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Ofori E, Solis A, Punjani N. The Association among Hypothalamic Subnits, Gonadotropic and Sex Hormone Plasmas Levels in Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2024; 14:276. [PMID: 38539664 PMCID: PMC10968390 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14030276] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the sex-specific role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis in Alzheimer's disease progression, utilizing ADNI1 data for 493 individuals, analyzing plasma levels of gonadotropic and sex hormones, and examining neurodegeneration-related brain structures. We assessed plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T), along with volumetric measures of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and hypothalamic subunits, to explore their correlation with Alzheimer's disease markers across different cognitive statuses and sexes. Significant cognitive status effects were observed for all volumetric measures, with a distinct sex-by-cognitive status interaction for hypothalamic volume, indicating a decrease in males but not in females across cognitive impairment stages. Regression analyses showed specific hypothalamic subunit volume related to hormone levels, accounting for up to approximately 40% of the variance (p < 0.05). The findings highlight sex differences in neurodegeneration and hormonal regulation, suggesting potential for personalized treatments and advancing the understanding of Alzheimer's disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Ofori
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Anamaria Solis
- Department of Social Work, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
| | - Nahid Punjani
- College of Medicine and Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
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Kowalcze K, Krysiak R, Obuchowicz A. The Impact of Maternal Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy on Minipuberty in Boys. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7649. [PMID: 38137718 PMCID: PMC10744195 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247649] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Minipuberty is a period of increased reproductive axis activity in infancy, which seems to be implicated in the postnatal development of male genital organs. Impaired thyroid function during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy modulates the course of male minipuberty. We compared three matched groups of male infants: sons of women with hypothyroidism uncontrolled or poorly controlled during pregnancy (group A), male offspring of women treated over the entire pregnancy with adequate doses of levothyroxine (group B), and sons born to women with no evidence of thyroid disease (group C). Salivary levels of testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, progesterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, as well as urine concentrations of FSH and LH, were assessed once a month in the first 6 months of life, and once every two months between months 6 and 12. Gonadotropin and testosterone levels during the first 6 months of life were lower in group A than in groups B and C. Differences in testosterone and gonadotropin levels were accompanied by similar differences in penile length and testicular volume. Concentrations of the remaining hormones did not differ between the study groups. The obtained results suggest that untreated or undertreated maternal thyroid hypofunction in pregnancy has an inhibitory effect on postnatal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and genital organ development in their male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kowalcze
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Stefana Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland;
| | - Robert Krysiak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Obuchowicz
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Stefana Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland;
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Kowalcze K, Krysiak R, Obuchowicz A. Minipuberty in Sons of Women with Low Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy. Nutrients 2023; 15:4729. [PMID: 38004122 PMCID: PMC10674928 DOI: 10.3390/nu15224729] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Minipuberty is a transient phase of reproductive axis activation during the first several months of life, playing an important role in the development of reproductive organs in boys. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of neonatal complications. An inadequate gestational vitamin D status is hypothesized to affect the postnatal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The purpose of our study was to assess whether a low vitamin D status during pregnancy determines the course of minipuberty in boys. The study included three groups of male infants born to women with different vitamin D statuses: sons of women with vitamin D deficiency (group 1), sons of women with vitamin D insufficiency (group 2), and male offspring of females with normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (group 3 (the reference group)). Concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, progesterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in saliva, as well as concentrations of gonadotropins in urine, were assayed monthly from postnatal months 1 to 6, and once every 2 months in the second half of the first year of life. Additionally, at each visit, penile length and testicular volume were assessed. Concentrations of testosterone, FSH, and LH, as well as penile length and testicular volume, were greater in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. In turn, group 2 was characterized by higher FSH levels and a greater testicular volume than group 3. Peak concentrations of LH and testosterone were observed earlier in group 1 than in the remaining groups. The obtained results suggest that a low vitamin D status during pregnancy may have a stimulatory impact on reproductive axis activity and on the early postnatal development of male genital organs, correlating with the severity of hypovitaminosis D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kowalcze
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Stefana Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland;
| | - Robert Krysiak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Anna Obuchowicz
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Stefana Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland;
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Ding Y, Liu G, Zeng F, Yan Y, Jing H, Jiang X. Adrenal gland responses surgical castration and immunocastration by different compensatory manners to increase DHEA secretion. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:966-973. [PMID: 34904516 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.2007116] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Androgen from the testis and weak androgens from the adrenal cortex may interact with each other and affect their synthesis and secretion due to their similar functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the compensatory effect of adrenal in rats after immunocastration and surgical castration, and the interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. 24 male SD rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into three groups and accepted treatments: surgical castration group, immunocastration group and control group. In both surgical castration and immunocastration groups, the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormones was significantly increased compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In the HPT axis of the immunocastration group, the KISS1 expression was up-regulated, whereas GPR54, LH and LHR expression were down-regulated (p < 0.05). The expression levels of CRH, POMC and MC2R genes were also significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05). In addition, in the immunocastration group, the expression of adrenal LHR mRNA expression was decreased (p < 0.05). The expression of HPT axis genes and adrenal LHR were up-regulated in the surgical castration group (p < 0.05). These results show that in both immunocastration and surgical castration, adrenal androgen is increased, suggesting that the adrenal gland plays a compensatory role. Moreover, it also shows that different castration treatments have effects on adrenal steroid secretion through different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ding
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiqiong Liu
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fanmei Zeng
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinan Yan
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Haijing Jing
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xunping Jiang
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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Lanciotti L, Sica R, Penta L, Parisi F, Argentiero A, Radicioni M, Di Cara G, Di Genova F, Verrotti A, Troiani S, Esposito SMR. Minipuberty assessment in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia: a single-center case-control study. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1201668. [PMID: 37416822 PMCID: PMC10320525 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1201668] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of our single-center case-control study is to evaluate whether minipuberty occurs in patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We intend to conduct this evaluation by confronting the values of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the values of testosterone in males and estradiol in females between newborns with HIE and in subsequent TH and healthy controls. Methods We enrolled 40 patients (age: 56-179 days; 23 males), of whom 20 met the inclusion criteria for the case group and who underwent TH. A blood sample was taken from each patient at approximately 10 weeks of age to evaluate FSH and LH from the serum samples of all patients and to evaluate 17-beta estradiol (E2) and testosterone levels, respectively, from the serum samples of female and male patients. Results It was found that minipuberty occurred in the case group patients, with no significant differences reported from the control group and with hormonal serum levels comparable to healthy infants of the control group (FSH 4.14 mUI/ml ± 5.81 SD vs. 3.45 mUI/ml ± 3.48 SD; LH 1.41 mUI/ml ±1.29 SD vs. 2.04 mUI/ml ±1.76 SD; testosterone in males 0.79 ng/ml ± 0.43 SD vs. 0.56 ng/ml ± 0.43 SD; 17-beta estradiol in females 28.90 pg/ml ± 16.71 SD vs. 23.66 pg/ml ± 21.29 SD). Discussion The results of the present study may pave the way for further research and the evaluation of more possible advantages of TH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Lanciotti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rossella Sica
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Penta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Argentiero
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Maurizio Radicioni
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Pathology, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini 1, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Di Genova
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Pathology, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini 1, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Troiani
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Pathology, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini 1, Perugia, Italy
| | - Susanna Maria Roberta Esposito
