Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-01-09DOI: 10.1159/000536116
Linfeng Miao, Chenying Tian, Qingqing Xiong, Jing Zhao, Yunfei Feng, Hong Yu, Huahua Du
Introduction: Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a key factor in appetite suppression. However, the effect of Lcn2 on appetite in terms of sex differences has not been thoroughly studied.
Methods: Young (3-month-old) whole-body Lcn2 knockout (Lcn2-/-) mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to investigate obesity, food intake, serum metabolism, hepatic lipid metabolism, and regulation of gastrointestinal hormones.
Results: Lcn2 deficiency significantly increased the body weight and food intake of male mice when fed ND instead of HFD and females when fed HFD but not ND. Compared to wild-type (WT) male mice, the adiponectin level and phosphorylated form of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the hypothalamus were both increased in ND-fed Lcn2-/- male mice but decreased in HFD-fed Lcn2-/- male mice. However, in female mice, adiponectin and its energy metabolism pathway were not altered. Instead, estradiol was found to be substantially higher in ND-fed Lcn2-/- female mice and substantially lower in HFD-fed Lcn2-/- female mice compared with WT female mice. Estradiol alteration also caused similar changes in ERα in the hypothalamus, leading to changes in the PI3K/AKT energy metabolism pathway. It suggested that the increased appetite caused by Lcn2 deficiency in male mice may be due to increased adiponectin expression and promotion of AMPK phosphorylation, while in female mice it may be related to the decrease of circulating estradiol and the inhibition of the hypothalamic ERα/PI3K/AKT energy metabolism pathway.
Conclusion: Lcn2 plays in a highly sex-specific manner in the regulation of appetite in young mice.
{"title":"Sex-Specific Appetite Regulation of Lipocalin-2 in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.","authors":"Linfeng Miao, Chenying Tian, Qingqing Xiong, Jing Zhao, Yunfei Feng, Hong Yu, Huahua Du","doi":"10.1159/000536116","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000536116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a key factor in appetite suppression. However, the effect of Lcn2 on appetite in terms of sex differences has not been thoroughly studied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Young (3-month-old) whole-body Lcn2 knockout (Lcn2-/-) mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to investigate obesity, food intake, serum metabolism, hepatic lipid metabolism, and regulation of gastrointestinal hormones.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lcn2 deficiency significantly increased the body weight and food intake of male mice when fed ND instead of HFD and females when fed HFD but not ND. Compared to wild-type (WT) male mice, the adiponectin level and phosphorylated form of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the hypothalamus were both increased in ND-fed Lcn2-/- male mice but decreased in HFD-fed Lcn2-/- male mice. However, in female mice, adiponectin and its energy metabolism pathway were not altered. Instead, estradiol was found to be substantially higher in ND-fed Lcn2-/- female mice and substantially lower in HFD-fed Lcn2-/- female mice compared with WT female mice. Estradiol alteration also caused similar changes in ERα in the hypothalamus, leading to changes in the PI3K/AKT energy metabolism pathway. It suggested that the increased appetite caused by Lcn2 deficiency in male mice may be due to increased adiponectin expression and promotion of AMPK phosphorylation, while in female mice it may be related to the decrease of circulating estradiol and the inhibition of the hypothalamic ERα/PI3K/AKT energy metabolism pathway.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lcn2 plays in a highly sex-specific manner in the regulation of appetite in young mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139403792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-04-29DOI: 10.1159/000539097
Keren Wang, Yuchuan Fu, Lan Li, Lingfeng Zhang, Mei Huang, Weihao Yan, Xiaoou Shan, Zhihan Yan, Yi Lu
Introduction: Previous brain studies of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) often used single-modal neuroimaging, missing the complexity captured by multimodal data. Growth hormone affects gut microbiota and metabolism in GHD. However, from a gut-brain axis (GBA) perspective, the relationship between abnormal GHD brain development and microbiota alterations remains unclear. The ultimate goal is to uncover the manifestations underlying GBA abnormalities in GHD and idiopathic short stature (ISS).
