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Krolick KN, Cao J, Gulla EM, Bhardwaj M, Marshall SJ, Zhou EY, Kiss AJ, Choueiry F, Zhu J, Shi H. Subregion-specific transcriptomic profiling of rat brain reveals sex-distinct gene expression impacted by adolescent stress. Neuroscience 2024; 553:19-39. [PMID: 38977070 PMCID: PMC11444371 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.002] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Stress during adolescence clearly impacts brain development and function. Sex differences in adolescent stress-induced or exacerbated emotional and metabolic vulnerabilities could be due to sex-distinct gene expression in hypothalamic, limbic, and prefrontal brain regions. However, adolescent stress-induced whole-genome expression changes in key subregions of these brain regions were unclear. In this study, female and male adolescent Sprague Dawley rats received one-hour restraint stress daily from postnatal day (PD) 32 to PD44. Corticosterone levels, body weights, food intake, body composition, and circulating adiposity and sex hormones were measured. On PD44, brain and blood samples were collected. Using RNA-sequencing, sex-specific differences in stress-induced differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified in subregions of the hypothalamus, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex. Canonical pathways reflected well-known sex-distinct maladies and diseases, substantiating the therapeutic potential of the DE genes found in the current study. Thus, we proposed specific sex distinct, adolescent stress-induced transcriptional changes found in the current study as examples of the molecular bases for sex differences witnessed in stress induced or exacerbated emotional and metabolic disorders. Future behavioral studies and single-cell studies are warranted to test the implications of the DE genes identified in this study in sex-distinct stress-induced susceptibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jingyi Cao
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Evelyn M Gulla
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Meeta Bhardwaj
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | | | - Ethan Y Zhou
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Andor J Kiss
- Center for Bioinformatics & Functional Genomics, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Fouad Choueiry
- Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Jiangjiang Zhu
- Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Haifei Shi
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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Payant MA, Spencer CD, Ly NKK, Chee MJ. Inhibitory actions of melanin-concentrating hormone in the lateral septum. J Physiol 2024; 602:3545-3574. [PMID: 38874572 DOI: 10.1113/jp284845] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons can co-express several neuropeptides or neurotransmitters and send widespread projections throughout the brain. Notably, there is a dense cluster of nerve terminals from MCH neurons in the lateral septum (LS) that innervate LS cells by glutamate release. The LS is also a key region integrating stress- and anxiety-like behaviours, which are also emerging roles of MCH neurons. However, it is not known if or where the MCH peptide acts within the LS. We analysed the projections from MCH neurons in male and female mice anteroposteriorly throughout the LS and found spatial overlap between the distribution pattern of MCH-immunoreactive (MCH-ir) fibres with MCH receptor Mchr1 mRNA hybridization or MCHR1-ir cells. This overlap was most prominent along the ventral and lateral border of the rostral part of the LS (LSr). Most MCHR1-labelled LS neurons lay adjacent to passing MCH-ir fibres, but some MCH-ir varicosities directly contacted the soma or cilium of MCHR1-labelled LS neurons. We thus performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from MCHR1-rich LSr regions to determine if and how LS cells respond to MCH. Bath application of MCH to acute brain slices activated a bicuculline-sensitive chloride current that directly hyperpolarized LS cells. This MCH-mediated hyperpolarization was blocked by calphostin C, which suggested that the inhibitory actions of MCH were mediated by protein kinase C-dependent activation of GABAA receptors. Taken together, these findings define potential hotspots within the LS that may elucidate the contributions of MCH to stress- or anxiety-related feeding behaviours. KEY POINTS: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons have dense nerve terminals within the lateral septum (LS), a key region underlying stress- and anxiety-like behaviours that are emerging roles of the MCH system, but the function of MCH in the LS is not known. We found spatial overlap between MCH-immunoreactive fibres, Mchr1 mRNA, and MCHR1 protein expression along the lateral border of the LS. Within MCHR1-rich regions, MCH directly inhibited LS cells by increasing chloride conductance via GABAA receptor activation in a protein kinase C-dependent manner. Electrophysiological MCH effects in brain slices have been elusive, and few studies have described the mechanisms of MCH action. Our findings demonstrated, to our knowledge, the first description of MCHR1 Gq-coupling in brain slices, which was previously predicted in cell or primary culture models only. Together, these findings defined hotspots and mechanistic underpinnings for MCH effects such as in feeding and anxiety-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayla A Payant
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - C Duncan Spencer
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nikita K Koziel Ly
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Mar KD, So C, Hou Y, Kim JC. Age dependent path integration deficit in 5xFAD mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114919. [PMID: 38408521 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia in elderly individuals, characterized by memory deficits, cognitive decline, and neuropathology. The identification of preclinical markers for AD remains elusive. We employed an ultrasound-evoked spatial memory assay to investigate path integration (PI) in wild type C57BL/6 J and 5xFAD mice. We observed significant recruitment of the mammillary bodies (MB) and subiculum (Sub) - core regions of the Papez circuit during PI, as indicated by increased expression of the immediate early gene c-Fos in C57BL/6 J mice. In 5xFAD mice, amyloid-beta (Aβ) vulnerability in the MB and Sub was evident at 3-months of age, preceding widespread pathology at 5-months of age. In parallel, we detected significant behavioral deficits in PI in the 5XFAD mice at 5- but not 3-months of age. Sex based analysis revealed a more profound deficit in males compared to females at 5-months of age. Our data suggest PI may be as an early indicator of AD, potentially associated with dysfunction within the Papez circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall D Mar
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada.
