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Zhang C, Sun Y, Kang L, Jiang Y. Characterization of chicken Relaxin3 gene: mRNA expression and response to reproductive hormone treatment in ovarian granulosa cells, and single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with egg laying traits in hens. Anim Biotechnol 2024:2370810. [PMID: 38940516 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2024.2370810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
As a protein structurally similar to insulin, relaxin3 (RLN3) plays a role in promoting arousal, suppressing depressive or anxious behaviors. Two studies revealed the increase of RLN3 expression during chicken follicle selection. In this study, by real-time quantitative PCR and luciferase assay, mRNA expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of chicken RLN3 were investigated. The mRNA expression of chicken RLN3 was higher in the granulosa cell of hierarchal follicles (Post-GCs) than that of pre-hierarchal follicles (Pre-GCs). In Pre-GCs, the mRNA expression of chicken RLN3 was stimulated by FSH and progesterone; in Post-GCs, it was stimulated by higher concentration of estrogen and FSH, however, was inhibited by progesterone. Four SNPs including g.-655G > C, g-592G > A, g.-372T > A and g.-282G > C were identified in the critical promoter region from -1291 bp to -207 bp of chicken RLN3, among which g.-655G > C, and g-592G > A were associated with age at first laying and clutch size, respectively, in Zaozhuang Sunzhi chickens. At g.-655G > C and g-592G > A, allele C and allele A had higher transcriptional activity, respectively. These data suggest that RLN3 plays an important role in chicken follicle development and SNPs in its promoter region are potential DNA markers for improving egg production traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunfeng Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Li Kang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Yunliang Jiang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
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Jayakody T, Inoue A, Kannan S, Nakamura G, Kawakami K, Mendis K, Nguyen TB, Li J, Herr DR, Verma CS, Dawe GS. Mechanisms of biased agonism by Gα i/o-biased stapled peptide agonists of the relaxin-3 receptor. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eabl5880. [PMID: 38349968 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abl5880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The neuropeptide relaxin-3 is composed of an A chain and a B chain held together by disulfide bonds, and it modulates functions such as anxiety and food intake by binding to and activating its cognate receptor RXFP3, mainly through the B chain. Biased ligands of RXFP3 would help to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of G proteins and β-arrestins downstream of RXFP3 that lead to such diverse functions. We showed that the i, i+4 stapled relaxin-3 B chains, 14s18 and d(1-7)14s18, were Gαi/o-biased agonists of RXFP3. These peptides did not induce recruitment of β-arrestin1/2 to RXFP3 by GPCR kinases (GRKs), in contrast to relaxin-3, which enabled the GRK2/3-mediated recruitment of β-arrestin1/2 to RXFP3. Relaxin-3 and the previously reported peptide 4 (an i, i+4 stapled relaxin-3 B chain) did not exhibit biased signaling. The staple linker of peptide 4 and parts of both the A chain and B chain of relaxin-3 interacted with extracellular loop 3 (ECL3) of RXFP3, moving it away from the binding pocket, suggesting that unbiased ligands promote a more open conformation of RXFP3. These findings highlight roles for the A chain and the N-terminal residues of the B chain of relaxin-3 in inducing conformational changes in RXFP3, which will help in designing selective biased ligands with improved therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharindunee Jayakody
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Neurobiology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, P.O. Box 1490, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | | | - Gaku Nakamura
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kouki Kawakami
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Krishan Mendis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, P.O. Box 1490, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - Thanh-Binh Nguyen
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Jianguo Li
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Deron R Herr
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 6 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Dr., Singapore 637551
| | - Gavin S Dawe
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Neurobiology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Precision Medicine Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Rahman MT, Chaminda Lakmal HH, Hussain J, Jin C. Targeting the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system: a patent review for the last two decades. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2024; 34:71-81. [PMID: 38573177 PMCID: PMC11027024 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2024.2338099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neuropeptide relaxin-3/RXFP3 system belongs to the relaxin/insulin superfamily and is involved in many important physiological processes, such as stress responses, appetite control, and motivation for reward. Although relaxin-3 is the endogenous agonist for RXFP3, it can also bind to and activate RXFP1 and RXFP4. Consequently, research has been focused on the development of RXFP3-specific peptides and small-molecule ligands to validate the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system as a novel drug target. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of patents on the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system covering ligand development and pharmacological studies since 2003. Related patents and literature reports were obtained from established sources including SciFinder, Google Patents, and Espacenet for patents and SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar for literature reports. EXPERT OPINION There has been an increasing amount of patent activities around relaxin-3/RXFP3, highlighting the importance of this novel neuropeptide system for drug discovery. The development of relaxin-3 derived peptides and small-molecule modulators, as well as behavioral studies in rodents, have shown that the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system is a promising drug target for treating various metabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases including obesity, anxiety, and alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Toufiqur Rahman
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Javeena Hussain
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Chunyang Jin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Lv C, Zheng H, Jiang B, Ren Q, Zhang J, Zhang X, Li J, Wang Y. Characterization of relaxin 3 and its receptors in chicken: Evidence for relaxin 3 acting as a novel pituitary hormone. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1010851. [DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1010851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian relaxin (RLN) family peptides binding their receptors (RXFPs) play a variety of roles in many physiological processes, such as reproduction, stress, appetite regulation, and energy balance. In birds, although two relaxin family peptides (RLN3 and INSL5) and four receptors (RXFP1, RXFP2, RXFP2-like, and RXFP3) were predicated, their sequence features, signal properties, tissue distribution, and physiological functions remain largely unknown. In this study, using chickens as the experimental model, we cloned the cDNA of the cRLN3 gene and two receptor (cRXFP1 and cRXFP3) genes. Using cell-based luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrate that cRLN3 is able to activate both cRXFP1 and cRXFP3 for downstream signaling. cRXFP1, rather than cRXFP3, is a cognate receptor for cRLN3, which is different from the mammals. Tissue distribution analyses reveal that cRLN3 is highly expressed in the pituitary with lower abundance in the hypothalamus and ovary of female chicken, together with the detection that cRLN3 co-localizes with pituitary hormone genes LHB/FSHB/GRP/CART and its expression is tightly regulated by hypothalamic factors (GnRH and CRH) and sex steroid hormone (E2). The present study supports that cRLN3 may function as a novel pituitary hormone involving female reproduction.
