Estrogen-dependent expression and function of secretogranin 2a in female-specific peptidergic neurons
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PROVIDER: S-EPMC10726998 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:AimTo understand the direct impact of bradykinin in autonomic control of circulation through baroreflex afferent pathway.MethodsThe mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored while bradykinin and its agonists were applied via nodose (NG) microinjection, the expression of bradykinin receptors (BRs) in the NG (1st -order) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS, 2nd -order) were tested in adult male, age-matched female, and ovariectomized rats under physiological and hypertensive conditions. Additionally, bradykinin-induced depolarization was also tested in identified baroreceptor and baroreceptive neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp technique.ResultsUnder physiological condition, bradykinin-induced dose- and estrogen-dependent reductions of MAP with lower estimated EC50 in females. B2 R agonist mediated more dramatic MAP reduction with long-lasting effect compared with B1 R activation. These functional observations were consistent with the molecular and immunostaining evidences. However, under hypertensive condition, the MAP reduction was significantly less dramatic in N' -Nitro-L-Arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) induced secondary and spontaneous hypertension rats in males compared with female rats. Electrophysiological data showed that bradykinin-elicited concentration-dependent membrane depolarization with discharges during initial phase in identified myelinated Ah-types baroreceptor neurons, not myelinated A-types; while, higher concentration of bradykinin was required for depolarization of unmyelinated C-types without initial discharges.ConclusionThese datasets have demonstrated for the first time that bradykinin mediates direct activation of baroreflex afferent function to trigger estrogen-dependent depressor response, which is due mainly to the direct activation/neuroexcitation of female-specific myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons leading to a sexual dimorphism in parasympathetic domination of blood pressure regulation via activation of B2 R/B1 R expression in baroreflex afferent pathway.
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Project description:Peptidergic neurons often co-express fast transmitters and neuropeptides in separate vesicles with distinct release properties. However, the release dynamics of each transmitter in various contexts have not been fully understood in behaving animals. Here, we demonstrate that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) neurons in the external lateral subdivision of the parabrachial nucleus (CGRPPBel) encode opposing valence via differential release, rather than co-release, of glutamate and neuropeptides, according to firing rate. Glutamate is released preferentially at lower firing rates with minimal release at higher firing rates, whereas neuropeptides are released at higher firing rates, resulting in frequency-dependent switching of transmitters. Aversive stimuli evoke high frequency responses with accompanying neuropeptide release to encode negative valence, whereas appetitive stimuli evoke low frequency responses with glutamate release to encode positive valence. Our study reveals a previously unknown capability of single CGRPPBel neurons to bidirectionally encode valence via frequency-dependent differential release of transmitters in vivo.
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Project description:Central estrogen signaling coordinates energy expenditure, reproduction, and in concert with peripheral estrogen impacts skeletal homeostasis in females. Here, we ablate estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the medial basal hypothalamus and find a robust bone phenotype only in female mice that results in exceptionally strong trabecular and cortical bones, whose density surpasses other reported mouse models. Stereotaxic guided deletion of ERα in the arcuate nucleus increases bone mass in intact and ovariectomized females, confirming the central role of estrogen signaling in this sex-dependent bone phenotype. Loss of ERα in kisspeptin (Kiss1)-expressing cells is sufficient to recapitulate the bone phenotype, identifying Kiss1 neurons as a critical node in this powerful neuroskeletal circuit. We propose that this newly-identified female brain-to-bone pathway exists as a homeostatic regulator diverting calcium and energy stores from bone building when energetic demands are high. Our work reveals a previously unknown target for treatment of age-related bone disease.
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