scholarly journals Oxytocin and vasopressin within the ventral and dorsal lateral septum modulate aggression in female rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinícius Elias de Moura Oliveira ◽  
Michael Lukas ◽  
Hannah Nora Wolf ◽  
Elisa Durante ◽  
Alexandra Lorenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Virgin Female ◽  
Lateral Septum ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Gabaergic Inhibition ◽  
In Vitro Activation ◽  
Inhibitory Tone ◽  
Increased Activity

AbstractIn contrast to male rats, aggression in virgin female rats has been rarely studied. Here, we established a rat model of enhanced aggression in females using a combination of social isolation and aggression-training to specifically investigate the involvement of the oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) systems within the lateral septum (LS). Using neuropharmacological, optogenetic, chemogenetic as well as microdialysis approaches, we revealed that enhanced OXT release within the ventral LS (vLS), combined with reduced AVP release within the dorsal LS (dLS), is required for aggression in female rats. Accordingly, increased activity of putative OXT receptor-positive neurons in the vLS, and decreased activity of putative AVP receptor-positive neurons in the dLS, are likely to underly aggression in female rats. Finally, in vitro activation of OXT receptors in the vLS increased tonic GABAergic inhibition of dLS neurons. Overall, our data suggest a model showing that septal release of OXT and AVP differentially affects aggression in females by modulating the inhibitory tone within LS sub-networks.

scholarly journals Concerted but segregated actions of oxytocin and vasopressin within the ventral and dorsal lateral septum determine female aggression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinícius Elias de Moura Oliveira ◽  
Michael Lukas ◽  
Hannah Nora Wolf ◽  
Elisa Durante ◽  
Alexandra Lorenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Differential Regulation ◽  
Lateral Septum ◽  
Female Aggression ◽  
Gabaergic Inhibition

ABSTRACTIn contrast to males, aggression in females has been rarely studied. Here, we established a rat model of enhanced female aggression using a combination of social isolation and aggression-training to specifically investigate the involvement of the oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems within the lateral septum (LS). Using neuropharmacological, optogenetic, chemogenetic as well as microdialyses approaches, we revealed that enhanced OXT release within the ventral LS (vLS), combined with reduced AVP release within the dorsal LS (dLS), are required for female aggression. Accordingly, increased excitability of OXT-responsive neurons in the vLS and decreased excitability of AVP-responsive neurons in the dLS were essential to evoke female aggression. Finally, in vitro activation of OXT receptors in the vLS increased tonic GABAergic inhibition of dLS neurons. Overall, our data demonstrate that septal release of OXT and AVP affects female aggression by differential regulation of the excitatory-inhibitory balance within subnetworks of the LS.

Effects of in vivo gonadal hormone environment on in vitro hGRF-40-stimulated GH release

1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (3) ◽  
pp. E276-E280 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Evans ◽  
R. J. Krieg ◽  
E. R. Limber ◽  
D. L. Kaiser ◽  
M. O. Thorner
Keyword(s):  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Gonadal Hormone ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Intact Male ◽  
Castrate Male ◽  
Basal Release

The effects of gender and the gonadal hormone environment on basal and stimulated growth hormone (GH) release by dispersed and continuously perifused rat anterior pituitary cells were examined. Cells from intact male and diestrus day 2 female rats and from castrate male rats either untreated or treated with testosterone (T) or 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were used. Basal GH release (ng/min per 10(7) cells; mean +/- SE) by cells from diestrus day 2 female rats was less than by cells from castrate rats treated with T (4.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 11.4 +/- 2.7, respectively; P less than 0.025). No other differences in basal release were detected. Concentration-response relationships were documented between human GH-releasing factor 40 (hGRF-40; 0.03-100 nM given as 2.5-min pulses every 27.5 min) and GH release. Mean (+/- SE) overall GH release (ng/min per 10(7) cells) above base line was greater by cells from intact male rats (496 +/- 92) than by cells from castrate (203 +/- 37.3; P less than 0.0001), castrate and T-treated (348 +/- 52.8; P = 0.008), or castrate and E2-treated (58.1 +/- 6.8; P less than 0.001) male rats or by diestrus day 2 rats (68.6 +/- 9.5; P = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

scholarly journals Social isolation rearing-induced anxiety and response to agomelatine in male and female rats: Role of corticosterone, oxytocin, and vasopressin