Methods: Participants included 23 GHD and 25 ISS children. The fusion independent component analysis was applied to integrate multimodal brain data (high-resolution structural, diffusion tensor, and resting-state functional MRI) covering regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF), and white matter fractional anisotropy (FA). Gut microbiome diversity and metabolites were analyzed using 16S sequencing and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Associations between multimodal neuroimaging and cognition were assessed using moderation analysis.
Results: Six independent components (IC) of ReHo, ALFF, and FA differed significantly between GHD and ISS patients, with three functional components linked to the processing speed index. GHD individuals showed higher levels of acetate, nicotinate, and lysine in microbiota metabolism. Higher alpha diversity in GHD strengthened connections between ReHo-IC1, ReHo-IC5, ALFF-IC1, and the processing speed index, while increasing agathobacter levels in ISS weakened the link between ALFF-IC1 and the speech comprehension index.
Conclusions: Our findings uncover differing brain structure and functional fusion in GHD, alongside microbiota metabolism of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, microbiome influences connections between neuroimaging and cognition, offering insight into diverse GBA patterns in GHD and ISS, enhancing our understanding of the disease's pathophysiology and interventions.
背景以往对生长激素缺乏症(GHD)的脑部研究通常使用单模式神经影像学,而忽略了多模式数据所捕捉到的复杂性。生长激素会影响 GHD 患者的肠道微生物群和新陈代谢。然而,从肠道-大脑轴的角度来看,GHD 大脑发育异常与微生物群改变之间的关系仍不清楚。我们的最终目标是揭示 GHD 和特发性矮身材(ISS)患者肠道-大脑轴(GBA)异常的潜在表现。方法 研究对象包括 23 名 GHD 儿童和 25 名 ISS 儿童。对多模态脑数据(高分辨率结构、弥散张量和静息状态功能磁共振成像)进行了融合独立成分分析,涵盖区域均匀性(ReHo)、低频波动幅度(ALFF)和白质分数各向异性(FA)。利用 16S 测序和质子核磁共振(1H-NMR)分析了肠道微生物组的多样性和代谢物。多模态神经影像学与认知之间的关联采用调节分析法进行评估。结果 GHD 和 ISS 患者的六个成分(ReHo、ALFF 和 FA)存在显著差异,其中三个功能成分与处理速度有关。GHD患者微生物群代谢中的醋酸水平较高。GHD患者体内较高的α多样性加强了ReHo-IC1、ReHo-IC5、ALFF-IC1与处理速度之间的联系,而ISS患者体内较高的Agathobacter水平则削弱了ALFF-IC1与言语理解能力之间的联系。结论 我们的研究结果揭示了 GHD 患者不同的大脑结构和功能融合,以及微生物群对短链脂肪酸的代谢。此外,微生物群还影响神经影像学和认知之间的联系,为了解 GHD 和 ISS 中不同的肠脑轴模式提供了见解,从而加深了我们对该疾病的病理生理学和干预措施的理解。
{"title":"Gut Microbiota Moderates Multimodal Brain Structure-Function Integration and Behavioral Cognition in Growth Hormone Deficient Children.","authors":"Keren Wang, Yuchuan Fu, Lan Li, Lingfeng Zhang, Mei Huang, Weihao Yan, Xiaoou Shan, Zhihan Yan, Yi Lu","doi":"10.1159/000539097","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000539097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Previous brain studies of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) often used single-modal neuroimaging, missing the complexity captured by multimodal data. Growth hormone affects gut microbiota and metabolism in GHD. However, from a gut-brain axis (GBA) perspective, the relationship between abnormal GHD brain development and microbiota alterations remains unclear. The ultimate goal is to uncover the manifestations underlying GBA abnormalities in GHD and idiopathic short stature (ISS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants included 23 GHD and 25 ISS children. The fusion independent component analysis was applied to integrate multimodal brain data (high-resolution structural, diffusion tensor, and resting-state functional MRI) covering regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF), and white matter fractional anisotropy (FA). Gut microbiome diversity and metabolites were analyzed using 16S sequencing and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Associations between multimodal neuroimaging and cognition were assessed using moderation analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six independent components (IC) of ReHo, ALFF, and FA differed significantly between GHD and ISS patients, with three functional components linked to the processing speed index. GHD individuals showed higher levels of acetate, nicotinate, and lysine in microbiota metabolism. Higher alpha diversity in GHD strengthened connections between ReHo-IC1, ReHo-IC5, ALFF-IC1, and the processing speed index, while increasing agathobacter levels in ISS weakened the link between ALFF-IC1 and the speech comprehension index.