Primary cell culture of LHRH neurones from embryonic olfactory placode in the sheep (Ovis aries)

Developmental programming of the neuroendocrine axis by steroid hormones: Insights from the sheep model of PCOS

The reproductive neuroendocrine system is a key target for the developmental programming effects of steroid hormones during early life. While gonadal steroids play an important role in controlling the physiological development of the neuroendocrine axis, human fetuses are susceptible to adverse programming due to exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals with steroidal activity, inadvertent use of contraceptive pills during pregnancy, as well as from disease states that result in abnormal steroid production. Animal models provide an unparalleled resource to understand the effects of steroid hormones on the development of the neuroendocrine axis and their role on the developmental origins of health and disease. In female sheep, exposure to testosterone (T) excess during fetal development results in an array of reproductive disorders that recapitulate those seen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including disrupted neuroendocrine feedback mechanisms, increased pituitary responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH) hypersecretion, functional hyperandrogenism, multifollicular ovarian morphology, and premature reproductive failure. Similar to a large proportion of women with PCOS, these prenatally T-treated sheep also manifest insulin resistance and cardiovascular alterations, including hypertension. This review article focuses on the effects of prenatal androgens on the developmental programming of hypothalamic and pituitary alterations in the sheep model of PCOS phenotype, centering specifically on key neurons, neuropeptides, and regulatory pathways controlling GnRH and LH secretion. Insights obtained from the sheep model as well as other animal models of perinatal androgen excess can have important translational relevance to treat and prevent neuroendocrine dysfunction in women with PCOS and other fertility disorders.

Progress and Challenges in the Search for the Mechanisms of Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion

Fertility relies on the proper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The hormonal cascade begins with hypothalamic neurons secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) into the hypophyseal portal system. In turn, the GnRH-activated gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary release gonadotropins, which then act on the gonads to regulate gametogenesis and sex steroidogenesis. Finally, sex steroids close this axis by feeding back to the hypothalamus. Despite this seeming straightforwardness, the axis is orchestrated by a complex neuronal network in the central nervous system. For reproductive success, GnRH neurons, the final output of this network, must integrate and translate a wide range of cues, both environmental and physiological, to the gonadotrophs via pulsatile GnRH secretion. This secretory profile is critical for gonadotropic function, yet the mechanisms underlying these pulses remain unknown. Literature supports both intrinsically and extrinsically driven GnRH neuronal activity. However, the caveat of the techniques supporting either one of the two hypotheses is the gap between events recorded at a single-cell level and GnRH secretion measured at the population level. This review aims to compile data about GnRH neuronal activity focusing on the physiological output, GnRH secretion.

Olfactory ensheathing cells form the microenvironment of migrating GnRH-1 neurons during mouse development

During development, GnRH-1 neurons differentiate extracerebraly from the nasal placode and migrate from the vomeronasal organ to the forebrain along vomeronasal and terminal nerves. Numerous studies have described the influence of different molecules on the migration of GnRH-1 neurons, however, the role of microenvironment cells remains poorly understood. This study used GFAP-GFP transgenic mice to detect glial cells at early developmental stages. Using nasal explant cultures, the comigration of glial cells with GnRH-1 neurons was clearly demonstrated. This in vitro approach showed that glial cells began migrating from the explants before GnRH-1 neurons. They remained ahead of the GnRH-1 migratory front and stopped migrating after the GnRH-1 neurons. The association of these glial cells with the axons combined with gene expression analysis of GFAP-GFP sorted cells enabled them to be identified as olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of multiple glial cell-type markers showing several OEC subpopulations surrounding GnRH-1 neurons. Moreover, these OEC expressed genes whose products are involved in the migration of GnRH-1 neurons, such as Nelf and Semaphorin 4. In situ data confirmed that the majority of the GnRH-1 neurons were associated with glial cells along the vomeronasal axons in nasal septum and terminal nerves in the nasal forebrain junction as early as E12.5. Overall, these data demonstrate an OEC microenvironment for migrating GnRH-1 neurons during mouse development. The fact that this glial cell type precedes GnRH-1 neurons and encodes for molecules involved in their nasal migration suggests that it participates in the GnRH-1 system ontogenesis.