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 640-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian H Harvey ◽  
Wilmie Regenass ◽  
Walter Dreyer ◽  
Marisa Möller
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Isolation Rearing ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Plasma Vasopressin ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Circadian Fluctuation ◽  
Social Isolation Rearing

Background: The chronobiotic antidepressant, agomelatine, acts via re-entrainment of circadian rhythms. Earlier work has demonstrated late-life anxiety and reduced corticosterone in post-weaning social isolation reared (SIR) rats. Agomelatine was anxiolytic in this model but did not reverse hypocortisolemia. Reduced corticosterone or cortisol (in humans) is well-described in anxiety states, although the anxiolytic-like actions of agomelatine may involve targeting another mechanism. Central oxytocin and vasopressin exert anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects, respectively, and are subject to circadian fluctuation, while also showing sex-dependent differences in response to various challenges. Aims and methods: If corticosterone is less involved in the anxiolytic-like actions of agomelatine in SIR rats, we wondered whether effects on vasopressin and oxytocin may mediate these actions, and whether sex-dependent effects are evident. Anxiety as assessed in the elevated plus maze, as well as plasma vasopressin, oxytocin, and corticosterone were analyzed in social vs SIR animals receiving sub-chronic treatment with vehicle or agomelatine (40 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally at 16:00) for 16 days. Results: Social isolation rearing induced significant anxiety together with increased plasma vasopressin levels, but decreased corticosterone and oxytocin. While corticosterone displayed sex-dependent changes, vasopressin, and oxytocin changes were independent of sex. Agomelatine suppressed anxiety as well as reversed elevated vasopressin in both male and female rats and partially reversed reduced oxytocin in female but not male rats. Conclusion: SIR-associated anxiety later in life involves reduced corticosterone and oxytocin, and elevated vasopressin. The anxiolytic-like effects of agomelatine in SIR rats predominantly involve targeting of elevated vasopressin.

IN VITRO STUDIES ON CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN THE VITAMIN-B6-DEPRIVED RAT

1955 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 562-567
Author(s):  
John R. Beaton
Keyword(s):  
Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽  
Vitamin B6 ◽  
Glucose Utilization ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Aldolase Activity ◽  
Food Consumed

Following earlier studies on carbohydrate metabolism in the vitamin-B6-deprived rat, in vitro investigations have been carried out. In all cases, comparisons were made between tissues from vitamin-B6-deprived and pair-fed control animals so that differences in the amount of food consumed would not affect the interpretation of experimental results. No significant difference was found in glucose utilization by muscle nor in liver cytochrome oxidase activity. Liver aldolase activity was significantly decreased and the activity of plasma alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased in the vitamin-B6-deprived rats. In vitamin-B6-deprived female rats, but not male rats, liver catalase activity was significantly increased. These results are discussed in the light of earlier observations indicating disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism in the vitamin-B6-deprived rat.

STUDIES ON FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ACUTE TOXICITY OF MALATHION AND MALAOXON IN RATS

1967 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Brodeur ◽  
K. P. DuBois
Keyword(s):  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Organophosphate Insecticide ◽  
In Vitro Measurements ◽  
Immature Rats

