Sex- and age-specific differences in relaxin family peptide receptor expression within the hippocampus and amygdala in rats

Relaxin is an essential pregnancy-related hormone with broad peripheral effects mediated by activation of relaxin-like family peptide 1 receptors (RXFP1). More recent studies suggest an additional role for relaxin as a neuropeptide, with RXFP1 receptors expressed in numerous brain regions. Neurons in an area of the brainstem known as the nucleus incertus (NI) produce relaxin 3 (RLN3), the most recently identified neuropeptide in the relaxin family. RLN3 has been shown to activate both RXFP1 and relaxin-like family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3) receptor subtypes. Studies suggest wide-ranging neuromodulatory effects of both RXFP1 and RXFP3 activation, although to date the majority of studies have been conducted in young males. In the current study, we examined potential sex- and age-related changes in RLN3 gene expression in the NI as well as RXFP1 and RXFP3 gene expression in the dorsal hippocampus (HI), ventral hippocampus (vHI) and amygdala (AMYG) using young adult (9-12weeks) and middle-aged (9-12months) male and female rats. In addition, regional changes in RXFP1 and RXFP3 protein expression were examined in the CA1, CA2/CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) as well as within basolateral (BLA), central (CeA), and medial (MeA) amygdaloid nuclei. In the NI, RLN3 showed an age-related decrease in males. In the HI, only the RXFP3 receptor showed an age-related change in gene expression, however, both receptor subtypes showed age-related changes in protein expression that were region specific. Additionally, while gene and protein expression of both receptors increased with age in AMYG, these effects were both region- and sex-specific. Finally, overall males displayed a greater number of cells that express the RXFP3 protein in all of the amygdaloid nuclei examined. Cognitive and emotional processes regulated by activity within the HI and AMYG are modulated by both sex and age. The vast majority of studies exploring the influence of sex on age-related changes in the HI and AMYG have focused on sex hormones, with few studies examining the role of neuropeptides. The current findings suggest that changes in relaxin family peptides may contribute to the significant sex differences observed in these brain regions as a function of aging.

Prevalence and phenotype consequence of FRAXA and FRAXE alleles in a large, ethnically diverse, special education-needs population

We conducted a large population-based survey of fragile X (FRAXA) syndrome in ethnically diverse metropolitan Atlanta. The eligible study population consisted of public school children, aged 7-10 years, in special education-needs (SEN) classes. The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence among whites and, for the first time, African Americans, among a non-clinically referred population. At present, 5 males with FRAXA syndrome (4 whites and 1 African American), among 1,979 tested males, and no females, among 872 tested females, were identified. All males with FRAXA syndrome were mentally retarded and had been diagnosed previously. The prevalence for FRAXA syndrome was estimated to be 1/3,460 (confidence interval [CI] 1/7,143-1/1,742) for the general white male population and 1/4, 048 (CI 1/16,260-1/1,244) for the general African American male population. We also compared the frequency of intermediate and premutation FRAXA alleles (41-199 repeats) and fragile XE syndrome alleles (31-199 repeats) in the SEN population with that in a control population, to determine if there was a possible phenotype consequence of such high-repeat alleles, as has been reported previously. No difference was observed between our case and control populations, and no difference was observed between populations when the probands were grouped by a rough estimate of IQ based on class placement. These results suggest that there is no phenotype consequence of larger alleles that would cause carriers to be placed in an SEN class.

Survey of the fragile X syndrome and the fragile X E syndrome in a special education needs population

To begin to understand the population dynamics of the fragile X (FRAXA) mutation and to learn more about the fragile X E (FRAXE) syndrome, we have initiated a surve of children in special needs education programs in the public school system. With respect to the FRAXA syndrome, we found approximately 1/1,000 full mutations among males. No large alleles at the FRAXE locus were observed among 462 individuals. The allele distributions at the two loci among Caucasians and among African Americans were examined as well as the level of heterozygosity. We found a significant difference in the FRAXA allele distribution among the two ethnic groups; the major difference was due to the lack of smaller alleles among the African Americans. No difference was found for the FRAXE allele distribution among the two groups. The level of heterozygosity was less than predicted by the allele distribution at both loci. This is probably due to unidentified large alleles among females with a test result of a single band. Alternatively, this excess may indicate that the population is not at equilibrium.

Examination of factors that influence the expansion of the fragile X mutation in a sample of conceptuses from known carrier females

The Collaborative Prospective Fragile X Study was established to collect information on the pregnancy outcome of women known to be carriers of the fragile X syndrome. The prospective design of this study allows collection of ascertainment-free data and, thereby, avoids biases caused by sampling problems encountered in retrospective family studies. The results of 337 submitted cases are summarized. These data show that the segregation of the fragile X mutation is normal and the sex ratio of conceptuses is as expected for a prenatal sample. There is no excess of dizygotic twinning among the pre- or full mutation carrier females. Data are limited at this time but provide a suggestion that the risk of expansion to the full mutation may be correlated with maternal age and to the parental origin of premutation of carrier women. More data are needed to confirm these suggested trends. The prospective data base provides a valuable resource to continue to examine factors in an unbiased fashion.