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Ivanova D, O’Byrne KT. New methods to investigate the GnRH pulse generator. J Mol Endocrinol 2024; 72:e230079. [PMID: 38085702 PMCID: PMC10831570 DOI: 10.1530/jme-23-0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The exact neural construct underlying the dynamic secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has only recently been identified despite the detection of multiunit electrical activity volleys associated with pulsatile luteinising hormone (LH) secretion four decades ago. Since the discovery of kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin neurons in the mammalian hypothalamus, there has been much research into the role of this neuronal network in controlling the oscillatory secretion of gonadotrophin hormones. In this review, we provide an update of the progressive application of cutting-edge techniques combined with mathematical modelling by the neuroendocrine community, which are transforming the functional investigation of the GnRH pulse generator. Understanding the nature and function of the GnRH pulse generator can greatly inform a wide range of clinical studies investigating infertility treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, UK
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, UK
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Yu J, Li XF, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Zavala E, O’Byrne KT. Chemogenetic activation of PVN CRH neurons disrupts the estrous cycle and LH dynamics in female mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1322662. [PMID: 38264285 PMCID: PMC10803550 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1322662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The impact of stress on reproductive function is significant. Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a major role in regulating the stress response. Understanding how the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis interact is crucial for comprehending how stress can lead to reproductive dysfunction. However, whether stress influences reproductive function via modulating PVN CRH or HPA sequelae is not fully elucidated. Methods In this study, we investigated the impact of chemogenetic activation of PVN CRH neurons on reproductive function. We chronically and selectively stimulated PVN CRH neurons in female CRH-Cre mice using excitatory designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) viral constructs, which were bilaterally injected into the PVN. The agonist compound-21 (C21) was delivered through the drinking water. We determined the effects of DREADDs activation of PVN CRH neurons on the estrous cycles, LH pulse frequency in diestrus and metestrus and LH surge in proestrus mice. The effect of long-term C21 administration on basal corticosterone secretion and the response to acute restraint stress during metestrus was also examined. Additionally, computer simulations of a mathematical model were used to determine the effects of DREADDs activation of PVN CRH neurons, simulating chronic stress, on the physiological parameters examined experimentally. Results As a result, and consistent with our mathematical model predictions, the length of the estrous cycle was extended, with an increase in the time spent in estrus and metestrus, and a decrease in proestrus and diestrus. Additionally, the frequency of LH pulses during metestrus was decreased, but unaffected during diestrus. The occurrence of the preovulatory LH surge during proestrus was disrupted. The basal level of corticosterone during metestrus was not affected, but the response to acute restraint stress was diminished after long-term C21 application. Discussion These data suggest that PVN CRH neurons play a functional role in disrupting ovarian cyclicity and the preovulatory LH surge, and that the activity of the GnRH pulse generator remains relatively robust during diestrus but not during metestrus under chronic stress exposure in accordance with our mathematical model predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junru Yu
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Eder Zavala
- Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Ivanova D, Li XF, McIntyre C, O’Byrne KT. Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Urocortin-3, GABA, and Glutamate Mediate Suppression of LH Pulsatility in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 164:6852761. [PMID: 36445688 PMCID: PMC9761574 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream modulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. Inhibition of MePD urocortin-3 (Ucn3) neurons prevents psychological stress-induced suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility while blocking the stress-induced elevations in corticosterone (CORT) secretion in female mice. We explore the neurotransmission and neural circuitry suppressing the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator by MePD Ucn3 neurons and we further investigate whether MePD Ucn3 efferent projections to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) control CORT secretion and LH pulsatility. Ucn3-cre-tdTomato female ovariectomized (OVX) mice were unilaterally injected with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) and implanted with optofluid cannulae targeting the MePD. We optically activated Ucn3 neurons in the MePD with blue light at 