| | - Chanbee So
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada.
| | - Yixin Hou
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada.
| | - Jun Chul Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada.
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Liang G, Kow ASF, Yusof R, Tham CL, Ho YC, Lee MT. Menopause-Associated Depression: Impact of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation on the Central Nervous System-A Review. Biomedicines 2024; 12:184. [PMID: 38255289 PMCID: PMC10813042 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Perimenopausal depression, occurring shortly before or after menopause, is characterized by symptoms such as emotional depression, anxiety, and stress, often accompanied by endocrine dysfunction, particularly hypogonadism and senescence. Current treatments for perimenopausal depression primarily provide symptomatic relief but often come with undesirable side effects. The development of agents targeting the specific pathologies of perimenopausal depression has been relatively slow. The erratic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the perimenopausal stage expose women to the risk of developing perimenopausal-associated depression. These hormonal changes trigger the production of proinflammatory mediators and induce oxidative stress, leading to progressive neuronal damage. This review serves as a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms contributing to perimenopausal depression. It aims to shed light on the complex relationship between perimenopausal hormones, neurotransmitters, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and perimenopausal depression. By summarizing the intricate interplay between hormonal fluctuations, neurotransmitter activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and perimenopausal depression, this review aims to stimulate further research in this field. The hope is that an increased understanding of these mechanisms will pave the way for the development of more effective therapeutic targets, ultimately reducing the risk of depression during the menopausal stage for the betterment of psychological wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengfan Liang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | | | - Rohana Yusof
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Chau Ling Tham
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory (NaturMeds), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yu-Cheng Ho
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan
| | - Ming Tatt Lee
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
- Centre of Research for Mental Health and Well-Being, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
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Horváth K, Juhász B, Kuti D, Ferenczi S, Kovács KJ. Recruitment of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) Neurons in Categorically Distinct Stress Reactions in the Mouse Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11736. [PMID: 37511494 PMCID: PMC10380650 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) are in the position to integrate stress-related information and initiate adaptive neuroendocrine-, autonomic-, metabolic- and behavioral responses. In addition to hypophyseotropic cells, CRH is widely expressed in the CNS, however its involvement in the organization of the stress response is not fully understood. In these experiments, we took advantage of recently available Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai9 mouse line to study the recruitment of hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic CRH neurons in categorically distinct, acute stress reactions. A total of 95 brain regions in the adult male mouse brain have been identified as containing putative CRH neurons with significant expression of tdTomato marker gene. With comparison of CRH mRNA and tdTomato distribution, we found match and mismatch areas. Reporter mice were then exposed to restraint, ether, high salt, lipopolysaccharide and predator odor stress and neuronal activation was revealed by FOS immunocytochemistry. In addition to a core stress system, stressor-specific areas have been revealed to display activity marker FOS. Finally, activation of CRH neurons was detected by colocalization of FOS in tdTomato expressing cells. All stressors resulted in profound activation of CRH neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus; however, a differential activation of pattern was observed in CRH neurons in extrahypothalamic regions. This comprehensive description of stress-related CRH neurons in the mouse brain provides a starting point for a systematic functional analysis of the brain stress system and its relation to stress-induced psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Horváth
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Juhász
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dániel Kuti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilamér Ferenczi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina J Kovács
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
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