A study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the higher susceptibility of immature rats to the organophosphate insecticide malathion. In vitro measurements of the activity of malathionase in the tissues of rats, at various time intervals after birth, indicated that the livers of immature rats detoxify the insecticide at a much slower rate than do the livers of adult animals. Evidence was obtained which showed that prolonged administration of testosterone causes a significant increase of the enzymatic activity in the livers of castrated young male rats and adult female rats. On the other hand, castration interferes with the maintenance of normal levels of malathionase in adult males and partially prevents the development of the activity in weanlings. Estradiol decreases the enzymatic activity in adult males. It appears, therefore, that the age difference in the susceptibility of rats to malathion might be due, to a large extent, to a slower rate of inactivation of the insecticide by the livers of immature animals. The results obtained also indicate that the sex hormones play an important role in the development and maintenance of normal levels of the enzyme system involved in the degradation of malathion in the livers of rats.

THE ROLE OF THE ADRENAL GLAND IN THE CONTROL OF AMINO ACID INCORPORATION INTO PROTEIN OF ISOLATED RAT LIVER MICROSOMES

1960 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. KORNER
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Liver Microsomes ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Rat Liver Microsomes ◽  
Hypophysectomized Rats ◽  
Normal Rat ◽  
Secondary Result

SUMMARY 1. Microsomes, isolated from rat liver a day after adrenalectomy, incorporate more radioactive amino acid into their protein in vitro than microsomes from normal rat liver. This enhanced rate of incorporation progressively declines with time after adrenalectomy until it reaches a plateau level which is below the normal rate of incorporation. 2. Following adrenalectomy microsomes isolated from liver of male rats show a greater rise in incorporating ability than those from liver of female rats, and maintain it longer. 3. Most of the increased incorporation observed in the in vitro system soon after adrenalectomy of the rat, and most of the decreased incorporation observed in rats adrenalectomized for some time, results from alterations in the microsomes which change their ability to incorporate activated amino acids into proteins. 4. Treatment of rats with cortisol acetate results in an increase in the ability of liver microsomes to incorporate amino acid into protein. This heightened incorporating ability is probably a secondary result of the breakdown of extrahepatic tissue protein which is stimulated by cortisol. 5. Somewhat similar responses to acute adrenalectomy and to treatment with cortisol were found in hypophysectomized rats. 6. The protein anabolic response of adrenalectomized rats to treatment with insulin, and of adrenalectomized-hypophysectomized rats to treatment with insulin or growth hormone, is greater than that shown by rats which possess adrenal glands.

Involvement of cGMP in LHRH-stimulated gonadotropin release.

1978 ◽  
Vol 235 (6) ◽  
pp. E586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Naor ◽  
C P Fawcett ◽  
S M McCann
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Camp Content ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone ◽  
Gonadotropin Release ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Stimulation Of

Anterior pituitary content of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) has been measured during stimulation of gonadotropin release by luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in vitro to gain more information concerning the relationship between the mechanism of action of LHRH and cyclic nucleotides. During the increased gonadotropin release obtained by incubation by hemipituitaries with LHRH (0.25--25 X 10(-9) M) for 180 min, the glands taken from both male and female rats exhibited increased cGMP content, whereas cAMP content rose only in those taken from male rats. The increase in cGMP content was observed after only 2 min in the presence of LHRH (5 X 10(-9) M) and prior to augmented gonadotropin release. The increase in cAMP content in the male glands was detectable only after 60 min of incubation. These results suggest that cGMP might be involved in the mechanism of action of LHRH.

Vasopressin responses and receptors in the mesenteric vasculature of estrogen-treated rats

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (5) ◽  
pp. H885-H889 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. St-Louis ◽  
A. Parent ◽  
R. Lariviere ◽  
E. L. Schiffrin
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Maximum Response ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Binding Characteristics ◽  
Vascular Bed ◽  
Mesenteric Vascular Bed

