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Cervera-Juanes R, Zimmerman KD, Wilhelm L, Zhu D, Bodie J, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Modulation of neural gene networks by estradiol in old rhesus macaque females. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01133-z. [PMID: 38509416 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01133-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The postmenopausal decrease in circulating estradiol (E2) levels has been shown to contribute to several adverse physiological and psychiatric effects. To elucidate the molecular effects of E2 on the brain, we examined differential gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns in the nonhuman primate brain following ovariectomy (Ov) and subsequent subcutaneous bioidentical E2 chronic treatment. We identified several dysregulated molecular networks, including MAPK signaling and dopaminergic synapse response, that are associated with ovariectomy and shared across two different brain areas, the occipital cortex (OC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). The finding that hypomethylation (p = 1.6 × 10-51) and upregulation (p = 3.8 × 10-3) of UBE2M across both brain regions provide strong evidence for molecular differences in the brain induced by E2 depletion. Additionally, differential expression (p = 1.9 × 10-4; interaction p = 3.5 × 10-2) of LTBR in the PFC provides further support for the role E2 plays in the brain, by demonstrating that the regulation of some genes that are altered by ovariectomy may also be modulated by Ov followed by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These results present real opportunities to understand the specific biological mechanisms that are altered with depleted E2. Given E2's potential role in cognitive decline and neuroinflammation, our findings could lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics to slow cognitive decline. Together, this work represents a major step toward understanding molecular changes in the brain that are caused by ovariectomy and how E2 treatment may revert or protect against the negative neuro-related consequences caused by a depletion in estrogen as women approach menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Cervera-Juanes
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| | - Kip D Zimmerman
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Larry Wilhelm
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Dongqin Zhu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Jessica Bodie
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Steven G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
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2
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Appleman ML, Thomas JL, Weiss AR, Nilaver BI, Cervera-Juanes R, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Effect of hormone replacement therapy on amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque density in the rhesus macaque amygdala. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1326747. [PMID: 38274989 PMCID: PMC10808750 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1326747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque density was examined in the amygdala of rhesus macaques, to elucidate the influence of age, diet and hormonal environment. Methods Luminex technology was used to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of Aβ40 and Aβ42 across three decades, while immunohistochemistry was used to examine Aβ plaque density in the amygdala. Results Aβ40 was found to be the predominant isoform of Aβ in the CSF, but neither Aβ40 or Aβ42 concentrations showed an age-related change, and the ratio of Aβ42 to Aβ40 showed only a marginal increase. Significantly fewer Aβ plaques were detected in the amygdala of old ovariectomized animals if they received estradiol HRT (p < 0.001); similar results were obtained regardless of whether they had been maintained on a regular monkey chow for ∼48 months or on a high-fat, high-sugar, Western-style diet for ∼30 months. Conclusion The results demonstrate that HRT involving estrogen can reduce Aβ plaque load in a cognitive brain region of aged non-human primates. The results from this translational animal model may therefore have clinical relevance to the treatment of AD in post-menopausal women, whether used alone, or as a supplement to current pharmacological and monoclonal antibody-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Luisa Appleman
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Jeremy L. Thomas
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Alison R. Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Benjamin I. Nilaver
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Rita Cervera-Juanes
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Steven G. Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Henryk F. Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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3
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Thomas JL, Nilaver BI, Lomniczi A, Brown DI, Appleman ML, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Pathological Markers of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia in the Rhesus Macaque Amygdala. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2024; 8:25-32. [PMID: 38229831 PMCID: PMC10790150 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230184] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhesus macaques develop amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques during old age, but it is unclear how extensively they express other pathological hallmarks of dementia. Here we used immunohistochemistry to examine expression of phosphorylated tau (pTau) protein and cytoplasmic inclusions of TAR DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) within the amygdala of young and old males, and also in old surgically-menopausal females that were maintained on regular or obesogenic diets. Only one animal, a 23-year-old female, showed pTau expression and none showed TDP-43 inclusions. What genetic and/or environmental factors protect macaques from expressing more severe human neuro-pathologies remains an interesting unresolved question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy L. Thomas
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Benjamin I. Nilaver
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Alejandro Lomniczi
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Donald I. Brown
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Maria-Luisa Appleman
