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Belén Poretti M, Bianconi S, Luque E, Martini AC, Vincenti L, Cantarelli V, Torres P, Ponzio M, Schiöth HB, Carlini VP. Role of the hypothalamus in ghrelin effects on reproduction: sperm function and sexual behavior in male mice. Reproduction 2023; 165:123-134. [PMID: 36322468 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In brief Ghrelin signals to the hypothalamus inhibit reproduction during times of food scarcity. In this study, we demonstrate that ghrelin impairs sperm quality in male mice. Abstract Ghrelin (GHRL) is an orexigenic peptide that has been investigated as one of the signals responsible for the reproductive performance of mammals under fluctuating metabolic conditions. Central GHRL administration impairs spermatogenesis in mice by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function. In the present study, the hypothalamus role as a mediator of GHRL effects on sperm fertilizing capacity and male sexual behavior was evaluated. After 42 days of hypothalamic GHRL infusion or artificial cerebrospinal fluid, in vitro and in vivo sperm fertilizing capacity, testicular α-tubulin, speriolin gene expression and spermatic α-tubulin protein were evaluated. Hypothalamic expression of genes Kiss1, Gpr54 and Gnrh was also studied. The second group of animals was infused with one time only GHRL or artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the hypothalamus to evaluate the effects on sexual behavior. Results demonstrated that chronic GHRL administration to male mice significantly increased the percentages of pre-implantation embryo loss and the number of post-implantation embryo loss. In relation to the gene expression, our results show a relative decrease of Kiss1, Gpr54 and Spatc1. Although no significant differences were observed in the quantitative expression of α-tubulin protein, qualitative changes in its expression pattern were observed. In addition, a dual effect on sexual behavior was observed: 40% of the treated animals showed a significant reduction in the number of mounts and intromissions, while a 60% showed a significant decrease in ejaculation latency vs control animals. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that central GHRL administration possibly induces failure in embryo development and/or implantation in the females mated with treated males, possibly because of a negative effect in the α-tubulin pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Poretti
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.,Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Santiago Bianconi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.,Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eugenia Luque
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Carolina Martini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura Vincenti
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Veronica Cantarelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pedro Torres
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Ponzio
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Valeria Paola Carlini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, CONICET- UNC), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.,Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Poretti MB, Frautschi C, Luque E, Bianconi S, Martini AC, Stutz G, Vincenti L, Santillán ME, Ponzio M, Schiöth HB, Fiol de Cuneo M, Carlini VP. Reproductive performance of male mice after hypothalamic ghrelin administration. Reproduction 2018; 156:121-132. [PMID: 29794024 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that food intake and reproductive physiology are both simultaneously modulated to optimize reproductive success under fluctuating metabolic conditions. Ghrelin (GHRL) is an orexigenic peptide identified as the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor that is being investigated for its potential role on reproduction. Considering that data available so far are still limited and characterization of GHRL action mechanism on the reproductive system has not been fully elucidated, we studied the participation of hypothalamus in GHRL effects on sperm functional activity, plasma levels of gonadotropins and histological morphology in mice testes after hypothalamic infusion of 0.3 or 3.0 nmol/day GHRL or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) at different treatment periods. We found that GHRL 3.0 nmol/day administration for 42 days significantly reduced sperm concentration (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 14.05 ± 2.44 × 106/mL vs ACSF = 20.33 ± 1.35 × 106/mL, P < 0.05) and motility (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 59.40 ± 4.20% vs ACSF = 75.80 ± 1.40%, P < 0.05). In addition, histological studies showed a significant decrease percentage of spermatogonia (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 6.76 ± 0.68% vs ACSF = 9.56 ± 0.41%, P < 0.05) and sperm (GHRL 3.0 nmol/day = 24.24 ± 1.92% vs ACSF = 31.20 ± 3.06%, P < 0.05). These results were associated with a significant reduction in luteinizing hormone and testosterone plasma levels (P < 0.05). As GHRL is an orexigenic peptide, body weight and food intake were measured. Results showed that GHRL increases both parameters; however, the effect did not last beyond the first week of treatment. Results presented in this work confirm that central GHRL administration impairs spermatogenesis and suggest that this effect is mediated by inhibition of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Poretti
- INICSAFacultad de Ciencias Médicas (CONICET-FCM), Instituto de Fisiología, Córdoba, Argentina .,Department of NeuroscienceFunctional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Camila Frautschi
- Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Luque
- INICSAFacultad de Ciencias Médicas (CONICET-FCM), Instituto de Fisiología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Santiago Bianconi
- Department of NeuroscienceFunctional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Carolina Martini
