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La Torre D, Dalile B, Vanuytsel T, Van Oudenhove L, Verbeke K. The Leuven Prolonged Acute Stress Test (L-PAST): A novel paradigm to induce a subjective and glucocorticoid stress response for at least ninety minutes. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107047. [PMID: 38636354 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107047] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Laboratory stress tests typically administer stress acutely, ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. However, everyday stressors usually last longer than ten minutes (e.g., examination stressors, work stressors, and social stressors. Moreover, in some studies, it may be relevant to induce stress for a longer period to affect certain psychological or physiological parameters. To this end, we developed a novel stress test that intends to induce psychosocial stress for 90 minutes. The Leuven Prolonged Acute Stress Test (L-PAST) combines physical (hand immersion in cold water), cognitive (mental arithmetic), and psychosocial (social evaluation and feelings of failure) stress elements of two well-known laboratory stress tests, the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) and the Montreal Imaging Stress Test (MIST). Fifty healthy women were subjected to both the L-PAST and a sham (control) test in a randomized and counterbalanced manner. The stress response was determined by salivary cortisol measurements and assessment of subjective stress ratings at regular time points during the time preceding the stress period (5 min), the stress period (90 min), and the recovery period (35 min). Cognitive reactivity to failure and subjective pain levels were also assessed at various time points. The childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and the perceived stress scale (PSS) were administered prior to the testing phase. As expected, linear mixed models revealed that the stress response was significantly higher during the L-PAST as indicated by a significant time point by condition interaction effect for both the cortisol response (F(10,450)=12.21, p < 0.0001, ηp2=0.11) and the subjective stress response (F(13,637)=13.98, p < 0.0001, ηp2 = 0.12). Moreover, there was a significant time point by condition interaction effect for cognitive reactivity to failure (F(13,637) = 7.97, p < 0.0001, ηp2 = 0.07) and subjective pain (F(13,637) = 38.52, p < 0.0001, ηp2 = 0.27), indicating that the levels were higher during the L-PAST at most stress induction time points. Lastly, higher CTQ scores were associated with higher subjective pain levels during the L-PAST (F(1,44)=6.05, p = 0.02). Collectively, our results confirm the efficacy of the L-PAST in inducing a prolonged subjective as well as cortisol stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danique La Torre
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Boushra Dalile
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim Vanuytsel
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lukas Van Oudenhove
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Kristin Verbeke
- Translational Research Center in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Minshall BL, Skipper RA, Riddle CA, Wasylyshyn CF, Claflin DI, Quinn JJ. Sex differences in acute early life stress-enhanced fear learning in adult rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22511. [PMID: 38837722 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22511] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present with a spectrum of debilitating anxiety symptoms resulting from exposure to trauma. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD compared to men; however, the reason for this vulnerability remains unknown. We conducted four experiments where we first demonstrated a female vulnerability to stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) with a moderate, acute early life stress (aELS) exposure (4 footshocks in a single session), compared to a more intense aELS exposure (15 footshocks in a single session) where males and females demonstrated comparable SEFL. Next, we demonstrated that this female vulnerability does not result from differences in footshock reactivity or contextual fear conditioning during the aELS exposure. Finally, using gonadectomy or sham surgeries in adult male and female rats, we showed that circulating levels of gonadal steroid hormones at the time of adult fear conditioning do not explain the female vulnerability to SEFL. Additional research is needed to determine whether this vulnerability can be explained by organizational effects of gonadal steroid hormones or differences in sex chromosome gene expression. Doing so is critical for a better understanding of increased female vulnerability to certain psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna L Minshall
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachel A Skipper
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Collin A Riddle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine F Wasylyshyn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Dragana I Claflin
- Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer J Quinn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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Peña JE, Corbett BF, Tamminga CA, Bhatnagar S, Hitti FL. Investigating Resistance to Antidepressants in Animal Models. Neuroscience 2024; 548:69-80. [PMID: 38697464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric diseases, and up to 30-40% of patients remain symptomatic despite treatment. Novel therapies are sorely needed, and animal models may be used to elucidate fundamental neurobiological processes that contribute to human disease states. We conducted a systematic review of current preclinical approaches to investigating treatment resistance with the goal of describing a path forward for improving our understanding of treatment resistant depression. We conducted a broad literature search to identify studies relevant to the preclinical investigation of treatment resistant depression. We followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and included all relevant studies. We identified 467 studies in our initial search. Of these studies, we included 69 in our systematic review after applying our inclusion/exclusion criteria. We identified 10 broad strategies for investigating treatment resistance in animal models. Stress hormone administration was the most commonly used model, and the most common behavioral test was the forced swim test. We systematically identified and reviewed current approaches for gaining insight into the neurobiology underlying treatment resistant depression using animal models. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages, but all require careful consideration of their potential limitations regarding therapeutic translation. An enhanced understanding of treatment resistant depression is sorely needed given the burden of disease and lack of effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianna E Peña
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Brian F Corbett
- Department of Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Frederick L Hitti
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
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Yang C, Zhu Z, Wang G, Liu Z, Shu C, Guo J, Wan Q. Fluoxetin suppresses tau phosphorylation and modulates the interaction between tau and tubulin in the hippocampus of CUMS rats. Neurosci Lett 2024:137870. [PMID: 38852764 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Depression is considered a crucial psychiatric disease correlated with neuronal-dysfunctions induced by stress-stimuli. This study aimed to investigate effect of Fluoxetine (FL) on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and explore the associated mechanisms. CUMS rat model was established by treating with lots of stresses. CUMS rats were administered FL, SB216763 (SB), Wortmannin (WT) alone or in combination. CUMS rats were administered 1 % sugar water to conduct sugar water consumption experiment. Acet-Tub, Tyr-Tub, tau46, p-tau-Ser199/202, p-tau-Ser396, p-tau-Ser231, expression was examined using immunohistochemical assay and western blotassay. Interaction between tau and tubulin was evaluated with immunoprecipitation assay. Double immunohistochemical assay was used to identify interaction between Nestin and Tau. The results indicated that FL treatment only increased sugar consumption of CUMS rats (P < 0.05), but also strengthened effects of SB and WT. FL significantly treatment decreased tau phosphorylation (p-tau) in hippocampal tissues of rats compared to those of rats in CUMS group (P < 0.05). FL treatment markedly decreased Acet-Tub and increased Tyr-Tub expression in hippocampal tissues of rats compared to those of rats in CUMS group (P < 0.05). The effects of FL treatment on p-tau down-regulation and tubulin modulation in hippocampal tissues were independent from PI3K and GSK-3 signaling pathways. FL treatment could also enhance proliferation and total tau of newborn neurons of CUMS rats. FL treatment strengthened interaction between tau and botulin in hippocampal tissues of CUMS rats. In conclusion, Fluoxetin suppressed phosphorylation of tau and modulated the interaction between tau and tubulin in hippocampus of adult CUMS rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhixian Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Gaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhongchun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chang Shu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhui Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qirong Wan
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Poitras M, Doiron A, Plamondon H. Selective estrogen receptor activation prior to global cerebral ischemia in female rats impacts microglial activation and anxiety-like behaviors without effects on CA1 neuronal injury. Behav Brain Res 2024; 470:115094. [PMID: 38844057 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) activation by 17-ß estradiol (E2) can attenuate neuronal injury and behavioral impairments following global cerebral ischemia (GCI) in rodents. This study sought to further examine the discrete roles of ERs through characterization of the effects of selective ER activation on post-ischemic pro-inflammatory microglial activation, hippocampal neuronal injury, and anxiety-like behaviors. Forty-six ovariectomized (OVX) adult female Wistar rats received daily s.c injections (100 μg/kg/day) of propylpyrazole triol (PPT; ERα agonist), diarylpropionitrile (DPN; ERβ agonist), G-1 (G-protein coupled ER agonist; GPER), E2 (activating all receptors), or vehicle solution (VEH) for 21 days. After final injection, rats underwent GCI via 4-vessel occlusion (n=8 per group) or sham surgery (n=6, vehicle injections). The Open Field Test (OFT), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), and Hole Board Test (HBT) assessed anxiety-like behaviors. Microglial activation (Iba1, CD68, CD86) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), CA1 of the hippocampus, and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) was determined 8 days post-ischemia. Compared to sham rats, Iba1 activation and CA1 neuronal injury were increased in all ischemic groups except DPN-treated rats, with PPT-treated ischemic rats also showing increased PVN Iba1-ir expression. Behaviorally, VEH ischemic rats showed slightly elevated anxiety in the EPM compared to sham counterparts, with no significant effects of agonists. While no changes were observed in the OFT, emotion regulation via grooming in the HBT was increased in G-1 rats compared to E2 rats. Our findings support selective ER activation to regulate post-ischemic microglial activation and coping strategies in the HBT, despite minimal impact on hippocampal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilou Poitras
- Cerebro Vascular Accidents and Behavioral Recovery Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Alexandra Doiron
- Cerebro Vascular Accidents and Behavioral Recovery Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Hélène Plamondon
- Cerebro Vascular Accidents and Behavioral Recovery Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
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Tang M, Zhang L, Zhou Z, Cao L, Gao Y, Wang Y, Li H, Hu X, Bao W, Liang K, Kuang W, Sweeney JA, Gong Q, Huang X. Divergent effects of sex on hippocampal subfield alterations in drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2024; 354:173-180. [PMID: 38492647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.082] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hippocampus is a crucial brain structure in etiological models of major depressive disorder (MDD). It remains unclear whether sex differences in the incidence and symptoms of MDD are related to differential illness-associated brain alterations, including alterations in the hippocampus. This study investigated divergent the effects of sex on hippocampal subfield alterations in drug-naive patients with MDD. METHODS High-resolution structural MR images were obtained from 144 drug-naive individuals with MDD early in their illness course and 135 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Hippocampal subfields were segmented using FreeSurfer software and analyzed in terms of both histological subfields (CA1-4, dentate gyrus, etc.) and more integrative larger functional subregions (head, body and tail). RESULTS We observed a significant overall reduction in hippocampal volume in MDD patients, with deficits more prominent deficits in the posterior hippocampus. Differences in anatomic alterations between male and female patients were observed in the CA1-head, presubiculum-body and fimbria in the left hemisphere. Exploratory analyses revealed different patterns of clinical and memory function correlations with histological subfields and functional subregions between male and female patients primarily in the hippocampal head and body. LIMITATIONS This cross-sectional study cannot clarify the causality of hippocampal alterations or their association with illness risk or onset. CONCLUSIONS These findings represent the first reported sex-specific alterations in hippocampal histological subfields in patients with MDD early in the illness course prior to treatment. Sex-specific hippocampal alterations may contribute to diverse sex differences in the clinical presentation of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyue Tang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Lianqing Zhang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Zilin Zhou
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingxiao Cao
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingxue Gao
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Hailong Li
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyue Hu
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Weijie Bao
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Kaili Liang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihong Kuang
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China.