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The Relaxin-3 Receptor, RXFP3, Is a Modulator of Aging-Related Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084387. [PMID: 35457203 PMCID: PMC9027355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the aging process our body becomes less well equipped to deal with cellular stress, resulting in an increase in unrepaired damage. This causes varying degrees of impaired functionality and an increased risk of mortality. One of the most effective anti-aging strategies involves interventions that combine simultaneous glucometabolic support with augmented DNA damage protection/repair. Thus, it seems prudent to develop therapeutic strategies that target this combinatorial approach. Studies have shown that the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPase activating protein GIT2 (GIT2) acts as a keystone protein in the aging process. GIT2 can control both DNA repair and glucose metabolism. Through in vivo co-regulation analyses it was found that GIT2 forms a close coexpression-based relationship with the relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3). Cellular RXFP3 expression is directly affected by DNA damage and oxidative stress. Overexpression or stimulation of this receptor, by its endogenous ligand relaxin 3 (RLN3), can regulate the DNA damage response and repair processes. Interestingly, RLN3 is an insulin-like peptide and has been shown to control multiple disease processes linked to aging mechanisms, e.g., anxiety, depression, memory dysfunction, appetite, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the various roles of RXFP3/RLN3 signaling in aging and age-related disorders.
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Gołyszny M, Obuchowicz E, Zieliński M. Neuropeptides as regulators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activity and their putative roles in stress-induced fertility disorders. Neuropeptides 2022; 91:102216. [PMID: 34974357 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Neuropeptides being regulators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, also affect the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis by regulating gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion from hypothalamic neurons. Here, we review the available data on how neuropeptides affect HPG axis activity directly or indirectly via their influence on the HPA axis. The putative role of neuropeptides in stress-induced infertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, is also described. This review discusses both well-known neuropeptides (i.e., kisspeptin, Kp; oxytocin, OT; arginine-vasopressin, AVP) and more recently discovered peptides (i.e., relaxin-3, RLN-3; nesfatin-1, NEFA; phoenixin, PNX; spexin, SPX). For the first time, we present an up-to-date review of all published data regarding interactions between the aforementioned neuropeptide systems. The reviewed literature suggest new pathophysiological mechanisms leading to fertility disturbances that are induced by stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miłosz Gołyszny
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Ewa Obuchowicz
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Michał Zieliński
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
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Walker LC. A balancing act: the role of pro- and anti-stress peptides within the central amygdala in anxiety and alcohol use disorders. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1615-1643. [PMID: 33450069 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is widely implicated as a structure that integrates both appetitive and aversive stimuli. While intrinsic CeA microcircuits primarily consist of GABAergic neurons that regulate amygdala output, a notable feature of the CeA is the heterogeneity of neuropeptides and neuropeptide/neuromodulator receptors that it expresses. There is growing interest in the role of the CeA in mediating psychopathologies, including stress and anxiety states and their interactions with alcohol use disorders. Within the CeA, neuropeptides and neuromodulators often exert pro- or anti- stress actions, which can influence anxiety and alcohol associated behaviours. In turn, alcohol use can cause adaptions within the CeA, which may render an individual more vulnerable to stress which is a major trigger of relapse to alcohol seeking. This review examines the neurocircuitry, neurochemical phenotypes and how pro- and anti-stress peptide systems act within the CeA to regulate anxiety and alcohol seeking, focusing on preclinical observations from animal models. Furthermore, literature exploring the targeting of genetically defined populations or neuronal ensembles and the role of the CeA in mediating sex differences in stress x alcohol interactions are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh C Walker
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
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Voglsanger LM, Read J, Ch'ng SS, Zhang C, Eraslan IM, Gray L, Rivera LR, Hamilton LD, Williams R, Gundlach AL, Smith CM. Differential Level of RXFP3 Expression in Dopaminergic Neurons Within the Arcuate Nucleus, Dorsomedial Hypothalamus and Ventral Tegmental Area of RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:594818. [PMID: 33584175 PMCID: PMC7873962 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.594818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RXFP3 (relaxin-family peptide 3 receptor) is the cognate G-protein-coupled receptor for the neuropeptide, relaxin-3. RXFP3 is expressed widely throughout the brain, including the hypothalamus, where it has been shown to modulate feeding behavior and neuroendocrine activity in rodents. In order to better characterize its potential mechanisms of action, this study determined whether RXFP3 is expressed by dopaminergic neurons within the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), in addition to the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Neurons that express RXFP3 were visualized in coronal brain sections from RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato mice, which express the tdTomato fluorophore within RXFP3-positive cells, and dopaminergic neurons in these areas were visualized by simultaneous immunohistochemical detection of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity (TH-IR). Approximately 20% of ARC neurons containing TH-IR coexpressed tdTomato fluorescence, suggesting that RXFP3 can influence the dopamine pathway from the ARC to the pituitary gland that controls prolactin release. The ability of prolactin to reduce leptin sensitivity and increase food consumption therefore represents a potential mechanism by which RXFP3 activation influences feeding. A similar proportion of DMH neurons containing TH-IR expressed RXFP3-related tdTomato fluorescence, consistent with a possible RXFP3-mediated regulation of stress and neuroendocrine circuits. In contrast, RXFP3 was barely detected within the VTA. TdTomato signal was absent from the ARC and DMH in sections from Rosa26-tdTomato mice, suggesting that the cells identified in RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato mice expressed authentic RXFP3-related tdTomato fluorescence. Together, these findings identify potential hypothalamic mechanisms through which RXFP3 influences neuroendocrine control of metabolism, and further highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting RXFP3 in feeding-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Voglsanger
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Justin Read
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah S Ch'ng
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Cary Zhang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Izel M Eraslan
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura Gray
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Leni R Rivera
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Lee D Hamilton
- Faculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutritional Science, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard Williams
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig M Smith
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
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de Ávila C, Chometton S, Calvez J, Guèvremont G, Kania A, Torz L, Lenglos C, Blasiak A, Rosenkilde MM, Holst B, Conrad CD, Fryer JD, Timofeeva E, Gundlach AL, Cifani C. Estrous Cycle Modulation of Feeding and Relaxin-3/Rxfp3 mRNA Expression: Implications for Estradiol Action. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:1201-1218. [PMID: 33333517 DOI: 10.1159/000513830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Food intake varies during the ovarian hormone/estrous cycle in humans and rodents, an effect mediated mainly by estradiol. A potential mediator of the central anorectic effects of estradiol is the neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3) synthetized in the nucleus incertus (NI) and acting via the relaxin family peptide-3 receptor (RXFP3). METHODS We investigated the relationship between RLN3/RXFP3 signaling and feeding behavior across the female rat estrous cycle. We used in situ hybridization to investigate expression patterns of Rln3 mRNA in NI and Rxfp3 mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), medial preoptic area (MPA), and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), across the estrous cycle. We identified expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) in the NI using droplet digital PCR and assessed the electrophysiological responsiveness of NI neurons to estradiol in brain slices. RESULTS Rln3 mRNA reached the lowest levels in the NI pars compacta during proestrus. Rxfp3 mRNA levels varied across the estrous cycle in a region-specific manner, with changes observed in the perifornical LHA, magnocellular PVN, dorsal BNST, and MPA, but not in the parvocellular PVN or lateral LHA. G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (Gper1) mRNA was the most abundant ER transcript in the NI. Estradiol inhibited 33% of type 1 NI neurons, including RLN3-positive cells. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that the RLN3/RXFP3 system is modulated by the estrous cycle, and although further studies are required to better elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of estradiol signaling, current results implicate the involvement of the RLN3/RXFP3 system in food intake fluctuations observed across the estrous cycle in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila de Ávila