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Steven G. Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Henryk F. Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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4
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Cervera-Juanes R, Zimmerman KD, Wilhelm L, Zhu D, Bodie J, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Modulation of neural gene networks by estradiol in old rhesus macaque females. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.18.572105. [PMID: 38187564 PMCID: PMC10769303 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.18.572105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The postmenopausal decrease in circulating estradiol (E2) levels has been shown to contribute to several adverse physiological and psychiatric effects. To elucidate the molecular effects of E2 on the brain, we examined differential gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns in the nonhuman primate brain following ovariectomy (Ov) and subsequent E2 treatment. We identified several dysregulated molecular networks, including MAPK signaling and dopaminergic synapse response, that are associated with ovariectomy and shared across two different brain areas, the occipital cortex (OC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). The finding that hypomethylation (p=1.6×10-51) and upregulation (p=3.8×10-3) of UBE2M across both brain regions, provide strong evidence for molecular differences in the brain induced by E2 depletion. Additionally, differential expression (p=1.9×10-4; interaction p=3.5×10-2) of LTBR in the PFC, provides further support for the role E2 plays in the brain, by demonstrating that the regulation of some genes that are altered by ovariectomy may also be modulated by Ov followed by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These results present real opportunities to understand the specific biological mechanisms that are altered with depleted E2. Given E2's potential role in cognitive decline and neuroinflammation, our findings could lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics to slow cognitive decline. Together, this work represents a major step towards understanding molecular changes in the brain that are caused by ovariectomy and how E2 treatment may revert or protect against the negative neuro-related consequences caused by a depletion in estrogen as women approach menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Cervera-Juanes
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
- Center for Precision Medicine, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Kip D. Zimmerman
- Center for Precision Medicine, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
- Department of Internal Medicine, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Larry Wilhelm
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Dongqin Zhu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Jessica Bodie
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Steven G. Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Henryk F. Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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5
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Weiss AR, Urbanski HF. Effect of short-term androgen supplementation on cognitive performance in older male rhesus macaques. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 132:246-249. [PMID: 37866084 PMCID: PMC10842314 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.09.013] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Old male rhesus macaques often show cognitive impairment, and also have attenuated circulating levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). However, it is unclear if these age-associated decreases in circulating androgen levels are casually related to mechanisms that support cognition. To test this possibility, old male rhesus macaques were given daily supplements of testosterone and DHEA for ∼7 months, using a paradigm designed to mimic the 24-hour circulating hormone patterns of young adults. Animals completed the Delayed Match-to-Sample (DMS) task to assess recognition, and the Delayed Response (DR) task to assess working memory. The animals all showed significant delay-dependent performance, with longer delays resulting in lower accuracy; and timepoint-dependent performance, showing improvement with the repeated opportunities for practice. However, there were no differences between the androgen supplemented animals and age-matched controls. These data indicate that the specific short-term supplementation paradigm employed here offers no obvious benefits for DMS or DR task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Ruth Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
| | - Henryk Francis Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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6
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Tian Y, Xie Y, Guo Z, Feng P, You Y, Yu Q. 17β-oestradiol inhibits ferroptosis in the hippocampus by upregulating DHODH and further improves memory decline after ovariectomy. Redox Biol 2023; 62:102708. [PMID: 37116254 PMCID: PMC10163677 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovariectomy (OVX) conducted before the onset of natural menopause is considered to bringing forward and accelerate the process of ageing-associated neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms underlying memory decline and other cognitive dysfunctions following OVX are unclear. Given that iron accumulates during ageing and after OVX, we hypothesized that excess iron accumulation in the hippocampus would cause ferroptosis-induced increased neuronal degeneration and death associated with memory decline. In the current study, female rats that underwent OVX showed decreased dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) expression and reduced performance in the Morris water maze (MWM). We used primary cultured hippocampal cells to explore the ferroptosis resistance-inducing effect of 17β-oestradiol (E2). The data supported a vital role of DHODH in neuronal ferroptosis. Specifically, E2 alleviated ferroptosis induced by erastin and ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), which can be blocked by brequinar (BQR). Further in vitro studies showed that E2 reduced lipid peroxidation levels and improved the behavioural performance of OVX rats. Our research interprets OVX-related neurodegeneration with respect to ferroptosis, and both our in vivo and in vitro data show that E2 supplementation exerts beneficial antiferroptotic effects by upregulating DHODH. Our data demonstrate the utility of E2 supplementation after OVX and provide a potential target, DHODH, for which hormone therapy has not been available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yuan Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Zaixin Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Penghui Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yang You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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7
