1
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Roggenbuck EC, Hall EA, Hanson IB, Roby AA, Zhang KK, Alkatib KA, Carter JA, Clewner JE, Gelfius AL, Gong S, Gordon FR, Iseler JN, Kotapati S, Li M, Maysun A, McCormick EO, Rastogi G, Sengupta S, Uzoma CU, Wolkov MA, Clowney EJ. Let's talk about sex: Mechanisms of neural sexual differentiation in Bilateria. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1636. [PMID: 38185860 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1636] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, sexed gonads have evolved that facilitate release of sperm versus eggs, and bilaterian animals purposefully combine their gametes via mating behaviors. Distinct neural circuits have evolved that control these physically different mating events for animals producing eggs from ovaries versus sperm from testis. In this review, we will describe the developmental mechanisms that sexually differentiate neural circuits across three major clades of bilaterian animals-Ecdysozoa, Deuterosomia, and Lophotrochozoa. While many of the mechanisms inducing somatic and neuronal sex differentiation across these diverse organisms are clade-specific rather than evolutionarily conserved, we develop a common framework for considering the developmental logic of these events and the types of neuronal differences that produce sex-differentiated behaviors. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Roggenbuck
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elijah A Hall
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Isabel B Hanson
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alyssa A Roby
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine K Zhang
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle A Alkatib
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph A Carter
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jarred E Clewner
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna L Gelfius
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shiyuan Gong
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Finley R Gordon
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jolene N Iseler
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samhita Kotapati
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marilyn Li
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Areeba Maysun
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elise O McCormick
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geetanjali Rastogi
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Srijani Sengupta
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chantal U Uzoma
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Madison A Wolkov
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - E Josephine Clowney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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2
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Nakajo M, Kanda S, Oka Y. Involvement of the kisspeptin system in regulation of sexual behaviors in medaka. iScience 2024; 27:108971. [PMID: 38333699 PMCID: PMC10850746 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammals, kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons are generally considered as a sex steroid-dependent key regulator of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In contrast, previous studies in non-mammalian species, especially in teleosts, propose that Kiss1 is not directly involved in the HPG axis regulation, which suggests some sex-steroid-dependent functions of kisspeptin(s) other than the HPG axis regulation in non-mammals. Here, we used knockout (KO) medaka of kisspeptin receptor-coding genes (gpr54-1 and gpr54-2) and examined possible roles of kisspeptin in the regulation of sexual behaviors. We found that the KO pairs of gpr54-1, but not gpr54-2, spawned fewer eggs and exhibited delayed spawning than wild type pairs. Detailed behavior analysis suggested that the KO females are responsible for the delayed spawning and that the KO males showed hyper-motivation for courtship. Taken together, the present finding suggests that one of the reproductive-state-dependent functions of the Kiss1 may be the control of successful sexual behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikoto Nakajo
- Department of Physiology, Division of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Laboratory of Physiology, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Kawabata-Sakata Y, Kanda S, Okubo K. Male-specific vasotocin expression in the medaka tuberal hypothalamus: Androgen dependence and probable role in aggression. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 580:112101. [PMID: 37923055 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial vertebrates have a population of androgen-dependent vasotocin (VT)-expressing neurons in the extended amygdala that are more abundant in males and mediate male-typical social behaviors, including aggression. Teleosts lack these neurons but instead have novel male-specific VT-expressing neurons in the tuberal hypothalamus. Here we found in medaka that vt expression in these neurons is dependent on post-pubertal gonadal androgens and that androgens can act on these neurons to directly stimulate vt transcription via the androgen receptor subtype Ara. Furthermore, administration of exogenous VT induced aggression in females and alterations in the androgen milieu led to correlated changes in the levels of tuberal hypothalamic vt expression and aggression in both sexes. However, genetic ablation of vt failed to prevent androgen-induced aggression in females. Collectively, our results demonstrate a marked androgen dependence of male-specific vt expression in the teleost tuberal hypothalamus, although its relevance to male-typical aggression needs to be further validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukika Kawabata-Sakata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan; Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Laboratory of Physiology, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