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada,
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark,
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA,
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA,
| | - Sandrine Chometton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Juliane Calvez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Geneviève Guèvremont
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Alan Kania
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Lola Torz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- NNF CBMR, Nutrient and Metabolite Sensing, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christophe Lenglos
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Anna Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mette M Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- NNF CBMR, Nutrient and Metabolite Sensing, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cheryl D Conrad
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - John D Fryer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Elena Timofeeva
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carlo Cifani
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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10
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de Ávila C, Chometton S, Ma S, Pedersen LT, Timofeeva E, Cifani C, Gundlach AL. Effects of chronic silencing of relaxin-3 production in nucleus incertus neurons on food intake, body weight, anxiety-like behaviour and limbic brain activity in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1091-1106. [PMID: 31897576 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05439-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Eating disorders are frequently triggered by stress and are more prevalent in women than men. First signs often appear during early adolescence, but the biological basis for the sex-specific differences is unknown. Central administration of native relaxin-3 (RLN3) peptide or chimeric/truncated analogues produces differential effects on food intake and HPA axis activity in adult male and female rats, but the precise role of endogenous RLN3 signalling in metabolic and neuroendocrine control is unclear. Therefore, we examined the effects of microRNA-induced depletion (knock-down) of RLN3 mRNA/(peptide) production in neurons of the brainstem nucleus incertus (NI) in female rats on a range of physiological, behavioural and neurochemical indices, including food intake, body weight, anxiety, plasma corticosterone, mRNA levels of key neuropeptides in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) and limbic neural activity patterns (reflected by c-fos mRNA). Validated depletion of RLN3 in NI neurons of female rats (n = 8) produced a small, sustained (~ 2%) decrease in body weight, an imbalance in food intake and an increase in anxiety-like behaviour in the large open field, but not in the elevated plus-maze or light/dark box. Furthermore, NI RLN3 depletion disrupted corticosterone regulation, increased oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin, but not corticotropin-releasing factor, mRNA, in PVN, and decreased basal levels of c-fos mRNA in parvocellular and magnocellular PVN, bed nucleus of stria terminalis and the lateral hypothalamic area, brain regions involved in stress and feeding. These findings support a role for NI RLN3 neurons in fine-tuning stress and neuroendocrine responses and food intake regulation in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila de Ávila
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CRIUCPQ, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. .,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. .,NNF CBMR, Nutrient and Metabolite Sensing, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Sandrine Chometton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CRIUCPQ, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Sherie Ma
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lola Torz Pedersen
- NNF CBMR, Nutrient and Metabolite Sensing, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena Timofeeva
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CRIUCPQ, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Carlo Cifani
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CRIUCPQ, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.,Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Alnafea H, Vahkal B, Zelmer CK, Yegorov S, Bogerd J, Good SV. Japanese medaka as a model for studying the relaxin family genes involved in neuroendocrine regulation: Insights from the expression of fish-specific rln3 and insl5 and rxfp3/4-type receptor paralogues. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:2-11. [PMID: 30703485 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this paper is to establish Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model for relaxin family peptide research, particularly for studying the functions of RLN3 and INSL5, hormones playing roles in neuroendocrine regulation. Medaka, like other teleosts, retained duplicate copies of rln3, insl5 and their rxfp3/4-type receptors following fish-specific whole genome duplication (WGD) and paralogous copies of these genes may have sub-functionalised providing an intuitive model for teasing apart the pleiotropic roles of the corresponding genes in mammals. To this end, we provide experimental evidence for the expression of the relaxin family genes in medaka that had previously only been identified in-silico, confirm the gene structure of five of the ligand genes, characterise gene expression across multiple tissues and during embryonic development, perform in situ hybridization with anti-sense insl5a on embryos and in adult brain and intestinal samples, and compare these results to the data available in zebrafish. We find broad similarities but also some differences in the expression of relaxin family genes in zebrafish versus medaka, and find support for the hypothesis that the rln3a/rln3b and insl5a/insl5b paralogues have been subfunctionalized. Given that medaka has a suite of relaxin family genes more similar to other teleosts, and has retained the gene for rxfp4 (which is lost in zebrafish), our results suggest that O. latipes may be a good model for delineating the ancestral function of the relaxin family genes involved in neuroendocrine regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Alnafea
- Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Brett Vahkal
- Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - C Kellie Zelmer
- Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sergey Yegorov
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sara V Good
- Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biology, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Yagi H, Kageyama K, Kinoshita N, Niioka K, Yamagata S, Ito E, Daimon M. Relaxin-3 regulates corticotropin-releasing factor gene expression in cultured rat hypothalamic 4B cells. Neurosci Lett 2019; 692:137-142. [PMID: 30412752 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The ancestral insulin/relaxin peptide superfamily member relaxin-3 is an important regulator of food intake and behaviors related to anxiety and motivation. Relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) and RXFP3 are expressed in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is produced in the PVN in response to stressors and promotes adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary. We hypothesized that relaxin-3 directly regulates Crf expression in the hypothalamus and investigated its effect on Crf expression in cultured hypothalamic 4B cells. Relaxin-3 increased Crf mRNA levels and stimulated Crf promoter activity. Both protein kinase A and C pathways contributed to relaxin-3-induced Crf promoter activity. Rxfp1 and Rxfp3 mRNA and their proteins were expressed in cultured hypothalamic 4B cells. Relaxin-3 decreased Rxfp1 mRNA and protein levels and increased Rxfp3 mRNA and protein levels. These results suggested that the action of relaxin-3 in cultured hypothalamic 4B cells may be regulated through both RXFP1 and RXFP3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Yagi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kageyama
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.