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Effects of estradiol supplementation on the brain transcriptome of old rhesus macaques maintained on an obesogenic diet. GeroScience 2021; 44:229-252. [PMID: 34642852 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity, the cessation of ovarian steroids with menopause, and age are risk factors for mood disorders, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, immediate hormone therapy (HT) after menopause may have beneficial effects in different brain regions involved in memory and cognition. To more closely replicate the age, endocrine, and metabolic environment of obese postmenopausal women, either on or off HT, middle-aged female rhesus macaques were ovariectomized/hysterectomized (OvH) and maintained on a high-fat, high-sugar, obesogenic Western-style diet (WSD) for 30 months; half of the animals received HT immediately after OvH and half served as placebo controls. RNAseq of the occipital (OC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP), and amygdala (AMG) identified 293, 379, 505, and 4993 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis identified an activation of neuroinflammation in OC and HIP, but an inhibition in the AMG with HT. Synaptogenesis, circadian rhythm, mitochondrial dysfunction, mTOR, glutamate, serotonin, GABA, dopamine, epinephrine/norepinephrine, glucocorticoid receptor signaling, neuronal NOS, and amyloid processing were exclusively enriched in AMG. As compared to the placebo control group, most of these signaling pathways are downregulated after HT, suggesting a protective effect of HT in OvH females under a WSD. Overall, our results suggest that a chronic obesogenic diet may induce a wide range of alterations in multiple signaling pathways that are linked to age-associated brain pathology and dementia. In these individuals, HT seems to have a protective effect against neuroinflammation, amyloid beta depositions, and tau tangle formation.
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8
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Ma Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Li L, Liu X, Zhang L, Ma C, Wang Y, Tian W, Song X, Li Y, Zhu L. Mesenchymal stem cell-based bioengineered constructs enhance vaginal repair in ovariectomized rhesus monkeys. Biomaterials 2021; 275:120863. [PMID: 34139509 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transvaginal meshes repair for treating pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was halted by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they can lead to severe complications. Therefore, investigations of new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Cell-based regenerative therapy holds great promise for the repair and restoration of damaged tissue. Here, we generated a bioengineered graft by seeding human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) on bioscaffolds to reconstruct the damaged vagina. In the in vitro study, HUMSCs proliferated well and the density was appropriate after 5 days of culture. Besides, we demonstrated that the differentiation potential of HUMSCs was maintained with external growth factor stimulation. The complete transcriptomic profile of HUMSCs revealed that HUMSCs cultured on grafts produced significantly higher levels of proangiogenic cytokines than cells cultured in tissue culture plates (TCPs). Three months after implantation of the bioengineered grafts into ovariectomized (OVX) rhesus monkeys via sacrocolpopexy, extracellular matrix reorganization, large muscle bundle formation, angiogenesis and, mechanical properties of the vagina were enhanced. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the utility of stem cell-based bioengineered grafts for repairing damaged vaginal tissue in rhesus monkeys. These results elucidate a new approach for vagina repair and provide new ideas for treating POP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidi Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xudong Liu
- Medical Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Congcong Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Weijie Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaochen Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yaqian Li
- Medical Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Lan Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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9
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Luna SL, Brown DI, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Lack of effect of short-term DHEA supplementation on the perimenopausal ovary†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1209-1216. [PMID: 32901819 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormonal supplementation can improve oocyte quality in women with diminished ovarian function. However, it is unclear whether DHEA supplementation can also enhance ovarian function during the perimenopause (i.e., when the number of follicles in the ovary has undergone a marked reduction). To address this question, we examined the impact of 2.5-months of daily 5-mg oral DHEA supplementation on the number of ovarian follicles and the concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in perimenopausal rhesus macaques. Like women, these long-lived nonhuman primates have ~ 28-day menstrual cycles and eventually undergo menopause. They also show similar age-related neuroendocrine changes, including a marked decrease in circulating concentrations of DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). Our experimental design involved the following three groups of animals (N = 6 per group): Young adult (mean age = 11.6 years), Old control (mean age = 23.1 years), and Old DHEA-treated (mean age = 23.5 years). Histological examination of the ovaries revealed a significant age-related decrease in the mean number of primordial follicles despite DHEA supplementation. Moreover, AMH concentrations within the ovaries and circulation, assessed by Western analysis and ELISA, respectively, showed significant age-related decreases that were not attenuated by DHEA supplementation. Taken together, these results fail to show a clear effect of short-term physiological DHEA supplementation on the perimenopausal ovary. However, they do not exclude the possibility that alternative DHEA supplementation paradigms (e.g., involving an earlier start date, longer duration and using pharmacological doses) may extend reproductive potential during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selva L Luna