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4
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Fleming T, Tachizawa M, Nishiike Y, Koiwa A, Homan Y, Okubo K. Estrogen-dependent expression and function of secretogranin 2a in female-specific peptidergic neurons. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad413. [PMID: 38111823 PMCID: PMC10726998 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Secretogranin 2 (Scg2) is a member of the secretogranin/chromogranin family of proteins that is involved in neuropeptide and hormone packaging to secretory granules and serves as a precursor for several secreted pleiotropic peptides. A recent study in zebrafish showed that the teleost Scg2 orthologs, scg2a and scg2b, play an important role in mating behavior, but its modes of action and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identify scg2a in another teleost species, medaka, by transcriptomic analysis as a gene that is expressed in an ovarian secretion-dependent manner in a group of neurons relevant to female sexual receptivity, termed FeSP neurons. Investigation of scg2a expression in the FeSP neurons of estrogen receptor (Esr)-deficient medaka revealed that it is dependent on estrogen signaling through Esr2b, the major determinant of female-typical mating behavior. Generation and characterization of scg2a-deficient medaka showed no overt changes in secretory granule packaging in FeSP neurons. This, along with the observation that Scg2a and neuropeptide B, a major neuropeptide produced by FeSP neurons, colocalize in a majority of secretory granules, suggests that Scg2a mainly serves as a precursor for secreted peptides that act in conjunction with neuropeptide B. Further, scg2a showed sexually biased expression in several brain nuclei implicated in mating behavior. However, we found no significant impact of scg2a deficiency on the performance of mating behavior in either sex. Collectively, our results indicate that, although perhaps not essential for mating behavior, scg2a acts in an estrogen/Esr2b signaling-dependent manner in neurons that are relevant to female sexual receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Fleming
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Masaya Tachizawa
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ai Koiwa
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yuki Homan
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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5
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Watanabe Y, Iwata K, Minabe S, Nakao N, Ishii H, Ozawa H. Central injection of neuropeptide B induces luteinizing hormone release in male and female rats. Peptides 2023; 168:171064. [PMID: 37507090 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.171064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptide B (NPB) has been identified as an endogenous peptide ligand for the orphan receptor NPBWR1. However, the effect of NPB on the central regulatory mechanisms of reproductive functions remains unclear. Our findings indicated the presence of Npb, Npw (which is another ligand for NPBWR1), and Npbwr1 mRNA in the hypothalamus of male and female rats at each stage of the estrous cycle. Npb mRNA expression was found to be significantly higher in diestrus compared to estrus. The expression of Npw mRNA was one order of magnitude lower than that of Npb mRNA, and Npw mRNA expression in diestrus was significantly higher than that in the other stages of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, Npbwr1 mRNA expression was found to be significantly higher in diestrus compared to the other stages of the estrous cycle and intact males. Notably, estrogen did not alter the expression of Npb, Npw, and Npbwr1 mRNAs in the hypothalamus of females. Central injection of NPB increased plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in both intact males and estrogen-primed ovariectomized females but not in ovariectomized females. These results suggest that NPB-NPBWR1 signaling would be a facilitatory regulatory mechanism in the reproductive function of male and female rats. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report to describe the central role of NPB-NPBWR1 signaling in LH regulation in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youki Watanabe
- Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kinuyo Iwata
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiori Minabe
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakao
- Graduate School of Applied Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Ishii
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ozawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Health Science, Bukkyo University, Kyoto, Japan