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Zuloaga DG, Lafrican JJ, Zuloaga KL. Androgen regulation of behavioral stress responses and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105528. [PMID: 38503191 PMCID: PMC11144109 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Testosterone is a powerful steroid hormone that can impact the brain and behavior in various ways, including regulating behavioral and neuroendocrine (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis) stress responses. Early in life androgens can act to alter development of brain regions associated with stress regulation, which ultimately impacts the display of stress responses later in life. Adult circulating androgens can also influence the expression of distinct genes and proteins that regulate stress responses. These changes in the brain are hypothesized to underlie the potent effects of androgens in regulating behaviors related to stress and stress-induced activation of the HPA axis. Androgens can induce alterations in these functions through direct binding to the androgen receptor (AR) or following conversion to estrogens and subsequent binding to estrogen receptors including estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), beta (ERβ), and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1). In this review, we focus on the role of androgens in regulating behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses at different stages of the lifespan and the sex hormone receptors involved in regulating these effects. We also review the specific brain regions and cell phenotypes upon which androgens are proposed to act to regulate stress responses with an emphasis on hypothalamic and extended amygdala subregions. This knowledge of androgen effects on these neural systems is critical for understanding how sex hormones regulate stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian G Zuloaga
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
| | | | - Kristen L Zuloaga
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
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Kniffin A, Targum M, Patel A, Bangasser DA, Parikh V. Alterations in hippocampal cholinergic dynamics following CRF infusions into the medial septum of male and female rats. Neurochem Int 2024; 176:105739. [PMID: 38604443 PMCID: PMC11078599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105739] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Corticoptropin releasing factor (CRF) is implicated in stress-related physiological and behavioral changes. The septohippocampal pathway regulates hippocampal-dependent mnemonic processes, which are affected in stress-related disorders, and given the abundance of CRF receptors in the medial septum (MS), this pathway is influenced by CRF. Moreover, there are sex differences in the MS sensitivity to CRF and its impact on hippocampal function. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain elusive. In the present study, we utilized an in vivo biosensor-based electrochemistry approach to examine the impact of MS CRF infusions on hippocampal cholinergic signaling dynamics in male and female rats. Our results show increased amplitudes of depolarization-evoked phasic cholinergic signals in the hippocampus following MS infusion of CRF at the 3 ng dose as compared to the infusion involving artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). Moreover, a trend for a sex × infusion interaction indicated larger cholinergic transients in females. On the contrary, intraseptal infusion of a physiologically high dose (100 ng) of CRF produced a subsequent reduction in phasic cholinergic transients in both males and females. The assessment of tonic cholinergic activity over 30 min post-infusion revealed no changes at the 3 ng CRF dose in either sex, but a significant infusion × sex interaction indicated a reduction in females at the 100 ng dose of CRF as compared to the aCSF. Taken together, our results show differential, dose-dependent modulatory effects of MS CRF on the dynamics of phasic and tonic modes of cholinergic signaling in the hippocampus of male and female rats. These cholinergic signaling modes are critical for memory encoding and maintaining arousal states, and may underlie sex differences in cognitive vulnerability to stress and stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Kniffin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Miranda Targum
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Aryan Patel
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
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Campbell H, Guo JD, Kuhn C. Applying the Research Domain Criteria to Rodent Studies of Sex Differences in Chronic Stress Susceptibility. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01351-9. [PMID: 38821193 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Women have a two-fold increased rate of stress-associated psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, but the mechanisms of this increased susceptibility remain incompletely understood. Female subjects were historically excluded from preclinical studies and clinical trials. Additionally, chronic stress paradigms used to study psychiatric pathology in animal models were developed for use in males. However, recent changes in NIH policy encourage inclusion of female subjects, and considerable work has been performed in recent years to understand biological sex differences that may underlie differences in susceptibility to chronic stress associated psychiatric conditions. We here review the utility as well as current challenges of using the framework of the NIH's research domain criteria as a transdiagnostic approach to study sex differences in rodent models of chronic stress including recent progress in the study of sex differences in the neurobehavioral domains of negative valence, positive valence, cognition, social processes, arousal, and social processes.
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Shang Z, Liu N, Ouyang H, Cai X, Yan W, Wang J, Zhan J, Jia Y, Xing C, Huang L, Wu L, Liu W. Sex-based differences in brain morphometry under chronic stress: A pilot MRI study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30354. [PMID: 38726160 PMCID: PMC11079087 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Sex-based differences are known to be a significant feature of chronic stress; however, the morphological mechanisms of the brain underlying these differences remain unclear. The present study aimed to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to investigate the effects of sex on gray matter volume (GMV) changes under conditions of chronic stress. Methods A total of 32 subjects were included for analysis in the present study: 16 participants experiencing chronic stress and 16 healthy controls. T1-weighted (T1WI) images from a 3 T MRI scanner were extracted from the OpenfMRI database. Images were segmented into gray matter using VBM analysis. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a 2 × 2 full factorial design was used to evaluate the main and interaction effects of chronic stress and sex on GMV changes, and then post hoc testing was used to verify each simple effect. Results Two-way ANOVA showed a chronic stress × sex interaction effect on GMV. Simple effects analysis indicated that the GMV of the bilateral pre- and post-central gyri, the right cuneus and superior occipital gyrus was decreased in males, whereas that of the bilateral pre- and post-central gyri, the right superior occipital gyrus and the left middle frontal gyrus and orbital middle frontal gyrus was increased in females, under chronic stress. Additionally, in the control group, the GMV of the bilateral pre- and post-central gyri, the right cuneus and superior occipital gyrus was greater in males than females. While in the chronic stress group, the above sex-based differences were no longer significant. Conclusions This study preliminarily shows that there are significant differences in gray matter volume changes between males and females under chronic stress. These findings provide a basis for future studies investigating the volumetric mechanisms of sex differences under chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilei Shang
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Nianqi Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Educational Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Ouyang
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaojie Cai
- Department of Radiology, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University, Changshu, 215500, China
| | - Wenjie Yan
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jingye Zhan
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yanpu Jia
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Chenqi Xing
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Lijun Huang
- Department of Radiology, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University, Changshu, 215500, China
| | - Lili Wu
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Weizhi Liu
- Lab for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Emotion & Cognition Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Mental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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11
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Pan N, Yang C, Suo X, Shekara A, Hu S, Gong Q, Wang S. Sex differences in the relationship between brain gray matter volume and psychological resilience in late adolescence. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:1057-1066. [PMID: 37212908 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02231-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Psychological resilience reflects an individual's ability to adapt and cope successfully in adverse environments and situations, making it a crucial trait in resisting stress-linked mental disorders and physical diseases. Although prior literature has consistently shown that males are more resilient than females, the sex-linked neuroanatomical correlates of psychological resilience are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the sex-specific relation between psychological resilience and brain gray matter volume (GMV) in adolescents via structural magnetic resonance imaging (s-MRI). A cohort of 231 healthy adolescents (121/110 females/males), aged 16 to 20 completed brain s-MRI scanning and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and other controlling behavioral tests. With s-MRI data, an optimized voxel-based morphometry method was used to estimate regional GMV, and a whole-brain condition-by-covariate interaction analysis was performed to identify the brain regions showing sex effects on the relation between psychological resilience and GMV. Male adolescents scored significantly higher than females on the CD-RISC. The association of psychological resilience with GMV differed between the two sex groups in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex extending to the adjacent anterior insula, with a positive correlation among males and a negative correlation among females. The sex-specific association between psychological resilience and GMV might be linked to sex differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain maturation during adolescence. This study may be novel in revealing the sex-linked neuroanatomical basis of psychological resilience, highlighting the need for a more thorough investigation of the role of sex in future studies of psychological resilience and stress-related illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanfang Pan
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueling Suo
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Aniruddha Shekara
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Samantha Hu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Song Wang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China.
