Prepubertal castration causes the age-dependent changes in hippocampal long-term potentiation

Sexual differentiation of neural mechanisms of stress sensitivity during puberty

Anxiety disorders are a major public health concern and current treatments are inadequate for many individuals. Anxiety is more common in women than men and this difference arises during puberty. Sex differences in physiological stress responses may contribute to this variability. During puberty, gonadal hormones shape brain structure and function, but the extent to which these changes affect stress sensitivity is unknown. We examined how pubertal androgens shape behavioral and neural responses to social stress in California mice (Peromyscus californicus), a model species for studying sex differences in stress responses. In adults, social defeat reduces social approach and increases social vigilance in females but not males. We show this sex difference is absent in juveniles, and that prepubertal castration sensitizes adult males to social defeat. Adult gonadectomy does not alter behavioral responses to defeat, indicating that gonadal hormones act during puberty to program behavioral responses to stress in adulthood. Calcium imaging in the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) showed that social threats increased neural activity and that prepubertal castration generalized these responses to less threatening social contexts. These results support recent hypotheses that the BNST responds to immediate threats. Prepubertal treatment with the nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone acts in males and females to reduce the effects of defeat on social approach and vigilance in adults. These data indicate that activation of androgen receptors during puberty is critical for programming behavioral responses to stress in adulthood.

Activation of androgen receptors alters hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory retention through modulation of L-type calcium channels

AIMS

It has been revealed that membrane androgen receptor activation modulates avoidance memory and synaptic plasticity. In a previous study, we showed that Calcineurin, a calcium dependent phosphatase, could be a potential mediator of these AR effects. Also, it is reported that AR activation leads to L-type calcium channel activation. The aim of the current study is to test whether L-type calcium channels are downstream of AR and whether this signal pathway mediates the impairment effect of androgenic steroids on passive avoidance memory and synaptic plasticity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured the effect of Nandrolone Decanoate (AR agonist), AR antagonist (Nilutamide) plus ND or L-type calcium channel inhibitor (Nifedipine) plus ND on passive avoidance performance of adolescent male rats. For extracellular field potential recordings hippocampal slices were perfused with ND, Nilutamide-ND or Nifedipine-ND.

KEY FINDINGS

Our results clarified that AR activation by ND could impair avoidance behavior as step through latency decreased in ND-treated group while application of both Nilutamide and Nifedipine reestablished normal avoidance behavior. Also, LTP induction in the CA1 area of hippocampus was diminished by ND perfusion and both AR antagonist and L-type calcium channel inhibitor application lead to normal LTP. These findings support our hypothesis that activation of L-type calcium channels are involved in ARs mechanism effects on both avoidance behavior and hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the biological effects of AR agonists on cognitive processes and its cellular mechanism may be a new/supplementary way to treating fear-related disorders.

Interplay between hormones and exercise on hippocampal plasticity across the lifespan

The hippocampus is a brain structure known to play a central role in cognitive function (namely learning and memory) as well as mood regulation and affective behaviors due in part to its ability to undergo structural and functional changes in response to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. While structural changes are achieved through modulation of hippocampal neurogenesis as well as alterations in dendritic morphology and spine remodeling, functional (i.e., synaptic) changes can be noted through the strengthening (i.e., long-term potentiation) or weakening (i.e., long-term depression) of the synapses. While age, hormone homeostasis, and levels of physical activity are some of the factors known to module these forms of hippocampal plasticity, the exact mechanisms through which these factors interact with each other at a given moment in time are not completely understood. It is well known that hormonal levels vary throughout the lifespan of an individual and it is also known that physical exercise can impact hormonal homeostasis. Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that hormone modulation might be one of the various mechanisms through which physical exercise differently impacts hippocampal plasticity throughout distinct periods of an individual's life. The present review summarizes the potential relationship between physical exercise and different types of hormones (namely sex, metabolic, and stress hormones) and how this relationship may mediate the effects of physical activity during three distinct life periods, adolescence, adulthood, and senescence. Overall, the vast majority of studies support a beneficial role of exercise in maintaining hippocampal hormonal levels and consequently, hippocampal plasticity, cognition, and mood regulation.