10 Hz and monitored the effect on LH pulses. Next, we combined optogenetic stimulation of MePD Ucn3 neurons with pharmacological antagonism of GABAA or GABAB receptors with bicuculline or CGP-35348, respectively, as well as a combination of NMDA and AMPA receptor antagonists, AP5 and CNQX, respectively, and observed the effect on pulsatile LH secretion. A separate group of Ucn3-cre-tdTomato OVX mice with 17β-estradiol replacement were unilaterally injected with AAV-ChR2 in the MePD and implanted with fiber-optic cannulae targeting the PVN. We optically stimulated the MePD Ucn3 efferent projections in the PVN with blue light at 20 Hz and monitored the effect on CORT secretion and LH pulses. We reveal for the first time that activation of Ucn3 neurons in the MePD inhibits GnRH pulse generator frequency via GABA and glutamate signaling within the MePD, while MePD Ucn3 projections to the PVN modulate the HPG and HPA axes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Correspondence: Deyana Ivanova, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK. ; or Kevin T. O’Byrne, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | | | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Correspondence: Deyana Ivanova, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK. ; or Kevin T. O’Byrne, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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McIntyre C, Li XF, de Burgh R, Ivanova D, Lass G, O’Byrne KT. GABA Signaling in the Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Mediates Stress-induced Suppression of LH Pulsatility in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 164:6855642. [PMID: 36453253 PMCID: PMC9757692 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Psychological stress is linked to infertility by suppressing the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. The posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream regulator of GnRH pulse generator activity and displays increased neuronal activation during psychological stress. The MePD is primarily a GABAergic nucleus with a strong GABAergic projection to hypothalamic reproductive centers; however, their functional significance has not been determined. We hypothesize that MePD GABAergic signalling mediates psychological stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion. We selectively inhibited MePD GABA neurons during psychological stress in ovariectomized (OVX) Vgat-cre-tdTomato mice to determine the effect on stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion. MePD GABA neurons were virally infected with inhibitory hM4DGi-designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) to selectively inhibit MePD GABA neurons. Furthermore, we optogenetically stimulated potential MePD GABAergic projection terminals in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) and determined the effect on pulsatile LH secretion. MePD GABA neurons in OVX female Vgat-cre-tdTomato mice were virally infected to express channelrhodopsin-2 and MePD GABAergic terminals in the ARC were selectively stimulated by blue light via an optic fiber implanted in the ARC. DREADD-mediated inhibition of MePD GABA neurons blocked predator odor and restraint stress-induced suppression of LH pulse frequency. Furthermore, sustained optogenetic stimulation at 10 and 20 Hz of MePD GABAergic terminals in the ARC suppressed pulsatile LH secretion. These results show for the first time that GABAergic signalling in the MePD mediates psychological stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion and suggest a functionally significant MePD GABAergic projection to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Guy's Campus, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, London, SE1 1UL, UK. kevin.o'
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Ivanova D, Li X, Liu Y, McIntyre C, Fernandes C, Lass G, Kong L, O’Byrne KT. Role of Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Urocortin-3 in Pubertal Timing in Female Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:893029. [PMID: 35655799 PMCID: PMC9152449 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.893029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder impedes pubertal development and disrupts pulsatile LH secretion in humans and rodents. The posterodorsal sub-nucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream modulator of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, pubertal timing, as well as emotional processing and anxiety. Psychosocial stress exposure alters neuronal activity within the MePD increasing the expression of Urocortin3 (Ucn3) and its receptor corticotropin-releasing factor type-2 receptor (CRFR2) while enhancing the inhibitory output from the MePD to key hypothalamic reproductive centres. We test the hypothesis that psychosocial stress, processed by the MePD, is relayed to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator to delay puberty in female mice. We exposed C57Bl6/J female mice to the predator odor, 2,4,5-Trimethylthiazole (TMT), during pubertal transition and examined the effect on pubertal timing, pre-pubertal LH pulses and anxiety-like behaviour. Subsequently, we virally infected Ucn3-cre-tdTomato female mice with stimulatory DREADDs targeting MePD Ucn3 neurons and determined the effect on pubertal timing and pre-pubertal LH pulse frequency. Exposure to TMT during pubertal development delayed puberty, suppressed pre-pubertal LH pulsatility and enhanced anxiety-like behaviour, while activation of MePD Ucn3 neurons reduced LH pulse frequency and delayed puberty. Early psychosocial stress exposure decreases GnRH pulse generator frequency delaying puberty while inducing anxiety-behaviour in female mice, an effect potentially involving Ucn3 neurons in the MePD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - XiaoFeng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Caitlin McIntyre