| | - Noriko Kinoshita
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
| | - Kanako Niioka
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamagata
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
| | - Etsuro Ito
- Department of Pediatrics, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
| | - Makoto Daimon
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan
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You X, Guo ZF, Cheng F, Yi B, Yang F, Liu X, Zhu N, Zhao X, Yan G, Ma XL, Sun J. Transcriptional up-regulation of relaxin-3 by Nur77 attenuates β-adrenergic agonist-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:14001-14011. [PMID: 30006349 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin family peptides have been shown to exert several beneficial effects on the heart, including anti-apoptosis, anti-fibrosis, and anti-hypertrophy activity. Understanding their regulation might provide new opportunities for therapeutic interventions, but the molecular mechanism(s) coordinating relaxin expression in the heart remain largely obscured. Previous work demonstrated a role for the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 in regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We therefore investigated Nur77 in the hopes of identifying novel relaxin regulators. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) data indicated that ectopic expression of orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 markedly increased the expression of latexin-3 (RLN3), but not relaxin-1 (RLN1), in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs). Furthermore, we found that the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO) markedly stimulated RLN3 expression, and this stimulation was significantly attenuated in Nur77 knockdown cardiomyocytes and Nur77 knockout hearts. We showed that Nur77 significantly increased RLN3 promoter activity via specific binding to the RLN3 promoter, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Furthermore, we found that Nur77 overexpression potently inhibited ISO-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, whereas this protective effect was significantly attenuated in RLN3 knockdown cardiomyocytes, suggesting that Nur77-induced RLN3 expression is an important mediator for the suppression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. These findings show that Nur77 regulates RLN3 expression, therefore suppressing apoptosis in the heart, and suggest that activation of Nur77 may represent a useful therapeutic strategy for inhibition of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua You
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Zhi-Fu Guo
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Fang Cheng
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Bing Yi
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Fan Yang
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Xinzhu Liu
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Ni Zhu
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xianxian Zhao
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guijun Yan
- the Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xin-Liang Ma
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Jianxin Sun
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, .,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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de Ávila C, Chometton S, Lenglos C, Calvez J, Gundlach AL, Timofeeva E. Differential effects of relaxin-3 and a selective relaxin-3 receptor agonist on food and water intake and hypothalamic neuronal activity in rats. Behav Brain Res 2018; 336:135-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Divergence of insulin superfamily ligands, receptors and Igf binding proteins in marine versus freshwater stickleback: Evidence of selection in known and novel genes. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2017; 25:53-61. [PMID: 29149730 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a teleost model for understanding genetic, physiological and morphological changes accompanying freshwater (FW) adaptation. There is growing evidence that the insulin superfamily plays important roles in traits involved in marine and FW adaptation. We performed a candidate gene analysis to look for evidence of selection on 33 insulin superfamily ligand-receptor genes and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (Igfbp's) in stickleback. Using genotype data from 11 marine and 10 FW populations, we calculated the number of SNPs per site in regulatory and intronic regions, the number of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations in coding regions, Wright's fixation index (Fst), and performed t-tests to identify SNPs with divergent genotype frequencies between marine/FW versus Atlantic/Pacific populations. Next, we analysed genome-wide transcriptome data from eight tissues to assess differential gene expression. Two Igfbp's (Igfbp2a and Igfbp5a) show evidence of divergent adaptation between life-history types, and a cluster of nonsynonymous mutations in Igfbp5a exhibit high Fst in exons apparently alternatively spliced in gill. We find evidence of selection on the relaxin family ligand-receptor gene pair, Insl3-Rxfp2, known to be involved in male spermatogenesis and bone metabolism, and in the 5' regulatory region of Igf2. We also confirmed the gene and coding sequence of two unannotated relaxin family ligands. These analyses underscore the utility of candidate gene studies and indicate directions for further exploration of the function of insulin superfamily genes in FW adaptation.
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Malone L, Opazo JC, Ryan PL, Hoffmann FG. Progressive erosion of the Relaxin1 gene in bovids. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 252:12-17. [PMID: 28733228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The relaxin/insulin-like (RLN/INSL) gene family is a group of genes that encode peptide hormones involved in a variety of physiological functions related to reproduction. Previous studies have shown that relaxin plays a key role in widening of the pubic bone during labor and in gamete maturation. Because of these functions, studying the evolution of RLN1, the gene encoding for relaxin, is relevant in livestock species, most of which belong in the group Laurasiatheria, which includes cow, pig, horse, goat, and sheep in addition to bats, cetaceans and carnivores. Experimental evidence suggests that cows do not synthesize relaxin, but respond to it, and sheep apparently have a truncated RLN1 gene. Thus, we made use of genome sequence data to characterize the genomic locus of the RLN1 gene in Laurasiatherian mammals to better understand how cows lost the ability to synthesize this peptide. We found that all ruminants in our study (cow, giraffe, goat, sheep and Tibetan antelope) lack a functional RLN1 gene, and document the progressive loss of RLN1 in the lineage leading to cows. Our analyses indicate that 1 - all ruminants have lost all key regulatory elements upstream of the first exon, 2 - giraffe, goat, sheep and Tibetan antelope have multiple inactivating mutations in the RLN1 pseudogene, and 3 - the cow genome has lost all traces of RLN1. The 5' regulatory sequence plays a key role in activating expression, and the loss of this sequence would impair synthesis of mRNA. Our results suggest that changes in regulatory sequence preceded mutations in coding sequence and highlight the importance of these regions in maintaining proper gene function. In addition, we found that all bovids examined posses copies of the relaxin receptors, which explains why they are able to respond to relaxin despite their inability to produce it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loggan Malone
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA
| | - Juan C Opazo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Peter L Ryan
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA; Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA
| | - Federico G Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA; Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing, and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA.
