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Cutia CA, Leverton LK, Weis KE, Raetzman LT, Christian-Hinman CA. Female-specific pituitary gonadotrope dysregulation in mice with chronic focal epilepsy. Exp Neurol 2023; 364:114389. [PMID: 36990138 PMCID: PMC10149611 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Gonadotropin hormone release from the anterior pituitary is critical to regulating reproductive endocrine function. Clinical evidence has documented that people with epilepsy display altered levels of gonadotropin hormones, both acutely following seizures and chronically. Despite this relationship, pituitary function remains a largely understudied avenue in preclinical epilepsy research. Recently, we showed that females in the intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy displayed changes in pituitary expression of gonadotropin hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor genes. Circulating gonadotropin hormone levels, however, have yet to be measured in an animal model of epilepsy. Here, we evaluated the circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), GnRH receptor (Gnrhr) gene expression, and sensitivity to exogenous GnRH in IHKA males and females. Although no changes in overall dynamics of pulsatile patterns of LH release were found in IHKA mice of either sex, estrus vs. diestrus changes in basal and mean LH levels were larger in IHKA females with prolonged, disrupted estrous cycles. In addition, IHKA females displayed increased pituitary sensitivity to GnRH and higher Gnrhr expression. The hypersensitivity to GnRH was observed on diestrus, but not estrus. Chronic seizure severity was not found to be correlated with LH parameters, and FSH levels were unchanged in IHKA mice. These results indicate that although there are changes in pituitary gene expression and sensitivity to GnRH in IHKA females, there may also be compensatory mechanisms that aid in maintaining gonadotropin release in the state of chronic epilepsy in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn A Cutia
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Leanna K Leverton
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Karen E Weis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Lori T Raetzman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Catherine A Christian-Hinman
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Micro-computed tomography assessment of bone structure in aging mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8117. [PMID: 35581227 PMCID: PMC9114112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11965-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
High-resolution computed tomography (CT) is widely used to assess bone structure under physiological and pathological conditions. Although the analytic protocols and parameters for micro-CT (μCT) analyses in mice are standardized for long bones, vertebrae, and the palms in aging mice, they have not yet been established for craniofacial bones. In this study, we conducted a morphometric assessment of craniofacial bones, in comparison with long bones, in aging mice. Although age-related changes were observed in the microarchitecture of the femur, tibia, vertebra, and basisphenoid bone, and were more pronounced in females than in males, the microarchitecture of both the interparietal bone and body of the mandible, which develop by intramembranous ossification, was less affected by age and sex. By contrast, the condyle of the mandible was more affected by aging in males compared to females. Taken together, our results indicate that mouse craniofacial bones are uniquely affected by age and sex.
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Angelopoulou E, Kalsbeek A, Simonneaux V. Age-dependent change of RFRP-3 neuron numbers and innervation in female mice. Neuropeptides 2022; 92:102224. [PMID: 34998113 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In female mammals, reproductive senescence is a complex process involving progressive ovarian dysfunction, associated with altered central control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and desynchronization of the circadian system. The objective of this study was to investigate age-dependent changes in the daily regulation of Arg-Phe amide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3), a hypothalamic peptide involved in reproduction, in female C57BL/6 J mice of different age groups (4, 13, and 19 months old) sampled at their diestrus stage. We found an age-dependent decrease in the total number of RFRP-3 neurons and in the relative number of activated (i.e. c-Fos-positive) RFRP-3 neurons. RFRP-3 neuronal activation exhibited a daily variation in young and middle-aged mice, which was abolished in 19-month-old mice. We also found a daily variation in the number of RFRP-3 neurons receiving close vasopressin (AVP)- and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-ergic fiber appositions in mice aged 4 and 13 months, but not in 19-month-old mice. However, we found no daily or age-dependent changes in the AVP and VIP fiber density in the dorsomedial hypothalamus. Plasma LH levels were similar in mice aged 4 and 13 months, but were markedly increased in 19-month-old mice. The present findings indicate that the number of RFRP-3 positive neurons is downregulated during old age and that the daily changes in their innervation by the circadian peptides AVP and VIP are abolished. This age-associated reduced (rhythmic) activity of the inhibitory RFRP-3 system could be implicated in the elevated LH secretion observed during reproductive senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Angelopoulou
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaire et Intégratives (UPR CNRS3212), Université de Strasbourg, 8, allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Valérie Simonneaux
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaire et Intégratives (UPR CNRS3212), Université de Strasbourg, 8, allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
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Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation Deciphers the Mechanism of Guizhi Fuling Wan against Adenomyosis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6034147. [PMID: 34737779 PMCID: PMC8563128 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6034147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aim This study aimed to predict the key targets and endocrine mechanisms of Guizhi Fuling Wan (GZFLW) in treating adenomyosis (AM) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiment verification. Methods The related ingredients and targets of GZFLW in treating AM were screened out using TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, SwissTargetPrediction, and PubChem Database. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and the network of compound-hub targets were constructed. At the same time, the key targets were uploaded to the Metascape Database for KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. After that, the molecular docking technology of the main active components and hub targets was performed. Furthermore, animal experiments were used to verify the results of network pharmacology analysis. Results A total of 55 active ingredients of GZFLW and 44 overlapping targets of GZFLW in treating AM were obtained. After screening, 25 hub targets were collected, including ESR1, EGF, and EGFR. Then, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis results indicated that the endocrine therapeutic mechanism of GZFLW against AM is mainly associated with the estrogen signaling pathway, endocrine resistance, and an EGFR tyrosine kinase signaling pathway. Then, molecular docking showed that the significant compounds of GZFLW had a strong binding ability with ERα and EGFR. More importantly, the animal experiments confirmed that the GZFLW could downregulate the abnormal infiltration of the endometrial epithelium into the myometrium and had no interference with the normal sexual cycle. This effect may be directly related to intervening the local estrogen signaling pathway of the endometrial myometrial interface (EMI). It may also be associated with the myometrium cells' estrogen resistance via GPER/EGFR signaling pathway. Conclusion The endocrine mechanism of GZFLW in treating AM was explored based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments, which provided a theoretical basis for the clinical application of GZFLW.