The effect of treatment with estrogens on the biological activity of arginine8 vasopressin (AVP) in the in vitro perfused mesenteric vascular bed and on the binding characteristics of [3H]AVP on membranes prepared from the same vascular bed was studied. Female rats treated with estradiol (400 micrograms/24 h sc), compared with ovariectomized rats, had an increase in the maximum response to AVP (from 128 +/- 3 to 153 +/- 3 mmHg) in the perfused preparation and an increase in the density of AVP binding sites (from 402 to 732 fmol/mg protein) in the membrane preparation. In male rats, the injection of estradiol increased the maximum response to AVP (from 109 +/- 4 to 137 +/- 3 mmHg) and the density of AVP binding sites (from 289 to 519 fmol/mg protein). The effective concentration producing 50% of maximum response of AVP in the perfused preparation was higher in male than in female rats, while the Kd in the binding experiments was similar in the four experimental groups. Our results show that estrogens upregulate the number of AVP binding sites, leading to an increase in the pressor response to AVP in the rat mesenteric vascular bed.

Effects of Neonatal Testosterone and Progesterone on Open-Field Behaviour in the RAT

1978 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Stevens ◽  
Ralph Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Adrenal Androgens ◽  
Postnatal Treatment ◽  
Oil Injection ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Field Behaviour ◽  
Open Field Behaviour

Rats treated on the day of birth with progesterone (50 üg) or testosterone pro-pionate (200 üg) or the oil injection vehicle alone were tested in the open-field on four consectuve days at 45 days and 85 days of age. Averages across treatments showed that females ambulated more and reared more than males at both ages, that they groomed more than males at 45 days of age, and defaecated less at 85 days of age. Progesterone treatment significantly reduced defaecation in males at 45 days of age, and reduced grooming in both sexes. At 85 days of age progesterone significantly increased activity in females. Testosterone-treated animals of both sexes groomed significantly less than same-sex controls at 45 days of age, whereas at 85 days of age activity scores were significantly reduced only in females although testosterone treated males were less active on 2 test days and more active on 1. Early postnatal treatment with progesterone appeared to feminise male rats, and testosterone to masculinise female rats. Both hormones also altered the behaviour of opposite sexed rats, indicating that male rats may be further masculinised by exogenous testosterone and female rats further feminised by progesterone. Progesterone may have acted as an anti-androgenic agent by blocking gonadal and adrenal androgens in males and adrenal androgens in females.

Role of estrogens and age in flow-mediated outward remodeling of rat mesenteric resistance arteries

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (4) ◽  
pp. H504-H514 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tarhouni ◽  
M. L. Freidja ◽  
A. L. Guihot ◽  
E. Vessieres ◽  
L. Grimaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Resistance Arteries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Arterial Contractility

In resistance arteries, a chronic increase in blood flow induces hypertrophic outward remodeling. This flow-mediated remodeling (FMR) is absent in male rats aged 10 mo and more. As FMR depends on estrogens in 3-mo-old female rats, we hypothesized that it might be preserved in 12-mo-old female rats. Blood flow was increased in vivo in mesenteric resistance arteries after ligation of the side arteries in 3- and 12-mo-old male and female rats. After 2 wk, high-flow (HF) and normal-flow (NF) arteries were isolated for in vitro analysis. Arterial diameter and cross-sectional area increased in HF arteries compared with NF arteries in 3-mo-old male and female rats. In 12-mo-old rats, diameter increased only in female rats. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and endothelium-mediated relaxation were higher in HF arteries than in NF arteries in all groups. ERK1/2 phosphorylation, NADPH oxidase subunit expression levels, and arterial contractility to KCl and to phenylephrine were greater in HF vessels than in NF vessels in 12-mo-old male rats only. Ovariectomy in 12-mo-old female rats induced a similar pattern with an increased contractility without diameter increase in HF arteries. Treatment of 12-mo-old male rats and ovariectomized female rats with hydralazine, the antioxidant tempol, or the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker candesartan restored HF remodeling and normalized arterial contractility in HF vessels. Thus, we found that FMR of resistance arteries remains efficient in 12-mo-old female rats compared with age-matched male rats. A balance between estrogens and vascular contractility might preserve FMR in mature female rats.

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