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Han Y, Wu H, Sun S, Zhao R, Deng Y, Zeng S, Chen J. Effect of High Fat Diet on Disease Development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Lifestyle Intervention Strategies. Nutrients 2023; 15:2230. [PMID: 37432488 PMCID: PMC10180647 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorder that affects premenopausal women. The etiology of PCOS is multifaceted, involving various genetic and epigenetic factors, hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian dysfunction, androgen excess, insulin resistance, and adipose-related mechanisms. High-fat diets (HFDs) has been linked to the development of metabolic disorders and weight gain, exacerbating obesity and impairing the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. This results in increased insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and the release of inflammatory adipokines, leading to heightened fat synthesis and reduced fat breakdown, thereby worsening the metabolic and reproductive consequences of PCOS. Effective management of PCOS requires lifestyle interventions such as dietary modifications, weight loss, physical activity, and psychological well-being, as well as medical or surgical interventions in some cases. This article systematically examines the pathological basis of PCOS and the influence of HFDs on its development, with the aim of raising awareness of the connection between diet and reproductive health, providing a robust approach to lifestyle interventions, and serving as a reference for the development of targeted drug treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Han
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hao Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Siyuan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Rong Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yifan Deng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shenming Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
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Dacal JL, Grinspon RP, Rey RA. Review of the Function of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Children and Adolescents with Cancer. touchREV Endocrinol 2022; 18:122-132. [PMID: 36694892 PMCID: PMC9835818 DOI: 10.17925/ee.2022.18.2.122] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The most common malignancies in childhood are leukaemias, brain tumours, lymphomas, neuroblastomas, soft tissue sarcomas and kidney tumours. At present, about 80% of childhood cancers can be treated successfully, which has significantly increased long-term survival. Concomitantly, adult gonadal function in childhood cancer survivors has become a concern. However, the immediate effect of cancer and its management on the reproductive axis function has received less attention. We conducted a review of the effects of malignancies and their treatments on the gonadal axis during childhood and adolescence. Some results are controversial, probably because the analyses do not distinguish between the malignancy types, their treatments and/or the age at treatment. However, there is agreement that cancer can partially affect gonadal function before treatment, as revealed by low circulating levels of inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone. Subsequently, chemotherapy transiently impairs the somatic component of the gonads (i.e. testicular Sertoli cells and ovarian granulosa cells) with normalization after treatment ends. The impact of chemotherapy may persist through adulthood after more intensive chemotherapy regimens, radiotherapy and conditioning for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, when there is a severe impairment of the somatic component of the gonads or of the stem germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Lopez Dacal
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinolègicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET – FEI – Divisièn de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina P Grinspon
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinolègicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET – FEI – Divisièn de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo A Rey
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinolègicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET – FEI – Divisièn de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kim HD, Kim YJ, Jang M, Bae SG, Yun SH, Lee MR, Seo YR, Cho JK, Kim SJ, Lee WJ. Heat Stress during Summer Attenuates Expression of the Hypothalamic Kisspeptin, an Upstream Regulator of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis, in Domestic Sows. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2967. [PMID: 36359090 PMCID: PMC9657376 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The release of reproductive hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is regulated by its upstream regulator, kisspeptin, and influenced by external stresses, including heat stress. Since the effect of heat stress (summer infertility) on hypothalamic kisspeptin expression in domestic sows is not yet understood, the present study attempted to identify changes in kisspeptin expression in different seasons (summer and spring). The high atmospheric temperature in summer decreased the pregnancy rate and litter size and increased stress-related hormones as a chronic stressor to domestic sows. The hypothalamic kisspeptin expression in summer was decreased regardless of the estrus phase and negatively correlated with atmospheric temperature, indicating that high temperature decreased kisspeptin. When the activity of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons in the follicular phase was assessed using c-Fos staining, a decreased number of kisspeptin neurons coexpressing c-Fos was observed in domestic sows in summer. Accordingly, lower expression of kisspeptin induced decreased levels of HPG axis-related reproductive hormones, such as gonadotropins and estrogen, and fewer large ovarian follicles. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that reduced kisspeptin expression and its neuronal activity in the hypothalamus under heat stress in summer induced downregulation of the HPG axis and caused summer infertility in domestic sows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwan-Deuk Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Department of Veterinary Research, Daegu Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, Daegu 42183, Korea
| | - Young-Jong Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Min Jang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Seul-Gi Bae
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Yun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Mi-Ree Lee
- Department of Veterinary Research, Daegu Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, Daegu 42183, Korea
| | - Yong-Ryul Seo
- Department of Veterinary Research, Daegu Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, Daegu 42183, Korea
| | - Jae-Keun Cho
- Department of Veterinary Research, Daegu Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, Daegu 42183, Korea
| | - Seung-Joon Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Institute of Equine Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Won-Jae Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Institute of Equine Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
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Mennigen JA, Ramachandran D, Shaw K, Chaube R, Joy KP, Trudeau VL. Reproductive roles of the vasopressin/oxytocin neuropeptide family in teleost fishes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1005863. [PMID: 36313759 PMCID: PMC9606234 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1005863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate nonapeptide families arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are considered to have evolved from a single vasopressin-like peptide present in invertebrates and termed arginine vasotocin in early vertebrate evolution. Unprecedented genome sequence availability has more recently allowed new insight into the evolution of nonapeptides and especially their receptor families in the context of whole genome duplications. In bony fish, nonapeptide homologues of AVP termed arginine vasotocin (Avp) and an OXT family peptide (Oxt) originally termed isotocin have been characterized. While reproductive roles of both nonapeptide families have historically been studied in several vertebrates, their roles in teleost reproduction remain much less understood. Taking advantage of novel genome resources and associated technological advances such as genetic modifications in fish models, we here critically review the current state of knowledge regarding the roles of nonapeptide systems in teleost reproduction. We further discuss sources of plasticity of the conserved nonapeptide systems in the context of diverse reproductive phenotypes observed in teleost fishes. Given the dual roles of preoptic area (POA) synthesized Avp and Oxt as neuromodulators and endocrine/paracrine factors, we focus on known roles of both peptides on reproductive behaviour and the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Emphasis is placed on the identification of a gonadal nonapeptide system that plays critical roles in both steroidogenesis and gamete maturation. We conclude by highlighting key research gaps including a call for translational studies linking new mechanistic understanding of nonapeptide regulated physiology in the context of aquaculture, conservation biology and ecotoxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan A. Mennigen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Divya Ramachandran
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine Shaw
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Radha Chaube
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Keerikkattil P. Joy
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India
| | - Vance L. Trudeau
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Owumi SE, Otunla MT, Arunsi UO, Oyelere AK. Apigeninidin-enriched Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench) extracts alleviate Aflatoxin B 1-induced dysregulation of male rat hypothalamic-reproductive axis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1301-1316. [PMID: 35658587 PMCID: PMC9442456 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221098060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined the protective effect of the apigeninidin (API)-enriched fraction from Sorghum bicolor sheaths extracts (SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced dysregulation of male rat's reproductive system that may trigger infertility. Male rats (160 ± 12 g) were treated with AFB1 (50 µg/kg) along with 5 or 10 mg/kg of SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07 for 28 days. Subsequently, we assessed the reproductive hormone-prolactin, FSH, LH, testosterone levels, and testicular function enzymes. Moreover, we examined rats' testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus for oxidative and inflammatory stress biomarkers, caspase-9 activity and tissues pathology. We observed that comparative to AFB1 alone treated rats, API co-treatment significantly (p < 0.05) abated the AFB1-mediated decrease in prolactin and antioxidant defenses and lessened lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels in the examined organs-testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus. API abated AFB1-induced hormone decreases-testosterone, FSH, and LH; and caused improvement in sperm quantity and quality. API lessened AFB1-mediated increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine, increased interleukin-10 level, an anti-inflammatory cytokine and reduced caspase-9 activities. In addition, API reduced alterations in the examined tissue histology. Our findings suggest that S. bicolor API-enrich extracts have active antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, which can protect against AFB1-induced dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon E Owumi
- Cancer Research and Molecular Biology
Laboratories, NB 302, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria,Solomon E Owumi.