Calcineurin is involved in retrieval of passive avoidance memory and synaptic plasticity impairment induced by Nandrolone administration in adolescent male rats

In spite of evidence about negative effects of Nandrolone Decanoate (ND) on cognitive and memory performance, the underlying mechanisms are complex and have remained unclear. This research examines the role of Calcineurin in synaptic plasticity and memory storage impairment in ND administrated adolescent male rats. For behavioral study by passive avoidance learning and memory (PAL), adolescent male rats were treated with ND or ND plus selective Calcineurin antagonist (Tacrolimus), before retention test. ND significantly decreased the retrieval of PAL, whereas Tacrolimus plus ND had no significant effect on PAL. For electrophysiological study hippocampal slices were perfused by ND or ND plus Tacrolimus. The magnitude of fEPSP-LTP of ND perfused slices was less than the control and a reduction of fEPSP-PS (E-S) coupling was observed, while pre-administration of Tacrolimus abolished the ND impairment effect on fEPSP-LTP and E-S coupling. This study showed that ND may induce impairing effects on hippocampal area CA1 activity and plasticity and PAL memory storage through changes in the function of the Calcineurin.

Sex Differences in the Behavioral and Synaptic Consequences of a Single in vivo Exposure to the Synthetic Cannabimimetic WIN55,212-2 at Puberty and Adulthood

Heavy cannabis consumption among adolescents is associated with significant and lasting neurobiological, psychological and health consequences that depend on the age of first use. Chronic exposure to cannabinoid agonists during the perinatal period or adolescence alters social behavior and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity in adult rats. However, sex differences on social behavior as well as PFC synaptic plasticity after acute cannabinoid activation remain poorly explored. Here, we determined that the consequences of a single in vivo exposure to the synthetic cannabimimetic WIN55,212-2 differently affected PFC neuronal and synaptic functions after 24 h in male and female rats during the pubertal and adulthood periods. During puberty, single cannabinoid exposure (SCE) reduced play behavior in females but not males. In contrast, the same treatment impaired sociability in both sexes at adulthood. General exploration and memory recognition remained normal at both ages and both sexes. At the synaptic level, SCE ablated endocannabinoid-mediated synaptic plasticity in the PFC of females of both ages and heightened excitability of PFC pyramidal neurons at adulthood, while males were spared. In contrast, cannabinoid exposure was associated with impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) specifically in adult males. Together, these data indicate behavioral and synaptic sex differences in response to a single in vivo exposure to cannabinoid at puberty and adulthood.

Nandrolone administration abolishes hippocampal fEPSP-PS potentiation and passive avoidance learning of adolescent male rats

Despite the chronic effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND), the acute effects of ND on passive avoidance learning (PAL) and memory and its mechanism have not been investigated. This research examines the acute effect of ND on PAL, CA1 synaptic plasticity, testosterone and corticosterone serum levels, and the role of androgenic receptors (ARs). Adolescent male rats were treated with ND, 30 min before training and retention and after training test. AR antagonist was applied 15 min before ND. Hippocampal slices were perfused by ND. ND administration had an inverted U-shape effect on acquisition of PAL and on testosterone and corticosterone serum levels. The consolidation was only affected by high dose of ND. ND significantly decreased the retention of PAL across all doses. The magnitude of field excitatory postsynaptic potential long term potentiation was lower than that of control slices. In addition, an attenuation of field excitatory postsynaptic potential population spike coupling was also observed. Nilutamide could nullify the ND impairment effect. We concluded although a single dose of ND could affect all stages of PAL, its effects were more potent on retrieval, possibly arising from the acute effect of ND on the alterations of CA1 synaptic plasticity. In addition, ND may induce its effects directly through ARs and indirectly through plasma testosterone and corticosterone.

