressed in osteoclasts induced by the hedgehog signal. Although the expression of NK-3R has been detected in osteoclast and SCC cells at the bone invasion front, the relationship between NK-3R expression and the prognosis of gingival SCC patients remains unclear. In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed 27 patients with gingival SCC who had undergone surgery with curative intent. Significantly higher NK-3R expression in tumor cells was found in a case of jawbone invasion than in a case of exophytic poor jawbone invasion. On the other hand, no significant association was observed between NK-3R tumor-positive cases and tumor size, TNM stage, or tumor differentiation. The survival rate tended to be lower in NK-3R tumor-positive cases, but not significantly. However, the disease-specific survival rate was significantly lower in patients with a large number of NK-3R-positive osteoclasts than in those with a small number of them at the tumor bone invasion front. Our results suggest that NK-3R signaling in the gingival SCC bone microenvironment plays an important role in tumor bone destruction and should be considered a potential therapeutic target in advanced gingival SCC with bone destruction.

Expression of genes for Kisspeptin (KISS1), Neurokinin B (TAC3), Prodynorphin (PDYN), and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (RFRP) across natural puberty in ewes

Expression of particular genes in hypothami of ewes was measured across the natural pubertal transition by in situ hybridization. The ewes were allocated to three groups (n = 4); prepubertal, postpubertal and postpubertally gonadectomized (GDX). Prepubertal sheep were euthanized at 20 weeks of age and postpubertal animals at 32 weeks. GDX sheep were also euthanized at 32 weeks, 1 week after surgery. Expression of KISS1, TAC3, PDYN in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), RFRP in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and GNRH1 in the preoptic area was quantified on a cellular basis. KISS1R expression by GNRH1 cells was quantified by double-label in situ hybridization. Across puberty, detectable KISS1 cell number increased in the caudal ARC and whilst PDYN cell numbers were low, numbers increased in the rostral ARC. TAC3 expression did not change but RFRP expression/cell was reduced across puberty. There was no change across puberty in the number of GNRH1 cells that expressed the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R). GDX shortly after puberty did not increase expression of any of the genes of interest. We conclude that KISS1 expression in the ARC increases during puberty in ewes and this may be a causative factor in the pubertal activation of the reproductive axis. A reduction in expression of RFRP may be a factor in the onset of puberty, removing negative tone on GNRH1 cells. The lack of changes in expression of genes following GDX suggest that the effects of gonadal hormones may differ in young and mature animals.