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA.,Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Donald I Brown
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA.,Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Steven G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
| | - Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
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10
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Zimmerman B, Kundu P, Liu Z, Urbanski HF, Kroenke CD, Kohama SG, Bethea CL, Raber J. Longitudinal Effects of Immediate and Delayed Estradiol on Cognitive Performance in a Spatial Maze and Hippocampal Volume in Menopausal Macaques Under an Obesogenic Diet. Front Neurol 2020; 11:539. [PMID: 32670182 PMCID: PMC7326936 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The consumption of a diet high in fat and refined sugars has several health risks, including the development of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. For women, menopause carries additional health risks that may interact with a high-fat diet in negative ways. Some symptoms of menopause, including cognitive impairments, can be modulated by hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but the hormonal formulation and the timing of the treatment relative to the onset of menopause are critical factors determining its efficacy. Little is known about how obesogenic, high-fat, high-sugar diets interact with HRT in menopause to affect cognition and neurodegeneration. Given the high prevalence of the consumption of an obesogenic Western-style diet, understanding how the effects of HRT are modulated by an obesogenic diet is critical for developing optimized therapeutic strategies for peri- and post-menopausal women. In this study, we investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the effects of either immediate or delayed estradiol hormone therapy on cognition and neuroanatomy following ovo-hysterectomy (OvH) of aged, female rhesus macaques on an obesogenic diet. The macaques were followed for 2.5 years after ovo-hysterectomy, with four time points at which anatomical MRIs were acquired. Analysis of hippocampal volumes revealed an interaction between time point and treatment; hippocampal volumes in the delayed estrogen group, but not the immediate estrogen group, increased over time compared to those in untreated controls. Performance on a hippocampal-dependent spatial maze task showed improved performance in estrogen treated animals compared to OvH macaques given placebo. These results indicate that HRT may contribute to beneficial cognitive outcomes after menopause under an obesogenic diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Zimmerman
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Payel Kundu
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Zheng Liu
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Henryk F Urbanski
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Christopher D Kroenke
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Steven G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States.,Division of Reproductive and Developmental Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, United States.,Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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11
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Epelbaum J, Terrien J. Mini-review: Aging of the neuroendocrine system: Insights from nonhuman primate models. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 100:109854. [PMID: 31891735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system (NES) plays a crucial role in synchronizing the physiology and behavior of the whole organism in response to environmental constraints. The NES consists of a hypothalamic-pituitary-target organ axis that acts in coordination to regulate growth, reproduction, stress and basal metabolism. The growth (or somatotropic), hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes are therefore finely tuned by the hypothalamus through the successive release of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones to control the downstream physiological functions. These functions rely on a complex set of mechanisms requiring tight synchronization between peripheral organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary complex, whose functionality can be altered during aging. Here, we review the results of research on the effects of aging on the NES of nonhuman primate (NHP) species in wild and captive conditions. A focus on the age-related dysregulation of the master circadian pacemaker, which, in turn, alters the synchronization of the NES with the organism environment, is proposed. Finally, practical and ethical considerations of using NHP models to test the effects of nutrition-based or hormonal treatments to combat the deterioration of the NES are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Epelbaum
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé 894 INSERM, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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12