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings uncover differing brain structure and functional fusion in GHD, alongside microbiota metabolism of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, microbiome influences connections between neuroimaging and cognition, offering insight into diverse GBA patterns in GHD and ISS, enhancing our understanding of the disease's pathophysiology and interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140868211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2023-09-12DOI: 10.1159/000533692
Paulina Kober, Julia Rymuza, Szymon Baluszek, Maria Maksymowicz, Aleksandra Nyc, Beata J Mossakowska, Grzegorz Zieliński, Jacek Kunicki, Mateusz Bujko
Introduction: Growth hormone secretion by sporadic somatotroph neuroendocrine pituitary tumors (PitNETs) is a major cause of acromegaly. These tumors are relatively heterogenous in terms of histopathological and molecular features. Our previous transcriptomic profiling of somatotroph tumors revealed three distinct molecular subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the difference in DNA methylation patterns in subtypes of somatotroph PitNETs and its role in distinctive gene expression.
Methods: Genome-wide DNA methylation was investigated in 48 somatotroph PitNETs with EPIC microarrays. Gene expression was assessed with RNAseq. Bisulfite pyrosequencing and qRT-PCR were used for verifying the results of DNA methylation and gene expression.
Results: Clustering tumor samples based on methylation data reflected the transcriptome-related classification. Subtype 1 tumors are densely granulated without GNAS mutation, characterized by high expression of NR5A1 (SF-1) and GIPR. The expression of both genes is correlated with specific methylation of the gene body and promoter. This subtype has a lower methylation level of 5' gene regions and CpG islands than the remaining tumors. Subtype 2 PitNETs are densely granulated and frequently GNAS-mutated, while those in subtype 3 are mainly sparsely granulated. Methylation/expression analysis indicates that ∼50% genes located in differentially methylated regions are those differentially expressed between tumor subtypes. Correlation analysis revealed DNA methylation-controlled genes, including CDKN1B, CCND2, EBF3, CDH4, CDH12, MGMT, STAT5A, PLXND1, PTPRE, and MMP16, and genes encoding ion channels and semaphorins.
Conclusion: DNA methylation profiling confirmed the existence of three molecular subtypes of somatotroph PitNETs. High expression of NR5A1 and GIPR in subtype 1 tumors is correlated with specific methylation of both genes.
简介散发性嗜体细胞神经内分泌垂体瘤(PitNET)分泌生长激素是导致肢端肥大症的主要原因。这些肿瘤在组织病理学和分子特征方面具有相对异质性。我们之前对体细胞瘤进行的转录组学分析发现了三种不同的分子亚型。本研究旨在探讨嗜体细胞瘤亚型中DNA甲基化模式的差异及其在不同基因表达中的作用:方法:利用 EPIC 微阵列对 48 例躯体营养型 PitNET 的全基因组 DNA 甲基化进行了研究。基因表达通过 RNAseq 进行评估。亚硫酸氢盐测序和 qRT-PCR 用于验证 DNA 甲基化和基因表达的结果:结果:根据甲基化数据对肿瘤样本进行的聚类反映了转录组相关的分类。亚型1肿瘤为无GNAS突变的致密肉芽肿,以NR5A1(SF-1)和GIPR的高表达为特征。这两个基因的表达与基因体和启动子的特异性甲基化相关。与其他肿瘤相比,该亚型的 5' 基因区和 CpG 岛的甲基化水平较低。亚型2的PitNET颗粒密集,经常出现GNAS突变,而亚型3的PitNET主要颗粒稀疏。甲基化/表达分析表明,位于不同甲基化区域的基因有50%在肿瘤亚型之间有不同表达。相关性分析揭示了DNA甲基化控制基因,包括CDKN1B、CCND2、EBF3、CDH4、CDH12、MGMT、STAT5A、PLXND1、PTPRE和MMP16,以及编码离子通道和semaphorins的基因:DNA甲基化分析证实了嗜体细胞PitNET存在三种分子亚型。亚型1肿瘤中NR5A1和GIPR的高表达与这两个基因的特异性甲基化有关。