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12
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Shupe EA, Kerman IA, Clinton SM. Premotor projections from the locus coeruleus and periaqueductal grey are altered in two rat models with inborn differences in emotional behavior. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:857-867. [PMID: 38358538 PMCID: PMC10972925 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06786-y] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Emotionally motivated behaviors rely on the coordinated activity of descending neural circuits involved in motor and autonomic functions. Using a pseudorabies (PRV) tract-tracing approach in typically behaving rats, our group previously identified descending premotor, presympathetic, and dual-labeled premotor-presympathetic populations throughout the central rostral-caudal axis. The premotor-presympathetic populations are thought to integrate somatomotor and sympathetic activity. To determine whether these circuits are dysregulated in subjects with altered emotional regulation, subsequent neuroanatomical analyses were performed in male subjects of two distinct genetic models relevant to clinical depression and anxiety: the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat and selectively bred Low Novelty Responder (bLR) rat. The present study explored alterations in premotor efferents from locus coeruleus (LC) and subdivisions of the periaqueductal grey (PAG), two areas involved in emotionally motivated behaviors. Compared to Sprague Dawley rats, WKY rats had significantly fewer premotor projections to hindlimb skeletal muscle from the LC and from the dorsomedial (DMPAG), lateral (LPAG), and ventrolateral (VLPAG) subdivisions of PAG. Relative to selectively bred High Novelty Responder (bHR) rats, bLR rats had significantly fewer premotor efferents from LC and dorsolateral PAG (DLPAG). Cumulatively, these results demonstrate that somatomotor circuitry in several brain areas involved in responses to stress and emotional stimuli are altered in rat models with depression-relevant phenotypes. These somatomotor circuit differences could be implicated in motor-related impairments in clinically depressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilan A Kerman
- Behavioral Service Line, Veterans Affairs Minneapolis Health Care, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sarah M Clinton
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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13
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Ling S, Dai Y, Weng R, Li Y, Wu W, Zhou Z, Zhong Z, Zheng Y. Epidemiologic and genetic associations of female reproductive disorders with depression or dysthymia: a Mendelian randomization study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5984. [PMID: 38472314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55993-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Observational studies have previously reported an association between depression and certain female reproductive disorders. However, the causal relationships between depression and different types of female reproductive disorders remain unclear in terms of direction and magnitude. We conducted a comprehensive investigation using a two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis, incorporating publicly available GWAS summary statistics. Our aim was to establish a causal relationship between genetically predicted depression and the risk of various female reproductive pathological conditions, such as ovarian dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), ovarian cysts, abnormal uterine and vaginal bleeding(AUB), endometriosis, leiomyoma of the uterus, female infertility, spontaneous abortion, eclampsia, pregnancy hypertension, gestational diabetes, excessive vomiting in pregnancy, cervical cancer, and uterine/endometrial cancer. We analyzed a substantial sample size, ranging from 111,831 to 210,870 individuals, and employed robust statistical methods, including inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO, to estimate causal effects. Sensitivity analyses, such as Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out analysis, and funnel plots, were also conducted to ensure the validity of our results. Furthermore, risk factor analyses were performed to investigate potential mediators associated with these observed relationships. Our results demonstrated that genetic predisposition to depression or dysthymia was associated with an increased risk of developing PCOS (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.28-1.59; P = 6.66 × 10-11), ovarian cysts (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.20-1.55; P = 1.57 × 10-6), AUB (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.20-1.66; P = 3.01 × 10-5), and endometriosis (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.27-1.70; P = 2.21 × 10-7) after Bonferroni correction, but no evidence for reverse causality. Our study did not find any evidence supporting a causal or reverse causal relationship between depression/dysthymia and other types of female reproductive disorders. In summary, our study provides evidence for a causal relationship between genetically predicted depression and specific types of female reproductive disorders. Our findings emphasize the importance of depression management in the prevention and treatment of female reproductive disorders, notably including PCOS, ovarian cysts, AUB, and endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Ling
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuqing Dai
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruoxin Weng
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenbo Wu
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziqiong Zhou
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhisheng Zhong
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yuehui Zheng
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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14
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Mosconi L, Williams S, Carlton C, Zarate C, Boneu C, Fauci F, Ajila T, Nerattini M, Jett S, Andy C, Battista M, Pahlajani S, Osborne J, Brinton RD, Dyke JP. Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer's risk. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5519. [PMID: 38448497 PMCID: PMC10918173 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56071-9] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence implicates chronic psychological stress as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we examined the relationships between serum cortisol and multimodality brain AD biomarkers in 277 cognitively normal midlife individuals at risk for AD. Overall, higher cortisol was associated with lower total brain volume, lower glucose metabolism (CMRglc) in frontal cortex, and higher β-amyloid (Aβ) load in AD-vulnerable regions; and marginally associated with phosphocreatine to ATP ratios (PCr/ATP) in precuneus and parietal regions. Sex-specific modification effects were noted: in women, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with Aβ load and frontal CMRglc, the latter being more pronounced postmenopause. In men, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with gray matter volume and PCr/ATP measures. Higher cortisol was associated with poorer delayed memory in men but not in women. Results were adjusted for age, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 status, midlife health factors, and hormone therapy use. These results suggest sex-specific neurophysiological responses to stress, and support a role for stress reduction in AD prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Boneu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Francesca Fauci
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Trisha Ajila
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Battista
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Osborne
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Neurology and Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jonathan P Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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15
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McGuirt AF, Brezing CA. Opioid-induced hypogonadism in opioid use disorder, its role in negative reinforcement, and implications for treatment and retention. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2024; 50:132-138. [PMID: 38320237 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2292012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Hypogonadism is a highly prevalent complication of chronic opioid use associated with a constellation of affective, algesic, and cognitive symptoms as well as decreased quality of life. Given that the mainstays of pharmacologic opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment - methadone and buprenorphine - are themselves agonists or partial agonists at the mu opioid receptor, opioid-induced hypogonadism (OIH) remains an underappreciated clinical concern throughout the course of OUD treatment. Prominent theoretical frameworks for OUD emphasize the importance of negative reinforcement and hyperkatifeia, defined as the heightened salience of negative emotional and motivational states brought on by chronic opioid use. In this perspective article, we highlight the striking parallels between the symptom domains of hyperfakifeia and hypogonadism in males, who comprise the vast majority of existing clinical research on OIH. By extension we propose that future research and ultimately clinical care should focus on the identification and treatment of OIH in OUD patients to help address the longstanding paradox of poor treatment retention despite efficacious therapies, particularly in the setting of the current opioid overdose epidemic driven by high potency synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. We then review evidence from chronic pain patients that testosterone replacement provides clinically significant benefits to men with OIH. Finally, using this framework, we compare extant OUD therapeutics and discuss critical gaps in the clinical literature-including the relative dearth of data regarding hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function in females who use opioids-where future study should be focused.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery F McGuirt
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christina A Brezing
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Becker P, Miller SL, Iovanni L. Pathways to Resistance: Theorizing Trauma and Women's Use of Force in Intimate Relationships. Violence Against Women 2024:10778012241233000. [PMID: 38425305 DOI: 10.1177/10778012241233000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Using a feminist pathways general strain perspective, we explore the victim-offender continuum for women who perpetrated intimate partner violence/abuse (IPV/A). We use data from 86 women court-mandated to "female offender" domestic violence treatment programs, located in an American East Coast state, who were surveyed about their adverse childhood experiences and mental health/well-being as adults. Findings from bivariate linear regressions indicate childhood trauma negatively affects adult mental health/well-being, exacerbated for Black Indigenous People of Color women, suggesting a victim rather than an offender categorization for women using force against their abusive partner. Results imply the need to consider women's traumatic histories and IPV/A victimization, given an incident-driven system that criminalizes victimization over the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Becker
- Department of Criminology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, USA
| | - Susan L Miller
- Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - LeeAnn Iovanni
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark
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17
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Dougherty R, Thrailkill EA, Mohammed Z, VonDoepp S, Hilton-Vanosdall E, Charette S, Van Horn S, Quirk A, Kraus A, Toufexis DJ. Acute stress facilitates habitual behavior in female rats. Physiol Behav 2024; 275:114456. [PMID: 38181831 PMCID: PMC10842801 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114456] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Instrumental behavior can reflect the influence of goal-directed and habitual systems. Contemporary research suggests that stress may facilitate control by the habitual system under conditions where the behavior would otherwise reflect control by the goal-directed system. However, it is unclear how stress modulates the influence of these systems on instrumental responding to achieve this effect, particularly in females. Here, we examine whether a mild psychogenic stressor experienced before acquisition training (Experiment 1), or prior to the test of expression (Experiment 2) would influence goal-directed and habitual control of instrumental responding in female rats. In both experiments, rats acquired an instrumental nose-poke response for a sucrose reward. This was followed by a reinforcer devaluation phase in which half the rats in Stressed and Non-Stressed conditions received pairings of the sucrose pellet with illness induced by lithium chloride until they rejected the pellet when offered. The remaining rats received a control treatment consisting of pellets and illness on separate days (Unpaired). Control by goal-directed and habitual systems was evaluated in a subsequent nonreinforced test of nose poking. The results of Experiment 1 indicated that the Non-Stressed Paired group reduced nose-poking compared to the Unpaired controls, identifying the response as goal directed, whereas the Stressed Paired and Unpaired groups made a similar number of nose pokes identifying the response as habitual despite a similar amount of training. Results from Experiment 2 indicated habitual control of nose-poke responding was present when stress was experienced just prior to the test. Collectively, these data suggest that stress may facilitate habitual control by altering the relative influence of goal-directed and habitual processes underpinning instrumental behavior. These results may be clinically relevant for understanding the contributions of stress to dysregulated instrumental behavior in compulsive pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Dougherty
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States.
| | - Eric A Thrailkill
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States; Department of Psychiatry, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont 1 South Prospect Street, MS 446AR6, Burlington, VT 05401, United States; Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, MS 482, Burlington, VT 05401, United States
| | - Zaidan Mohammed
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Sarah VonDoepp
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Ella Hilton-Vanosdall
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Sam Charette
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Sarah Van Horn
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Adrianna Quirk
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Adina Kraus
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
| | - Donna J Toufexis
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Burlington VT 05405, United States
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18
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Zhou L, Qiao C, Huang J, Lin J, Zhang H, Xie J, Yuan Y, Hu C. The Impact of Recent Life Events, Internalizing Symptoms, and Emotion Regulation on the Severity of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: A Mediation Analysis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:415-428. [PMID: 38469207 PMCID: PMC10926171 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s444729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have demonstrated a strong association between recent stressful life events and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents. Internalizing symptoms and difficulty in emotion regulation (DER) may mediate this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between recent stressful life events and NSSI severity in adolescents and the potential moderating role of internalizing symptoms and DER. Methods A total of 224 adolescent inpatients (78.6% female) participated in the study, with an age range of 12-18 years old. Data on recent stressful life events, internalizing symptoms, DER, and NSSI behaviors were collected using a clinician-rated questionnaire. A structural equation model was used to test the hypothesized model. Results The rate of NSSI reporting among adolescents in the past 12 months was 65.18%. Recent stressful life events were found to be directly associated with NSSI severity (β = 0.128, P = 0.023). A chain-mediating effect between recent stressful life events and NSSI was also confirmed (β = 0.034, P = 0.023), with DER and internalizing symptoms playing a chain-mediating role and DER having a significantly indirect association with NSSI through internalizing symptoms. Conclusion Recent stressful life events appear to play a role in the etiology of NSSI, particularly punishment and interpersonal relationship events that warrant special attention. DER and internalizing symptoms play a chain-mediating role in the relationship between life events and NSSI. Reducing recent stressful life events, screening for internalizing symptoms, and improving emotion regulation may decrease NSSI behavior among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqi Zhou
- School of the Fourth Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Changyuan Qiao
- School of the Fourth Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jialing Huang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Lin
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haisheng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Xie
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, Zhong Da Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Changchun Hu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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19
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Sharikabad MN, Skurtveit S, Sommerschild HT, Olsen K, Hartz I, Wesselhoeft R, Hjellvik V, Hauge LJ, Handal M. Morbidity among Adolescent Hypnotic Drug Users in Norway: An Observational Population-Based Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1075. [PMID: 38398388 PMCID: PMC10888536 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13041075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the use of hypnotic drugs increased among young Scandinavians during 2012-2018. This study aimed to explore psychiatric and somatic morbidity among adolescent hypnotic drug users in a cohort study of 13-17-year-old individuals during 2008-2018 in Norway. Data sources were (i) prescription data from the Norwegian Prescription Database linked to specialist health care diagnoses from the Norwegian Patient Registry and (ii) sleep disorder diagnoses from the Primary Health Care Database. Hypnotic drugs were defined as the sedative antihistamine alimemazine and the ATC group "Hypnotics and Sedatives" (N05C), excluding midazolam. In 2017, 2519 girls (16.5/1000) and 1718 boys (10.7/1000) were incident (new) users of hypnotic drugs. Most of these new users (82% of girls, 77% of boys) were referred to secondary health care, where the most frequent diagnoses were mental and behavioral disorders (51.8% of girls, 46.2% of boys), while only 3.2% received a specific sleep disorder diagnosis. The most common mental and behavioral disorders were "Neurotic stress-related disorders" among girls (27.4%) and "Behavioral and emotional disorders" among boys (23.6%). In conclusion, the trend of increasing hypnotic drug use among adolescents reflects the initiation of hypnotic drugs in a subgroup of the population with a higher disease burden, mainly due to psychiatric disorders, than the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Svetlana Skurtveit
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway; (S.S.); (I.H.); (V.H.); (M.H.)
| | | | - Kristine Olsen
- Department of Drug Statistics, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Ingeborg Hartz
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway; (S.S.); (I.H.); (V.H.); (M.H.)
- Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2380 Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Rikke Wesselhoeft
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Southern Denmark, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark;
| | - Vidar Hjellvik
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway; (S.S.); (I.H.); (V.H.); (M.H.)
| | - Lars Johan Hauge
- Department of Mental Health and Suicide, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Marte Handal
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway; (S.S.); (I.H.); (V.H.); (M.H.)