Rapid direct action of estradiol in GnRH neurons: findings and implications

Estradiol plays a pivotal role in the control of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal function and female reproduction. While positive and negative feedback actions of estradiol that enhance and suppress release of GnRH and LH are primarily mediated through estrogen receptor alpha located in interneurons, a series of recent studies in our laboratory indicate that rapid excitatory actions of estradiol also directly modify GnRH neuronal activity. We observed this phenomenon in cultured primate GnRH neurons, but similar rapid direct actions of estradiol are also described in cultured GnRH neurons and green fluorescent protein-labeled GnRH neurons of mice. Importantly, rapid direct action of estradiol in GnRH neurons is mediated through membrane or membrane associated receptors, such as GPR30, STX-sensitive receptors, and ERβ. In this review, possible implications of this rapid estradiol action in GnRH neurons are discussed.

Physiology of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurone: studies from embryonic GnRH neurones

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-secreting neurones are the final output of the central nervous system driving fertility in all mammals. Although it has been known for decades that the efficiency of communication between the hypothalamus and the pituitary depends on the pulsatile profile of GnRH secretion, how GnRH neuronal activity is patterned to generate pulses at the median eminence is unknown. To date, the scattered distribution of the GnRH cell bodies remains the main limitation to assessing the cellular events that could lead to pulsatile GnRH secretion. Taking advantage of the unique developmental feature of GnRH neurones, the nasal explant model allows primary GnRH neurones to be maintained within a micro-network where pulsatile secretion is preserved and where individual cellular activity can be monitored simultaneously across the cell population. This review summarises the data obtained from work using this in vitro model, and brings some insights into GnRH cellular physiology.

Calcium dynamics in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons represent the key output cells of the neuronal network controlling fertility. Intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is likely to be a key signaling tool used by GnRH neurons to regulate and co-ordinate multiple cell processes. This review examines the dynamics and control of [Ca(2+)](i) in GT1 cells, embryonic GnRH neurons in the nasal placode culture, and adult GnRH neurons in the acute brain slice preparation. GnRH neurons at all stages of development display spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) transients driven, primarily, by their burst firing. However, the intracellular mechanisms generating [Ca(2+)](i) transients, and the control of [Ca(2+)](i) by neurotransmitters, varies markedly across the different developmental stages. The functional roles of [Ca(2+)](i) transients are beginning to be unraveled with one key action being that of regulating the dynamics of GnRH neuron burst firing.

Development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 secretion in mouse nasal explants

Pulsatile release of GnRH-1 is critical to stimulate gonadotropes of the anterior pituitary. This secretory pattern seems to be inherent to GnRH-1 neurons, however, the mechanisms underlying such episodical release remain unknown. In monkey nasal explants, the GnRH-1 population exhibits synchronized calcium events with the same periodicity as GnRH-1 release, suggesting a link, though the sequence of events was unclear. GnRH-1 neurons in mouse nasal explants also exhibit synchronized calcium events. In the present work, GnRH-1 release was assayed in mouse nasal explants using radioimmunology and its relationship with calcium signaling analyzed. GnRH-1 neurons generated episodical release as early as 3 d in vitro (div) and maintained such release throughout the period studied (3-21 div). The pulse frequency remained constant, suggesting that the pulse generator is operative at an early developmental stage. In contrast, pulse amplitude increased 2-fold between 3 and 7 div, and again between 7 and 14 div, suggesting maturation in synthesizing and/or secretory mechanisms. To evaluate these possibilities, total GnRH-1 content was measured. Only a small increase in GnRH-1 content was detected between 7 and 14 div, whereas a large increase occurred between 14 and 21 div. These data indicate that GnRH-1 content was not a limiting factor for the amplitude of the pulses at 7 div but that the secretory mechanisms mature between 3 and 14 div. The application of kisspeptin-10 revealed the ability of GnRH-1 neurons to integrate signals from natural ligands into a secretory response. Finally, simultaneous sampling of medium and calcium imaging recordings indicated that the synchronized calcium events and secretory events are congruent.