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Yu W, Qian S, Li X, Zhang L, Zhang W. Neuropeptide B (NPB) and NPB receptor 2b (NPBWR2b) in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus: expression and potential involvement in the regulation of gonadotropins. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2023; 49:983-1003. [PMID: 37670169 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-023-01237-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide B/W signaling system is composed of neuropeptide B (NPB), neuropeptide W (NPW), and two cognate receptors, NPBWR1 and NPBWR2, which are involved in diverse physiological processes, including the central regulation of neuroendocrine axes in vertebrates. The components of this signaling system are not well conserved during vertebrate evolution, implicating its functional diversity. The present study characterized the ricefield eel neuropeptide B/W system, generated a specific antiserum against the neuropeptide B/W receptor, and examined the potential roles of the system in the regulation of adenohypophysial functions. The ricefield eel genome contains npba, npbb, and npbwr2b but lacks the npw, npbwr1, and npbwr2a genes. The loss of npw and npbwr1 probably occurred at the base of ray-finned fish radiation and that of npbwr2a species specifically in ray-finned fish. Npba and npbb genes are produced through whole-genome duplication (WGD) in ray-finned fish. The ricefield eel npba was expressed in the brain and some peripheral tissues, while npbb was predominantly expressed in the brain. The ricefield eel npbwr2b was also expressed in the brain and in some peripheral tissues, such as the pituitary, gonad, heart, and eye. Immunoreactive Npbwr2b was shown to be localized to Lh and Fsh cells but not to Gh or Prl cells in the pituitary of ricefield eels. Npba upregulated the expression of fshb and cga but not lhb mRNA in pituitary fragments of ricefield eels cultured in vitro. The results of the present study suggest that the NPB system of ricefield eels may be involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixing Yu
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangyong Qian
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinai Li
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Wojciechowicz T, Kolodziejski PA, Billert M, Strowski MZ, Nowak KW, Skrzypski M. The Effects of Neuropeptide B on Proliferation and Differentiation of Porcine White Preadipocytes into Mature Adipocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076096. [PMID: 37047072 PMCID: PMC10094185 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide B (NPB) affects energy homeostasis and metabolism by binding and activating NPBWR1 and NPBWR2 in humans and pigs. Recently, we reported that NPB promotes the adipogenesis of rat white and brown preadipocytes as well as 3T3-L1 cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of NPB on the proliferation and differentiation of white porcine preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. We identified the presence of NPB, NPBWR1, and NPBWR2 on the mRNA and protein levels in porcine white preadipocytes. During the differentiation process, NPB increased the mRNA expression of PPARγ, C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, PPARγ, and C/EBPβ protein production in porcine preadipocytes. Furthermore, NPB stimulated lipid accumulation in porcine preadipocytes. Moreover, NPB promoted the phosphorylation of the p38 kinase in porcine preadipocytes, but failed to induce ERK1/2 phosphorylation. NPB failed to stimulate the expression of C/EBPβ in the presence of the p38 inhibitor. Taken together, we report that NPB promotes the differentiation of porcine preadipocytes via a p38-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Wojciechowicz
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
| | - Paweł A Kolodziejski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maria Billert
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
| | - Mathias Z Strowski
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Medical Clinic III, 15236 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Krzysztof W Nowak
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Skrzypski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
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Oka Y. Neural Control of Sexual Behavior in Fish. Zoolog Sci 2023; 40:128-140. [PMID: 37042692 DOI: 10.2108/zs220108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Many vertebrate species show breeding periods and exhibit series of characteristic species-specific sexual behaviors only during the breeding period. Here, secretion of gonadal sex hormones from the mature gonads has been considered to facilitate sexual behaviors. Thus, the sexual behavior has long been considered to be regulated by neural and hormonal mechanisms. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the study of neural control mechanisms of sexual behavior with a focus on studies using fish, which have often been the favorite animals used by many researchers who study instinctive animal behaviors. We first discuss control mechanisms of sexual behaviors by sex steroids in relation to the anatomical studies of sex steroid-concentrating neurons in various vertebrate brains, which are abundantly distributed in evolutionarily conserved areas such as preoptic area (POA) and anterior hypothalamus. We then focus on another brain area called the ventral telencephalic area, which has also been suggested to contain sex steroid-concentrating neurons and has been implicated in the control of sexual behaviors, especially in teleosts. We also discuss control of sex-specific behaviors and sexual preference influenced by estrogenic signals or by olfactory/pheromonal signals. Finally, we briefly summarize research on the modulatory control of motivation for sexual behaviors by a group of peptidergic neurons called terminal nerve gonadotropin-releasing hormone (TN-GnRH) neurons, which are known to be especially developed in fishes among various vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Oka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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9