{"title":"DNA Methylation Pattern in Somatotroph Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors.","authors":"Paulina Kober, Julia Rymuza, Szymon Baluszek, Maria Maksymowicz, Aleksandra Nyc, Beata J Mossakowska, Grzegorz Zieliński, Jacek Kunicki, Mateusz Bujko","doi":"10.1159/000533692","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000533692","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Growth hormone secretion by sporadic somatotroph neuroendocrine pituitary tumors (PitNETs) is a major cause of acromegaly. These tumors are relatively heterogenous in terms of histopathological and molecular features. Our previous transcriptomic profiling of somatotroph tumors revealed three distinct molecular subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the difference in DNA methylation patterns in subtypes of somatotroph PitNETs and its role in distinctive gene expression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Genome-wide DNA methylation was investigated in 48 somatotroph PitNETs with EPIC microarrays. Gene expression was assessed with RNAseq. Bisulfite pyrosequencing and qRT-PCR were used for verifying the results of DNA methylation and gene expression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clustering tumor samples based on methylation data reflected the transcriptome-related classification. Subtype 1 tumors are densely granulated without GNAS mutation, characterized by high expression of NR5A1 (SF-1) and GIPR. The expression of both genes is correlated with specific methylation of the gene body and promoter. This subtype has a lower methylation level of 5' gene regions and CpG islands than the remaining tumors. Subtype 2 PitNETs are densely granulated and frequently GNAS-mutated, while those in subtype 3 are mainly sparsely granulated. Methylation/expression analysis indicates that ∼50% genes located in differentially methylated regions are those differentially expressed between tumor subtypes. Correlation analysis revealed DNA methylation-controlled genes, including CDKN1B, CCND2, EBF3, CDH4, CDH12, MGMT, STAT5A, PLXND1, PTPRE, and MMP16, and genes encoding ion channels and semaphorins.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DNA methylation profiling confirmed the existence of three molecular subtypes of somatotroph PitNETs. High expression of NR5A1 and GIPR in subtype 1 tumors is correlated with specific methylation of both genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10572113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2023-10-12DOI: 10.1159/000534427
Yi Zou, Dan Li, Xiaoyan Yu, Chenqi Zhou, Chunpeng Zhu, Ying Yuan
Introduction: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) harbored significantly suppressive tumor immune microenvironments (TIMEs). However, the immunological effects of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) on non-NENs, such as gastric cancer (GC), were unknown.
Methods: Between pure gastric cancer (PGC) and GC-NED, TIME features were scored based on expression data and validated on serial whole-tissue sections of surgical samples, with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and the extra-TLS zone evaluated independently using multi-marker immunohistochemical staining. Risk analyses of TIME features on tumor behaviors were performed in GC-NED. The universal immunological effects of NED were explored preliminarily in adenocarcinomas arising in other organs.
Results: Based on over 11,500 annotated TLSs and 2,700 extra-TLS zones, compared with PGC, GC-NED harbored a distinctively more suppressive TIME characterized by increased but immature TLSs, with higher naïve B-cell and follicular regulatory T-cell densities and downregulated TLS maturation-related cell ratios inside TLSs; increased naïve B-cell and regulatory T-cell densities; and a high proportion of exhausted T cells in the extra-TLS zone. The upregulated tumor PD-L1 expression and its close correlations with TLS formation and maturation were remarkable exclusively in GC-NED. TIME features, especially those regarding TLSs, were significantly correlated with tumor growth and invasion. The desynchrony between TLS formation and maturation and increased naïve or regulatory immune cell infiltration was observed in adenocarcinomas of the colorectum, pancreas, lung, and prostate.
Conclusion: NED highlighted a distinct GC entity with more suppressive TIME features correlated with tumor behaviors, indicating a cohort that would benefit more from immunotherapies.