Kisspeptin-10 facilitates a plasma membrane-driven calcium oscillator in gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 neurons

Kisspeptins, the natural ligands of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR)-54, are the most potent stimulators of GnRH-1 secretion and as such are critical to reproductive function. However, the mechanism by which kisspeptins enhance calcium-regulated neuropeptide secretion is not clear. In the present study, we used GnRH-1 neurons maintained in mice nasal explants to examine the expression and signaling of GPR54. Under basal conditions, GnRH-1 cells exhibited spontaneous baseline oscillations in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), which were critically dependent on the operation of voltage-gated, tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive sodium channels and were not coupled to calcium release from intracellular pools. Activation of native GPR54 by kisspeptin-10 initiated [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations in quiescent GnRH-1 cells, increased the frequency of calcium spiking in oscillating cells that led to summation of individual spikes into plateau-bursting type of calcium signals in a subset of active cells. These changes predominantly reflected the stimulatory effect of GPR54 activation on the plasma membrane oscillator activity via coupling of this receptor to phospholipase C signaling pathways. Both components of this pathway, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and protein kinase C, contributed to the receptor-mediated modulation of baseline [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations. TTX and 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate together abolished agonist-induced elevation in [Ca(2+)](i) in almost all cells, whereas flufenamic acid was less effective. Together these results indicate that a plasma membrane calcium oscillator is spontaneously operative in the majority of prenatal GnRH-1 neurons and is facilitated by kisspeptin-10 through phosphatidyl inositol diphosphate hydrolysis and depolarization of neurons by activating TTX-sensitive sodium channels and nonselective cationic channels.

Involvement of headless myosin X in the motility of immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal cells

Myosin X (Myo X), an unconventional myosin with a tail homology 4-band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (MyTH4-FERM) tail, is expressed ubiquitously in various mammalian tissues. In addition to the full-length Myo X (Myo X FL), a headless form is synthesized in the brain. So far, little is known about the function of this motor-less Myo X. In this study, the role of the headless Myo X was investigated in immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal cells, NLT. NLT cells overexpressing the headless Myo X formed fewer focal adhesions and spread more slowly than the wild-type NLT cells and GFP-expressing NLT cells. In chemomigration assays, the NLT cells overexpressing the headless Myo X migrated shorter distances and had fewer migratory cells compared with the control NLT cells.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 neuronal activity is independent of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels

Pulsatile release of GnRH-1 is essential for secretion of gonadotropin hormones. The frequency of GnRH-1 pulses is regulated during the reproductive cycle by numerous neurotransmitters. Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels have been proposed as a mechanism to integrate the cAMP signal evoked by many neurotransmitters. This study reports the expression of the CNGA2 subunit in GnRH-1 neurons obtained from mouse nasal explants and shows the ability of GnRH-1 neurons to increase their activity in response to forskolin (activator of adenylyl cyclases), or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (inhibitor of phosphodiesterases) even after removal of gamma-aminobutyric acid (A)-ergic input. Next, the endogenous activity of adenylyl cyclases was evaluated as a component of the oscillatory mechanism of GnRH-1 neurons. Inhibition of endogenous activity of adenylyl cyclases did not alter GnRH-1 activity. The potential involvement of CNGA2 subunit in basal or induced activity was tested on GnRH-1 neurons obtained from CNGA2-deficient mice. Without up-regulation of CNGA1 or CNGA3, the absence of functional CNGA2 did not alter either the endogenous GnRH-1 neuronal activity or the response to forskolin, negating CNG channels from cAMP-sensitive mechanisms leading to changes in GnRH-1 neuronal activity. In addition, the potential role of CNGA2 subunit in the synchronization of calcium oscillations previously described was evaluated in GnRH-1 neurons from CNGA2-deficient explants. Synchronized calcium oscillations persisted in CNGA2-deficient GnRH-1 neurons. Taken together, these results indicate that CNGA2 channels are not necessary for either the response of GnRH-1 neurons to cAMP increases or the basal rhythmic activity of GnRH-1 neurons.

Temporal migration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-1 neurones is modified in GAD67 knockout mice

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH-1) neurones reside in the forebrain and regulate gonadal function via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Disruption of this axis results in reproductive dysfunction. During embryonic development, GnRH-1 neurones migrate from the nasal pit through the nasal/forebrain junction (NFJ) into the developing brain. Prenatally gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is excitatory and has been shown to play a role in nervous system development. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that GABA inhibits migration of GnRH-1 neurones. The present study examines the migration of GnRH-1 neurones in GAD67 knockout (KO) mice to further elucidate the role of GABA on GnRH-1 neuronal development. Three stages were examined, embryonic day (E)12.5, E14.5 and E17.5. GnRH-1 cell number and location were analysed by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation histochemistry. The total number of GnRH-1 immunopositive cells was similar between wild-type (WT) and KO mice. However, significant differences were found in the overall distribution of GnRH-1 immunopositive cells in GAD67 KO compared to WT mice at all stages. Subsequent analysis by area revealed differences occurred at the NFJ with an increase in GnRH-1 cells in GAD67 KO at E14.5 and a decrease in GnRH-1 cells in GAD67 KO at E17.5. Comparable counts for cells expressing GnRH-1 transcript and protein were obtained. These data indicate that attenuated levels of GABA accelerate GnRH-1 cell migration in nasal areas as well as movement of GnRH-1 cells into the central nervous system at the NFJ.

Tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the olfactory/respiratory epithelium in early sheep fetuses (Ovis aries)

Transient expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, the first enzyme in catecholamine synthesis) has been shown in different brain and peripheral structures of various species. TH-immunoreactive neurons have been reported in the nasal region of human and rat fetuses migrating to the forebrain with GnRH neurons during embryogenesis. In the present study, immunohistochemical analysis and in situ hybridization were performed in fetal sheep and in vitro sheep embryo olfactory placode cultures to confirm this population in this species. On embryonic days 33 to 35, TH-immunoreactive cells as well as TH cDNA-hybridized cells were found in the olfactory and respiratory epithelium and were spatially separated from GnRH-immunoreactive neurons. In days 40 to 44 of gestation, TH-immunoreactive neurons were no longer observed in the olfactory epithelium, and TH-immunoreactive fibers were found on the trajectories of the olfactory nerves. At this stage, some TH-immunoreactive fibers were also labeled for GnRH. TH-immunoreactive cells were also found in primary cultures of olfactory placodes of fetal sheep at 10 to 18 days in vitro. Some of them coexpressed GnRH. These results imply that olfactory epithelium is also able to give rise to TH expressing cells in fetal sheep, but this expression is suppressed earlier in ontogenesis than in humans due to some unidentified factors not present in the primary cultures of olfactory placode. The role of TH expression remains unclear as in other previously described examples.

In VitroParadigms for the Study of GnRH Neuron Function and Estrogen Effects

The elaboration of in vitro paradigms has enabled direct study of GnRH secretion and the regulation of this process. Common findings using different models are the pulsatile nature and calcium-dependency of GnRH secretion, the excitatory effect of glutamate, and the inhibitory or excitatory effect of GABA. Among the different paradigms, the fetal olfactory placode cultures exhibit the unique property of migration in vitro and may retain the capacity to undergo maturational changes in vitro. The short-term incubation of hypothalamic explants obtained at different ages enables one to study developmental changes as well. Estrogens may have important roles in the regulation of GnRH function and can act indirectly via the neighboring neuronal/glial apparatus and directly on GnRH neurons at the cell body and terminal levels. A direct effect is supported by the recent localization of ERalpha and ERbeta transcripts in GnRH neurons using most paradigms. Discrepant effects of estrogens on GnRH neurons were observed since GnRH biosynthesis is inhibited while GnRH secretion can be either stimulated, unaffected, or reduced. It is likely that the regulatory role of sex steroids including estradiol is very complex since it could involve direct and indirect effects on GnRH neurons through genomic and/or non-genomic mechanisms.

Phenotyping of protein-prion (PrPsc)-accumulating cells in lymphoid and neural tissues of naturally scrapie-affected sheep by double-labeling immunohistochemistry

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases characterized by amyloid deposition of protein-prion (PrPsc), the pathogenic isoform of the host cellular protein PrPc, in the immune and central nervous systems. In the absence of definitive data on the nature of the infectious agent, PrPsc immunohistochemistry (IHC) constitutes one of the main methodologies for pathogenesis studies of these diseases. In situ PrPsc immunolabeling requires formalin fixation and paraffin embedding of tissues, followed by post-embedding antigen retrieval steps such as formic acid and hydrated autoclaving treatments. These procedures result in poor cellular antigen preservation, precluding the phenotyping of cells involved in scrapie pathogenesis. Until now, PrPsc-positive cell phenotyping relied mainly on morphological criteria. To identify these cells under the PrPsc IHC conditions, a new, rapid, and highly sensitive PrPsc double-labeling technique was developed, using a panel of screened antibodies that allow specific labeling of most of the cell subsets and structures using paraffin-embedded lymphoid and neural tissues from sheep, leading to an accurate identification of ovine PrPsc-accumulating cells. This technique constitutes a useful tool for IHC investigation of scrapie pathogenesis and may be applicable to the study of other ovine infectious diseases.