| | - Moses T Otunla
- Cancer Research and Molecular Biology
Laboratories, NB 302, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria
| | - Uche O Arunsi
- Department of Cancer Immunology and
Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD,
UK
| | - Adegboyega K Oyelere
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of
Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, USA
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Yan Z, Lei T. Hypogonadism in Male Patients with Pituitary Adenoma and Its Related Mechanism: A Review of Literature. Brain Sci 2022; 12:796. [PMID: 35741681 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining normal gonadal axis hormone levels is important for improving the condition of male patients with pituitary adenoma. The current literature is somewhat divided on the results of evaluations of gonadal axis function in male patients with pituitary adenoma before and after treatment, and the increasing demand for better quality of life has provided motivation for this research to continue. In this article, we summarize the feasibility of using testosterone as an indicator for assessing male function and discuss the changes reported in various studies for gonadal hormones before and after treatment in male patients with pituitary adenoma. It is important for clinicians to understand the advantages of each treatment option and the effectiveness of assessing gonadal function. The rationale behind the theory that pituitary adenomas affect gonadal function and the criteria for evaluating pituitary–gonadal axis hormones should be explored in more depth.
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Atli Eklioglu O, Ilgin S. Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs on hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in males: A review. Toxicology 2022; 465:153043. [PMID: 34800598 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153043] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The HPG axis is critical in the maintenance of spermatogenesis and sexual function in males. The GnRH-releasing neurons of the hypothalamus are the axis's main hierarchical element. These neurons make connections with different areas of the brain to regulate the release of GnRH. Neurotransmitters have a critical in the connections between these neurons. So, neurotransmitters can inhibit or stimulate the release of GnRH by affecting GnRH-releasing neurons. In neurological disorders, neurotransmitter's activities inevitably change; therefore, these changes can affect the HPG axis via affecting GnRH-releasing neurons, just like in epilepsy. Many investigations have attracted attention to be decreased fertility potential in males with epilepsy. It has been stated that changes in the HPG axis hormone levels have been found in these patients. Moreover, it has also been observed that sperm quality decreased in patients. It has been emphasized that a decrease in sperm quality may be related to both epilepsy and AEDs. It has been shown that AEDs caused decreased sperm quality by impairing the HPG axis, so they act like endocrine-disrupting chemicals. AEDs can affect fertility and cause additive adverse effects in terms of sperm quality together with epilepsy. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the adverse reproductive effects of AEDs, which are frequently used during reproductive ages, and determine the role of the HPG axis on potential reproductive pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Atli Eklioglu
- Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Sinem Ilgin
- Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Eskisehir, Turkey.
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Yang C, Li P, Li Z. Clinical application of aromatase inhibitors to treat male infertility. Hum Reprod Update 2021; 28:30-50. [PMID: 34871401 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility affects 15% of men and contributes to nearly half of all cases of infertility. Infertile men usually have impaired spermatogenesis, presenting as azoospermia or various degrees of asthenospermia and oligozoospermia. Spermatogenesis is a complex and coordinated process, which is under precise modulation by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. An aberrant hormone profile, especially an imbalance between testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2), plays an essential role in male infertility. In the male, E2 is produced mainly from the conversion of T by the aromatase enzyme. Theoretically, reducing an abnormally elevated T:E2 ratio using aromatase inhibitors (AIs) could restore the balance between T and E2 and optimize the HPG axis to support spermatogenesis. For decades, AIs have been used to treat male infertility empirically. However, owing to the lack of large-scale randomized controlled studies and basic research, the treatment efficacy and safety of AIs in male infertility remain controversial. Therefore, there is a need to summarize the clinical trials and relevant basic research on the application of AIs in the treatment of male infertility. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In this narrative review, we summarized the application of AIs in the treatment of male infertility, including the pharmacological mechanisms involved, clinical trials focused on patients with different types of infertility, factors affecting treatment efficacy and the side-effects. SEARCH METHODS A literature search was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE, focusing on publications in the past four decades concerning the use of AIs for treating male infertility. The search terms included AI, male infertility, letrozole, anastrozole, testolactone, azoospermia, oligozoospermia, aromatase polymorphisms, obesity and antiestrogens, in various combinations. OUTCOMES Clinical studies demonstrate that AIs, especially nonsteroidal letrozole and anastrozole, could significantly inhibit the production of E2 and its negative feedback on the HPG axis, resulting in increased T and FSH production as well as improved semen parameters in infertile men. Large-scale surveys suggest that obesity may result in symptoms of hypogonadism in both fertile and infertile males, such as decreased semen quality and attenuated sexual function, which can be improved by AIs treatment. Polymorphisms of the aromatase gene CYP19A1, including single nucleotide polymorphisms and tetranucleotide TTTA repeats polymorphism (TTTAn), also influence hormone profiles, semen quality and treatment efficacy of AIs in male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and infertility. The side-effects of AIs in treating male infertility are various, but most are mild and well tolerated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The application of AIs in treating male infertility has been off-label and empirical for decades. This narrative review has summarized the target patients, dose, treatment duration and side-effects of AIs. Polymorphisms of CYP19A1 that may affect AIs treatment efficacy were also summarized, but a full understanding of the mechanisms involved in AIs action requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Mohapatra SS, Mukherjee J, Banerjee D, Das PK, Ghosh PR, Das K. RFamide peptides, the novel regulators of mammalian HPG axis: A review. Vet World 2021; 14:1867-1873. [PMID: 34475710 PMCID: PMC8404114 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.1867-1873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The RFamide-related peptides (RFRPs) are the group of neuropeptides synthesized predominantly from the hypothalamus that negatively affects the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal (hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal [HPG]) axis. These peptides are first identified in quail brains and emerged as the mammalian orthologs of avian gonadotropin inhibitory hormones. The RFRP-3 neurons in the hypothalamus are present in several mammalian species. The action of RFRP-3 is mediated through a G-protein-coupled receptor called OT7T022. The predominant role of RFRP-3 is the inhibition of HPG axis with several other effects such as the regulation of metabolic activity, stress regulation, controlling of non-sexual motivated behavior, and sexual photoperiodicity in concert with other neuropeptides such as kisspeptin, neuropeptide-Y (NPY), pro-opiomelanocortin, orexin, and melanin. RFamide peptides synthesized in the granulosa cells, interstitial cells, and seminiferous tubule regulate steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in the gonads. The present review is intended to provide the recent findings that explore the role of RFRP-3 in regulating HPG axis and its potential applications in the synchronization of reproduction and its therapeutic interventions to prevent stress-induced amenorrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smruti Smita Mohapatra