{"title":"Correlation of Neuroendocrine Differentiation with a Distinctively Suppressive Immune Microenvironment in Gastric Cancer.","authors":"Yi Zou, Dan Li, Xiaoyan Yu, Chenqi Zhou, Chunpeng Zhu, Ying Yuan","doi":"10.1159/000534427","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000534427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) harbored significantly suppressive tumor immune microenvironments (TIMEs). However, the immunological effects of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) on non-NENs, such as gastric cancer (GC), were unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between pure gastric cancer (PGC) and GC-NED, TIME features were scored based on expression data and validated on serial whole-tissue sections of surgical samples, with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and the extra-TLS zone evaluated independently using multi-marker immunohistochemical staining. Risk analyses of TIME features on tumor behaviors were performed in GC-NED. The universal immunological effects of NED were explored preliminarily in adenocarcinomas arising in other organs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on over 11,500 annotated TLSs and 2,700 extra-TLS zones, compared with PGC, GC-NED harbored a distinctively more suppressive TIME characterized by increased but immature TLSs, with higher naïve B-cell and follicular regulatory T-cell densities and downregulated TLS maturation-related cell ratios inside TLSs; increased naïve B-cell and regulatory T-cell densities; and a high proportion of exhausted T cells in the extra-TLS zone. The upregulated tumor PD-L1 expression and its close correlations with TLS formation and maturation were remarkable exclusively in GC-NED. TIME features, especially those regarding TLSs, were significantly correlated with tumor growth and invasion. The desynchrony between TLS formation and maturation and increased naïve or regulatory immune cell infiltration was observed in adenocarcinomas of the colorectum, pancreas, lung, and prostate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NED highlighted a distinct GC entity with more suppressive TIME features correlated with tumor behaviors, indicating a cohort that would benefit more from immunotherapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10836751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41207085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2023-10-17DOI: 10.1159/000534647
Jordan S Carter, Caitlyn C Costa, Angela M Kearns, Carmela M Reichel
Introduction: Relapse is a major treatment barrier for opioid use disorder. Environmental cues become associated with the rewarding effects of opioids and can precipitate relapse, even after numerous unreinforced cue presentations, due to deficits in extinction memory recall (EMR). Estradiol (E2) modulates EMR of fear-related cues, but it is unknown whether E2 impacts EMR of reward cues and what brain region(s) are responsible for E2s effects. Here, we hypothesize that inhibition of E2 signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) will impair EMR of a heroin-associated cue in both male and female rats.
Methods: We pharmacologically manipulated E2 signaling to characterize the role of E2 in the BLA on heroin-cue EMR. Following heroin self-administration, during which a light/tone cue was co-presented with each heroin infusion, rats underwent cued extinction to extinguish the conditioned association between the light/tone and heroin. During extinction, E2 signaling in the BLA was blocked by an aromatase inhibitor or specific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists. The next day, subjects underwent a cued test to assess heroin-cue EMR.
Results: In both experiments, females took more heroin than males (mg/kg) and had higher operant responding during cued extinction. Inhibition of E2 synthesis in the BLA impaired heroin-cue EMR in both sexes. Notably, E2s actions are mediated by different ER mechanisms, ERα in males but ERβ in females.
Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate a behavioral role for centrally-produced E2 in the BLA and that E2 also impacts EMR of reward-associated stimuli in both sexes.