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Zhang C, Baimoukhametova DV, Smith CM, Bains JS, Gundlach AL. Relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in mouse hypothalamus: no effect of RXFP3 activation on corticosterone, despite reduced presynaptic excitatory input onto paraventricular CRH neurons in vitro. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1725-1739. [PMID: 28314951 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling is proposed to be involved in the neuromodulatory control of arousal- and stress-related neural circuits. Furthermore, previous studies in rats have led to the proposal that relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling is associated with activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, but direct evidence for RXFP3-related actions on the activity of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons is lacking. In this study, we investigated characteristics of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in mouse hypothalamus. Administration of an RXFP3 agonist (RXFP3-A2) intra-cerebroventricularly or directly into the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) of C57BL/6J mice did not alter corticosterone levels. Similarly, there were no differences between serum corticosterone levels in Rxfp3 knockout (C57BL/6JRXFP3TM1) and wild-type mice at baseline and after stress, despite detection of the predicted stress-induced increases in serum corticosterone. We examined the nature of the relaxin-3 innervation of PVN in wild-type mice and in Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice that co-express the tdTomato fluorophore in CRH neurons, identifying abundant relaxin-3 fibres in the peri-PVN region, but only sparse fibres associated with densely packed CRH neurons. In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of tdTomato-positive CRH neurons in these mice, we observed a reduction in sEPSC frequency following local application of RXFP3-A2, consistent with an activation of RXFP3 on presynaptic glutamatergic afferents in the PVN region. These studies clarify the relationship between relaxin-3/RXFP3 inputs and CRH neurons in mouse PVN, with implications for the interpretation of current and previous in vivo studies and future investigations of this stress-related signalling network in normal and transgenic mice, under normal and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zhang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - D V Baimoukhametova
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - C M Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - J S Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Boone E, Boulan L, Andersen DS, Romero N, Léopold P, Colombani J. Des insulines pour orchestrer la croissance. Med Sci (Paris) 2017; 33:637-641. [DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20173306021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Blasiak A, Gundlach AL, Hess G, Lewandowski MH. Interactions of Circadian Rhythmicity, Stress and Orexigenic Neuropeptide Systems: Implications for Food Intake Control. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:127. [PMID: 28373831 PMCID: PMC5357634 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many physiological processes fluctuate throughout the day/night and daily fluctuations are observed in brain and peripheral levels of several hormones, neuropeptides and transmitters. In turn, mediators under the “control” of the “master biological clock” reciprocally influence its function. Dysregulation in the rhythmicity of hormone release as well as hormone receptor sensitivity and availability in different tissues, is a common risk-factor for multiple clinical conditions, including psychiatric and metabolic disorders. At the same time circadian rhythms remain in a strong, reciprocal interaction with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Recent findings point to a role of circadian disturbances and excessive stress in the development of obesity and related food consumption and metabolism abnormalities, which constitute a major health problem worldwide. Appetite, food intake and energy balance are under the influence of several brain neuropeptides, including the orexigenic agouti-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone and relaxin-3. Importantly, orexigenic neuropeptide neurons remain under the control of the circadian timing system and are highly sensitive to various stressors, therefore the potential neuronal mechanisms through which disturbances in the daily rhythmicity and stress-related mediator levels contribute to food intake abnormalities rely on reciprocal interactions between these elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthParkville, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Grzegorz Hess
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian UniversityKrakow, Poland; Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of SciencesKrakow, Poland
| | - Marian H Lewandowski
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland
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Kania A, Gugula A, Grabowiecka A, de Ávila C, Blasiak T, Rajfur Z, Lewandowski MH, Hess G, Timofeeva E, Gundlach AL, Blasiak A. Inhibition of oxytocin and vasopressin neuron activity in rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus by relaxin-3-RXFP3 signalling. J Physiol 2017; 595:3425-3447. [PMID: 28098344 DOI: 10.1113/jp273787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Relaxin-3 is a stress-responsive neuropeptide that acts at its cognate receptor, RXFP3, to alter behaviours including feeding. In this study, we have demonstrated a direct, RXFP3-dependent, inhibitory action of relaxin-3 on oxytocin and vasopressin paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neuron electrical activity, a putative cellular mechanism of orexigenic actions of relaxin-3. We observed a Gαi/o -protein-dependent inhibitory influence of selective RXFP3 activation on PVN neuronal activity in vitro and demonstrated a direct action of RXFP3 activation on oxytocin and vasopressin PVN neurons, confirmed by their abundant expression of RXFP3 mRNA. Moreover, we demonstrated that RXFP3 activation induces a cadmium-sensitive outward current, which indicates the involvement of a characteristic magnocellular neuron outward potassium current. Furthermore, we identified an abundance of relaxin-3-immunoreactive axons/fibres originating from the nucleus incertus in close proximity to the PVN, but associated with sparse relaxin-3-containing fibres/terminals within the PVN. ABSTRACT The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) plays an essential role in the control of food intake and energy expenditure by integrating multiple neural and humoral inputs. Recent studies have demonstrated that intracerebroventricular and intra-PVN injections of the neuropeptide relaxin-3 or selective relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) agonists produce robust feeding in satiated rats, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action associated with these orexigenic effects have not been identified. In the present studies, using rat brain slices, we demonstrated that relaxin-3, acting through its cognate G-protein-coupled receptor, RXFP3, hyperpolarized a majority of putative magnocellular PVN neurons (88%, 22/25), including cells producing the anorexigenic neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin. Importantly, the action of relaxin-3 persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin and glutamate/GABA receptor antagonists, indicating its direct action on PVN neurons. Similar inhibitory effects on PVN oxytocin and vasopressin neurons were produced by the RXFP3 agonist, RXFP3-A2 (82%, 80/98 cells). In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a strong colocalization of RXFP3 mRNA with oxytocin and vasopressin immunoreactivity in rat PVN neurons. A smaller percentage of putative parvocellular PVN neurons was sensitive to RXFP3-A2 (40%, 16/40 cells). These data, along with a demonstration of abundant peri-PVN and sparse intra-PVN relaxin-3-immunoreactive nerve fibres, originating from the nucleus incertus, the major source of relaxin-3 neurons, identify a strong inhibitory influence of relaxin-3-RXFP3 signalling on the electrical activity of PVN oxytocin and vasopressin neurons, consistent with the orexigenic effect of RXFP3 activation observed in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kania
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Gugula
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Grabowiecka
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Camila de Ávila
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada, G1V 0A6
| | - Tomasz Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Zenon Rajfur
- Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marian H Lewandowski
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Hess