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20
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van den Houdt SCM, Mommersteeg PMC, Widdershoven J, Kupper N. Sex and Gender Differences in Psychosocial Risk Profiles Among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease - the THORESCI-Gender Study. Int J Behav Med 2024; 31:130-144. [PMID: 37170007 PMCID: PMC10803502 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-023-10170-5] [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] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial factors tend to cluster and exhibit differences associated with sex assigned at birth. Gender disparities, though, remain uncharted so far. The current study aimed to first explore the clustering of eight established psychosocial risk factors among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), followed by examining how sex and gender differences characterize these psychosocial risk profiles, while adjusting for the effect of age. METHOD In total, 532 patients with CHD (Mage = 68.2 ± 8.9; 84% male) completed the comprehensive psychosocial screener and questionnaires to gauge gender identity, traits, and sociocultural norm scores. A three-step latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify latent profiles and their correlates. RESULTS LPA revealed six psychosocial risk profiles: (1) somewhat distressed overall (32%); (2) low distress (27%); (3) anger, hostility, and Type D (15%); (4) emotional distress and trauma (11%); (5) anxiety (9%); and (6) high overall distress (7%). Masculine traits and older age increased the odds to belong to the low distress profile (#2), while feminine traits and a feminine gender norm score increased the chance to belong to profiles with moderate to high distress. The effects of gender identity and feminine traits were sex dependent. CONCLUSION The current study's findings explain heterogeneity among patients with CHD by considering the joint occurrence of psychosocial risk factors, and the role of sex, age, and gender within those profiles. Being more sensitive to the roles that sex, gender, and an integrated set of risk factors play may ultimately improve treatment and adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C M van den Houdt
- Center of Research On Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Paula M C Mommersteeg
- Center of Research On Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Widdershoven
- Center of Research On Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Doctor Deelenlaan 5, 5042 AD, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Nina Kupper
- Center of Research On Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
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21
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Otten D, Heller A, Schmidt P, Beutel ME, Brähler E. Gender differences in the prevalence of mental distress in East and West Germany over time: a hierarchical age-period-cohort analysis, 2006-2021. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:315-328. [PMID: 37041297 PMCID: PMC10089379 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mental distress has become a major public health concern. Temporal trends in psychological distress are complex and depend on numerous factors. In this study, we examined age-period-cohort effects for mental distress including gender and German region over a 15 years' time span. METHODS Data on mental distress from ten cross-sectional surveys of the general German population, covering the years from 2006 to 2021, was used. Hierarchical age-period-cohort analyses including gender and German region as predictors were performed to disentangle age, period, and cohort effects. The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 was used as a brief screener for mental distress. RESULTS We found significant period and cohort effects, with peek values for mental distress in the years 2017 and 2020 and for the oldest birth cohort (born before 1946). Age did not affect mental distress when cohort- and period effects as well as gender and German region were considered. An interaction effect for gender and the German region was found. Women in West Germany reported significantly higher mental distress compared to women in East Germany. Compared to men, women reported the highest prevalence in both regions. CONCLUSION Important political events as well as major crises can lead to an increase of mental distress in societies. Furthermore, an association between birth cohort and mental distress could be linked to socialization effects of that certain time, causing traumatic experiences or a specific coping style within this cohort group. Prevention and intervention strategies could benefit from acknowledging structural differences linked to period and cohort effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniëlle Otten
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Ayline Heller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter Schmidt
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manfred E Beutel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Elmar Brähler
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Schuh KM, Ahmed J, Kwak E, Xu CX, Davis TT, Aronoff CB, Tronson NC. A mouse model of oral contraceptive exposure: Depression, motivation, and the stress response. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105470. [PMID: 38061232 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105470] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptives (OCs), regulate hormonal cycles and broadly affect physiological processes, including stress responsivity. Whereas many users describe overall improved mood, up to 10 % of OC users experience adverse effects, including depression and anxiety. Given the link between regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stress exposure, and risk for depression, it is likely that OC-effects on stress mediate increased risk or increased resilience to these disorders. In this study, we developed and characterized a tractable mouse model of OC exposure with which to identify the mechanisms underlying OC modulation of brain, behavior, and mood. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether translationally relevant doses of OC-hormones in mice mimic changes in stress responsivity observed in humans taking OCs and describe behavioral changes during OC exposure. Young adult female C57Bl/6 N mice received daily ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LVNG) in 10 % sucrose, EE and drospirenone (DRSP) in 10 % sucrose, or 10 % sucrose alone. Translationally relevant doses of EE + LVNG-exposure, but not EE + DRSP, suppressed the acute stress response, consistent with effects observed in human OC users. EE + LVNG caused a specific anhedonia-like effect, without broad changes in stress-coping behavior, other depression-like behaviors, or anxiety-like behaviors. The suppression of regular estrous cycling, together with the blunting of the corticosterone response to acute stress, demonstrate the utility of this model for future studies to identify the mechanisms underlying OC interactions with stress, motivation, and risk for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Schuh
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Jabir Ahmed
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Esther Kwak
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Cecilia X Xu
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Tronjay T Davis
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Chloe B Aronoff
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Natalie C Tronson
- Psychology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America.
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Haase L, Vehlen A, Strojny J, Domes G. Effects of menstrual cycle phase and ovulation on the salivary cortisol awakening response. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 160:106669. [PMID: 37988874 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106669] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is influenced by several state and trait variables, one of which might be the menstrual cycle in women. Previous results suggested that the CAR is enhanced around ovulation, which is why it has been recommended to avoid sampling during the ovulatory phase. In two separate studies, we aimed to replicate previous findings that reported the CAR's modulation across the menstrual cycle, especially during ovulation. In Study 1, a group of 27 healthy naturally cycling women collected saliva at 0, 30, 45, and 60 min post-awakening on two days during their follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases in a repeated measures design. In Study 2, CAR samples were collected from 30 healthy naturally cycling women on seven consecutive days around the expected ovulation. To increase reliability of CAR measurements, participants' compliance of saliva sampling times was monitored, ovarian steroids (estradiol and progesterone) were collected, and ovulation was confirmed with specific test kits. Contrary to our expectations, we detected no differences in the CAR over the menstrual cycle, and no significant association with variations in estradiol and progesterone. In addition, we excluded confounding effects such as compliance and validated the cycle phase. These results suggest that the CAR is largely robust against hormonal variations across the menstrual cycle, including the mid-cycle phase around ovulation. However, further research is needed to understand the potential ovarian steroid-induced modulation of HPA axis functioning and the menstrual cycle's effects on salivary cortisol levels in psychobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Haase
- Biological and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
| | - Antonia Vehlen
- Biological and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Julia Strojny
- Biological and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Gregor Domes
- Biological and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
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24
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Pekmezi D, Dunsiger S, Benitez T, Larsen B, Vasconez AM, Marcus B. Improvements in stress among Latinas participating in a randomized controlled trial of technology-supported physical activity interventions. Stress Health 2024:e3374. [PMID: 38289870 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
High levels of stress and inactivity likely contribute to chronic disease disparities among Latinas in the U.S. and call for intervention. To inform such efforts, the current study examined the relationships among changes (over time) in physical activity, stress, and related cardiometabolic biomarkers among sedentary (mostly) first generation Latinas. Data are taken from a randomized controlled trial (N = 199 Latinas) of two home-based physical activity interventions (Original vs. theory- and technology- Enhanced versions). Physical activity and perceived stress were assessed at baseline and 6 and 12 months. Blood draws occurred at baseline and 6 months in a random subsample (N = 153). The participants were underactive (<60/min week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) Mexican American (89%) women with moderate perceived stress scores (M = 21.49, SD = 8.55, range = 0-40) and excess weight (M BMI = 30.6) at baseline. Overall, participants reported decreases in stress after 6 months enroled in the physical activity programs. The odds of a reduction in perceived stress were 11% higher among Enhanced versus Original Intervention participants (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-2.27). Those who met physical activity guidelines were significantly more likely to report reductions in perceived stress over 6 months (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.08-4.16). Furthermore, those who reported reductions in perceived stress over 6 months reported significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at 12 months (+69 min/week, SE = 27.98, p = 0.01) compared to those who did not. Greater reductions in perceived stress over 6 months were associated with greater improvements in cardiometabolic biomarkers (HbA1c, triglycerides, p's < 0.05). These results support a bidirectional relationship between improvements in stress and physical activity among Latinas. Future implications include using physical activity to address stress management and health disparities in this community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dori Pekmezi
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Shira Dunsiger
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Tanya Benitez
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Britta Larsen
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Andrea Mendoza Vasconez
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Bess Marcus
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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25
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Bellingacci L, Canonichesi J, Sciaccaluga M, Megaro A, Mazzocchetti P, Di Mauro M, Costa C, Di Filippo M, Pettorossi VE, Tozzi A. Locally Synthetized 17-β-Estradiol Reverses Amyloid-β-42-Induced Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation Deficits. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1377. [PMID: 38338656 PMCID: PMC10855267 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031377] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ42) aggregates acutely impair hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission, and 17β-estradiol is crucial for hippocampal LTP. We tested whether boosting the synthesis of neural-derived 17β-estradiol (nE2) saves hippocampal LTP by the neurotoxic action of Aβ42. Electrophysiological recordings were performed to measure dentate gyrus (DG) LTP in rat hippocampal slices. Using a pharmacological approach, we tested the ability of nE2 to counteract the LTP impairment caused by acute exposure to soluble Aβ42 aggregates. nE2 was found to be required for LTP in DG under physiological conditions. Blockade of steroid 5α-reductase with finasteride, by increasing nE2 synthesis from testosterone (T), completely recovered LTP in slices treated with soluble Aβ42 aggregates. Modulation of the glutamate N-methyl-D aspartate receptor (NMDAR) by memantine effectively rescued the LTP deficit observed in slices exposed to Aβ42, and memantine prevented LTP reduction observed under the blocking of nE2 synthesis. nE2 is able to counteract Aβ42-induced synaptic dysfunction. This effect depends on a rapid, non-genomic mechanism of action of nE2, which may share a common pathway with glutamate NMDAR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alessandro Tozzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06156 Perugia, Italy; (L.B.); (J.C.); (M.S.)