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Taylor CM, Pritschet L, Yu S, Jacobs EG. Applying a Women's Health Lens to the Study of the Aging Brain. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:224. [PMID: 31333434 PMCID: PMC6625223 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand what happens to a brain as it ages. Such insights could make it possible to distinguish between individuals who will undergo typical aging and those at risk for neurodegenerative disease. Over the last quarter century, thousands of human brain imaging studies have probed the neural basis of age-related cognitive decline. "Aging" studies generally enroll adults over the age of 65, a historical precedent rooted in the average age of retirement. A consequence of this research tradition is that it overlooks one of the most significant neuroendocrine changes in a woman's life: the transition to menopause. The menopausal transition is marked by an overall decline in ovarian sex steroid production-up to 90% in the case of estradiol-a dramatic endocrine change that impacts multiple biological systems, including the brain. Despite sex differences in the risk for dementia, the influence that biological sex and sex hormones have on the aging brain is historically understudied, leaving a critical gap in our understanding of the aging process. In this Perspective article, we highlight the influence that endocrine factors have on the aging brain. We devote particular attention to the neural and cognitive changes that unfold in the middle decade of life, as a function of reproductive aging. We then consider emerging evidence from animal and human studies that other endocrine factors occurring earlier in life (e.g., pregnancy, hormonal birth control use) also shape the aging process. Applying a women's health lens to the study of the aging brain will advance knowledge of the neuroendocrine basis of cognitive aging and ensure that men and women get the full benefit of our research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Taylor
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
- The Sage Center for the Study of the Mind, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Laura Pritschet
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Shuying Yu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Emily G. Jacobs
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
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13
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Abstract
There are 3 common physiological estrogens, of which estradiol (E2) is seen to decline rapidly over the menopausal transition. This decline in E2 has been associated with a number of changes in the brain, including cognitive changes, effects on sleep, and effects on mood. These effects have been demonstrated in both rodent and non-human preclinical models. Furthermore, E2 interactions have been indicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. In normal brain aging, there are a number of systems that undergo changes and a number of these show interactions with E2, particularly the cholinergic system, the dopaminergic system, and mitochondrial function. E2 treatment has been shown to ameliorate some of the behavioral and morphological changes seen in preclinical models of menopause; however, in clinical populations, the effects of E2 treatment on cognitive changes after menopause are mixed. The future use of sex hormone treatment will likely focus on personalized or precision medicine for the prevention or treatment of cognitive disturbances during aging, with a better understanding of who may benefit from such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Russell
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Tennessee VA Health Systems, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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14
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Working memory (WM) is a key process that is integral to many complex cognitive tasks, and it declines significantly with advancing age. This review will survey recent evidence supporting the idea that the functioning of the WM system in women is modulated by circulating estrogens. RECENT FINDINGS In postmenopausal women, increased estrogen concentrations may be associated with improved WM function, which is evident on WM tasks that have a high cognitive load or significant manipulation demands. Experimental studies in rhesus monkeys and human neuroimaging studies support a prefrontal locus for these effects. Defining the basic neurochemical or cellular mechanisms that underlie the ability of estrogens to regulate WM is a topic of current research in both human and animal investigations. An emerging body of work suggests that frontal executive elements of the WM system are influenced by the circulating estrogen concentrations currently available to the CNS and that the effects are region-specific within the frontal cortex. These findings have implications for women's brain health and cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Hampson
- Department of Psychology, Social Sciences Center, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada.
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15
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Jacobs EG, Goldstein JM. The Middle-Aged Brain: Biological sex and sex hormones shape memory circuitry. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018; 23:84-91. [PMID: 30271832 PMCID: PMC6157917 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Jacobs
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara
| | - Jill M. Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Athinoula A. Martinos Brain Imaging Center, Massachusetts General Hospital
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16
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17
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Baxter MG, Santistevan AC, Bliss-Moreau E, Morrison JH. Timing of cyclic estradiol treatment differentially affects cognition in aged female rhesus monkeys. Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:213-223. [PMID: 29952604 PMCID: PMC6062474 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Some evidence suggests that there may be a limited "window of opportunity" for beneficial effects of hormone therapy after menopause in women. We tested whether the timing of cyclic estradiol (E2) treatment impacted its effect on cognitive function in aged, surgically menopausal (ovariectomized) rhesus monkeys. Monkeys were assigned to one of four treatment conditions after ovariectomy: either vehicle or E2 treatment for the duration of the protocol, vehicle for the first 2 years of the protocol followed by E2 for the remainder (delayed treatment), or E2 for the first 11 months of the protocol followed by vehicle for the remainder (withdrawn treatment). Delayed treatment addressed the hypothesis that E2 treatment initiated more than 2 years postovariectomy would have a reduced effect on cognitive function. Withdrawn treatment mirrored current clinical advice to women to use hormone therapy in the initial postmenopausal period then discontinue it. Two periods of cognitive testing assessed treatment effects on cognition over time. E2 treatment predominantly affected a prefrontal cortex-dependent test of spatiotemporal working memory (delayed response). Monkeys with delayed E2 treatment modestly improved in delayed response performance over time, whereas vehicle-treated monkeys declined. Monkeys with withdrawn E2 treatment maintained their performance across assessments, as did monkeys treated with E2 across the entire protocol. These findings suggest that a "window of opportunity" for hormone treatment after cessation of ovarian function, if present in nonhuman primates, lasts longer than 2 years. They also support the notion that beneficial effects of hormone therapy may persist after discontinuation of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Baxter