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.,Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343, Krakow, Poland
| | - Elena Timofeeva
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada, G1V 0A6
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Anna Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
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Ma S, Smith CM, Blasiak A, Gundlach AL. Distribution, physiology and pharmacology of relaxin-3/RXFP3 systems in brain. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:1034-1048. [PMID: 27774604 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-3 is a member of a superfamily of structurally-related peptides that includes relaxin and insulin-like peptide hormones. Soon after the discovery of the relaxin-3 gene, relaxin-3 was identified as an abundant neuropeptide in brain with a distinctive topographical distribution within a small number of GABAergic neuron populations that is well conserved across species. Relaxin-3 is thought to exert its biological actions through a single class-A GPCR - relaxin-family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3). Class-A comprises GPCRs for relaxin-3 and insulin-like peptide-5 and other peptides such as orexin and the monoamine transmitters. The RXFP3 receptor is selectively activated by relaxin-3, whereas insulin-like peptide-5 is the cognate ligand for the related RXFP4 receptor. Anatomical and pharmacological evidence obtained over the last decade supports a function of relaxin-3/RXFP3 systems in modulating responses to stress, anxiety-related and motivated behaviours, circadian rhythms, and learning and memory. Electrophysiological studies have identified the ability of RXFP3 agonists to directly hyperpolarise thalamic neurons in vitro, but there are no reports of direct cell signalling effects in vivo. This article provides an overview of earlier studies and highlights more recent research that implicates relaxin-3/RXFP3 neural network signalling in the integration of arousal, motivation, emotion and related cognition, and that has begun to identify the associated neural substrates and mechanisms. Future research directions to better elucidate the connectivity and function of different relaxin-3 neuron populations and their RXFP3-positive target neurons in major experimental species and humans are also identified. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherie Ma
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig M Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anna Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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22
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Kumar JR, Rajkumar R, Jayakody T, Marwari S, Hong JM, Ma S, Gundlach AL, Lai MKP, Dawe GS. Relaxin' the brain: a case for targeting the nucleus incertus network and relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in neuropsychiatric disorders. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:1061-1076. [PMID: 27597467 PMCID: PMC5406295 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin‐3 has been proposed to modulate emotional–behavioural functions such as arousal and behavioural activation, appetite regulation, stress responses, anxiety, memory, sleep and circadian rhythm. The nucleus incertus (NI), in the midline tegmentum close to the fourth ventricle, projects widely throughout the brain and is the primary site of relaxin‐3 neurons. Over recent years, a number of preclinical studies have explored the function of the NI and relaxin‐3 signalling, including reports of mRNA or peptide expression changes in the NI in response to behavioural or pharmacological manipulations, effects of lesions or electrical or pharmacological manipulations of the NI, effects of central microinfusions of relaxin‐3 or related agonist or antagonist ligands on physiology and behaviour, and the impact of relaxin‐3 gene deletion or knockdown. Although these individual studies reveal facets of the likely functional relevance of the NI and relaxin‐3 systems for human physiology and behaviour, the differences observed in responses between species (e.g. rat vs. mouse), the clearly identified heterogeneity of NI neurons and procedural differences between laboratories are some of the factors that have prevented a precise understanding of their function. This review aims to draw attention to the current preclinical evidence available that suggests the relevance of the NI/relaxin‐3 system to the pathology and/or symptoms of certain neuropsychiatric disorders and to provide cognizant directions for future research to effectively and efficiently uncover its therapeutic potential. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigna Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ramamoorthy Rajkumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore
| | - Tharindunee Jayakody
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore
| | - Subhi Marwari
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore
| | - Jia Mei Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sherie Ma
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mitchell K P Lai
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gavin S Dawe
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), National University of Singapore, Singapore
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23
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Calvez J, de Ávila C, Timofeeva E. Sex-specific effects of relaxin-3 on food intake and body weight gain. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:1049-1060. [PMID: 27245781 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-3 (RLN3) is a neuropeptide that is strongly expressed in the pontine nucleus incertus (NI) and binds with high affinity to its cognate receptor RXFP3. Central administration of RLN3 in rats increases food intake and adiposity. In humans, RLN3 polymorphism has been associated with obesity and hypercholesterolaemia. Emerging evidence suggests that the effects of RLN3 may have sex-specific aspects. Thus, the RLN3 knockout female but not male mice are hypoactive. RLN3 produced stronger orexigenic and obesogenic effects in female rats compared with male rats. In addition, female rats demonstrated higher sensitivity to lower doses of RLN3. Repeated cycles of food restriction and stress were accompanied by an increase in RLN3 expression and hyperphagia in female but not in male rats. Furthermore, stress-induced binge eating in female rats was blocked by an RXFP3 receptor antagonist. RLN3 increased the expression of corticotropin releasing factor in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus in male but not in female rats. Conversely, in female rats, RLN3 increased the expression of orexin in the lateral hypothalamus. There is evidence that orexin directly activates the RLN3 neurons in the NI. The positive reinforcement of the RLN3 effects by orexin may intensify behavioural activation and feeding in females. Sex-specific effects of RLN3 may also depend on differential expression of RXFP3 receptors in the brain. Given the higher sensitivity of females to the orexigenic effects of RLN3 and the stress-induced activation of RLN3, the overall data suggest a possible role for RLN3 in eating disorders that show a higher propensity in women. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Calvez
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Camila de Ávila
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Elena Timofeeva
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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24
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Calvez J, de Ávila C, Matte LO, Guèvremont G, Gundlach AL, Timofeeva E. Role of relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in stress-induced binge-like eating in female rats. Neuropharmacology 2015; 102:207-15. [PMID: 26607097 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Binge eating is frequently stimulated by stress. The neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3) and its native receptor RXFP3 are implicated in stress and appetitive behaviors. We investigated the dynamics of the central RLN3/RXFP3 system in a newly established model of stress-induced binge eating. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unpredictable intermittent 1-h access to 10% sucrose. When sucrose intake stabilized, rats were assessed for consistency of higher or lower sucrose intake in response to three unpredictable episodes of foot-shock stress; and assigned as binge-like eating prone (BEP) or binge-like eating resistant (BER). BEP rats displayed elevated consumption of sucrose under non-stressful conditions (30% > BER) and an additional marked increase in sucrose intake (60% > BER) in response to stress. Conversely, sucrose intake in BER rats was unaltered by stress. Chow intake was similar in both phenotypes on 'non-stress' days, but was significantly reduced by stress in BER, but not BEP, rats. After stress, BEP, but not BER, rats displayed a significant increase in RLN3 mRNA levels in the nucleus incertus. In addition, in response to stress, BEP, but not BER, rats had increased RXFP3 mRNA levels in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Intracerebroventricular administration of a selective RXFP3 antagonist, R3(B1-22)R, blocked the stress-induced increase in sucrose intake in BEP rats and had no effect on sucrose intake in BER rats. These results provide important evidence for a role of the central RLN3/RXFP3 system in the regulation of stress-induced binge eating in rats, and have therapeutic implications for eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Calvez