Selective enhancement of NMDA receptor-mediated locomotor hyperactivity by male sex hormones in mice

RATIONALE

Altered glutamate NMDA receptor function is implicated in schizophrenia, and gender differences have been demonstrated in this illness.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the interaction of gonadal hormones with NMDA receptor-mediated locomotor hyperactivity and PPI disruption in mice.

RESULTS

The effect of 0.25 mg/kg of MK-801 on locomotor activity was greater in male mice than in female mice. Gonadectomy (by surgical castration) significantly reduced MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion in male mice, but no effect of gonadectomy was seen in female mice or on amphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity. The effect of MK-801 on prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI) was similar in intact and castrated male mice and in ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. In contrast, there was no effect of MK-801 on PPI in intact female mice. Forebrain NMDA receptor density, as measured with [³H]MK-801 autoradiography, was significantly higher in male than in female mice but was not significantly altered by either castration or OVX.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that male sex hormones enhance the effect of NMDA receptor blockade on psychosis-like behaviour. This interaction was not seen in female mice and was independent of NMDA receptor density in the forebrain. Male sex hormones may be involved in psychosis by an interaction with NMDA receptor hypofunction.

Prepubertal castration-associated developmental changes in sigma-1 receptor gene expression levels regulate hippocampus area CA1 activity during adolescence

The functional relevance of sigma-1 (σ1 ) receptor expression in the rat hippocampal CA1 during adolescence (i.e., 35-60 days old) was explored. A selective antagonist for the σ1 receptor subtype, BD-1047, was applied to study hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial learning performance. Changes in the expression of the σ1 receptor subtype and its function were compared between castrated and sham-castrated rats. Castration reduced the magnitude of both field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP)-LTP and population spike (PS)-LTP at 35 days (d). BD-1047 decreased PS-LTP in sham-castrated rats, whereas BD-1047 reversed the effect of castration on fEPSP-LTP at 35 d. In addition, BD1047 impaired spatial learning and augmented σ1 receptor mRNA levels in castrated rats at 35 d. Surprisingly, neither castration nor BD1047 had an effect on fEPSP-LTP and PS-LTP, spatial learning ability or gene expression levels at 45 d. Castration had no effect on fEPSP-LTP but reduced PS-LTP at 60 d. BD1047 increased the magnitude of fEPSP-LTP, but had no effect on PS-LTP in castrated rats at 60 d. However, BD1047 reduced spatial learning ability, and σ1 receptor mRNA levels were decreased in castrated rats at 60 d. This study shows that σ1 receptors play a role in the regulation of both CA1 synaptic efficacy and spatial learning performance. The regulatory role of σ1 receptors in activity-dependent CA1-LTP is locality- and age-dependent, whereas its role in spatial learning ability is only age-dependent. Prepubertal castration-associated changes in the expression and function of the σ1 receptor during adolescence may play a developmental role in the regulation of hippocampal area CA1 activity and plasticity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pre-pubertal castration improves spatial learning during mid-adolescence in rats

Hippocampus functions, including spatial cognition and stress responses, mature during adolescence. In addition, hippocampus neuronal structures are modified by circulating sex steroids, which dramatically increase during adolescence. Therefore, the effects of castration and the circulating levels of the main sex steroid testosterone on spatial learning and memory were examined across postnatal ages to test whether pre-pubertal castration affected rats' spatial ability in the Morris Water maze (MWM). Male rats were either castrated or sham-castrated at 22d (days of age), or left gonadally intact. They were then trained and tested in the MWM beginning at 28d, 35d, 45d or 60d. We found that all of the intact rats learned the spatial task; however, the males at 22d and 28d required more trials to acquire the task than the males at older ages. The males castrated at 22d and tested at 35d had significantly lower escape latency and traveled distance during training than the sham-castrated males trained at the same age. No differences were observed in mean values of escape latency and traveled distance at 45d even though they had comparable levels of testosterone. We conclude that adult-typical performance for male spatial memory emerges during mid-adolescence and that pre-pubertal castration appears to improve spatial learning during this time.