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | - Anthony C Santistevan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, and California National Primate Research Center, Davis
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, and California National Primate Research Center, Davis
| | - John H Morrison
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, and California National Primate Research Center, Davis
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18
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Stouffer RL, Woodruff TK. Nonhuman Primates: A Vital Model for Basic and Applied Research on Female Reproduction, Prenatal Development, and Women's Health. ILAR J 2017; 58:281-294. [PMID: 28985318 PMCID: PMC5886348 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilx027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The comparative biology of reproduction and development in mammalian species is remarkable. Hence, because of similarities in environmental and neuroendocrine control of the reproductive axis, the cyclic function of the ovary and reproductive tract, establishment and control of the maternal-fetal-placental unit during pregnancy, and reproductive aging from puberty through menopause, nonhuman primates (NHPs) are valuable models for research related to women's reproductive health and its disorders. This chapter provides examples of research over the past 10+ years using Old World monkeys (notably macaque species), baboons, and to a lesser extent New World monkeys (especially marmosets) that contributed to our understanding of the etiology and therapies or prevention of: (1) ovarian disorders, e.g., polycystic ovary syndrome, mitochondrial DNA-based diseases from the oocyte; (2) uterine disorders, for example, endometriosis and uterine transplantation; and (3) pregnancy disorders, for example, preterm labor and delivery, environmental factors. Also, emerging opportunities such as viral (e.g., Zika) induced fetal defects and germline genomic editing to generate valuable primate models of human diseases (e.g., Huntington and muscular dystrophy) are addressed. Although the high costs, specialized resources, and ethical debate challenge the use of primates in biomedical research, their inclusion in fertility and infertility research is vital for continued improvements in women's reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Stouffer
- Richard L. Stouffer, Ph.D., is Professor in the Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Oregon and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., is Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vice Chair of Research (OB/GYN), and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, and Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Richard L. Stouffer, Ph.D., is Professor in the Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Oregon and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., is Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vice Chair of Research (OB/GYN), and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, and Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
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19
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Gervais NJ, Mong JA, Lacreuse A. Ovarian hormones, sleep and cognition across the adult female lifespan: An integrated perspective. Front Neuroendocrinol 2017; 47:134-153. [PMID: 28803147 PMCID: PMC7597864 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Loss of ovarian function in women is associated with sleep disturbances and cognitive decline, which suggest a key role for estrogens and/or progestins in modulating these symptoms. The effects of ovarian hormones on sleep and cognitive processes have been studied in separate research fields that seldom intersect. However, sleep has a considerable impact on cognitive function. Given the tight connections between sleep and cognition, ovarian hormones may influence selective aspects of cognition indirectly, via the modulation of sleep. In support of this hypothesis, a growing body of evidence indicates that the development of sleep disorders following menopause contributes to accelerated cognitive decline and dementia in older women. This paper draws from both the animal and human literature to present an integrated view of the effects of ovarian hormones on sleep and cognition across the adult female lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J Gervais
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
| | - Jessica A Mong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
| | - Agnès Lacreuse
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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20
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Urbanski HF, Mueller K, Bethea CL. Effect of an obesogenic diet on circadian activity and serum hormones in old monkeys. Endocr Connect 2017; 6:380-383. [PMID: 28619884 PMCID: PMC5527355 DOI: 10.1530/ec-17-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Like women, old female rhesus macaques undergo menopause and show many of the same age-associated changes, including perturbed activity/rest cycles and altered circulating levels of many hormones. Previous studies showed that administration of an estrogen agonist increased activity in female monkeys, that hormone therapy (HT) increased activity in postmenopausal women and that obesity decreased activity in women. The present study sought to determine if postmenopausal activity and circulating hormone levels also respond to HT when monkeys are fed a high-fat, high-sugar Western style diet (WSD). Old female rhesus macaques were ovo-hysterectomized (OvH) to induce surgical menopause and fed a WSD for 2 years. Half of the animals received estradiol-17β (E), beginning immediately after OvH, while the other half received placebo. Animals in both groups showed an increase in body weight and a decrease in overall activity levels. These changes were associated with a rise in both daytime and nocturnal serum leptin concentrations, but there was no change in serum concentrations of either cortisol or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). These data suggest that 2 years of HT has little or no effect on locomotor activity or circadian hormone patterns in menopausal macaques fed an obesogenic diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of NeuroscienceOregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental SciencesOregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral NeuroscienceOregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Physiology & PharmacologyOregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kevin Mueller