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26
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Navarrete J, Schneider KN, Smith BM, Goodwin NL, Zhang YY, Salazar AS, Gonzalez YE, Anumolu P, Gross E, Tsai VS, Heshmati M, Golden SA. Individual Differences in Volitional Social Self-Administration and Motivation in Male and Female Mice Following Social Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)00033-7. [PMID: 38244753 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key challenge in developing treatments for neuropsychiatric illness is the disconnect between preclinical models and the complexity of human social behavior. We integrate voluntary social self-administration into a rodent model of social stress as a platform for the identification of fundamental brain and behavior mechanisms underlying stress-induced individual differences in social motivation. METHODS Here, we introduced an operant social stress procedure in male and female mice composed of 3 phases: 1) social self-administration training, 2) social stress exposure concurrent with reinforced self-administration testing, and 3) poststress operant testing under nonreinforced and reinforced conditions. We used social-defeat and witness-defeat stress in male and female mice. RESULTS Social defeat attenuated social reward seeking in males but not females, whereas witness defeat had no effect in males but promoted seeking behavior in females. We resolved social stress-induced changes to social motivation by aggregating z-scored operant metrics into a cumulative social index score to describe the spectrum of individual differences exhibited during operant social stress. Clustering does not adequately describe the relative distributions of social motivation following stress and is better described as a nonbinary behavioral distribution defined by the social index score, capturing a dynamic range of stress-related alterations in social motivation inclusive of sex as a biological variable. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that operant social stress can detect stable individual differences in stress-induced changes to social motivation. The inclusion of volitional behavior in social procedures may enhance the understanding of behavioral adaptations that promote stress resiliency and their mechanisms under more naturalistic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Navarrete
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kevin N Schneider
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Briana M Smith
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nastacia L Goodwin
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yizhe Y Zhang
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Axelle S Salazar
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yahir E Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Pranav Anumolu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ethan Gross
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Valerie S Tsai
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mitra Heshmati
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sam A Golden
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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Santos L, Behrens L, Barbosa C, Tiefensee-Ribeiro C, Rosa-Silva H, Somensi N, Brum PO, Silveira AK, Rodrigues MS, de Oliveira J, Gelain DP, Almeida RF, Moreira JCF. Histone 3 Trimethylation Patterns are Associated with Resilience or Stress Susceptibility in a Rat Model of Major Depression Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03912-3. [PMID: 38225513 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03912-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a severe and multifactorial psychiatric condition. Evidence has shown that environmental factors, such as stress, significantly explain MDD pathophysiology. Studies have hypothesized that changes in histone methylation patterns are involved in impaired glutamatergic signaling. Based on this scenario, this study aims to investigate histone 3 involvement in depression susceptibility or resilience in MDD pathophysiology by investigating cellular and molecular parameters related to i) glutamatergic neurotransmission, ii) astrocytic functioning, and iii) neurogenesis. For this, we subjected male Wistar rats to the Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) model of depression. We propose that by evaluating the sucrose consumption, open field, and object recognition test performance from animals submitted to CUMS, it is possible to predict with high specificity rats with susceptibility to depressive-like phenotype and resilient to the depressive-like phenotype. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that patterns of H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me3 trimethylation are strictly associated with the resilient or susceptible to depressive-like phenotype in a brain-region-specific manner. Additionally, susceptible animals have reduced DCx and GFAP and resilient animals present increase of AQP-4 immunoreactivity. Together, these results provide evidence that H3 trimethylations are related to the development of the resilient or susceptible to depressive-like phenotype, contributing to further advances in the pathophysiology of MDD and the discovery of mechanisms behind resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Santos
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Luiza Behrens
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Camila Barbosa
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Camila Tiefensee-Ribeiro
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Helen Rosa-Silva
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nauana Somensi
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Pedro Ozorio Brum
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandre Kleber Silveira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Matheus Scarpatto Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Investigação de Desordens Metabólicas e Doenças Neurodegenerativas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jade de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Investigação de Desordens Metabólicas e Doenças Neurodegenerativas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel Pens Gelain
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Roberto F Almeida
- Centro de Ciências Químicas Farmacêuticas e de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica e Bioprospecção, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - José Cláudio Fonseca Moreira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Smiley CE, Pate BS, Bouknight SJ, Harrington EN, Jasnow AM, Wood SK. The role of locus coeruleus neuroimmune signaling in the response to social stress in female rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.10.575076. [PMID: 38260568 PMCID: PMC10802589 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.575076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders that result from stress exposure, including post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, are highly associated with central inflammation. Our previous work established that females selectively exhibit increased proinflammatory cytokine release within the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) in response to witnessing social stress, which was associated with a hypervigilant phenotype. Thus, neuroimmune activation in the LC may be responsible for the heightened risk of developing mental health disorders following stress in females. Further, ablation of microglia using pharmacological techniques reduces the hypervigilant behavioral response exhibited by females during social stress. Therefore, these studies were designed to further investigate the impact of stress-induced neuroimmune signaling on the long-term behavioral and neuronal consequences of social stress exposure in females using DREADDs. We first characterized the use of an AAV-CD68-Gi-DREADD virus targeted to microglia within the LC. While the use of AAVs in preclinical research has been limited by observations regarding poor transfection efficiency in mice, recent data suggest that species specific differences in microglial genetics may render rats more receptive to chemogenetic targeting of microglia using a CD68 promoter. Therefore, clozapine-n-oxide (CNO) was used to activate the microglial expressed hM4Di to inhibit microglial activity during acute exposure to vicarious social defeat (witness stress, WS) in female rats. Neuroimmune activity within the LC, quantified by microglial morphology and cytokine release, was augmented by WS and prevented by chemogenetic microglial inhibition. Following confirmation of DREADD selectivity and efficacy, we utilized this technique to inhibit microglial activity during repeated WS. Subsequently, rats were tested in a marble burying paradigm and exposed to the WS cues and context to measure hypervigilant behaviors. Chemogenetic-mediated inhibition of microglial activity prior to each WS exposure prevented both acute and long-term hypervigilant responses induced by WS across multiple behavioral paradigms. Further, a history of microglial inactivation during WS prevented the heightened LC activity typically observed in response to stress cues. These studies are among the first to use a chemogenetic approach to inhibit microglia within the female brain in vivo and establish LC inflammation as a key mechanism underlying the behavioral and neuronal responses to social stress in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora E. Smiley
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
- WJB Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center, Columbia, SC 29209
| | - Brittany S. Pate
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
- University of South Carolina, Department of Exercise Science, Columbia, SC 29209
| | - Samantha J. Bouknight
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
| | - Evelynn N. Harrington
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
- WJB Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center, Columbia, SC 29209
| | - Aaron M. Jasnow
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
| | - Susan K. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience; University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209
- WJB Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center, Columbia, SC 29209
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Battaglia S, Di Fazio C, Mazzà M, Tamietto M, Avenanti A. Targeting Human Glucocorticoid Receptors in Fear Learning: A Multiscale Integrated Approach to Study Functional Connectivity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:864. [PMID: 38255937 PMCID: PMC10815285 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Fear extinction is a phenomenon that involves a gradual reduction in conditioned fear responses through repeated exposure to fear-inducing cues. Functional brain connectivity assessments, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), provide valuable insights into how brain regions communicate during these processes. Stress, a ubiquitous aspect of life, influences fear learning and extinction by changing the activity of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, leading to enhanced fear responses and/or impaired extinction. Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are key to the stress response and show a dual function in fear regulation: while they enhance the consolidation of fear memories, they also facilitate extinction. Accordingly, GR dysregulation is associated with anxiety and mood disorders. Recent advancements in cognitive neuroscience underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding that integrates perspectives from the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. In particular, neuropharmacology provides valuable insights into neurotransmitter and receptor systems, aiding the investigation of mechanisms underlying fear regulation and potential therapeutic targets. A notable player in this context is cortisol, a key stress hormone, which significantly influences both fear memory reconsolidation and extinction processes. Gaining a thorough understanding of these intricate interactions has implications in terms of addressing psychiatric disorders related to stress. This review sheds light on the complex interactions between cognitive processes, emotions, and their neural bases. In this endeavor, our aim is to reshape the comprehension of fear, stress, and their implications for emotional well-being, ultimately aiding in the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Battaglia
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Fazio
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Mazzà
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Marco Tamietto
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, Cesena Campus, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Neuropsicology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center (CINPSI Neurocog), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile
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Nipper MA, Helms ML, Finn DA, Ryabinin AE. Stress-enhanced ethanol drinking does not increase sensitivity to the effects of a CRF-R1 antagonist on ethanol intake in male and female mice. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00001-6. [PMID: 38185336 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Research confirms that stress is associated with alcohol drinking and relapse in males and females and that there are sex differences in the alcohol-related adaptations of stress pathways. The predator stress (PS) model of traumatic stress produces an increase in alcohol drinking or self-administration in a subpopulation of rodents, so it is utilized as an animal model of comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work determined that sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking produced sex differences in proteins related to stress-regulating systems in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The present studies examined whether male and female C57BL/6J mice differ in sensitivity to the ability of the corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist CP-376395 to decrease PS-enhanced drinking. In control studies, CP-376395 doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg dose-dependently decreased 4-hour ethanol drinking. Next, CP-376395 doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg were tested for effects on ethanol drinking in mice with differential sensitivity to PS-enhanced drinking. Subgroups of "Sensitive" and "Resilient" male and female mice were identified based on changes in ethanol intake in an unrestricted access ethanol drinking procedure following four exposures to PS (dirty rat bedding). During the first 2 hours post-injection of CP-376395, both doses significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the females, with no significant interaction between subgroups, whereas the 10 mg/kg dose significantly decreased ethanol licks versus vehicle in the "Resilient" males. Thus, sensitivity to the suppressive effect of CP-376395 on stress-induced ethanol intake was greater in females versus males, whereas sensitivity and resilience to PS-enhanced drinking produced differential sensitivity to the ability of CP-376395 to decrease ethanol drinking only in male mice. Our results argue against greater efficacy of CRF-R1's ability to decrease ethanol intake in subjects with traumatic stress-enhanced ethanol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Nipper
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Melinda L Helms
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Deborah A Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239; Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239.