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lingsi Kong
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Voliotis M, Plain Z, Li XF, McArdle CA, O’Byrne KT, Tsaneva‐Atanasova K. Mathematical models in GnRH research. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13085. [PMID: 35080068 PMCID: PMC9285519 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical modelling is an indispensable tool in modern biosciences, enabling quantitative analysis and integration of biological data, transparent formulation of our understanding of complex biological systems, and efficient experimental design based on model predictions. This review article provides an overview of the impact that mathematical models had on GnRH research. Indeed, over the last 20 years mathematical modelling has been used to describe and explore the physiology of the GnRH neuron, the mechanisms underlying GnRH pulsatile secretion, and GnRH signalling to the pituitary. Importantly, these models have contributed to GnRH research via novel hypotheses and predictions regarding the bursting behaviour of the GnRH neuron, the role of kisspeptin neurons in the emergence of pulsatile GnRH dynamics, and the decoding of GnRH signals by biochemical signalling networks. We envisage that with the advent of novel experimental technologies, mathematical modelling will have an even greater role to play in our endeavour to understand the complex spatiotemporal dynamics underlying the reproductive neuroendocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaritis Voliotis
- Department of Mathematics and Living Systems InstituteCollege of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Zoe Plain
- Department of Mathematics and Living Systems InstituteCollege of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s HealthSchool of Life Course SciencesKing’s College LondonLondonUK
| | - Craig A. McArdle
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and EndocrinologySchool of Clinical SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s HealthSchool of Life Course SciencesKing’s College LondonLondonUK
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva‐Atanasova
- Department of Mathematics and Living Systems InstituteCollege of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
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Shen X, Liu Y, Li XF, Long H, Wang L, Lyu Q, Kuang Y, O’Byrne KT. Optogenetic stimulation of Kiss1 ARC terminals in the AVPV induces surge-like luteinizing hormone secretion via glutamate release in mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1036235. [PMID: 36425470 PMCID: PMC9678915 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1036235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin neurons are mainly located in the arcuate (Kiss1ARC, vis-à-vis the GnRH pulse generator) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (Kiss1AVPV, vis-à-vis the GnRH surge generator). Kiss1ARC send fibre projections that connect with Kiss1AVPV somata. However, studies focused on the role of Kiss1ARC neurons in the LH surge are limited, and the role of Kiss1ARC projections to AVPV (Kiss1ARC→AVPV) in the preovulatory LH surge is still unknown. To investigate its function, this study used optogenetics to selectively stimulate Kiss1ARC→AVPV and measured changes in circulating LH levels. Kiss1ARC in Kiss-Cre-tdTomato mice were virally infected to express channelrhodopsin-2 proteins, and optical stimulation was applied selectively via a fibre optic cannula in the AVPV. Sustained 20 Hz optical stimulation of Kiss1ARC→AVPV from 15:30 to 16:30 h on proestrus effectively induced an immediate increase in LH reaching peak surge-like levels of around 8 ng/ml within 10 min, followed by a gradual decline to baseline over about 40 min. Stimulation at 10 Hz resulted in a non-significant increase in LH levels and 5 Hz stimulation had no effect in proestrous animals. The 20 Hz stimulation induced significantly higher circulating LH levels on proestrus compared with diestrus or estrus, which suggested that the effect of terminal stimulation is modulated by the sex steroid milieu. Additionally, intra-AVPV infusion of glutamate antagonists, AP5+CNQX, completely blocked the increase on LH levels induced by Kiss1ARC→AVPV terminal photostimulation in proestrous animals. These results demonstrate for the first time that optical stimulation of Kiss1ARC→AVPV induces an LH surge-like secretion via glutamatergic mechanisms. In conclusion, Kiss1ARC may participate in LH surge generation by glutamate release from terminal projections in the AVPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Shen
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hui Long
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qifeng Lyu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanping Kuang
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, ; Yanping Kuang,