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Camila de Ávila
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Louis-Olivier Matte
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Geneviève Guèvremont
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Elena Timofeeva
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
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25
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Garelli A, Heredia F, Casimiro AP, Macedo A, Nunes C, Garcez M, Dias ARM, Volonte YA, Uhlmann T, Caparros E, Koyama T, Gontijo AM. Dilp8 requires the neuronal relaxin receptor Lgr3 to couple growth to developmental timing. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8732. [PMID: 26510564 PMCID: PMC4640092 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
How different organs in the body sense growth perturbations in distant tissues to coordinate their size during development is poorly understood. Here we mutate an invertebrate orphan relaxin receptor gene, the Drosophila Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 3 (Lgr3), and find body asymmetries similar to those found in insulin-like peptide 8 (dilp8) mutants, which fail to coordinate growth with developmental timing. Indeed, mutation or RNA intereference (RNAi) against Lgr3 suppresses the delay in pupariation induced by imaginal disc growth perturbation or ectopic Dilp8 expression. By tagging endogenous Lgr3 and performing cell type-specific RNAi, we map this Lgr3 activity to a new subset of CNS neurons, four of which are a pair of bilateral pars intercerebralis Lgr3-positive (PIL) neurons that respond specifically to ectopic Dilp8 by increasing cAMP-dependent signalling. Our work sheds new light on the function and evolution of relaxin receptors and reveals a novel neuroendocrine circuit responsive to growth aberrations. The orphan ligand Dilp8 has been shown to coordinate growth and developmental timing in Drosophila. Here, using Gal4 drivers and CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, Garelli et al. identify a role for relaxin-like receptor Lgr3 in regulating the Dilp8 developmental delay pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Garelli
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), CONICET and Universidad Nacional del Sur, Camino La Carrindanga km7, Bahía Blanca B8000 FWB, Argentina
| | - Fabiana Heredia
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Andreia P Casimiro
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Andre Macedo
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Catarina Nunes
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Marcia Garcez
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Angela R Mantas Dias
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Yanel A Volonte
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), CONICET and Universidad Nacional del Sur, Camino La Carrindanga km7, Bahía Blanca B8000 FWB, Argentina
| | - Thomas Uhlmann
- Dualsystems Biotech AG, Grabenstrasse 11a, Schlieren CH-8952, Switzerland
| | - Esther Caparros
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Alicante-Valencia, km 87, San Juan, Alicante 03550, Spain
| | - Takashi Koyama
- Development, Evolution and the Environment Laboratory, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Alisson M Gontijo
- Integrative Biomedicine Laboratory, CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus do IGC, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
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26
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Zhang C, Chua BE, Yang A, Shabanpoor F, Hossain MA, Wade JD, Rosengren KJ, Smith CM, Gundlach AL. Central relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) activation reduces elevated, but not basal, anxiety-like behaviour in C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2015; 292:125-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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27
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Calvez J, Lenglos C, de Ávila C, Guèvremont G, Timofeeva E. Differential effects of central administration of relaxin-3 on food intake and hypothalamic neuropeptides in male and female rats. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2015; 14:550-63. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Calvez
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec; Université Laval; Québec (QC) Canada
| | - C. Lenglos
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec; Université Laval; Québec (QC) Canada
| | - C. de Ávila
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec; Université Laval; Québec (QC) Canada
| | - G. Guèvremont
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec; Université Laval; Québec (QC) Canada
| | - E. Timofeeva
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec; Université Laval; Québec (QC) Canada
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28
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Ma S, Gundlach AL. Ascending control of arousal and motivation: role of nucleus incertus and its peptide neuromodulators in behavioural responses to stress. J Neuroendocrinol 2015; 27:457-67. [PMID: 25612218 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Arousal is a process that involves the activation of ascending neural pathways originating in the rostral pons that project to the forebrain through the midbrain reticular formation to promote the activation of key cortical, thalamic, hypothalamic and limbic centres. Established modulators of arousal include the cholinergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic networks originating in the pons and midbrain. Recent data indicate that a population of largely GABAergic projection neurones located in the nucleus incertus (NI) are also involved in arousal and motivational processes. The NI has prominent efferent connections with distinct hypothalamic, amygdalar and thalamic nuclei, in addition to dense projections to key brain regions associated with the generation and pacing of hippocampal activity. The NI receives strong inputs from the prefrontal cortex, lateral habenula and the interpeduncular and median raphe nuclei, suggesting it is highly integrated in circuits regulating higher cognitive behaviours (hippocampal theta rhythm) and emotion. Anatomical and functional studies have revealed that the NI is a rich source of multiple peptide neuromodulators, including relaxin-3, and may mediate extra-hypothalamic effects of the stress hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor, as well as other key modulators such as orexins and oxytocin. This review provides an overview of earlier studies and highlights more recent research that implicates this neural network in the integration of arousal and motivated behaviours and has begun to identify the associated mechanisms. Future research that should help to better clarify the connectivity and function of the NI in major experimental species and humans is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ma
- Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A L Gundlach
- Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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29
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Lenglos C, Calvez J, Timofeeva E. Sex-specific effects of relaxin-3 on food intake and brain expression of corticotropin-releasing factor in rats. Endocrinology 2015; 156:523-33. [PMID: 25406021 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study compared the effects of relaxin-3 (RLN3) on food intake, plasma corticosterone, and the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in male and female rats. RLN3 was injected into the lateral ventricle at 25, 200, and 800 pmol concentrations. RLN3 at 25 pmol increased food intake (grams) at 30 and 60 minutes after injection in female but not male rats. Female rats also showed higher increase in relative to body weight (BW) food intake (mg/g BW) for all RLN3 concentrations at 30 minutes and for 800 pmol of RLN3 at 60 minutes. Moreover, RLN3 at 800 pmol significantly increased 24-hour BW gain in female but not male rats. At 60 minutes after administration, 800 pmol of RLN3 produced a significant increase in plasma corticosterone and in the expression of CRF and c-fos mRNAs in the parvocellular paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) in male but not female rats. The levels of c-fos mRNA in the magnocellular PVN were increased by RLN3 but did not differ between the sexes. Conversely, expression of CRF mRNA in the medial preoptic area was increased in female rats but was not sensitive to 800 pmol of RLN3. In the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, 800 pmol of RLN3 significantly increased CRF mRNA expression in female but not male rats. Therefore, female rats showed more sensitivity and stronger food intake increase in response to RLN3. The differential effects of RLN3 on CRF expression in the PVN and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis may contribute to the sex-specific difference in the behavioral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Lenglos