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Joydip Mukherjee
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Dipak Banerjee
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Pradip Kumar Das
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Prabal Ranjan Ghosh
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Kinsuk Das
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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Abstract
Declining female fertility has become a global health concern. It results partially from an abnormal circadian clock caused by unhealthy diet and sleep habits in modern life. The circadian clock system is a hierarchical network consisting of central and peripheral clocks. It not only controls the sleep-wake and feeding-fasting cycles but also coordinates and maintains the required reproductive activities in the body. Physiologically, the reproductive processes are governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in a time-dependent manner. The HPG axis releases hormones, generates female characteristics, and achieves fertility. Conversely, an abnormal daily rhythm caused by aberrant clock genes or abnormal environmental stimuli contributes to disorders of the female reproductive system, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and premature ovarian insufficiency. Therefore, breaking the "time code" of the female reproductive system is crucial. In this paper, we review the interplay between circadian clocks and the female reproductive system and present its regulatory principles, moving from normal physiology regulation to disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Shao
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Huanqiang Zhao
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Zhiying Lu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xiaohong Lei
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Correspondence: Dr. Ying Zhang, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Fangxie Road 419, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Olvera-Maneu S, Carbajal A, Gardela J, Lopez-Bejar M. Hair Cortisol, Testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Their Ratios in Stallions as a Retrospective Measure of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axes Activity: Exploring the Influence of Seasonality. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082202. [PMID: 34438659 PMCID: PMC8388521 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The monitoring of a horse’s endocrine status can provide valuable information of its welfare and sexual and health conditions. The use of non-invasive matrixes for hormonal monitoring, as alternatives to blood samples, are being increasingly used. Among them, the measurement of hormones deposited in the hair shaft has been widely used as a retrospective hormonal biomarker. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the seasonal variations in hair C, T and DHEA-S in horses for a whole year, as well as to assess the variations between seasons of C/DHEA-S and T/C ratios as a retrospective measure of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis activity. The results showed how cortisol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and their ratios were significantly affected by season. Therefore, as shown in this study, season should be considered when analysing sexual and stress hormones in stallion hair. Abstract The monitoring of stress physiology includes studying a wide range of endocrinological mechanisms, which can be assessed using multiple tissue samples. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal variations of hair C, T and DHEA-S in horses for a whole year, as well as to assess the variations between seasons of C/DHEA-S and T/C ratios as a retrospective measure of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis activity. Ten pure-breed Menorca stallions were included in the study. The hair samples were collected approximately every two months following the shave-reshave method caudally to the sternum. After a methanol-based extraction, samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Following our findings, we detected that cortisol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate were significantly affected by seasonality, with the highest values of cortisol during summer and the lowest values of testosterone during spring. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations were increased in autumn compared to the other studied periods. Additionally, the studied hormone ratios showed variations between seasons. To conclude, season should, therefore, be considered when assessing sexual and stress hormones in stallion hair, since this variable can be a potential influencing factor and led to misinterpretations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Olvera-Maneu
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: (S.O.-M.); (M.L.-B.)
| | - Anaïs Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Jaume Gardela
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Manel Lopez-Bejar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.); (J.G.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
- Correspondence: (S.O.-M.); (M.L.-B.)
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17
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Abstract
Bone is emerging as a versatile endocrine organ and its interactions with apparently unrelated organs are being more widely recognized. Osteocalcin (OCN), a polypeptide hormone secreted by osteoblasts, has been found to exert multiple endocrine functions through its metabolically active form, uncarboxylated OCN (uOCN). Mounting evidence has shown that following its binding to G-protein coupled receptor 6a (Gprc6a) in the peripheral tissues, uOCN acts on pancreatic β cells to increase insulin secretion, and on muscle and white adipose tissue to promote glucose and lipid metabolism. More strikingly, researchers have found a surprising role of uOCN in testicular function to facilitating testosterone biosynthesis and regulating male fertility via a pancreas-bone-gonadal axis. However, the detailed functional mechanisms of uOCN on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis or the pancreas-bone-gonadal axis are not fully understood. Besides highlighting the regulatory mechanisms of uOCN in the hypothalamus and pituitary, we also discuss its role in male as well as female fertility and its potential clinical implications in some reproductive endocrine diseases and pubertal developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Shan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Yue
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Wdowiak A, Raczkiewicz D, Janczyk P, Bojar I, Makara-Studzińska M, Wdowiak-Filip A. Interactions of Cortisol and Prolactin with Other Selected Menstrual Cycle Hormones Affecting the Chances of Conception in Infertile Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E7537. [PMID: 33081268 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
One of the major problems of success in infertility treatment could depend on the understanding how the potential factors may affect the conception. The aim of this study was to evaluate present understanding of such factors or hormonal causes that may induce infertility. We studied the interactions between the two menstrual cycle hormones i.e., cortisol (COR) and prolactin (PRL), along with the ultrasonographic ovulation parameters in a group of N = 205 women with diagnosed infertility. The control group consisted of N = 100 women with confirmed fertility. In both groups, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), PRL, COR were examined on the third day of the cycle, and estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and COR were examined during ovulation and 7-days afterwards. In the infertile group, higher levels of PRL and COR were observed than that of in the control group. Cortisol levels at all phases of the menstrual cycle and PRL negatively correlated with E2 secretion during and after ovulation, thus contributed to the attenuation of the ovulatory LH surge. Infertile women who conceived presented with higher levels of E2 during and after ovulation, higher P after ovulation, and thicker endometrium than that of the women who failed to conceive. In conclusion, elevated secretion of COR and PRL in infertile women impairs the menstrual cycle by decreasing the pre-ovulatory LH peak and E2 and postovulatory E2 levels that affect the endometrial growth, and consequently reduce the chances to conceive.