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, ; Yanping Kuang,
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Ivanova D, Li XF, McIntyre C, Liu Y, Kong L, O’Byrne KT. Urocortin3 in the Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Mediates Stress-induced Suppression of LH Pulsatility in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6383454. [PMID: 34618891 PMCID: PMC8547342 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress disrupts reproduction and interferes with pulsatile LH secretion. The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream modulator of the reproductive axis and stress. Corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptors (CRFR2s) are activated in the presence of psychosocial stress together with increased expression of the CRFR2 ligand Urocortin3 (Ucn3) in the MePD of rodents. We investigate whether Ucn3 signalling in the MePD is involved in mediating the suppressive effect of psychosocial stress on LH pulsatility. First, we administered Ucn3 into the MePD and monitored the effect on LH pulses in ovariectomized mice. Next, we delivered Astressin2B, a selective CRFR2 antagonist, intra-MePD in the presence of predator odor, 2,4,5-trimethylthiazole (TMT) and examined the effect on LH pulses. Subsequently, we virally infected Ucn3-cre-tdTomato mice with inhibitory designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) targeting MePD Ucn3 neurons while exposing mice to TMT or restraint stress and examined the effect on LH pulsatility as well as corticosterone release. Administration of Ucn3 into the MePD dose-dependently inhibited LH pulses and administration of Astressin2B blocked the suppressive effect of TMT on LH pulsatility. Additionally, DREADDs inhibition of MePD Ucn3 neurons blocked TMT and restraint stress-induced inhibition of LH pulses and corticosterone release. These results demonstrate for the first time that Ucn3 neurons in the MePD mediate psychosocial stress-induced suppression of the GnRH pulse generator and corticosterone secretion. Ucn3 signalling in the MePD plays a role in modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes, and this brain locus may represent a nodal center in the interaction between the reproductive and stress axes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Correspondence: Deyana Ivanova, PhD, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Caitlin McIntyre
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingsi Kong
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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Lin XH, Lass G, Kong LS, Wang H, Li XF, Huang HF, O’Byrne KT. Optogenetic Activation of Arcuate Kisspeptin Neurons Generates a Luteinizing Hormone Surge-Like Secretion in an Estradiol-Dependent Manner. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:775233. [PMID: 34795643 PMCID: PMC8593229 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.775233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nucleus has been the brain area associated with luteinizing hormone (LH) surge secretion in rodents. However, the role of the other population of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons, in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), has been less well characterized with respect to surge generation. Previous experiments have demonstrated ARC kisspeptin knockdown reduced the amplitude of LH surges, indicating that they have a role in surge amplification. The present study used an optogenetic approach to selectively stimulate ARC kisspeptin neurons and examine the effect on LH surges in mice with different hormonal administrations. LH level was monitored from 13:00 to 21:00 h, at 30-minute intervals. Intact Kiss-Cre female mice showed increased LH secretion during the stimulation period in addition to displaying a spontaneous LH surge around the time of lights off. In ovariectomized Kiss-Cre mice, optogenetic stimulation was followed by a surge-like secretion of LH immediately after the stimulation period. Ovariectomized Kiss-Cre mice with a low dose of 17β-estradiol (OVX+E) replacement displayed a surge-like increase in LH release during period of optic stimulation. No LH response to the optic stimulation was observed in OVX+E mice on the day of estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment (day 1). However, after administration of progesterone (day 2), all OVX+E+EB+P mice exhibited an LH surge during optic stimulation. A spontaneous LH surge also occurred in these mice at the expected time. Taken together, these results help to affirm the fact that ARC kisspeptin may have a novel amplificatory role in LH surge production, which is dependent on the gonadal steroid milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Hua Lin
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geffen Lass
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling-Si Kong
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, kevin.o’