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Tanaka A, Umatani C, Oka Y. Acetylcholine Inhibits Spontaneous Firing Activity of Terminal Nerve GnRH Neurons in Medaka. Zoolog Sci 2023; 40:151-159. [PMID: 37042694 DOI: 10.2108/zs220070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrates generally possess hypophysiotropic and non-hypophysiotropic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. The terminal nerve (TN) GnRH neurons are known to belong to the non-hypophysiotropic neurons and have been suggested to modulate sexual behaviors. These neurons show spontaneous pacemaker firing activity and release neuropeptides GnRH and neuropeptide FF. Since the spontaneous firing activities of peptidergic neurons, including GnRH neurons, are believed to play important roles in the release of neuropeptides, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of these spontaneous firing activities is important. Here, we analyzed firing activities of the TN-GnRH neurons in medaka during application of acetylcholine (ACh), which is one of the essential neuromodulators in the brain. Whole cell patch clamp recording of TN-GnRH neurons demonstrated that ACh induces hyperpolarization and inhibits their pacemaker firing. Electrophysiological analysis using an antagonist for acetylcholine receptors and in situ hybridization analysis showed that firing of TN-GnRH neurons is inhibited via M2-type muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. These findings, taken together with literature from several other fish species (including teleosts and elasmobranchs), indicate that ACh may generally play an inhibitory role in modulating spontaneous activities of TN-GnRH neurons and thereby sexual behaviors in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiki Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Chie Umatani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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10
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Bu G, Lin Y, Liu J, Yu P, Yong T, Yang M, Huang L, Han X, Du X, Kong F, Huang A, Zeng X, Meng F. Evidence for progesterone acting as an inhibitor of stress axis via stimulating pituitary neuropeptide B/W receptor 2 (NPBWR2) expression in chickens. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 226:106218. [PMID: 36368625 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland (HPA) axis is the main endocrine pathway regulating the stress response, thus also called the stress axis. It has been well-accepted that the stress axis is tightly controlled by both hypothalamic stimulators and inhibitors [e.g. corticotropin (ACTH)-releasing inhibitory factor (CRIF)]. However, the identity of authentic CRIF remains unclear for decades. Recently, neuropeptide W (NPW) was proved to be the physiological CRIF in chickens. Together with its functional receptor (NPBWR2), they play critical roles in attenuating the activity of the chicken stress axis. Because increasing pieces of evidence suggested that sex steroids could regulate the stress axis, using chicken as a model, we investigated whether the newly identified CRIF and its receptor are under the control of sex steroids in this study. Our results showed that: (1) expression of NPW-NPBWR2 in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis was sexually dimorphic and developmental stage-dependent; (2) progesterone (P4), rather than 17β-estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), could dose- and time-dependently upregulate NPBWR2 expression, which was accompanied with the decrease of ACTH synthesis and secretion, in cultured pituitary cells; (3) intraperitoneal injection of P4 could elevate the mRNA level of pituitary NPBWR2; (4) P4-stimulated NPBWR2 expression was relevant to both nPR-mediated genomic action and mPRs-triggered nongenomic route associated with MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT cascade, and calcium influx. To our knowledge, our results discover a novel route of sex steroids in modulating the stress axis of chickens, which lays a foundation to reveal the complicated interaction network between reproduction and stress axes in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixian Bu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China.
| | - Ying Lin
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Pan Yu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Tao Yong
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Ming Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Linyan Huang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Xingfa Han
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Xiaogang Du
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Fanli Kong
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Anqi Huang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Xianyin Zeng
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China
| | - Fengyan Meng
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, PR China.
