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Rybka KA, Lafrican JJ, Rosinger ZJ, Ariyibi DO, Brooks MR, Jacobskind JS, Zuloaga DG. Sex differences in androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, and c-Fos co-expression with corticotropin releasing factor expressing neurons in restrained adult mice. Horm Behav 2023; 156:105448. [PMID: 38344954 PMCID: PMC10861933 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Gonadal hormone actions through androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) regulate sex differences in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity and stress-related behaviors. Here we tested whether corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) expressing neurons, which are widely known to regulate neuroendocrine and behavioral stress responses, co-express AR and ERα as a potential mechanism for gonadal hormone regulation of these responses. Using Crh-IRES-Cre::Ai9 reporter mice we report high co-localization of AR in CRF neurons within the medial preoptic area (MPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), medial amygdala (MeA), and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), moderate levels within the central amygdala (CeA) and low levels in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN). Sex differences in CRF/AR co-expression were found in the principal nucleus of the BST (BSTmpl), CeA, MeA, and VMH (males>females). CRF co-localization with ERα was generally lower relative to AR co-localization. However, high co-expression was found within the MPOA, AVPV, and VMH, with moderate co-expression in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), BST, and MeA and low levels in the PVN and CeA. Sex differences in CRF/ERα co-localization were found in the BSTmpl and PVN (males>females). Finally, we assessed neural activation of CRF neurons in restraint-stressed mice and found greater CRF/c-Fos co-expression in females in the BSTmpl and periaqueductal gray, while co-expression was higher in males within the ARC and dorsal CA1. Given the known role of CRF in regulating behavioral stress responses and the HPA axis, AR/ERα co-expression and sex-specific activation of CRF cell groups indicate potential mechanisms for modulating sex differences in these functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna A Rybka
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Jennifer J Lafrican
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Zachary J Rosinger
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Deborah O Ariyibi
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Mecca R Brooks
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Jason S Jacobskind
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America
| | - Damian G Zuloaga
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America.
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De Guzman RM, Rosinger ZJ, Rybka KA, Jacobskind JS, Thrasher CA, Caballero AL, Sturm KL, Sharif MS, Abbas MS, Parra KE, Zuloaga KL, Justice NJ, Zuloaga DG. Changes in Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 1, Co-Expression with Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Oxytocin Neurons, and Anxiety-Like Behaviors across the Postpartum Period in Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 113:795-810. [PMID: 36917957 PMCID: PMC10389801 DOI: 10.1159/000530156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Corticotropin-releasing factor and its primary receptor (CRFR1) are critical regulators of behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses. CRFR1 has also been associated with stress-related behavioral changes in postpartum mice. Our previous studies indicate dynamic changes in CRFR1 levels and coupling of CRFR1 with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and oxytocin (OT) neurons in postpartum mice. In this study, we aimed to determine the time course of these changes during the postpartum period. METHODS Using a CRFR1-GFP reporter mouse line, we compared postpartum mice at five time points with nulliparous mice. We performed immunohistochemistry to assess changes in CRFR1 levels and changes in co-expression of TH/CRFR1-GFP and OT/CRFR1-GFP across the postpartum period. Mice were also assessed for behavioral stress responses in the open field test. RESULTS Relative to nulliparous mice, CRFR1 levels were elevated in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV/PeN) but were decreased in the medial preoptic area from postpartum day 1 (P1) through P28. In the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN), there is a transient decline in CRFR1 mid-postpartum with a nadir at P7. Co-localization of CRFR1 with TH-expressing neurons was also altered with a transient decrease found in the AVPV/PeN at P7 and P14. Co-expression of CRFR1 and OT neurons of the PVN and supraoptic nucleus was dramatically altered with virtually no co-expression found in nulliparous mice, but levels increased shortly after parturition and peaked near P21. A transient decrease in open field center time was found at P7, indicating elevated anxiety-like behavior. CONCLUSION This study revealed various changes in CRFR1 across the postpartum period, which may contribute to stress-related behavior changes in postpartum mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christina A. Thrasher
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kristen L. Zuloaga
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Justice
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine of McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Rybka KA, Sturm KL, De Guzman RM, Bah S, Jacobskind JS, Rosinger ZJ, Taroc EZM, Forni PE, Zuloaga DG. Androgen regulation of corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 in the mouse brain. Neuroscience 2022; 491:185-199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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