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Doney E, Dion-Albert L, Coulombe-Rozon F, Osborne N, Bernatchez R, Paton SE, Kaufmann FN, Agomma RO, Solano JL, Gaumond R, Dudek KA, Szyszkowicz JK, Lebel M, Doyen A, Durand A, Lavoie-Cardinal F, Audet MC, Menard C. Chronic Stress Exposure Alters the Gut Barrier: Sex-Specific Effects on Microbiota and Jejunum Tight Junctions. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:213-228. [PMID: 38306213 PMCID: PMC10829561 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Of individuals with MDD, 30% to 50% are unresponsive to common antidepressants, highlighting untapped causal biological mechanisms. Dysfunction in the microbiota-gut-brain axis has been implicated in MDD pathogenesis. Exposure to chronic stress disrupts blood-brain barrier integrity; still, little is known about intestinal barrier function in these conditions, particularly for the small intestine, where absorption of most foods and drugs takes place. Methods We investigated how chronic social or variable stress, two mouse models of depression, impact the jejunum intestinal barrier in males and females. Mice were subjected to stress paradigms followed by analysis of gene expression profiles of intestinal barrier-related targets, fecal microbial composition, and blood-based markers. Results Altered microbial populations and changes in gene expression of jejunum tight junctions were observed depending on the type and duration of stress, with sex-specific effects. We used machine learning to characterize in detail morphological tight junction properties, identifying a cluster of ruffled junctions in stressed animals. Junctional ruffling is associated with inflammation, so we evaluated whether lipopolysaccharide injection recapitulates stress-induced changes in the jejunum and observed profound sex differences. Finally, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, a marker of gut barrier leakiness, was associated with stress vulnerability in mice, and translational value was confirmed on blood samples from women with MDD. Conclusions Our results provide evidence that chronic stress disrupts intestinal barrier homeostasis in conjunction with the manifestation of depressive-like behaviors in a sex-specific manner in mice and, possibly, in human depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Doney
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Laurence Dion-Albert
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Francois Coulombe-Rozon
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Natasha Osborne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Renaud Bernatchez
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Sam E.J. Paton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Fernanda Neutzling Kaufmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Roseline Olory Agomma
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - José L. Solano
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Raphael Gaumond
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Katarzyna A. Dudek
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Joanna Kasia Szyszkowicz
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Manon Lebel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Doyen
- Department of Food Science, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Audrey Durand
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Flavie Lavoie-Cardinal
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Audet
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Nutrition Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline Menard
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
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Ernst M, Cogo-Moreira H, Desai J, Merke DP. Sexual dimorphism in anxiety is programmed in-utero by sex-steroids: Proof of concept using a disease-model and stress responses to COVID pandemic. Psychiatry Res 2024; 331:115623. [PMID: 38064910 PMCID: PMC10872369 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences in the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been consistently reported, showing disproportionally high rates of anxiety/distress in women relative to men. The mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism remain unclear. The present study queries the potential protective role of early hyperandrogenism on brain development. A natural model of sex-steroids abnormality, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), was used to test this question. CAH is characterized by adrenal androgen overproduction in utero (prenatal) through the neonatal critical developmental period. An online survey collected information on subjective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Matched on demographic variables, 60 adults carrying a diagnosis of classic CAH and 240 adults from the general population (non-CAH) were compared on levels of anxiety/distress in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020-April 2021). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the modulation by CAH status of Sex effects on anxiety/distress. Results revealed lower levels of anxiety/distress in the female CAH group compared to the other 3 groups (male CAH, female non-CAH, and male non-CAH). This finding suggests that pre-neonatal hyperandrogenism might impact the development of neural circuits underlying anxiety processes, in a way that enhances resilience to chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Ernst
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Hugo Cogo-Moreira
- Department of Education, ICT and Learning, Østfold University College, Norway
| | - Jay Desai
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center US, USA
| | - Deborah P Merke
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; National Institutes of Health Clinical Center US, USA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development US, USA.
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33
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Ravaglia IC, Jasodanand V, Bhatnagar S, Grafe LA. Sex differences in body temperature and neural power spectra in response to repeated restraint stress. Stress 2024; 27:2320780. [PMID: 38414377 PMCID: PMC10989713 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2320780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Repeated stress is associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is more common in women, yet the neurobiology behind this sex difference is unknown. Habituation to repeated stress is impaired in PTSD, and recent preclinical studies have shown that female rats do not habituate as fully as male rats to repeated stress, which leads to impairments in cognition and sleep. Further research should examine sex differences after repeated stress in other relevant measures, such as body temperature and neural activity. In this study, we analyzed core body temperature and EEG power spectra in adult male and female rats during restraint, as well as during sleep transitions following stress. We found that core body temperature of male rats habituated to repeated restraint more fully than female rats. Additionally, we found that females had a higher average beta band power than males on both days of restraint, indicating higher levels of arousal. Lastly, we observed that females had lower delta band power than males during sleep transitions on Day 1 of restraint, however, females demonstrated higher delta band power than males by Day 5 of restraint. This suggests that it may take females longer to initiate sleep recovery compared with males. These findings indicate that there are differences in the physiological and neural processes of males and females after repeated stress. Understanding the way that the stress response is regulated in both sexes can provide insight into individualized treatment for stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- IC Ravaglia
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
| | - V Jasodanand
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
| | - S Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - LA Grafe
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
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Smiley KO, Munley KM, Aghi K, Lipshutz SE, Patton TM, Pradhan DS, Solomon-Lane TK, Sun SED. Sex diversity in the 21st century: Concepts, frameworks, and approaches for the future of neuroendocrinology. Horm Behav 2024; 157:105445. [PMID: 37979209 PMCID: PMC10842816 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Sex is ubiquitous and variable throughout the animal kingdom. Historically, scientists have used reductionist methodologies that rely on a priori sex categorizations, in which two discrete sexes are inextricably linked with gamete type. However, this binarized operationalization does not adequately reflect the diversity of sex observed in nature. This is due, in part, to the fact that sex exists across many levels of biological analysis, including genetic, molecular, cellular, morphological, behavioral, and population levels. Furthermore, the biological mechanisms governing sex are embedded in complex networks that dynamically interact with other systems. To produce the most accurate and scientifically rigorous work examining sex in neuroendocrinology and to capture the full range of sex variability and diversity present in animal systems, we must critically assess the frameworks, experimental designs, and analytical methods used in our research. In this perspective piece, we first propose a new conceptual framework to guide the integrative study of sex. Then, we provide practical guidance on research approaches for studying sex-associated variables, including factors to consider in study design, selection of model organisms, experimental methodologies, and statistical analyses. We invite fellow scientists to conscientiously apply these modernized approaches to advance our biological understanding of sex and to encourage academically and socially responsible outcomes of our work. By expanding our conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches to the study of sex, we will gain insight into the unique ways that sex exists across levels of biological organization to produce the vast array of variability and diversity observed in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina O Smiley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 639 North Pleasant Street, Morrill IVN Neuroscience, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Munley
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Krisha Aghi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Tessa M Patton
- Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, LSB 317, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
| | - Devaleena S Pradhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Mail Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
| | - Tessa K Solomon-Lane
- Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna Colleges, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
| | - Simón E D Sun
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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35
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Oakley RH, Riddick NV, Moy SS, Cidlowski JA. Imbalanced glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptor function has sex-dependent and independent regulatory effects in the mouse hippocampus. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 28:100589. [PMID: 38075021 PMCID: PMC10709088 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Many stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders display pronounced sex differences in their frequency and clinical symptoms. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones that have been implicated in the development of these disorders but whether they contribute to the observed sex bias is poorly understood. Glucocorticoids signal through two closely related nuclear receptors, the glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). To elucidate the sex-specific and independent actions of glucocorticoids in the hippocampus, we developed knockout mice lacking hippocampal GR, MR, or both GR and MR. Mice deficient in hippocampal MR or both GR and MR showed an altered molecular phenotype of CA2 neurons and reduced anxiety-like behavior in both sexes, but altered stress adaptation behavior only in females and enhanced fear-motivated cue learning only in males. All three knockout mouse models displayed reduced sociability but only in male mice. Male and female mice deficient in both hippocampal GR and MR exhibited extensive neurodegeneration in the dentate gyrus. Global transcriptomic analysis revealed a marked expansion in the number of dysregulated genes in the hippocampus of female knockout mice compared to their male counterparts; however, the overall patterns of gene dysregulation were remarkably similar in both sexes. Within and across sex comparisons identified key GR and MR target genes and associated signaling pathways underlying the knockout phenotypes. These findings define major sex-dependent and independent effects of GR/MR imbalances on gene expression and functional profiles in the hippocampus and inform new strategies for treating men and women with stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H. Oakley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Natallia V. Riddick
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - John A. Cidlowski
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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36
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Martinez GJ, Appleton M, Kipp ZA, Loria AS, Min B, Hinds TD. Glucocorticoids, their uses, sexual dimorphisms, and diseases: new concepts, mechanisms, and discoveries. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:473-532. [PMID: 37732829 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00021.2023] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The normal stress response in humans is governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through heightened mechanisms during stress, raising blood levels of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol. Glucocorticoids are quintessential compounds that balance the proper functioning of numerous systems in the mammalian body. They are also generated synthetically and are the preeminent therapy for inflammatory diseases. They act by binding to the nuclear receptor transcription factor glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which has two main isoforms (GRα and GRβ). Our classical understanding of glucocorticoid signaling is from the GRα isoform, which binds the hormone, whereas GRβ has no known ligands. With glucocorticoids being involved in many physiological and cellular processes, even small disruptions in their release via the HPA axis, or changes in GR isoform expression, can have dire ramifications on health. Long-term chronic glucocorticoid therapy can lead to a glucocorticoid-resistant state, and we deliberate how this impacts disease treatment. Chronic glucocorticoid treatment can lead to noticeable side effects such as weight gain, adiposity, diabetes, and others that we discuss in detail. There are sexually dimorphic responses to glucocorticoids, and women tend to have a more hyperresponsive HPA axis than men. This review summarizes our understanding of glucocorticoids and critically analyzes the GR isoforms and their beneficial and deleterious mechanisms and the sexual differences that cause a dichotomy in responses. We also discuss the future of glucocorticoid therapy and propose a new concept of dual GR isoform agonist and postulate why activating both isoforms may prevent glucocorticoid resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genesee J Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Malik Appleton
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Zachary A Kipp
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Analia S Loria
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
- Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Booki Min
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Terry D Hinds
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
- Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
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37