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Liu Y, Li X, Shen X, Ivanova D, Lass G, He W, Chen Q, Yu S, Wang Y, Long H, Wang L, Lyu Q, Kuang Y, O’Byrne KT. Dynorphin and GABAA Receptor Signaling Contribute to Progesterone's Inhibition of the LH Surge in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5808894. [PMID: 32181477 PMCID: PMC7153819 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone can block estrogen-induced luteinising hormone (LH) surge secretion and can be used clinically to prevent premature LH surges. The blocking effect of progesterone on the LH surge is mediated through its receptor in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of the hypothalamus. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The preovulatory LH surge induced by estrogen is preceded by a significant reduction in hypothalamic dynorphin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release. To test the detailed roles of dynorphin and GABA in an LH surge blockade by progesterone, ovariectomized and 17β-estradiol capsule-implanted (OVX/E2) mice received simultaneous injections of estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) or vehicle for 2 consecutive days. The LH level was monitored from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm at 30-minute intervals. Progesterone coadministration resulted in the LH surge blockade. A continuous microinfusion of the dynorphin receptor antagonist nor-BNI or GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline into the AVPV from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm reversed the progesterone-mediated blockade of the LH surge in 7 of 9 and 6 of 10 mice, respectively. In addition, these LH surges started much earlier than the surge induced by estrogen alone. However, 5 of 7 progesterone-treated mice did not show LH surge secretion after microinfusion with the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP-35348. Additionally, peripheral administration of kisspeptin-54 promotes LH surge-like release in progesterone treated mice. These results demonstrated that the progesterone-mediated suppression of the LH surge is mediated by an increase in dynorphin and GABAA receptor signaling acting though kisspeptin neurons in the AVPV of the hypothalamus in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
| | - Xi Shen
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
| | - Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
| | - Wen He
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuju Chen
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Sha Yu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Long
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Qifeng Lyu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanping Kuang
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
- Correspondence: Kevin O’Byrne, PhD, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Guy’s Campus, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL. E-mail: ; or Yanping Kuang, Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. E-mail:
| | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, UK
- Correspondence: Kevin O’Byrne, PhD, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Guy’s Campus, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL. E-mail: ; or Yanping Kuang, Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. E-mail:
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Adekunbi DA, Li XF, Li S, Adegoke OA, Iranloye BO, Morakinyo AO, Lightman SL, Taylor PD, Poston L, O’Byrne KT. Role of amygdala kisspeptin in pubertal timing in female rats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183596. [PMID: 28846730 PMCID: PMC5573137 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the mechanism by which maternal obesity disrupts reproductive function in offspring, we examined Kiss1 expression in the hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei, and posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) of pre-pubertal and young adult offspring. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a standard or energy-dense diet for six weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Male and female offspring were weaned onto normal diet on postnatal day (pnd) 21. Brains were collected on pnd 30 or 100 for qRT-PCR to determine Kiss1 mRNA levels. Maternal obesity increased Kiss1 mRNA expression in the MePD of pre-pubertal male and female offspring, whereas Kiss1 expression was not affected in the ARC or AVPV at this age. Maternal obesity reduced Kiss1 expression in all three brain regions of 3 month old female offspring, but only in MePD of males. The role of MePD kisspeptin on puberty, estrous cyclicity and preovulatory LH surges was assessed directly in a separate group of post-weanling and young adult female rats exposed to a normal diet throughout their life course. Bilateral intra-MePD cannulae connected to osmotic mini-pumps for delivery of kisspeptin receptor antagonist (Peptide 234 for 14 days) were chronically implanted on pnd 21 or 100. Antagonism of MePD kisspeptin delayed puberty onset, disrupted estrous cyclicity and reduced the incidence of LH surges. These data show that the MePD plays a key role in pubertal timing and ovulation and that maternal obesity may act via amygdala kisspeptin signaling to influence reproductive function in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Adekunbi
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shengyun Li
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olufeyi A. Adegoke
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Bolanle O. Iranloye
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Ayodele O. Morakinyo
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Stafford L. Lightman
- Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Paul D. Taylor