- INICSAFacultad de Ciencias Médicas (CONICET-FCM), Instituto de Fisiología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Graciela Stutz
- Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura Vincenti
- Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Emilia Santillán
- Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Ponzio
- INICSAFacultad de Ciencias Médicas (CONICET-FCM), Instituto de Fisiología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of NeuroscienceFunctional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marta Fiol de Cuneo
- Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Valeria Paola Carlini
- INICSAFacultad de Ciencias Médicas (CONICET-FCM), Instituto de Fisiología, Córdoba, Argentina.,Department of NeuroscienceFunctional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Poretti MB, Sawant RS, Rask-Andersen M, de Cuneo MF, Schiöth HB, Perez MF, Carlini VP. Reduced vasopressin receptors activation mediates the anti-depressant effects of fluoxetine and venlafaxine in bulbectomy model of depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:1077-86. [PMID: 26700241 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4187-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE In response to stress, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and vasopressin (AVP) are released from the hypothalamus, activate their receptors (CRHR1, CRHR2 or AVPr1b), and synergistically act to induce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release from the anterior pituitary. Overstimulation of this system has been frequently associated with major depression states. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study is to assess the role of AVP and CRH receptors in fluoxetine and venlafaxine effects on the expression of depression-related behavior. METHODS In an animal model of depression (olfactory bulbectomy in mice, OB), we evaluated the effects of fluoxetine or venlafaxine (both 10 mg/kg/day) chronic administration on depression-related behavior in the tail suspension test. Plasma levels of AVP, CRH, and ACTH were determined as well as participation of their receptors in the expression of depression related-behavior and gene expression of AVP and CRH receptors (AVPr1b, CRHR1, and CRHR2) in the pituitary gland. RESULTS The expression of depressive-like behavior in OB animals was reversed by treatment with both antidepressants. Surprisingly, OB-saline mice exhibited increased AVP and ACTH plasma levels, with no alterations in CRH levels when compared to sham mice. Chronic fluoxetine or venlafaxine reversed these effects. In addition, a significant increase only in AVPr1b gene expression was found in OB-saline. CONCLUSION The antidepressant therapy used seems to be more likely related to a reduced activation of AVP rather than CRH receptors, since a positive correlation between AVP levels and depressive-like behavior was observed in OB animals. Furthermore, a full restoration of depressive behavior was observed in OB-fluoxetine- or venlafaxine-treated mice only when AVP was centrally administered but not CRH.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Poretti
- Instituto de Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, UNC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rahul S Sawant
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Uppsala, SE 75124, Sweden
| | - Mathias Rask-Andersen
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Uppsala, SE 75124, Sweden
| | - Marta Fiol de Cuneo
- Instituto de Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, UNC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Uppsala, SE 75124, Sweden
| | - Mariela F Perez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Valeria Paola Carlini
- Instituto de Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA, UNC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Carlini VP, Poretti MB, Rask-Andersen M, Chavan RA, Ponzio MF, Sawant RS, de Barioglio SR, Schiöth HB, de Cuneo MF. Differential effects of fluoxetine and venlafaxine on memory recognition: possible mechanisms of action. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2012; 38:159-67. [PMID: 22449479 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2011] [Revised: 02/24/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) are antidepressant drugs commonly used to treat a wide spectrum of mood disorders (Wong and Licinio, 2001). Although they have been clinically used for more than 50 years, the molecular and cellular basis for the action of SSRIs and SNRIs is not clear. Considering that the changes in gene expression involved in the action of antidepressant drugs on memory have not been identified, in this study we investigated the impact of chronic treatment with a SSRI (fluoxetine) and a SNRI (venlafaxine) on the mRNA expression of genes related to memory cascade in the mouse hippocampus, namely, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (TrKB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK/ERK) and serotonin transporter (SERT). Animals treated with fluoxetine 10 mg/Kg/day for 28 days showed a significant decrease in the percentage of time spent in the novel object recognition test (p≤0.005) and induced MAPK1/ERK2 down-regulation (p=0.005). Our results suggest that the effect on cognition could probably be explained by fluoxetine interference in the MAPK/ERK memory pathway. In contrast, chronic treatment with venlafaxine did not reduce MAPK1/ERK2 expression, suggesting that MAPK1/ERK2 down-regulation is not a common effect of all antidepressant drugs. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of chronic fluoxetine treatment on the ERK-CREB system, and to determine whether there is a causal relationship between the disruption of the ERK-CREB system and the effect of this antidepressant on memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Paola Carlini
- Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina.
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