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11
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Prostaglandin E2 receptor Ptger4b regulates female-specific peptidergic neurons and female sexual receptivity in medaka. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1215. [PMID: 36357668 PMCID: PMC9649691 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04195-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, female receptivity to male courtship is highly dependent on ovarian secretion of estrogens and prostaglandins. We recently identified female-specific neurons in the medaka (Oryzias latipes) preoptic area that express Npba, a neuropeptide mediating female sexual receptivity, in response to ovarian estrogens. Here we show by transcriptomic analysis that these neurons express a multitude of neuropeptides, in addition to Npba, in an ovarian-dependent manner, and we thus termed them female-specific, sex steroid-responsive peptidergic (FeSP) neurons. Our results further revealed that FeSP neurons express a prostaglandin E2 receptor gene, ptger4b, in an ovarian estrogen-dependent manner. Behavioral and physiological examination of ptger4b-deficient female medaka found that they exhibit increased sexual receptivity while retaining normal ovarian function and that their FeSP neurons have reduced firing activity and impaired neuropeptide release. Collectively, this work provides evidence that prostaglandin E2/Ptger4b signaling mediates the estrogenic regulation of FeSP neuron activity and female sexual receptivity. Prostaglandin E2 signaling mediates the estrogenic regulation of peptidergic neuronal activity and female receptivity via the ptger4b gene pathway in Japanese rice fish.
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Kayo D, Kanda S, Okubo K. Allogeneic testes transplanted into partially castrated adult medaka (Oryzias latipes) can produce donor-derived offspring by natural mating over a prolonged period. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2022; 8:10. [PMID: 35879745 PMCID: PMC9310406 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-022-00195-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Generally, successful testis transplantation has been considered to require immune suppression in the recipient to avoid rejection of the transplanted tissue. In the present study, we demonstrate in medaka that allogeneic adult testicular tissue will engraft in adult recipients immediately after partial castration without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. The allografted testes are retained in the recipient's body for at least 3 months and are able to produce viable sperm that yield offspring after natural mating. Some recipients showed a high frequency (over 60%) of offspring derived from spermatozoa produced by the transplanted testicular tissue. Histological analyses showed that allografted testicular tissues included both germ cells and somatic cells that had become established within an immunocompetent recipient testis. The relative simplicity of this testis transplantation approach will benefit investigations of the basic processes of reproductive immunology and will improve the technique of gonadal tissue transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Kayo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
- Present address: Laboratory of Molecular Ethology, Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Laboratory of Physiology, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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Li XY, Mei J, Ge CT, Liu XL, Gui JF. Sex determination mechanisms and sex control approaches in aquaculture animals. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1091-1122. [PMID: 35583710 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Aquaculture is one of the most efficient modes of animal protein production and plays an important role in global food security. Aquaculture animals exhibit extraordinarily diverse sexual phenotypes and underlying mechanisms, providing an ideal system to perform sex determination research, one of the important areas in life science. Moreover, sex is also one of the most valuable traits because sexual dimorphism in growth, size, and other economic characteristics commonly exist in aquaculture animals. Here, we synthesize current knowledge of sex determination mechanisms, sex chromosome evolution, reproduction strategies, and sexual dimorphism, and also review several approaches for sex control in aquaculture animals, including artificial gynogenesis, application of sex-specific or sex chromosome-linked markers, artificial sex reversal, as well as gene editing. We anticipate that better understanding of sex determination mechanisms and innovation of sex control approaches will facilitate sustainable development of aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Yin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jie Mei
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chu-Tian Ge
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Xiao-Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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14