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Angelopoulou E, Kalsbeek A, Simonneaux V. WITHDRAWN: Age-dependent modulation of RFRP-3 neurons in female mice. Neuropeptides 2021; 88:102146. [PMID: 33940493 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been withdrawn at the request of the editor and publisher. The publisher regrets that an error occurred which led to the premature publication of this paper. This error bears no reflection on the article or its authors. The publisher apologizes to the authors and the readers for this unfortunate error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Angelopoulou
- Insitut des Neurosciences Cellulaire et Intégratives (UPR CNRS3212), Université de Strasbourg, 8, Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000, Strasbourg, France; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Valérie Simonneaux
- Insitut des Neurosciences Cellulaire et Intégratives (UPR CNRS3212), Université de Strasbourg, 8, Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
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Abstract
Female reproductive success relies on proper integration of circadian- and ovarian- signals to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in order to synchronize the preovulatory LH surge at the end of the ovarian follicular stage with the onset of the main active period. In this study, we used a combination of neuroanatomical and electrophysiological approaches to assess whether the hypothalamic neurons expressing Arg-Phe amide-related peptide (RFRP-3), a gonadotropin inhibitory peptide, exhibit daily and estrous stage dependent variations in female mice. Furthermore, we investigated whether arginine vasopressin (AVP), a circadian peptide produced by the suprachiamatic nucleus regulates RFRP-3 neurons. The number of c-Fos–positive RFRP-3 immunoreactive neurons is significantly reduced at the day-to-night transition with no difference between diestrus and proestrus. Contrastingly, RFRP neuron firing rate is higher in proestrus as compared to diestrus, independently of the time of the day. AVP immunoreactive fibers contact RFRP neurons with the highest density observed during the late afternoon of diestrus and proestrus. Application of AVP increases RFRP neurons firing in the afternoon (ZT6-10) of diestrus, but not at the same time point of proestrus, indicating that AVP signaling on RFRP neurons may depend on circulating ovarian steroids. Together, these studies show that RFRP neurons integrate both daily and estrogenic signals, which downstream may help to properly time the preovulatory LH surge.
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Leysen V, Prevot V. Reproductive Function During Chronodisruption: Model of Shiftwork in Rodents. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5898154. [PMID: 32853386 PMCID: PMC7640781 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Leysen
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Labex DistAlz, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Prevot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Labex DistAlz, Lille, France
- Correspondence: Vincent E. Prevot, PhD, Inserm U1172, Lille, Cedex France. E-mail:
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Bahougne T, Kretz M, Angelopoulou E, Jeandidier N, Simonneaux V. Impact of Circadian Disruption on Female Mice Reproductive Function. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5758065. [PMID: 32100021 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In female mammals, cycles in reproductive function depend both on the biological clock synchronized to the light/dark cycle and on a balance between the negative and positive feedbacks of estradiol, whose concentration varies during oocyte maturation. In women, studies report that chronodisruptive environments such as shiftwork may impair fertility and gestational success. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of shifted light/dark cycles on both the robustness of the estrous cycles and the timing of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in female mice. When mice were exposed to a single 10-hour phase advance or 10-hour phase delay, the occurrence and timing of the LH surge and estrous cyclicity were recovered at the third estrous cycle. By contrast, when mice were exposed to chronic shifts (successive rotations of 10-hoursour phase advances for 3 days followed by 10-hour phase delays for 4 days), they exhibited a severely impaired reproductive activity. Most mice had no preovulatory LH surge at the beginning of the chronic shifts. Furthermore, the gestational success of mice exposed to chronic shifts was reduced, because the number of pups was 2 times lower in shifted than in control mice. In conclusion, this study reports that exposure of female mice to a single phase shift has minor reproductive effects, whereas exposure to chronically disrupted light/dark cycles markedly impairs the occurrence of the preovulatory LH surge, leading to reduced fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Bahougne
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, (UPR CNRS 3212) and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Service d'Endocrinologie et Diabète, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mathilda Kretz
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, (UPR CNRS 3212) and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Service d'Endocrinologie et Diabète, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eleni Angelopoulou
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, (UPR CNRS 3212) and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nathalie Jeandidier
- Service d'Endocrinologie et Diabète, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Simonneaux
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, (UPR CNRS 3212) and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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