{"title":"Inhibition of Estradiol Signaling in the Basolateral Amygdala Impairs Extinction Memory Recall for Heroin-Conditioned Cues in a Sex-Specific Manner.","authors":"Jordan S Carter, Caitlyn C Costa, Angela M Kearns, Carmela M Reichel","doi":"10.1159/000534647","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000534647","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Relapse is a major treatment barrier for opioid use disorder. Environmental cues become associated with the rewarding effects of opioids and can precipitate relapse, even after numerous unreinforced cue presentations, due to deficits in extinction memory recall (EMR). Estradiol (E2) modulates EMR of fear-related cues, but it is unknown whether E2 impacts EMR of reward cues and what brain region(s) are responsible for E2s effects. Here, we hypothesize that inhibition of E2 signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) will impair EMR of a heroin-associated cue in both male and female rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We pharmacologically manipulated E2 signaling to characterize the role of E2 in the BLA on heroin-cue EMR. Following heroin self-administration, during which a light/tone cue was co-presented with each heroin infusion, rats underwent cued extinction to extinguish the conditioned association between the light/tone and heroin. During extinction, E2 signaling in the BLA was blocked by an aromatase inhibitor or specific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists. The next day, subjects underwent a cued test to assess heroin-cue EMR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In both experiments, females took more heroin than males (mg/kg) and had higher operant responding during cued extinction. Inhibition of E2 synthesis in the BLA impaired heroin-cue EMR in both sexes. Notably, E2s actions are mediated by different ER mechanisms, ERα in males but ERβ in females.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is the first to demonstrate a behavioral role for centrally-produced E2 in the BLA and that E2 also impacts EMR of reward-associated stimuli in both sexes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10922099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41237164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-05-02DOI: 10.1159/000539111
Manon Chasles, Renaud Fleurot, Paolo Giacobini, Yves Tillet
Introduction: In humans, prenatal androgen excess can lead to a broad spectrum of pathologies in adulthood, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS present a variety of reproductive and metabolic disturbances and they also face increased risk to develop neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Despite the high prevalence, the cause of depressive and anxiety symptoms is not fully elucidated. The use of androgenized ewe models can provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of PCOS, as they closely mimic the reproductive, neuroendocrine, and metabolic characteristics observed in women with this condition.
Method: We studied the impact of prenatal exposure to testosterone propionate on cognitive and behavioral performances of Ile-de-France ewes, using a plethora of behavioral tests for anxiety and cognitive performances.
Results: Our findings indicate that prenatal androgenized ewes exhibit markedly elevated levels of anxiety-like behavior compared to control animals, while showing no discernible differences in cognitive performance.
Conclusion: These discoveries offer novel perspectives on how maternal androgen excess contributes to anxiogenic effects in PCOS preclinical models, underscoring the ewe's significance as a model for conducting mechanistic studies to unravel the physiological and molecular aspects of anxiety.
{"title":"Prenatal Androgen Exposure Induces Anxiety-Like Behavior in Ewes.","authors":"Manon Chasles, Renaud Fleurot, Paolo Giacobini, Yves Tillet","doi":"10.1159/000539111","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000539111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In humans, prenatal androgen excess can lead to a broad spectrum of pathologies in adulthood, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS present a variety of reproductive and metabolic disturbances and they also face increased risk to develop neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Despite the high prevalence, the cause of depressive and anxiety symptoms is not fully elucidated. The use of androgenized ewe models can provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of PCOS, as they closely mimic the reproductive, neuroendocrine, and metabolic characteristics observed in women with this condition.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We studied the impact of prenatal exposure to testosterone propionate on cognitive and behavioral performances of Ile-de-France ewes, using a plethora of behavioral tests for anxiety and cognitive performances.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings indicate that prenatal androgenized ewes exhibit markedly elevated levels of anxiety-like behavior compared to control animals, while showing no discernible differences in cognitive performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These discoveries offer novel perspectives on how maternal androgen excess contributes to anxiogenic effects in PCOS preclinical models, underscoring the ewe's significance as a model for conducting mechanistic studies to unravel the physiological and molecular aspects of anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140866288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: Insulin resistance is widely thought to be a critical feature in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and there is significant evidence indicating a higher abundance of insulin receptors in the human cerebellum than cerebrum. However, the specific structural or functional changes in the cerebellum related to T2DM remain unclear, and the association between cerebellar alterations, insulin resistance, cognition, and emotion is yet to be determined.
Methods: We investigated neuropsychological performance, and structural and functional changes in specific cerebellar subregions in 43 T2DM patients with high insulin resistance (T2DM-highIR), 72 T2DM patients with low insulin resistance (T2DM-lowIR), and 50 controls. Furthermore, the correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were performed.