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Wang R, Kogler L, Derntl B. Sex differences in cortisol levels in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 72:101118. [PMID: 38176541 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101118] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Higher prevalence of depression in females might be associated with sex-specific cortisol levels. Evidence exists that cortisol levels differ between healthy females and males, however a sex-specific association in depression has not been systematically assessed. Thus, the current study quantifies the existing literature on different cortisol parameters, i.e., basal cortisol, hair cortisol, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and cortisol stress reactivity comparing depressed females and males as well as sex-specific comparisons with healthy controls. Following an extensive literature research, fifty original articles were included. Depressed females had significantly higher hair cortisol, higher CAR, and lower cortisol stress reactivity compared to depressed males. In comparison with sex-matched controls, female patients had significantly higher evening basal cortisol, higher CAR and lower cortisol stress reactivity, and male patients had significantly higher general, morning and evening basal cortisol. Overall, sex as a fundamental driver of cortisol levels in depression needs to be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Women's Mental Health & Brain Function, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Graduate School and Research Network, University of Tübingen, Germany
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38
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Hodes GE, Bangasser D, Sotiropoulos I, Kokras N, Dalla C. Sex Differences in Stress Response: Classical Mechanisms and Beyond. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:475-494. [PMID: 37855285 PMCID: PMC10845083 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666231005090134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders, which are associated with stress hormone dysregulation, occur at different rates in men and women. Moreover, nowadays, preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrates that sex and gender can lead to differences in stress responses that predispose males and females to different expressions of similar pathologies. In this curated review, we focus on what is known about sex differences in classic mechanisms of stress response, such as glucocorticoid hormones and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which are components of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Then, we present sex differences in neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA, as well as indices of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid β and Tau. Gonadal hormone effects, such as estrogens and testosterone, are also discussed throughout the review. We also review in detail preclinical data investigating sex differences caused by recentlyrecognized regulators of stress and disease, such as the immune system, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, as well neurosteroids. Finally, we discuss how understanding sex differences in stress responses, as well as in pharmacology, can be leveraged into novel, more efficacious therapeutics for all. Based on the supporting evidence, it is obvious that incorporating sex as a biological variable into preclinical research is imperative for the understanding and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications NCSR “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nikolaos Kokras
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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de Kloet ER, Joëls M. The cortisol switch between vulnerability and resilience. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:20-34. [PMID: 36599967 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01934-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In concert with neuropeptides and transmitters, the end products of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the glucocorticoid hormones cortisol and corticosterone (CORT), promote resilience: i.e., the ability to cope with threats, adversity, and trauma. To exert this protective action, CORT activates mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) that operate in a complementary manner -as an on/off switch- to coordinate circadian events, stress-coping, and adaptation. The evolutionary older limbic MR facilitates contextual memory retrieval and supports an on-switch in the selection of stress-coping styles at a low cost. The rise in circulating CORT concentration after stress subsequently activates a GR-mediated off-switch underlying recovery of homeostasis by providing the energy for restraining the primary stress reactions and promoting cognitive control over emotional reactivity. GR activation facilitates contextual memory storage of the experience to enable future stress-coping. Such complementary MR-GR-mediated actions involve rapid non-genomic and slower gene-mediated mechanisms; they are time-dependent, conditional, and sexually dimorphic, and depend on genetic background and prior experience. If coping fails, GR activation impairs cognitive control and promotes emotional arousal which eventually may compromise resilience. Such breakdown of resilience involves a transition to a chronic stress construct, where information processing is crashed; it leads to an imbalanced MR-GR switch and hence increased vulnerability. Novel MR-GR modulators are becoming available that may reset a dysregulated stress response system to reinstate the cognitive flexibility required for resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center of Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Marian Joëls
- Dept. Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Guzman JM, Boone MH, Suarez GL, Mitchell C, Monk CS, Hyde LW, Lopez-Duran NL. Relationship between COVID-related stressors and internalizing symptoms: Gendered neuroendocrine risk profiles. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106668. [PMID: 37944209 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic generated significant life stress and increases in internalizing disorders. Moreover, COVID-related stressors disproportionately impacted women, consistent with outcomes showing a gender gap in stress-related disorders. Gender-related stress vulnerability emerges in adolescence alongside gender-specific changes in neuroendocrine signaling. Most research on the neuroendocrinology of stress-related disorders has focused on differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis effector hormone cortisol. More recent studies, however, emphasize dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroprotective and neuroactive hormone released concurrently with cortisol that balances its biobehavioral actions during stress. Notably, women show lower cortisol responses and higher DHEA responses to stress. However, lower cortisol and higher DHEA are associated with internalizing disorders in women, while those associations are opposite in men. Thus, gender-specific factors perhaps result in a neuroendocrine profile that places women at greater risk for stress-related disorders. The current study prospectively examined socially evaluated cold-pressor task (SECPT) induced neuroendocrine responses at age 15 and internalizing symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic at age 21 in a cohort of 175 primarily Black low-socioeconomic status participants, while controlling for internalizing symptoms at age 15. The association between COVID-related stress and internalizing symptoms was not stronger in women. Lower DHEA-cortisol ratios were associated with a weaker relationship between COVID-related stress and internalizing symptoms in women, while higher ratios were associated with a weaker relationship in men. These findings suggest gender differences in the relationship between DHEA and cortisol and internalizing outcomes during a stressful period, and support differential neuroendocrine protective and risk pathways for young men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Guzman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Montana H Boone
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gabriela L Suarez
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christopher S Monk
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Luke W Hyde
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Khan MGM, Patwary MM, Mamum KA, Chand AA, Edward K, Prasad KA, Browning MHEM, Prasad C, Shuvo FK. Prevalence and associated risk factors for mental health problems among young adults in Fiji Island during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1323635. [PMID: 38213644 PMCID: PMC10783427 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1323635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally. To understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health in Fiji, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression among the young adults. Method An online survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression among the general population in Suva, Fiji during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1,119 Fiji adults participated in the study. The study was conducted between May 20 to June 30, 2022, using a snowball sampling via social media platforms. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scales were used to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. The COVID-19 related stressors was evaluated using the adapted SARS stressors assessment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing mental health among respondents. Results The result shows that a significant portion of individuals experienced each of the stressors, with the highest prevalence seen for hearing information about the severity of COVID-19. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 45% and 49%, respectively. Being female, having pre-existing illness and COVID-19 stressors were a risk factor to develop anxiety and depression. On the other hand, employed individuals and having high BMI was a protective factor against developing depression during COVID-19 lockdown. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental health needs of the Fijian population during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad G M Khan
- School of Information Technology Engineering Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Kabir A Mamum
- School of Information Technology Engineering Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Aneesh A Chand
- School of Information Technology Engineering Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Kaamil Edward
- School of Information Technology Engineering Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Kushal A Prasad
- School of Information Technology Engineering Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
- Department of Electronics, Instrumentation & Control Engineering, College of Engineering, Science & Technology, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji
| | - Matthew H E M Browning
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Chaandvi Prasad
- College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji
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Clark CD, Li J, Nipper MA, Helms ML, Finn DA, Ryabinin AE. Differential c-Fos Response in Neurocircuits Activated by Repeated Predator Stress in Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice with Stress Sensitive or Resilient Alcohol Intake Phenotypes. Neuroscience 2023; 535:168-183. [PMID: 37944582 PMCID: PMC10841633 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.001] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) worsens the prognosis for each of these individual disorders. The current study aimed to identify neurocircuits potentially involved in regulation of PTSD-AUD comorbidity by mapping expression of c-Fos in male and female C57BL/6J mice following repeated predator stress (PS), modeled by exposure to dirty rat bedding. In experiment 1, the levels of c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and the nucleus accumbens shell were higher after the second PS vs the first PS, indicating a sensitized response to this stressor. Additional brain regions showed varied sex-dependent and independent regulation by the two consecutive PS exposures. In experiment 2, mice that increased voluntary alcohol consumption following four exposures to PS (Sensitive subgroup) showed higher c-Fos induction in the PVH, piriform cortex and ventromedial hypothalamus than mice that decreased consumption following these exposures (Resilient subgroup). In contrast to these brain regions, c-Fos was higher in the anterior olfactory nucleus of Resilient vs Sensitive mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that repeated PS exposure and voluntary alcohol consumption increase neuronal activity across neurocircuits in which specific components depend on the vulnerability of individual mice to these stressors. Increased PVH activity observed across both experiments suggests this brain area as a potential mediator of PS-induced increases in alcohol consumption. Future investigations of specific neuronal populations within the PVH activated by PS, and manipulation of these specific neuronal populations, could improve our understanding of the mechanisms leading to PTSD-AUD comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal D Clark
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Ju Li
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Michelle A Nipper
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Melinda L Helms
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Deborah A Finn
- Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Xu FR, Wei ZH, Xu XX, Zhang XG, Wei CJ, Qi XM, Li YH, Gao XL, Wu Y. The hypothalamic steroidogenic pathway mediates susceptibility to inflammation-evoked depression in female mice. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:293. [PMID: 38062440 PMCID: PMC10704691 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02976-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is two-to-three times more frequent among women. The hypothalamus, a sexually dimorphic area, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Neuroinflammation-induced hypothalamic dysfunction underlies behaviors associated with depression. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of depression has been well-validated in numerous laboratories, including our own, and is widely used to investigate the relationship between neuroinflammation and depression. However, the sex-specific differences in metabolic alterations underlying depression-associated hypothalamic neuroinflammation remain unknown. METHODS Here, we employed the LPS-induced mouse model of depression to investigate hypothalamic metabolic changes in both male and female mice using a metabolomics approach. Through bioinformatics analysis, we confirmed the molecular pathways and biological processes associated with the identified metabolites. Furthermore, we employed quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, and pharmacological interventions to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS A total of 124 and 61 differential metabolites (DMs) were detected in male and female mice with depressive-like behavior, respectively, compared to their respective sex-matched control groups. Moreover, a comparison between female and male model mice identified 37 DMs. We capitalized on biochemical clustering and functional enrichment analyses to define the major metabolic changes in these DMs. More than 55% of the DMs clustered into lipids and lipid-like molecules, and an imbalance in lipids metabolism was presented in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, steroidogenic pathway was confirmed as a potential sex-specific pathway in the hypothalamus of female mice with depression. Pregnenolone, an upstream component of the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway, was downregulated in female mice with depressive-like phenotypes but not in males and had considerable relevance to depressive-like behaviors in females. Moreover, exogenous pregnenolone infusion reversed depressive-like behaviors in female mice with depression. The 5α-reductase type I (SRD5A1), a steroidogenic hub enzyme involved in pregnenolone metabolism, was increased in the hypothalamus of female mice with depression. Its inhibition increased hypothalamic pregnenolone levels and ameliorated depressive-like behaviors in female mice with depression. CONCLUSIONS Our study findings demonstrate a marked sexual dimorphism at the metabolic level in depression, particularly in hypothalamic steroidogenic metabolism, identifying a potential sex-specific pathway in female mice with depressive-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Rong Xu
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Wuwei, Wuwei, 733000, China
| | - Zhen-Hong Wei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Institute of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Xu
- Department of Nursing, People's Hospital of Wuwei, Wuwei, 733000, China
| | - Xiao-Gang Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chao-Jun Wei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Institute of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Qi
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Institute of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yong-Hong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Institute of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Xiao-Ling Gao
- The Clinical Laboratory Center, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570100, China.