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6
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30
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Yegorov S, Bogerd J, Good SV. The relaxin family peptide receptors and their ligands: new developments and paradigms in the evolution from jawless fish to mammals. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 209:93-105. [PMID: 25079565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin family peptide receptors (Rxfps) and their ligands, relaxin (Rln) and insulin-like (Insl) peptides, are broadly implicated in the regulation of reproductive and neuroendocrine processes in mammals. Most placental mammals harbour genes for four receptors, namely rxfp1, rxfp2, rxfp3 and rxfp4. The number and identity of rxfps in other vertebrates are immensely variable, which is probably attributable to intraspecific variation in reproductive and neuroendocrine regulation. Here, we highlight several interesting, but greatly overlooked, aspects of the rln/insl-rxfp evolutionary history: the ancient origin, recruitment of novel receptors, diverse roles of selection, differential retention and lineage-specific loss of genes over evolutionary time. The tremendous diversity of rln/insl and rxfp genes appears to have arisen from two divergent receptors and one ligand that were duplicated by whole genome duplications (WGD) in early vertebrate evolution, although several genes, notably relaxin in mammals, were also duplicated via small scale duplications. Duplication and loss of genes have varied across lineages: teleosts retained more WGD-derived genes, dominated by those thought to be involved in neuroendocrine regulation (rln3, insl5 and rxfp 3/4 genes), while eutherian mammals witnessed the diversification and rapid evolution of genes involved in reproduction (rln/insl3). Several genes that arose early in evolutionary history were lost in most mammals, but retained in teleosts and, to a lesser extent, in early diverging tetrapods. To elaborate on their evolutionary history, we provide updated phylogenies of the Rxfp1/2 and Rxfp3/4 receptors and their ligands, including new sequences from early diverging vertebrate taxa such as coelacanth, skate, spotted gar, and lamprey. We also summarize the recent progress made towards understanding the functional biology of Rxfps in non-mammalian taxa, providing a new conceptual framework for research on Rxfp signaling across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Yegorov
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sara V Good
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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31
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Meadows KL, Byrnes EM. Sex- and age-specific differences in relaxin family peptide receptor expression within the hippocampus and amygdala in rats. Neuroscience 2014; 284:337-348. [PMID: 25313002 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin is an essential pregnancy-related hormone with broad peripheral effects mediated by activation of relaxin-like family peptide 1 receptors (RXFP1). More recent studies suggest an additional role for relaxin as a neuropeptide, with RXFP1 receptors expressed in numerous brain regions. Neurons in an area of the brainstem known as the nucleus incertus (NI) produce relaxin 3 (RLN3), the most recently identified neuropeptide in the relaxin family. RLN3 has been shown to activate both RXFP1 and relaxin-like family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3) receptor subtypes. Studies suggest wide-ranging neuromodulatory effects of both RXFP1 and RXFP3 activation, although to date the majority of studies have been conducted in young males. In the current study, we examined potential sex- and age-related changes in RLN3 gene expression in the NI as well as RXFP1 and RXFP3 gene expression in the dorsal hippocampus (HI), ventral hippocampus (vHI) and amygdala (AMYG) using young adult (9-12weeks) and middle-aged (9-12months) male and female rats. In addition, regional changes in RXFP1 and RXFP3 protein expression were examined in the CA1, CA2/CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) as well as within basolateral (BLA), central (CeA), and medial (MeA) amygdaloid nuclei. In the NI, RLN3 showed an age-related decrease in males. In the HI, only the RXFP3 receptor showed an age-related change in gene expression, however, both receptor subtypes showed age-related changes in protein expression that were region specific. Additionally, while gene and protein expression of both receptors increased with age in AMYG, these effects were both region- and sex-specific. Finally, overall males displayed a greater number of cells that express the RXFP3 protein in all of the amygdaloid nuclei examined. Cognitive and emotional processes regulated by activity within the HI and AMYG are modulated by both sex and age. The vast majority of studies exploring the influence of sex on age-related changes in the HI and AMYG have focused on sex hormones, with few studies examining the role of neuropeptides. The current findings suggest that changes in relaxin family peptides may contribute to the significant sex differences observed in these brain regions as a function of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Meadows
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, Grafton, MA 01536, United States.
| | - E M Byrnes
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, Grafton, MA 01536, United States.
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Hosken IT, Sutton SW, Smith CM, Gundlach AL. Relaxin-3 receptor (Rxfp3) gene knockout mice display reduced running wheel activity: implications for role of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in sustained arousal. Behav Brain Res 2014; 278:167-75. [PMID: 25257104 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anatomical and pharmacological evidence suggests the neuropeptide, relaxin-3, is the preferred endogenous ligand for the relaxin family peptide-3 receptor (RXFP3) and suggests a number of putative stress- and arousal-related roles for RXFP3 signalling. However, in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrates exogenous relaxin-3 can activate other relaxin peptide family receptors, and the role of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in specific brain circuits and associated behaviours in mice is not well described. In this study, we characterised the behaviour of cohorts of male and female Rxfp3 gene knockout (KO) mice (C57/B6J(RXFP3TM1/DGen)), relative to wild-type (WT) littermates to determine if this receptor KO strain has a similar phenotype to its ligand KO equivalent. Rxfp3 KO mice displayed similar performance to WT littermates in several acute behavioural paradigms designed to gauge motor coordination (rotarod test), spatial memory (Y-maze), depressive-like behaviour (repeat forced-swim test) and sensorimotor gating (prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle). Notably however, male and female Rxfp3 KO mice displayed robust and consistent (dark phase) hypoactivity on voluntary home-cage running wheels (∼20-60% less activity/h), and a small but significant decrease in anxiety-like behavioural traits in the elevated plus maze and light/dark box paradigms. Importantly, this phenotype is near identical to that observed in two independent lines of relaxin-3 KO mice, suggesting these phenotypes are due to the elimination of ligand or receptor and RXFP3-linked signalling. Furthermore, this behavioural characterisation of Rxfp3 KO mice identifies them as a useful experimental model for studying RXFP3-linked signalling and assessing the selectivity and/or potential off-target actions of RXFP3 agonists and antagonists, which could lead to an improved understanding of dysfunctional arousal in mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihaia T Hosken
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven W Sutton
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Craig M Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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