Results: Compared to the controls, T2DM exhibited lower cognitive scores and higher depressive/anxious scores. Furthermore, T2DM-highIR patients showed reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right cerebellar lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, and T2DM showed reduced GMV in left lobules I-IV compared to controls. Additionally, functional connectivity decrease was observed between the right lobules I-V and orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus in T2DM-highIR compared to both T2DM-lowIR and controls. Notably, there were negative correlations between the GMV of the lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, and updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and positive correlation with executive/visuospatial performance in T2DM patients.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the cerebellar lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, represent vulnerable brain regions in the context of insulin resistance. Overall, this study offers new insights into the neuropathophysiological mechanisms of brain impairment in patients with T2DM.
{"title":"The Reduced Gray Matter Volume and Functional Connectivity of the Cerebellum in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with High Insulin Resistance.","authors":"Hui-Yan Zhang, Guo Shen, Chen Yang, Jian Tan, Jian-Cang Cao, Jing Tian, Zhou-Le Li, Gang Huang, Lian-Ping Zhao","doi":"10.1159/000535860","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000535860","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Insulin resistance is widely thought to be a critical feature in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and there is significant evidence indicating a higher abundance of insulin receptors in the human cerebellum than cerebrum. However, the specific structural or functional changes in the cerebellum related to T2DM remain unclear, and the association between cerebellar alterations, insulin resistance, cognition, and emotion is yet to be determined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated neuropsychological performance, and structural and functional changes in specific cerebellar subregions in 43 T2DM patients with high insulin resistance (T2DM-highIR), 72 T2DM patients with low insulin resistance (T2DM-lowIR), and 50 controls. Furthermore, the correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the controls, T2DM exhibited lower cognitive scores and higher depressive/anxious scores. Furthermore, T2DM-highIR patients showed reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right cerebellar lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, and T2DM showed reduced GMV in left lobules I-IV compared to controls. Additionally, functional connectivity decrease was observed between the right lobules I-V and orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus in T2DM-highIR compared to both T2DM-lowIR and controls. Notably, there were negative correlations between the GMV of the lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, and updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and positive correlation with executive/visuospatial performance in T2DM patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results suggest that the cerebellar lobules VIIb, Crus I/II, represent vulnerable brain regions in the context of insulin resistance. Overall, this study offers new insights into the neuropathophysiological mechanisms of brain impairment in patients with T2DM.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2023-11-21DOI: 10.1159/000535068
Ye Zhu, Jun Tian, Xiali Wei, Shaohui Jia, Qing Shu
Introduction: We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in high-fat diet-induced (HFDI) obese rats by modulating the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neural reward circuit, thereby uncovering a possible central mechanism underlying EA's actions in improving obesity and IR.
Methods: We randomly allocated 45 Wistar male rats to five groups (normal, model, EA, chemogenetic activation, chemogenetic suppression + EA), with 9 rats in each group. All interventions were conducted within 8 weeks after the model was established. We tested rats for obesity phenotypes included body mass, Lee's index, 24-h food intake, and glucose-metabolism parameters. We observed protein and gene expression for GLP-1 in the NTS and tyrosine hydroxylase in the VTA by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as their localization by immunofluorescence. We also determined the DA content in the VTA using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results: Obese rats exhibited marked hyperphagia, accompanied by increased excitability of DA neurons in the VTA region and reduced insulin sensitivity. After EA treatment, obese rats showed augmented excitability of NTS GLP-1 and suppression of VTADA neurons with a diminution in food intake, showing results similar to those in the chemogenetic activation group. After EA treatment and while inhibiting GLP-1 neurons by chemogenetics, the effect of EA on activating GLP-1 neurons and inhibiting VTADA was partially abrogated. The effects of improving obesity and insulin sensitivity were likewise also suppressed.
Conclusion: EA effectively activated GLP-1 neurons in the NTS, thereby inhibited the expression of DA in the VTA and improved obesity and insulin sensitivity in HFDI-obese rats.