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Ju M, Yang L, Zhu J, Chen Z, Zhang M, Yu J, Tian Z. MiR-664-2 impacts pubertal development in a precocious-puberty rat model through targeting the NMDA receptor-1†. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1536-1548. [PMID: 30916745 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Precocious puberty (PP) commonly results from premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the initial trigger for HPGA activation and plays an important role in puberty onset. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) can promote pulsatile GnRH secretion and accelerates puberty onset. However, the mechanism of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in PP pathogenesis remains obscure. We found that serum GnRH, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen (E2) levels, hypothalamic NMDAR1, and GnRH mRNA expression peaked at the vaginal opening (VO) day. Next, the hypothalamic NMDAR1 mRNA and protein levels in rats treated with danazol, a chemical commonly effecting on the reproductive system, were significantly increased at the VO day (postnatal day 24) compared to controls, accompanied by enhanced serum GnRH, LH, FSH, and E2 levels. Further, microRNA-664-2 (miR-664-2) was selected after bioinformatics analysis and approved in primary hypothalamic neurons, which binds to the 3'-untranslated regions of NMDAR1. Consistently, the miR-664-2 expression in hypothalamus of the Danazol group was decreased compared to Vehicle. Our results suggested that attenuated miR-664-2 might participate in PP pathogenesis through enhancing the NMDAR1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minda Ju
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Shanghai Dunlu Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhejun Chen
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mizhen Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Yu
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanzhuang Tian
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Leso V, Fontana L, Marinaccio A, Leopold K, Fanali C, Lucchetti D, Sgambato A, Iavicoli I. Sub-chronic palladium nanoparticle effects on the endocrine reproductive system of female Wistar rats: Preliminary data. Toxicol Ind Health 2019; 35:403-409. [PMID: 31131740 DOI: 10.1177/0748233719851702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The technologically interesting properties of palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) allowed their widespread industrial application, although concerns emerged on increasing general and occupational levels of exposure. In this context, to assess the toxicological behavior of Pd-NPs, and particularly their endocrine disruptive potential, has become a public health priority. Therefore, we evaluated Pd-NP impact on the female endocrine reproductive system of Wistar rats sub-chronically treated for 90 days with increasing doses of this xenobiotic (0.12, 1.2, and 12 µg/kg, administered at days 1, 30, and 60 for cumulative doses of 0.36, 3.6, and 36 µg/kg) via the intravenous route. In this regard, we investigated potential alterations in different sex hormone, for example, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and testosterone, serum concentrations. All treated groups showed significantly greater levels of FSH compared to controls, suggesting a possible impact of Pd-NPs on the regulatory system that controls the normal physiology of female reproductive function. Although relevant, since obtained under sub-chronic, low-dose conditions of exposure resembling those encountered in real-world scenarios, the present results are preliminary and require confirmation as well as identification of the possible underlining molecular mechanisms. From a public and occupational health perspective, implications for the reproductive health of exposed subjects and the next generations of women exposed during their childbearing age or pregnancy should be elucidated. This information is essential to elaborate adequate preventive strategies for assessing and controlling possible Pd-NPs adverse effects on the endocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veruscka Leso
- 1 Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Fontana
- 2 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Italy
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- 3 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Unit of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Kerstin Leopold
- 4 Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Caterina Fanali
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Lucchetti
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sgambato
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivo Iavicoli
- 1 Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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21
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Abstract
Puberty is the stage of development in human life, when the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis is re-activated after quiescence. Humanity has long been concerned with the idea of exogenous and endogenous factors and mechanisms that influence the temporal course of puberty neuroendocrine events. Recent discoveries have helped to understand the functioning of the neuroendocrine system. It has been clarified that kisspeptin plays a key role in puberty and regulation of fertility. However, in the function of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse secretion, besides kisspeptin, neurokinin B, dynorphin neurons other positive and negative signals are involved, guiding the release of hormones of hypophysis gonadotropin. The knowledge of these nerves further enhanced the understanding of GnRH pulsation modulation by endocrine, metabolic and environmental impacts. The authors point out the risk of endocrine disruptors in the physiological course of puberty. The aim of the review is to provide a comprehensive picture of the research results of the physiology of kisspeptin, as the manipulation of kisspeptin signaling has the potential for novel therapies in patients with pathologically low or high luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(29): 1175-1182.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Ságodi
- Preventív Egészségtudományi Tanszék, Miskolci Egyetem, Egészségügyi Kar Miskolc
| | - Enikő Sólyom
- Velkey László Gyermek-egészségügyi Központ, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Megyei Központi Kórház és Egyetemi Oktató Kórház Miskolc
| | - Emőke Kiss-Tóth
- Preventív Egészségtudományi Tanszék, Miskolci Egyetem, Egészségügyi Kar Miskolc
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de Oliveira JC, de Moura EG, Miranda RA, de Moraes AMP, Barella LF, da Conceição EPS, Gomes RM, Ribeiro TA, Malta A, Martins IP, Franco CCDS, Lisboa PC, Mathias PCDF. Low-protein diet in puberty impairs testosterone output and energy metabolism in male rats. J Endocrinol 2018; 237:243-254. [PMID: 29599416 DOI: 10.1530/joe-17-0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We examined the long-term effects of protein restriction during puberty on the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes in male rats. Male Wistar rats from the age of 30 to 60 days were fed a low-protein diet (4%, LP). A normal-protein diet (20.5%) was reintroduced to rats from the age of 60 to 120 days. Control rats were fed a normal-protein diet throughout life (NP). Rats of 60 or 120 days old were killed. Food consumption, body weight, visceral fat deposits, lipid profile, glycemia, insulinemia, corticosteronemia, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), testosteronemia and leptinemia were evaluated. Glucose-insulin homeostasis, pancreatic-islet insulinotropic response, testosterone production and hypothalamic protein expression of the androgen receptor (AR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and leptin signaling pathway were also determined. LP rats were hypophagic, leaner, hypoglycemic, hypoinsulinemic and hypoleptinemic at the age of 60 days (P < 0.05). These rats exhibited hyperactivity of the HPA axis, hypoactivity of the HPG axis and a weak insulinotropic response (P < 0.01). LP rats at the age of 120 days were hyperphagic and exhibited higher visceral fat accumulation, hyperleptinemia and dyslipidemia; lower blood ACTH, testosterone and testosterone release; and reduced hypothalamic expression of AR, GR and SOCS3, with a higher pSTAT3/STAT3 ratio (P < 0.05). Glucose-insulin homeostasis was disrupted and associated with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and increased insulinotropic response of the pancreatic islets. The cholinergic and glucose pancreatic-islet responses were small in 60-day-old LP rats but increased in 120-day-old LP rats. The hyperactivity of the HPA axis and the suppression of the HPG axis caused by protein restriction at puberty contributed to energy and metabolic disorders as long-term consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlio Cezar de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Fisiologia Endócrina, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Sinop, Brazil
| | - Egberto Gaspar de Moura
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Fisiologia Endócrina, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosiane Aparecida Miranda
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Praxedes de Moraes
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Luiz Felipe Barella
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Ellen Paula Santos da Conceição
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Fisiologia Endócrina, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Mello Gomes
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Aparecida Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Ananda Malta
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Isabela Peixoto Martins
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Claudinéia Conationi da Silva Franco
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Cristina Lisboa
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Fisiologia Endócrina, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular da Secreção, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
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Ding Y, Li J, Yu Y, Yang P, Li H, Shen Y, Huang X, Liu S. Evaluation of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2018; 31:323-329. [PMID: 29466239 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2017-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify the predictive value of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in girls. METHODS Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests were performed and evaluated in a total of 1750 girls with development of secondary sex characteristics. Correlation analyses were conducted between basal sex hormones and peak luteinizing hormone (LH) levels ≥5 IU/L during the GnRH stimulation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for basal levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, and estradiol (E2) before the GnRH stimulation test were plotted. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured for each curve. RESULTS The maximum AUC value was observed for basal LH levels (0.77, 95% CI: 0.74-0.79), followed by basal FSH levels (0.73, 95% CI: 0.70-0.75), the basal LH/FSH ratio (0.68, 95% CI: 0.65-0.71), and basal E2 levels (0.61, 95% CI: 0.59-0.64). The appropriate cutoff value of basal LH levels associated with a positive response of the GnRH stimulation test was 0.35 IU/L, with a sensitivity of 63.96% and specificity of 76.3% from the ROC curves when Youden's index showed the maximum value. When 100% of patients had peak LH levels ≥5 IU/L, basal LH values were >2.72 IU/L, but the specificity was only 5.45%. CONCLUSIONS Increased basal LH levels are a significant predictor of a positive response during the GnRH stimulation test for assessing activation of the HPG axis in most girls with early pubertal signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ding