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons: mechanism of pulsatile LHRH release

Many types of neurons and glia exhibit oscillatory changes in membrane potentials and cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations. In neurons and neuroendocrine cells an elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration is associated with neurosecretion. Since both oscillatory membrane potentials and intracellular Ca2+ oscillations have been described in primary LHRH neurons and in GT1 cells, it is evident that an endogenous pulse-generator/oscillator is present in the LHRH neuron in vitro. The hourly rhythms of LHRH neurosecretion appear to be the synchronization of a population of LHRH neurons. How a network of LHRH neurons synchronizes their activity, i.e., whether by the result of synaptic mechanisms or electrical coupling through gap junctions or through a diffusible substance(s), remains to be clarified. Even though LHRH neurons themselves possess an endogenous pulse-generating mechanism, they may be controlled by other neuronal and nonneuronal elements in vivo. NE, NPY, glutamate, and GABA are neurotransmitters possibly controlling pulsatile LHRH release, and NO, cAMP, and ATP may be diffusible substances involved in pulsatile LHRH release without synaptic input. Although synaptic inputs to the perikarya of LHRH neurons could control the activity of LHRH neurons, a line of evidence suggests that direct neuronal and nonneuronal inputs, especially those from astrocytes to LHRH neuroterminals, appear to be more important for pusatile LHRH release.

Immortalized luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons show a different migratory activity in vitro

The development of two cell lines (GT1 and GN) of immortalized LHRH neurons has allowed an accurate study of the mechanisms controlling the synthesis and the secretion of LHRH. These cell lines, obtained in mice by genetic targeted tumorigenesis, retain many of the phenotypic characteristics of LHRH neurons. Of interest, GT1 cells derive from an hypothalamic tumor, whereas GN cells were obtained from a tumor localized in the olfactory bulb. The different origin of these cell lines lead to hypothesize that they might represent hypothalamic postmigratory neurons (GT1 cells), or LHRH neurons blocked at an early stage of their migration (GN cells). Using different experimental procedures, we found that the two cell subclones GT1-7 and GN11 express a different morphology and migratory behavior in vitro. In particular, we found that GN11 cells, but not GT1-7 cells, show the morphological shape of migrating neurons. When analyzing the spontaneous motility we found that only GN11 cells express a high capacity of migrating in a matrix of collagen gel. Moreover, in a chemomigratory assay GN11 cells did show a significant response to the chemotactic stimulus represented by the FBS. On the contrary, GT1-7 cells show very low spontaneous motility and appear insensitive to the FBS stimulus. These results suggest that the simultaneous use of the GT1-7/GN11 cells may represent an experimental tool for screening the factors possibly involved in the control of the migratory processes of LHRH neurons in normal and in pathological conditions, such as those due to their impaired migration, like it happens in Kallmann's syndrome.

Early, middle, and late stages of neural cells from ovine embryo in primary cultures

The utilization of neural cells in culture has importantly increased the knowledge of the nervous system biology. In most studies, the investigations are performed on biological materials coming from common laboratory animals and the extrapolation of the results to other animals is not easy. For some studies, such as developmental biology of the nervous system, prion disease investigations, or agronomical production, the utilization of ovine neural cell cultures presents many advantages. Unfortunately, there are few data on the conditions of culture of such cells. In the present work, we investigated simple ways to obtain neurons and astrocytes from sheep brain. Viable neuronal cell cultures were obtained from 40 to 50 day old fetuses. Their morphologies were quite similar to that of neurons from rodent or chick brain and they were labeled by antineurofilament antibodies. Stages older than 50 days of pregnancy were unable to give viable culture of neurons. The stages of 40 day old fetus to newborn lamb were able to give viable astrocyte cultures. The common protoplasmic astrocytes were obtained and they were labeled by antiglial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies. The astrocytes contained glycogen, thus looking like the common astrocytes from rodents. Neuronal or astroglial cultures can be derived from 26 day old embryos, but the cultures contained contaminating cells. Among the latter cells, there were undifferentiated cells which were flat and epitheloid and which were grouped as islets. These cells could be maintained in culture for a time duration over 7 months, even after two passages. They differentiated principally in astrocytes with a radial configuration. This work shows how some neural cells can be simply and easily cultured from sheep brain. For the first time, neurons were cultured from the sheep embryonic brain. Moreover, stem cells were cultured for more than 7 months and, finally, glycogen accumulation in sheep astrocytes was shown to be the same as that in rodent astrocytes. The oligodendrocyte culture was already documented. Thus, sheep can easily be used as well as other models for neural cell studies.