{"title":"Electroacupuncture Alleviates Obesity and Insulin Resistance via the GLP-1-VTADA Reward Circuit.","authors":"Ye Zhu, Jun Tian, Xiali Wei, Shaohui Jia, Qing Shu","doi":"10.1159/000535068","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000535068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in high-fat diet-induced (HFDI) obese rats by modulating the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neural reward circuit, thereby uncovering a possible central mechanism underlying EA's actions in improving obesity and IR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We randomly allocated 45 Wistar male rats to five groups (normal, model, EA, chemogenetic activation, chemogenetic suppression + EA), with 9 rats in each group. All interventions were conducted within 8 weeks after the model was established. We tested rats for obesity phenotypes included body mass, Lee's index, 24-h food intake, and glucose-metabolism parameters. We observed protein and gene expression for GLP-1 in the NTS and tyrosine hydroxylase in the VTA by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as their localization by immunofluorescence. We also determined the DA content in the VTA using high-performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Obese rats exhibited marked hyperphagia, accompanied by increased excitability of DA neurons in the VTA region and reduced insulin sensitivity. After EA treatment, obese rats showed augmented excitability of NTS GLP-1 and suppression of VTADA neurons with a diminution in food intake, showing results similar to those in the chemogenetic activation group. After EA treatment and while inhibiting GLP-1 neurons by chemogenetics, the effect of EA on activating GLP-1 neurons and inhibiting VTADA was partially abrogated. The effects of improving obesity and insulin sensitivity were likewise also suppressed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EA effectively activated GLP-1 neurons in the NTS, thereby inhibited the expression of DA in the VTA and improved obesity and insulin sensitivity in HFDI-obese rats.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138291489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: In nurturing systems, the oxytocin (Oxt)-oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) system is important for parturition, and essential for lactation and parental behavior. Among the nerve nuclei that express Oxtr, the lateral septal nucleus (LS) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) are representative regions that control maternal behavior.
Methods: We investigated the role of Oxtr- and Oxtr-expressing neurons, located in the LS and MPOA, in regulating maternal behavior by regulating Oxtr expression in a region-specific manner using recombinant mice and adeno-associated viruses. We quantified the prolactin (Prl) concentrations in the pituitary gland and plasma when Oxtr expression in the MPOA was reduced.
Results: The endogenous Oxtr gene in the neurons of the LS did not seem to play an essential role in maternal behavior. Conversely, decreased Oxtr expression in the MPOA increased the frequency of pups being left outside the nest and reduced their survival rate. Deletion of Oxtr in MPOA neurons prevented elevation of Prl levels in plasma and pituitary at postpartum day 2.
Discussion/conclusion: Oxtr-expressing neurons in the MPOA are involved in the postpartum production of Prl. We confirmed the essential functions of Oxtr-expressing neurons and the Oxtr gene itself in the MPOA for the sustainability of maternal behavior, which involved Oxtr-dependent induction of Prl.
{"title":"Oxytocin Receptor-Expressing Neurons in the Medial Preoptic Area Are Essential for Lactation, whereas Those in the Lateral Septum Are Not Critical for Maternal Behavior.","authors":"Shizu Hidema, Keisuke Sato, Hiroaki Mizukami, Yumi Takahashi, Yuko Maejima, Kenju Shimomura, Katsuhiko Nishimori","doi":"10.1159/000535362","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000535362","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In nurturing systems, the oxytocin (Oxt)-oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) system is important for parturition, and essential for lactation and parental behavior. Among the nerve nuclei that express Oxtr, the lateral septal nucleus (LS) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) are representative regions that control maternal behavior.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated the role of Oxtr- and Oxtr-expressing neurons, located in the LS and MPOA, in regulating maternal behavior by regulating Oxtr expression in a region-specific manner using recombinant mice and adeno-associated viruses. We quantified the prolactin (Prl) concentrations in the pituitary gland and plasma when Oxtr expression in the MPOA was reduced.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The endogenous Oxtr gene in the neurons of the LS did not seem to play an essential role in maternal behavior. Conversely, decreased Oxtr expression in the MPOA increased the frequency of pups being left outside the nest and reduced their survival rate. Deletion of Oxtr in MPOA neurons prevented elevation of Prl levels in plasma and pituitary at postpartum day 2.</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusion: </strong>Oxtr-expressing neurons in the MPOA are involved in the postpartum production of Prl. We confirmed the essential functions of Oxtr-expressing neurons and the Oxtr gene itself in the MPOA for the sustainability of maternal behavior, which involved Oxtr-dependent induction of Prl.</p>","PeriodicalId":19117,"journal":{"name":"Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11151981/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138808246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}