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yongguo Yu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Peirong Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Huaiyuan Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yongnian Shen
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Shijian Liu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, P.R. China
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Leso V, Fontana L, Marinaccio A, Leopold K, Fanali C, Lucchetti D, Sgambato A, Iavicoli I. Palladium nanoparticle effects on endocrine reproductive system of female rats. Hum Exp Toxicol 2018; 37:1069-1079. [PMID: 29405765 DOI: 10.1177/0960327118756722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The widespread industrial application of nanomaterials (NMs) has dramatically increased the likelihood of environmental and occupational exposure of humans to such xenobiotics. This issue, together with the increasing public health interest in understanding the effects of chemicals on endocrine system, encouraged to investigate the disruptive potential of NMs on the endocrine function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) on the female reproductive system of Wistar rats, intravenously exposed to different doses (0.12, 1.2, and 12 µg/kg), through the assessment of possible quantitative changes in the serum concentrations of several sex hormones. Our results demonstrated that the highest exposure doses significantly reduced the estradiol and testosterone concentrations, while increased the luteinizing hormone levels in treated animals compared to controls. Such alterations are indicative for an abnormal reproductive axis function. However, further investigations are needed to clarify the role of the different NP physicochemical properties in determining such effects, and possible underlining molecular mechanisms, as well as their relevance for the development of diseases in the female reproductive system. Overall, this may be helpful to define accurate risk assessment and management strategies to protect the health of the general and occupational populations exposed to Pd-NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Leso
- 1 Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - L Fontana
- 2 Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A Marinaccio
- 3 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Unit of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Rome, Italy
| | - K Leopold
- 4 Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - C Fanali
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - D Lucchetti
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A Sgambato
- 5 Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - I Iavicoli
- 1 Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Ubuka T, Parhar I, Kriegsfeld LJ, Tsutsui K. Editorial: The Roles of GnIH in Reproductive Function and Behavior. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:19. [PMID: 29445358 PMCID: PMC5797730 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takayoshi Ubuka
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Brain Research Institute Monash Sunway, Monash University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Takayoshi Ubuka,
| | - Ishwar Parhar
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Brain Research Institute Monash Sunway, Monash University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Lance J. Kriegsfeld
- Department of Psychology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kazuyoshi Tsutsui
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences, Department of Biology, Center for Medical Life Science, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Gonadal hormones play a key role in the establishment, activation, and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. By influencing the response and sensitivity to releasing factors, neurotransmitters, and hormones, gonadal steroids help orchestrate the gain of the HPA axis to fine-tune the levels of stress hormones in the general circulation. From early life to adulthood, gonadal steroids can differentially affect the HPA axis, resulting in sex differences in the responsivity of this axis. The HPA axis influences many physiological functions making an organism's response to changes in the environment appropriate for its reproductive status. Although the acute HPA response to stressors is a beneficial response, constant activation of this circuitry by chronic or traumatic stressful episodes may lead to a dysregulation of the HPA axis and cause pathology. Compared to males, female mice and rats show a more robust HPA axis response, as a result of circulating estradiol levels which elevate stress hormone levels during non-threatening situations, and during and after stressors. Fluctuating levels of gonadal steroids in females across the estrous cycle are a major factor contributing to sex differences in the robustness of HPA activity in females compared to males. Moreover, gonadal steroids may also contribute to epigenetic and organizational influences on the HPA axis even before puberty. Correspondingly, crosstalk between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and HPA axes could lead to abnormalities of stress responses. In humans, a dysregulated stress response is one of the most common symptoms seen across many neuropsychiatric disorders, and as a result, such interactions may exacerbate peripheral pathologies. In this review, we discuss the HPA and HPG axes and review how gonadal steroids interact with the HPA axis to regulate the stress circuitry during all stages in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario G Oyola
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , CO , USA
| | - Robert J Handa
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , CO , USA
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van der Spoel E, Roelfsema F, Jansen SW, Akintola AA, Ballieux BE, Cobbaert CM, Blauw GJ, Slagboom PE, Westendorp RGJ, Pijl H, van Heemst D. Familial Longevity Is Not Associated with Major Differences in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Healthy Middle-Aged Men. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016; 7:143. [PMID: 27881971 PMCID: PMC5101217 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT A trade-off between fertility and longevity possibly exists. The association of the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis with familial longevity has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE To study 24-h hormone concentration profiles of the HPG axis in men enriched for familial longevity and controls. DESIGN We frequently sampled blood over 24 h in 10 healthy middle-aged male offspring of nonagenarian participants from the Leiden Longevity Study together with 10 male age-matched controls. Individual 24-h luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone concentration profiles were analyzed by deconvolution analyses to estimate secretion parameters. Furthermore, the temporal relationship between LH and testosterone was assessed by cross-correlation analysis. We used (cross-)approximate entropy to quantify the strength of feedback and/or feedforward control of LH and testosterone secretion. RESULTS Mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] total LH secretion of the offspring was 212 (156-268) U/L/24 h, which did not differ significantly (p = 0.51) from the total LH secretion of controls [186 (130-242) U/L/24 h]. Likewise, mean (95% CI) total testosterone secretion of the offspring [806 (671-941) nmol/L/24 h] and controls [811 (676-947) nmol/L/24 h] were similar (p = 0.95). Other parameters of LH and testosterone secretion were also not significantly different between offspring and controls. The temporal relationship between LH and testosterone and the strength of feedforward/feedback regulation within the HPG axis were similar between offspring of long-lived families and controls. CONCLUSION This relatively small study suggests that in healthy male middle-aged participants, familial longevity is not associated with major differences in the HPG axis. Selection on both fertility and health may in part explain the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evie van der Spoel
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ferdinand Roelfsema
- Section Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Steffy W. Jansen
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Abimbola A. Akintola
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Bart E. Ballieux
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Christa M. Cobbaert
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Gerard J. Blauw
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - P. Eline Slagboom
- Section Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Rudi G. J. Westendorp
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Center of Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanno Pijl
- Section Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Diana van Heemst
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Diana van Heemst,
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Abstract
The bidirectional regulation of thymulin in the reproductive-endocrine function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of rats immunized against GnRH remains largely unclear. We explored the alterations in hormones in the HPG axis in immunized rats to dissect the repressive effect of immunization on thymulin, and to clarify the interrelation of reproductive hormones and thymulin in vivo. The results showed that, in the first 2 weeks of booster immunization, thymulin was repressed when reproductive hormones were severely reduced. The self-feedback regulation of thymulin was then stimulated in later immune stages: the rising circulating thymulin upregulated LH and FSH, including GnRH in the hypothalamus, although the levels of those hormones were still significantly lower than in the control groups. In astrocytes, thymulin produced a feedback effect in regulated GnRH neurons. However, in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) and the median eminence (ME), the mediator of astrocytes and other glial cells were also directly affected by reproductive hormones. Thus, in immunized rats, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein was distinctly stimulated in the Arc and ME. This study demonstrated that thymulin was downregulated by immunization against GnRH in early stage. Subsequently, the self-feedback regulation was provoked by low circulating thymulin. Thereafter, rising thymulin levels promoted pituitary gonadotropins levels, while acting directly on GnRH neurons, which was mediated by astrocytes in a region-dependent manner in the hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiping Su