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucilla Poston
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Division of Women’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Wu XQ, Li XF, Xia WT, Ye B, O’Byrne KT. The effects of small litter rearing on ovarian function at puberty and adulthood in the rat. Reprod Biol 2016; 16:130-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Kinsey-Jones JS, Beale KE, Cuenco J, Li XF, Bloom SR, O’Byrne KT, Murphy KG. Quantification of rat kisspeptin using a novel radioimmunoassay. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97611. [PMID: 24845101 PMCID: PMC4028310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin is a hypothalamic peptide hormone that plays a pivotal role in pubertal onset and reproductive function. Previous studies have examined hypothalamic kisspeptin mRNA expression, either through in situ hybridisation or real-time RT-PCR, as a means quantifying kisspeptin gene expression. However, mRNA expression levels are not always reflected in levels of the translated protein. Kisspeptin-immunoreactivity (IR) has been extensively examined using immunohistochemistry, enabling detection and localisation of kisspeptin perikaya in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV). However, quantification of kisspeptin-IR remains challenging. We developed a specific rodent radioimmunoassay assay (RIA) capable of detecting and quantifying kisspeptin-IR in rodent tissues. The RIA uses kisspeptin-10 as a standard and radioactive tracer, combined with a commercially available antibody raised to the kisspeptin-10 fragment. Adult female wistar rat brain samples were sectioned at 300 µm and the ARC and AVPV punch micro-dissected. Brain punches were homogenised in extraction buffer and assayed with rodent kisspeptin-RIA. In accord with the pattern of kisspeptin mRNA expression, kisspeptin-IR was detected in both the ARC (47.1±6.2 fmol/punch, mean±SEM n = 15) and AVPV (7.6±1.3 fmol/punch, mean±SEM n = 15). Kisspeptin-IR was also detectable in rat placenta (1.26±0.15 fmol/mg). Reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis showed that hypothalamic kisspeptin-IR had the same elution profile as a synthetic rodent kisspeptin standard. A specific rodent kisspeptin-RIA will allow accurate quantification of kisspeptin peptide levels within specific tissues in rodent experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Kinsey-Jones
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kylie E. Beale
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Cuenco
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Bloom
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin G. Murphy
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Grachev P, Li XF, Lin YS, Hu MH, Elsamani L, Paterson SJ, Millar RP, Lightman SL, O’Byrne KT. GPR54-dependent stimulation of luteinizing hormone secretion by neurokinin B in prepubertal rats. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44344. [PMID: 23028524 PMCID: PMC3460954 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin A (Dyn) are coexpressed within KNDy neurons that project from the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) to GnRH neurons and numerous other hypothalamic targets. Each of the KNDy neuropeptides has been implicated in regulating pulsatile GnRH/LH secretion. In isolation, kisspeptin is generally known to stimulate, and Dyn to inhibit LH secretion. However, the NKB analog, senktide, has variously been reported to inhibit, stimulate or have no effect on LH secretion. In prepubertal mice, rats and monkeys, senktide stimulates LH secretion. Furthermore, in the monkey this effect is dependent on kisspeptin signaling through its receptor, GPR54. The present study tested the hypotheses that the stimulatory effects of NKB on LH secretion in intact rats are mediated by kisspeptin/GPR54 signaling and are independent of a Dyn tone. To test this, ovarian-intact prepubertal rats were subjected to frequent automated blood sampling before and after intracerebroventricular injections of KNDy neuropeptide analogs. Senktide robustly induced single LH pulses, while neither the GPR54 antagonist, Kp-234, nor the Dyn agonist and antagonist (U50488 and nor-BNI, respectively) had an effect on basal LH levels. However, Kp-234 potently blocked the senktide-induced LH pulses. Modulation of the Dyn tone by U50488 or nor-BNI did not affect the senktide-induced LH pulses. These data demonstrate that the stimulatory effect of NKB on LH secretion in intact female rats is dependent upon kisspeptin/GPR54 signaling, but not on Dyn signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasha Grachev
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yuan Shao Lin
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ming Han Hu
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leena Elsamani
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stewart J. Paterson
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert P. Millar
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- University of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Group for Receptor Biology, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stafford L. Lightman
- Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Division of Women’s Health, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: kevin.o’
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