| | - Yu Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Institute of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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Rivera-Irizarry JK, Zallar LJ, Levine OB, Skelly MJ, Boyce JE, Barney T, Kopyto R, Pleil KE. Sex differences in binge alcohol drinking and the behavioral consequences of protracted abstinence in C57BL/6J mice. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:83. [PMID: 37957762 PMCID: PMC10644501 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00565-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Binge alcohol drinking is a risk factor linked to numerous disease states including alcohol use disorder (AUD). While men binge drink more alcohol than women, this demographic gap is quickly shrinking, and preclinical studies demonstrate that females consistently consume more alcohol than males. Further, women are at increased risk for the co-expression of AUD with neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety and mood disorders. However, little is understood about chronic voluntary alcohol drinking and its long-term effects on behavior. Here, we sought to characterize sex differences in chronic binge drinking and the effects of protracted alcohol abstinence on anxiety- and affective-related behaviors in males and females. METHODS We assessed binge alcohol drinking patterns in male and female C57BL/6J mice using a modified Drinking in the Dark (DID) paradigm in which mice received home cage access to one bottle of 10% or 20% alcohol (EtOH) or water for 2 h per day on Days 1-3 and to two bottles (EtOH/H2O + H2O) for 24 h on Day 4 for 8 weekly cycles. Mice were then tested for the effects of protracted abstinence on avoidance, affective, and compulsive behaviors. RESULTS Female mice consumed more alcohol than males consistently across cycles of DID and at 2, 4, and 24-h timepoints within the day, with a more robust sex difference for 20% than 10% EtOH. Females also consumed more water than males, an effect that emerged at the later time points; this water consumption bias diminished when alcohol was available. Further, while increased alcohol consumption was correlated with decreased water consumption in males, there was no relationship between these two measures in females. Alcohol preference was higher in 10% vs. 20% EtOH for both sexes. During protracted abstinence following chronic binge drinking, mice displayed decreased avoidance behavior (elevated plus maze, open field, novelty suppressed feeding) and increased compulsive behavior (marble burying) that was especially robust in females. There was no effect of alcohol history on stress coping and negative affective behaviors (sucrose preference, forced swim test, tail suspension) in either sex. CONCLUSION Female mice engaged in higher volume binge drinking than their male counterparts. Although females also consumed more water than males, their higher alcohol consumption was not driven by increased total fluid intake. Further, the effects of protracted abstinence following chronic binge drinking was driven by behavioral disinhibition that was more pronounced in females. Given the reciprocal relationship between risk-taking and alcohol use in neuropsychiatric disease states, these results have implications for sex-dependent alcohol drinking patterns and their long-term negative neuropsychiatric/physiological health outcomes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean K Rivera-Irizarry
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lia J Zallar
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivia B Levine
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Jane Skelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- Psychology Department, Iona University, New Rochelle, NY, USA
| | - Jared E Boyce
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thaddeus Barney
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruth Kopyto
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristen E Pleil
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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Duarte Luiz J, Manassi C, Magnani M, Cruz AGD, Pimentel TC, Verruck S. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as a promising adjuvant for neurological disorders therapy through the brain-gut axis and related action pathways. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37950651 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2280247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Dysbiosis in neurological disorders has highlighted the gut-microbiota-brain axis and psychobiotics and their ability to act on the brain-gut axis. Studying and discovering new approaches in therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders are strategies that have been discussed and put into practice. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacteria species with an extensive history of safe use whose action as a psychobiotic has been successfully explored. This review describes and discusses the mechanisms of action of L. plantarum and its potential for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders. Randomized and controlled trials in humans or animals and using supplements based on different strains of L. plantarum were selected. The psychobiotic effect of L. plantarum has been shown, mainly through its action on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and regulation of levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, it could protect the integrity of the intestinal barrier and decrease inflammation, alleviating a series of symptoms of neurological diseases. The results showed improvements in cognitive function, memory, anxiety, hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), sleep quality, and growth stimulation of beneficial species of bacteria in the gut. Larger and deeper studies are needed to use psychobiotics to prevent and treat neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josilaene Duarte Luiz
- Department of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Manassi
- Federal Institute of Science and Technology of Paraná (IFPR), Paranavaí, Brazil
| | - Marciane Magnani
- Laboratory of Microbial Processes in Foods, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Adriano Gomes da Cruz
- Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), Department of Food, Federal Institute of Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Silvani Verruck
- Department of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Food Science, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
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Carvalho Silva R, Pisanu C, Maffioletti E, Menesello V, Bortolomasi M, Gennarelli M, Baune BT, Squassina A, Minelli A. Biological markers of sex-based differences in major depressive disorder and in antidepressant response. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 76:89-107. [PMID: 37595325 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.07.012] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) presents different clinical features in women and men, with women being more affected and responding differently to antidepressant treatment. Specific molecular mechanisms underlying these differences are not well studied and this narrative review aims at providing an overview of the neurobiological features underlying sex-differences in biological systems involved in MDD pathophysiology and response to antidepressant treatment, focusing on human studies. The majority of the reviewed studies were performed through candidate gene approaches, focusing on biological systems involved in MDD pathophysiology, including the stress response, inflammatory and immune, monoaminergic, neurotrophic, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamatergic, and oxytocin systems. The influence of the endocrine system and sex-specific hormone effects are also discussed. Genome, epigenome and transcriptome-wide approaches are less frequently performed and most of these studies do not focus on sex-specific alterations, revealing a paucity of omics studies directed to unravel sex-based differences in MDD. Few studies about sex-related differences in antidepressant treatment response have been conducted, mostly involving the inflammatory system, with less evidence on the monoaminergic system and sparse evidence in omics approaches. Our review covers the importance of accounting for sex-differences in research, optimizing patient stratification for a more precise diagnostic and individualized treatment for women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Carvalho Silva
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudia Pisanu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Maffioletti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Menesello
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alessio Squassina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2E2, Canada
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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Aguirre López LO, Cuéllar Pérez JR, Santerre A, Moreno YS, Hernández De Anda Y, Bañuelos Pineda J. Effect of consumption of blue maize tortilla on anxiety-like behaviour, learning, memory and hippocampal BDNF expression in a chronic stress model in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2023; 26:1058-1067. [PMID: 36173025 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2022.2126757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pigmented maize consumption is of much interest because of its high anthocyanin content and multiple health benefits. OBJETIVES This study was aimed to assess the effect of consuming blue maize tortillas on the anxiolytic capacity, preserve emotional memory, and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic stress. METHODS Sixty-four 3-month-old male Wistar rats were used, divided into eight groups (n = 8). Four groups were subjected to chronic stress by movement restriction (7 h/daily/7 consecutive days) and the remaining four groups were subjected to standard management. The treatments were commercial food, blue tortilla, anthocyanin extract, or white tortilla, administered for nine weeks to stressed or unstressed animals. In the eighth week, the animals were subjected to the restraint stress model. Subsequently, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed using the elevated plus-maze, and memory and emotional learning were evaluated by the step-down passive avoidance test. The animals were then sacrificed to quantify the relative expression of hippocampal BDNF by RT-qPCR. RESULTS The consumption of anthocyanin extract or tortilla made with blue corn decreased anxiety-like behaviours, additionally, it improved the ability to retain emotionally relevant information, and it upregulated BDNF mRNA expression. PERSPECTIVE Thus, the analyse of the impact of blue tortilla consumption on the nervous system is now necessary to guarantee the nutraceutical value of this food.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne Santerre
- Laboratorio de Biomarcadores Moleculares en Biomedicina y Ecología, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, México
| | - Yolanda Salinas Moreno
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Tepatitlán, México
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Requena-Ocaña N, Flores-López M, García-Marchena N, Pavón-Morón FJ, Pedraza C, Wallace A, Castilla-Ortega E, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, Serrano A, Araos P. Plasma Lysophosphatidic Acid Concentrations in Sex Differences and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Patients with Cocaine Use Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15586. [PMID: 37958570 PMCID: PMC10649657 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115586] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We have recently reported sex differences in the plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and alterations in LPA species in patients with alcohol and cocaine use disorders. Preclinical evidence suggests a main role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling in anxiogenic responses and drug addiction. To further explore the potential role of the LPA signaling system in sex differences and psychiatric comorbidity in cocaine use disorder (CUD), we conducted a cross-sectional study with 88 patients diagnosed with CUD in outpatient treatment and 60 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of total LPA and LPA species (16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 20:4) were quantified and correlated with cortisol and tryptophan metabolites [tryptophan (TRP), serotonin (5-HT), kynurenine (KYN), quinolinic acid (QUIN) and kynurenic acid (KYNA)]. We found sexual dimorphism for the total LPA and most LPA species in the control and CUD groups. The total LPA and LPA species were not altered in CUD patients compared to the controls. There was a significant correlation between 18:2 LPA and age at CUD diagnosis (years) in the total sample, but total LPA, 16:0 LPA and 18:2 LPA correlated with age at onset of CUD in male patients. Women with CUD had more comorbid anxiety and eating disorders, whereas men had more cannabis use disorders. Total LPA, 18:0 LPA and 20:4 LPA were significantly decreased in CUD patients with anxiety disorders. Both 20:4 LPA and total LPA were significantly higher in women without anxiety disorders compared to men with and without anxiety disorders. Total LPA and 16:0 LPA were significantly decreased in CUD patients with childhood ADHD. Both 18:1 LPA and 20:4 LPA were significantly augmented in CUD patients with personality disorders. KYNA significantly correlated with total LPA, 16:0 LPA and 18:2 LPA species, while TRP correlated with the 18:1 LPA species. Our results demonstrate that LPA signaling is affected by sex and psychiatric comorbidity in CUD patients, playing an essential role in mediating their anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Requena-Ocaña
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
| | - María Flores-López
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Nuria García-Marchena
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Pavón-Morón
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica del Corazón, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Pedraza
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (A.W.); (E.C.-O.)
| | - Agustín Wallace
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (A.W.); (E.C.-O.)
| | - Estela Castilla-Ortega
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (A.W.); (E.C.-O.)
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Antonia Serrano
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Pedro Araos
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; (N.R.-O.); (M.F.-L.); (F.J.P.-M.); (C.P.); (P.A.)
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (A.W.); (E.C.-O.)
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Perica MI, Luna B. Impact of stress on excitatory and inhibitory markers of adolescent cognitive critical period plasticity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105378. [PMID: 37643681 PMCID: PMC10591935 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a time of significant neurocognitive development. Prolonged maturation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) through adolescence has been found to support improvements in executive function. Changes in excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms of critical period plasticity have been found to be present in the PFC through adolescence, suggesting that environment may have a greater effect on development during this time. Stress is one factor known to affect neurodevelopment increasing risk for psychopathology. However, less is known about how stress experienced during adolescence could affect adolescent-specific critical period plasticity mechanisms and cognitive outcomes. In this review, we synthesize findings from human and animal literatures looking at the experience of stress during adolescence on cognition and frontal excitatory and inhibitory neural activity. Studies indicate enhancing effects of acute stress on cognition and excitation within specific contexts, while chronic stress generally dampens excitatory and inhibitory processes and impairs cognition. We propose a model of how stress could affect frontal critical period plasticity, thus potentially altering neurodevelopmental trajectories that could lead to risk for psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Perica
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Beatriz Luna
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Finn DA. Stress and gonadal steroid influences on alcohol drinking and withdrawal, with focus on animal models in females. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 71:101094. [PMID: 37558184 PMCID: PMC10840953 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol, following binge drinking, chronic intoxication, and withdrawal, are documented at the level of the transcriptome and in behavioral and physiological responses. The purpose of the current review is to update and to expand upon contributions of the endocrine system to alcohol drinking and withdrawal in females, with a focus on animal models. Steroids important in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes, the reciprocal interactions between these axes, the effects of chronic alcohol use on steroid levels, and the genomic and rapid membrane-associated effects of steroids and neurosteroids in models of alcohol drinking and withdrawal are described. Importantly, comparison between males and females highlight some divergent effects of sex- and stress-steroids on alcohol drinking- and withdrawal-related behaviors, and the distinct differences in response emphasize the importance of considering sex in the development of novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Finn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department of Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
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