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Yamashita J, Nishiike Y, Fleming T, Kayo D, Okubo K. Estrogen mediates sex differences in preoptic neuropeptide and pituitary hormone production in medaka. Commun Biol 2021; 4:948. [PMID: 34373576 PMCID: PMC8352984 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02476-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The preoptic area (POA) is one of the most evolutionarily conserved regions of the vertebrate brain and contains subsets of neuropeptide-expressing neurons. Here we found in the teleost medaka that two neuropeptides belonging to the secretin family, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (Pacap) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (Vip), exhibit opposite patterns of sexually dimorphic expression in the same population of POA neurons that project to the anterior pituitary: Pacap is male-biased, whereas Vip is female-biased. Estrogen secreted by the ovary in adulthood was found to attenuate Pacap expression and, conversely, stimulate Vip expression in the female POA, thereby establishing and maintaining their opposite sexual dimorphism. Pituitary organ culture experiments demonstrated that both Pacap and Vip can markedly alter the expression of various anterior pituitary hormones. Collectively, these findings show that males and females use alternative preoptic neuropeptides to regulate anterior pituitary hormones as a result of their different estrogen milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpei Yamashita
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas Fleming
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daichi Kayo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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15
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Wojciechowicz T, Billert M, Jasaszwili M, Strowski MZ, Nowak KW, Skrzypski M. The Role of Neuropeptide B and Its Receptors in Controlling Appetite, Metabolism, and Energy Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126632. [PMID: 34205710 PMCID: PMC8234850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide B (NPB) is a peptide hormone that was initially described in 2002. In humans, the biological effects of NPB depend on the activation of two G protein-coupled receptors, NPBWR1 (GPR7) and NPBWR2 (GPR8), and, in rodents, NPBWR1. NPB and its receptors are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and in peripheral tissues. NPB is also present in the circulation. In the CNS, NPB modulates appetite, reproduction, pain, anxiety, and emotions. In the peripheral tissues, NPB controls secretion of adrenal hormones, pancreatic beta cells, and various functions of adipose tissue. Experimental downregulation of either NPB or NPBWR1 leads to adiposity. Here, we review the literature with regard to NPB-dependent control of metabolism and energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Wojciechowicz
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 35 Wołyńska St, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (T.W.); (M.B.); (M.J.); (K.W.N.)
| | - Maria Billert
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 35 Wołyńska St, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (T.W.); (M.B.); (M.J.); (K.W.N.)
| | - Mariami Jasaszwili
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 35 Wołyńska St, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (T.W.); (M.B.); (M.J.); (K.W.N.)
| | - Mathias Z. Strowski
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, D-13353 Berlin, Germany;
- Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, Park-Klinik Weissensee, D-13086 Berlin, Germany
| | - Krzysztof W. Nowak
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 35 Wołyńska St, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (T.W.); (M.B.); (M.J.); (K.W.N.)
| | - Marek Skrzypski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 35 Wołyńska St, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (T.W.); (M.B.); (M.J.); (K.W.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Arias Padilla LF, Castañeda-Cortés DC, Rosa IF, Moreno Acosta OD, Hattori RS, Nóbrega RH, Fernandino JI. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is necessary to reproductive success and normal mating behavior in medaka. eLife 2021; 10:62757. [PMID: 33646121 PMCID: PMC7946426 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of an adequate number of gametes is necessary for normal reproduction, for which the regulation of proliferation from early gonadal development to adulthood is key in both sexes. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is an especially important step prior to the beginning of meiosis; however, the molecular regulators of this proliferation remain elusive in vertebrates. Here, we report that ndrg1b is an important regulator of cystic proliferation in medaka. We generated mutants of ndrg1b that led to a disruption of cystic proliferation of germ cells. This loss of cystic proliferation was observed from embryogenic to adult stages, impacting the success of gamete production and reproductive parameters such as spawning and fertilization. Interestingly, the depletion of cystic proliferation also impacted male sexual behavior, with a decrease of mating vigor. These data illustrate why it is also necessary to consider gamete production capacity in order to analyze reproductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana C Castañeda-Cortés
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Ivana F Rosa