- College of Animal Sciences and TechnologyAnhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of ChinaCollege of Life ScienceFujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of ChinaThe Biotechnology Center of Anhui Agriculture UniversityHefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Sun
- College of Animal Sciences and TechnologyAnhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of ChinaCollege of Life ScienceFujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of ChinaThe Biotechnology Center of Anhui Agriculture UniversityHefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuhong Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences and TechnologyAnhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of ChinaCollege of Life ScienceFujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of ChinaThe Biotechnology Center of Anhui Agriculture UniversityHefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuigui Fang
- College of Animal Sciences and TechnologyAnhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of ChinaCollege of Life ScienceFujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of ChinaThe Biotechnology Center of Anhui Agriculture UniversityHefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunsheng Li
- College of Animal Sciences and TechnologyAnhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of ChinaCollege of Life ScienceFujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of ChinaThe Biotechnology Center of Anhui Agriculture UniversityHefei, People's Republic of China
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Davies S, Cros T, Richard D, Meddle SL, Tsutsui K, Deviche P. Food availability, energetic constraints and reproductive development in a wild seasonally breeding songbird. Funct Ecol 2015; 29:1421-1434. [PMID: 27546946 PMCID: PMC4974902 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In many organisms, food availability is a proximate cue that synchronizes seasonal development of the reproductive system with optimal environmental conditions. Growth of the gonads and secondary sexual characteristics is orchestrated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. However, our understanding of the physiological mechanisms by which food availability modulates activity of the HPG axis is limited. It is thought that many factors, including energetic status, modulate seasonal reproductive activation. We tested the hypothesis that food availability modulates the activity of the HPG axis in a songbird. Specifically, we food‐restricted captive adult male Abert's Towhees Melozone aberti for 2 or 4 weeks during photoinduced reproductive development. A third group (control) received ad libitum food throughout. We measured multiple aspects of the reproductive system including endocrine activity of all three levels of the HPG axis [i.e. hypothalamic gonadotropin‐releasing hormone‐I (GnRH‐I), plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T)], and gonad morphology. Furthermore, because gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY; a potent orexigenic peptide) potentially integrate information on food availability into seasonal reproductive development, we also measured the brain levels of these peptides. At the hypothalamic level, we detected no effect of food restriction on immunoreactive (ir) GnRH‐I, but the duration of food restriction was inversely related to the size of ir‐GnIH perikarya. Furthermore, the number of ir‐NPY cells was higher in food‐restricted than control birds. Food restriction did not influence photoinduced testicular growth, but decreased plasma LH and T, and width of the cloacal protuberance, an androgen‐sensitive secondary sexual characteristic. Returning birds to ad libitum food availability had no effect on plasma LH or T, but caused the cloacal protuberance to rapidly increase in size to that of ad libitum‐fed birds. Our results support the tenet that food availability modulates photoinduced reproductive activation. However, they also suggest that this modulation is complex and depends upon the level of the HPG axis considered. At the hypothalamic level, our results are consistent with a role for the GnIH and NPY systems in integrating information on energetic status. There also appears to be a role for endocrine function at the anterior pituitary gland and testicular levels in modulating reproductive development in the light of energetic status and independently of testicular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Davies
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona 85287 USA; Present address: Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia 24061USA
| | - Thomas Cros
- Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Appliquées Université de Poitiers Poitiers 86022 France
| | - Damien Richard
- Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Appliquées Université de Poitiers Poitiers 86022 France
| | - Simone L Meddle
- The Roslin Institute The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The University of Edinburgh Easter Bush Midlothian EH25 9RG UK
| | - Kazuyoshi Tsutsui
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences Department of Biology and Center for Medical Life Science Waseda University Tokyo 162-8480 Japan
| | - Pierre Deviche
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona 85287 USA
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Xia K, Yu Y, Ahn M, Zhu H, Zou F, Gilmore JH, Knickmeyer RC. Environmental and genetic contributors to salivary testosterone levels in infants. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:187. [PMID: 25400620 PMCID: PMC4214198 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in early infancy plays an important role in male genital development and sexual differentiation of the brain, but factors contributing to individual variation in testosterone levels during this period are poorly understood. We measured salivary testosterone levels in 222 infants (119 males, 103 females, 108 singletons, 114 twins) between 2.70 and 4.80 months of age. We tested 16 major demographic and medical history variables for effects on inter-individual variation in salivary testosterone. Using the subset of twins, we estimated genetic and environmental contributions to salivary testosterone levels. Finally, we tested single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within ±5 kb of genes involved in testosterone synthesis, transport, signaling, and metabolism for associations with salivary testosterone using univariate tests and random forest (RF) analysis. We report an association between 5 min APGAR scores and salivary testosterone levels in males. Twin modeling indicated that individual variability in testosterone levels was primarily explained by environmental factors. Regarding genetic variation, univariate tests did not reveal any variants significantly associated with salivary testosterone after adjusting for false discovery rate. The top hit in males was rs10923844, an SNP of unknown function located downstream of HSD3B1 and HSD3B2. The top hits in females were two SNPs located upstream of ESR1 (rs3407085 and rs2295190). RF analysis, which reflects joint and conditional effects of multiple variants, indicated that genes involved in regulation of reproductive function, particularly LHCGR, are related to salivary testosterone levels in male infants, as are genes involved in cholesterol production, transport, and removal, while genes involved in estrogen signaling are related to salivary testosterone levels in female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mihye Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hongtu Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Knickmeyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- *Correspondence: Rebecca C. Knickmeyer, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, 343 Medical Wings C, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA e-mail:
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Knickmeyer RC, Auyeung B, Davenport ML. Assessing prenatal and neonatal gonadal steroid exposure for studies of human development: methodological and theoretical challenges. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:242. [PMID: 25642209 PMCID: PMC4294212 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. Knickmeyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- *Correspondence:
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marsha L. Davenport
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Ayala C, Pennacchio GE, Soaje M, Carreño NB, Bittencourt JC, Jahn GA, Celis ME, Valdez SR. Effects of thyroid status on NEI concentration in specific brain areas related to reproduction during the estrous cycle. Peptides 2013; 49:74-80. [PMID: 24028792 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We previously showed that short-term hypo- and hyperthyroidism induce changes in neuropeptide glutamic-acid-isoleucine-amide (NEI) concentrations in discrete brain areas in male rats. To investigate the possible effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on NEI concentrations mainly in hypothalamic areas related to reproduction and behavior, female rats were sacrificed at different days of the estrous cycle. Circulating luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured in control, hypothyroid (hypoT, treated with PTU during 7-9 days) and hyperthyroid (hyperT, l-T4 during 4-7 days) animals. Both treatments blunted the LH surge. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism increased estradiol concentrations during proestrus afternoon (P-PM), although hypoT rats showed lower values compared to control during proestrus morning (P-AM). Progesterone levels were higher in all groups at P-PM and in the hyperT during diestrus morning (D2). NEI concentrations were lower in hypoT rats during the estrous cycle except in estrus (E) in the peduncular part of the lateral hypothalamus (PLH). They were also reduced by both treatments in the perifornical part of the lateral hypothalamus (PeFLH) during P-PM. Hypothyroidism led to higher NEI concentrations during P-PM in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (OVLT+AVPV). The present results indicate that NEI concentration is regulated in a complex manner by hypo- and hyperthyroidism in the different areas studied, suggesting a correlation between NEI values and the variations of gonadal steroid levels during estrous cycle. These changes could be, in part, responsible for the alterations observed in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Ayala
- Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Cátedra de Bacteriología y Virología Médicas, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, CP 5000 Córdoba, Argentina; Sección de Desarrollo Cerebral Perinatal (SPBD), Instituto de Histología y Embriología Mendoza (IHEM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Parque General San Martín, CP 5500 Mendoza, Argentina.