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental SciencesOregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Cynthia L Bethea
- Division of NeuroscienceOregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental SciencesOregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyOregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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21
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Urbanski HF, Sorwell KG, Prokai L, Kohama SG. Effect of short-term DHEA supplementation on serum and hippocampal estrogen concentrations in perimenopausal female rhesus macaques. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 55:172-174. [PMID: 28431754 PMCID: PMC5443113 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus of rhesus macaques expresses genes that encode key enzymes involved in the intracrine conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to estradiol. Therefore, it is plausible that supplementary DHEA may enhance hippocampal estradiol concentrations and help to compensate for the marked postmenopausal attenuation of circulating estrogen levels. To test this hypothesis, we used LC-MS/MS to measure estradiol and estrone concentrations in the serum and hippocampus of young and old perimenopausal female rhesus macaques, as well as old perimenopausal females that received daily DHEA (5 mg) oral supplementation for 1 week. Despite lower concentrations of these estrogens in the serum of the older animals, their concentrations in the hippocampus did not show any obvious differences due to age or to DHEA supplementation. The results suggest that de novo estrogen synthesis in the brain may compensate for the perimenopausal loss of estrogens in the circulation even without supplemental DHEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
| | - Krystina G Sorwell
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Laszlo Prokai
- Center for Neuroscience Discovery, Institute for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Steven G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
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22
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Urbanski HF. Effect of androgen supplementation on 24-hour activity-rest patterns of aged male rhesus macaques. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 54:100-102. [PMID: 28359034 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Like elderly men, old male rhesus macaques show attenuated circulating levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and many of them also show reduced levels of daytime activity. It is unclear, however, if this age-associated behavioral change is causally related to the underlying decrease in circulating androgen levels. To test this possibility, old male rhesus macaques were given daily supplements of testosterone and DHEA for 6 months, designed to mimic the mean 24-hour circulating hormone patterns of young adults. Compared with the young adults, the old controls showed attenuated daytime activity levels. However, there was no difference between the androgen-supplemented old animals and the aged-matched controls, even after 6 months of treatment. The data suggest that age-associated decreases in circulating androgen levels are unlikely to be a primary reason for altered activity-rest patterns in elderly men, and that androgen supplementation paradigms might not provide any obvious therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk F Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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23
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Sorwell KG, Renner L, Weiss AR, Neuringer M, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF. Cognition in aged rhesus monkeys: effect of DHEA and correlation with steroidogenic gene expression. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:361-368. [PMID: 27736018 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol supplementation has been shown to enhance cognitive performance in old ovariectomized rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). To determine if similar benefits could be achieved in perimenopausal animals using alternative hormonal supplements, we administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to old ovary-intact female rhesus macaques for ∼2.5 months. Using computerized touch screen memory tasks, including delayed response (DR) and delayed matching-to-sample (DMS), we observed improved performance with time in all of the animals but failed to detect a significant effect of DHEA. On the other hand, gene expression profiling disclosed a significant correlation between cognitive performance and the expression of several steroidogenic and steroid-responsive genes. The DR performance was positively correlated with hippocampal expression of AKR1C3 and STAR and negatively correlated with the expression of SDRD5A1. A positive correlation was also found between DMS performance and prefrontal cortical expression of AKR1C3 and a negative correlation with STAR, as well as a negative correlation with the hippocampal expression of HSD11B1 and NR3C1. Taken together, the results suggest that steroidogenic gene regulation within the brain may help to maintain cognitive function during the perimenopausal transition period, despite a decline in sex-steroid levels in the circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- K G Sorwell
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - L Renner
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton
| | - A R Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton.,Present address: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - M Neuringer
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton
| | - S G Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton
| | - H F Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
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