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Omar D Moreno Acosta
- Salmonid Experimental Station at Campos do Jordão, UPD-CJ, Sao Paulo Fisheries Institute (APTA/SAA), Campos do Jordao, Brazil
| | - Ricardo S Hattori
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rafael H Nóbrega
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Juan I Fernandino
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
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17
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Nishiike Y, Miyazoe D, Togawa R, Yokoyama K, Nakasone K, Miyata M, Kikuchi Y, Kamei Y, Todo T, Ishikawa-Fujiwara T, Ohno K, Usami T, Nagahama Y, Okubo K. Estrogen receptor 2b is the major determinant of sex-typical mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1699-1710.e6. [PMID: 33639108 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Male and female animals typically display innate sex-specific mating behaviors, which, in vertebrates, are highly dependent on sex steroid signaling. While estradiol-17β (E2) signaling through estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) serves to defeminize male mating behavior in rodents, the available evidence suggests that E2 signaling is not required in teleosts for either male or female mating behavior. Here, we report that female medaka deficient for Esr2b, a teleost ortholog of ESR2, are not receptive to males but rather court females, despite retaining normal ovarian function with an unaltered sex steroid milieu. Thus, contrary to both prevailing views in rodents and teleosts, E2/Esr2b signaling in the brain plays a decisive role in feminization and demasculinization of female mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka. Further behavioral testing showed that mutual antagonism between E2/Esr2b signaling and androgen receptor-mediated androgen signaling in adulthood induces and actively maintains sex-typical mating behaviors and preference. Our results also revealed that the female-biased sexual dimorphism in esr2b expression in the telencephalic and preoptic nuclei implicated in mating behavior can be reversed between males and females by altering the sex steroid milieu in adulthood, likely via mechanisms involving direct E2-induced transcriptional activation. In addition, Npba, a neuropeptide mediating female sexual receptivity, was found to act downstream of E2/Esr2b signaling in these brain nuclei. Collectively, these functional and regulatory mechanisms of E2/Esr2b signaling presumably underpin the neural mechanism for induction, maintenance, and reversal of sex-typical mating behaviors and sexual preference in teleosts, at least in medaka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Daichi Miyazoe
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Rie Togawa
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Keiko Yokoyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Nakasone
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Miyata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamei
- Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takeshi Todo
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishikawa-Fujiwara
- Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kaoru Ohno
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takeshi Usami
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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18
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Tindell SJ, Rouchka EC, Arkov AL. Glial granules contain germline proteins in the Drosophila brain, which regulate brain transcriptome. Commun Biol 2020; 3:699. [PMID: 33219296 PMCID: PMC7679405 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01432-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Membraneless RNA-protein granules play important roles in many different cell types and organisms. In particular, granules found in germ cells have been used as a paradigm to study large and dynamic granules. These germ granules contain RNA and proteins required for germline development. Here, we unexpectedly identify large granules in specific subtypes of glial cells ("glial granules") of the adult Drosophila brain which contain polypeptides with previously characterized roles in germ cells including scaffold Tudor, Vasa, Polar granule component and Piwi family proteins. Interestingly, our super-resolution microscopy analysis shows that in the glial granules, these proteins form distinct partially overlapping clusters. Furthermore, we show that glial granule scaffold protein Tudor functions in silencing of transposable elements and in small regulatory piRNA biogenesis. Remarkably, our data indicate that the adult brain contains a small population of cells, which express both neuroblast and germ cell proteins. These distinct cells are evolutionarily conserved and expand during aging suggesting the existence of age-dependent signaling. Our work uncovers previously unknown glial granules and indicates the involvement of their components in the regulation of brain transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Tindell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY, 42071, USA
| | - Eric C Rouchka
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Alexey L Arkov
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY, 42071, USA.