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Zhang X, Tian H, Wang W, Ru S. Exposure to monocrotophos pesticide causes disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in adult male goldfish (Carassius auratus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 193:158-66. [PMID: 23948368 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid hormones (THs) 3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine (T3) and l-thyroxine (T4) exert a wide range of biological effects on physiological processes of fish. To elucidate the thyroid disruption effects of monocrotophos (MCP), an organophosphate pesticide, on male goldfish (Carassius auratus), thyroid follicle histology, plasma total T3 (TT3), total T4 (TT4), free T3 (FT3) and free T4 levels, and the mRNA expression of indices involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT axis) were examined following 21-day exposure to 0.01, 0.10 and 1.00mg/L of a 40% MCP-based pesticide. The results showed that MCP exposure induced the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of thyroid follicular epithelium and led to decreased plasma TT3 levels and TT3-to-TT4 ratios, without effect on plasma TT4 levels. Profiles of the changes in the relative abundance of deiodinase (D1, D2 and D3) transcripts were observed in the liver, brain and kidneys, during MCP exposure. An increase in the metabolism of T3, expressed as highly elevated hepatic d1 and d3 mRNA levels, might be associated with the reduction in plasma TT3 levels in both the 0.01 and 0.10mg/L groups, while in the 1.00mg/L MCP group, inhibited hepatic d2 transcripts might have also resulted in decreased TT3 levels by preventing the activation of T4 to T3. As a compensatory response to decreased T3 levels, pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone β subunit mRNA transcription was up-regulated by the MCP pesticide. Decreases in plasma FT3 levels were also correlated with the modulation of hepatic transthyretin mRNA expression. Overall, the MCP pesticide exhibited thyroid-disrupting effects via interference with the HPT axis at multiple potential sites, resulting in disturbance of TH homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Zhang
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, PR China
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Yonker JA, Chang V, Roetker NS, Hauser TS, Hauser RM, Atwood CS. Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis homeostasis predicts longevity. Age (Dordr) 2013; 35:129-38. [PMID: 22139381 PMCID: PMC3543732 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-011-9342-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive-cell cycle theory of aging posits that reproductive hormone changes associated with menopause and andropause drive senescence via altered cell cycle signaling. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (n = 5,034), we analyzed the relationship between longevity and menopause, including other factors that impact "ovarian lifespan" such as births, oophorectomy, and hormone replacement therapy. We found that later onset of menopause was associated with lower mortality, with and without adjusting for additional factors (years of education, smoking status, body mass index, and marital status). Each year of delayed menopause resulted in a 2.9% reduction in mortality; after including a number of additional controls, the effect was attenuated modestly but remained statistically significant (2.6% reduction in mortality). We also found that no other reproductive parameters assessed added to the prediction of longevity, suggesting that reproductive factors shown to affect longevity elsewhere may be mediated by age of menopause. Thus, surgical and natural menopause at age 40, for example, resulted in identical survival probabilities. These results support the maintenance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in homeostasis in prolonging human longevity, which provides a coherent framework for understanding the relationship between reproduction and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Yonker
- />Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Vicky Chang
- />Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Nicholas S. Roetker
- />Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Taissa S. Hauser
- />Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Robert M. Hauser
- />Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
- />Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Craig S. Atwood
- />Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI USA
- />Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI USA
- />School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA Australia
- />Wm S. Middleton Memorial VA (GRECC 11G), University of Wisconsin—Madison Medical School, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53705 USA
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Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol has adverse effects on offspring neuroendocrine and behavioural functions. Alcohol readily crosses the placenta, thus directly affecting developing foetal endocrine organs. In addition, alcohol-induced changes in maternal endocrine function can disrupt the normal hormonal interactions between the pregnant female and foetal systems, altering the normal hormone balance and, indirectly, affecting the development of foetal metabolic, physiological and endocrine functions. The present review focuses on the adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on offspring neuroendocrine function, with particular emphasis on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key player in the stress response. The HPA axis is highly susceptible to programming during foetal and neonatal development. Here, we review data demonstrating that alcohol exposure in utero programmes the foetal HPA axis such that HPA tone is increased throughout life. Importantly, we show that, although alterations in HPA responsiveness and regulation are robust phenomena, occurring in both male and female offspring, sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol are frequently observed. We present updated findings on possible mechanisms underlying differential effects of alcohol on male and female offspring, with special emphasis on effects at different levels of the HPA axis, and on modulatory influences of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormones and serotonin. Finally, possible mechanisms underlying foetal programming of the HPA axis, and the long-term implications of increased exposure to endogenous glucocorticoids for offspring vulnerability to illnesses or disorders later in life are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Gur A, Cevik R, Nas K, Colpan L, Sarac S. Cortisol and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in follicular-phase women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive symptoms on these hormones. Arthritis Res Ther 2004; 6:R232-8. [PMID: 15142269 PMCID: PMC416440 DOI: 10.1186/ar1163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2003] [Revised: 02/06/2004] [Accepted: 02/19/2004] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and cortisol concentrations in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle, and whether their scores for depressive symptoms were related to levels of these hormones. A total of 176 subjects participated - 46 healthy volunteers, 68 patients with fibromyalgia, and 62 patients with CFS. We examined concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and cortisol. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cortisol levels were significantly lower in patients with fibromyalgia or CFS than in healthy controls (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in other hormone levels between the three groups. Fibromyalgia patients with high BDI scores had significantly lower cortisol levels than controls (P < 0.05), and so did CFS patients, regardless of their BDI scores (P < 0.05). Among patients without depressive symptoms, cortisol levels were lower in CFS than in fibromyalgia (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that in spite of low morning cortisol concentrations, the only abnormalities in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones among follicular-phase women with fibromyalgia or CFS are those of LH levels in fibromyalgia patients with a low BDI score. Depression may lower cortisol and LH levels, or, alternatively, low morning cortisol may be a biological factor that contributes to depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia. These parameters therefore must be taken into account in future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Gur
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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