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Yamashita J, Takeuchi A, Hosono K, Fleming T, Nagahama Y, Okubo K. Male-predominant galanin mediates androgen-dependent aggressive chases in medaka. eLife 2020; 9:59470. [PMID: 32783809 PMCID: PMC7423395 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in mice demonstrate that a subset of neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) that express galanin play crucial roles in regulating parental behavior in both sexes. However, little information is available on the function of galanin in social behaviors in other species. Here, we report that, in medaka, a subset of MPOA galanin neurons occurred nearly exclusively in males, resulting from testicular androgen stimulation. Galanin-deficient medaka showed a greatly reduced incidence of male-male aggressive chases. Furthermore, while treatment of female medaka with androgen induced male-typical aggressive acts, galanin deficiency in these females attenuated the effect of androgen on chases. Given their male-biased and androgen-dependent nature, the subset of MPOA galanin neurons most likely mediate androgen-dependent male-male chases. Histological studies further suggested that variability in the projection targets of the MPOA galanin neurons may account for the species-dependent functional differences in these evolutionarily conserved neural substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpei Yamashita
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akio Takeuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Hosono
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas Fleming
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Kawabata-Sakata Y, Nishiike Y, Fleming T, Kikuchi Y, Okubo K. Androgen-dependent sexual dimorphism in pituitary tryptophan hydroxylase expression: relevance to sex differences in pituitary hormones. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200713. [PMID: 32517612 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is a biogenic monoamine conserved across phyla that is implicated in diverse physiological and behavioural functions. On examining the expression of the rate-limiting enzymes in serotonin synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylases (TPHs), in the teleost medaka (Oryzias latipes), we found that males have much higher levels of tph1 expression as compared with females. This robust sexual dimorphism was found to probably result from the direct stimulation of tph1 transcription by androgen/androgen receptor binding to canonical bipartite androgen-responsive elements in its proximal promoter region. Our results further revealed that tph1 expression occurs exclusively in pro-opiomelanocortin (pomc)-expressing cells and that the resulting serotonin and its derivative melatonin inhibit the expression of the pituitary hormone genes, fshb, sl and tshb. This suggests that serotonin and/or melatonin synthesized in pomc-expressing cells act in a paracrine manner to suppress pituitary hormone levels. Consistent with these findings and the male-biased expression of tph1, the expression levels of fshb, sl and tshb were all higher in females than in males. Taken together, the male bias in tph1 expression and consequent serotonin/melatonin production presumably contribute to sex differences in the expression of pituitary hormones and ultimately in the physiological functions mediated by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukika Kawabata-Sakata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.,Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Thomas Fleming
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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21
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Targeted mutation of secretogranin-2 disrupts sexual behavior and reproduction in zebrafish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12772-12783. [PMID: 32467166 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002004117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The luteinizing hormone surge is essential for fertility as it triggers ovulation in females and sperm release in males. We previously reported that secretoneurin-a, a neuropeptide derived from the processing of secretogranin-2a (Scg2a), stimulates luteinizing hormone release, suggesting a role in reproduction. Here we provide evidence that mutation of the scg2a and scg2b genes using TALENs in zebrafish reduces sexual behavior, ovulation, oviposition, and fertility. Large-scale spawning within-line crossings (n = 82 to 101) were conducted. Wild-type (WT) males paired with WT females successfully spawned in 62% of the breeding trials. Spawning success was reduced to 37% (P = 0.006), 44% (P = 0.0169), and 6% (P < 0.0001) for scg2a -/- , scg2b -/- , and scg2a -/- ;scg2b -/- mutants, respectively. Comprehensive video analysis indicates that scg2a -/- ;scg2b -/- mutation reduces all male courtship behaviors. Spawning success was 47% in saline-injected WT controls compared to 11% in saline-injected scg2a -/- ;scg2b -/- double mutants. For these mutants, spawning success increased 3-fold following a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of synthetic secretoneurin-a (P = 0.0403) and increased 3.5-fold with injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Embryonic survival at 24 h remained on average lower in scg2a -/- ;scg2b -/- fish compared to WT injected with secretoneurin-a (P < 0.001). Significant reductions in the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone 3 in the hypothalamus, and luteinizing hormone beta and glycoprotein alpha subunits in the pituitary provide evidence for disrupted hypothalamo-pituitary function in scg2a and scg2b mutant fish. Our results indicate that secretogranin-2 is required for optimal reproductive function and support the hypothesis that secretoneurin is a reproductive hormone.
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