scholarly journals Subject sex and partner sex modulate social touch responses across multiple cortical areas

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian L. Ebbesen ◽  
Evgeny Bobrov ◽  
Rajnish P. Rao ◽  
Michael Brecht
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Significant Feature ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Social Touch

Touch is a fundamental aspect of mammalian social, parental and sexual behavior. Human affective touch is critical for healthy child development and shows great promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for mental disorders characterized by social dysfunction, such as anxiety, depression and autism spectrum disorder. However, despite our detailed knowledge about cortical processing of non-social touch, we still know very little about how social touch modulates cortical circuits. We investigated the activity patterns of single neurons (N = 1156) across five sensory and frontal cortical areas in both male and female rats (N = 28) engaging in naturalistic social facial touch with male and female conspecifics. We found that information about social touch is widely available across cortex. Besides touch, the sex of the interaction partner (a biologically significant feature) is a major determinant of single neuron activity, and across cortex we observed 25.7% ‘touch’ and 11.9% ‘sex-touch’ responses. Although all areas investigated had access to social touch and partner sex information, social touch modulated different cortical areas in different ways. Finally, we found that network activity patterns during social touch depend on both subject sex and partner sex. Interestingly, these sex-differences in network activity patterns were differences in response magnitude and would not be evident without single cell resolution. Our observations suggest that socio-sexual characteristics of touch (subject and partner sex) widely modulate cortical activity and need to be investigated with cellular resolution.

scholarly journals Highly structured, partner-sex- and subject-sex-dependent cortical responses during social facial touch

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian L. Ebbesen ◽  
Evgeny Bobrov ◽  
Rajnish P. Rao ◽  
Michael Brecht
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Interaction Partner ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Significant Feature ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Cortical Circuits ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
Cortical Responses ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Network Simulations

Abstract Touch is a fundamental aspect of social, parental and sexual behavior. In contrast to our detailed knowledge about cortical processing of non-social touch, we still know little about how social touch impacts cortical circuits. We investigated neural activity across five frontal, motor and sensory cortical areas in rats engaging in naturalistic social facial touch. Information about social touch and the sex of the interaction partner (a biologically significant feature) is a major determinant of cortical activity. 25.3% of units were modulated during social touch and 8.3% of units displayed ‘sex-touch’ responses (responded differently, depending on the sex of the interaction partner). Single-unit responses were part of a structured, partner-sex- and, in some cases, subject-sex-dependent population response. Spiking neural network simulations indicate that a change in inhibitory drive might underlie these population dynamics. Our observations suggest that socio-sexual characteristics of touch (subject and partner sex) widely modulate cortical activity and need to be investigated with cellular resolution.

Altered attentional processing in male and female rats in a prenatal valproic acid exposure model of autism spectrum disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1929-1944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumari Anshu ◽  
Ajay Kumar Nair ◽  
U.D. Kumaresan ◽  
Bindu M. Kutty ◽  
Shoba Srinath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Valproic Acid ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Acid Exposure ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Exposure Model ◽  
Attentional Processing ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats

scholarly journals Differences in synaptic vesicle pool behavior between male and female hippocampal cultured neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinem M. Sertel ◽  
Wiebke Blumenstein ◽  
Sunit Mandad ◽  
Orr Shomroni ◽  
Gabriela Salinas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Cultured Neurons ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
General Network ◽  
Morphological Differences

AbstractA strong focus on sex-related differences has arisen recently in neurobiology, but most investigations focus on brain function in vivo, ignoring common experimental models like cultured neurons. A few studies have addressed morphological differences between male and female neurons in culture, but very few works focused on functional aspects, and especially on presynaptic function. To fill this gap, we studied here functional parameters of synaptic vesicle recycling in hippocampal cultures from male and female rats, which are a standard model system for many laboratories. We found that, although the total vesicle pools are similar, the recycling pool of male synapses was larger, and was more frequently used. This was in line with the observation that the male synapses engaged in stronger local translation. Nevertheless, the general network activity of the neurons was similar, and only small differences could be found when stimulating the cultures. We also found only limited differences in several other assays. We conclude that, albeit these cultures are similar in behavior, future studies of synapse behavior in culture should take the sex of the animals into account.

THE PITUITARY AND ADRENAL RESPONSES TO ADMINISTRATION OF OESTRIOL IN GONADECTOMIZED RATS

1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. E. Borglin ◽  
L. Bjersing
Keyword(s):  
Pituitary Gland ◽  
Adrenal Cortex ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Uterine Cervix ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Physiological Significance ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats

ABSTRACT Oestriol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,16α,17β-triol) is a weakly oestrogenic substance which, however, in contrast to what was formerly believed, is of physiological significance. Its effect is localized largely to the uterine cervix and vagina. Clinical experience argues both for and against an effect on the pituitary gland. This investigation is concerned with the morphological changes in the pituitary gland and adrenal cortex of gonadectomized male and female rats after the injection of oestriol. It was found that oestriol has the same type of action on these glands as other oestrogens, but under the experimental conditions used, this effect proved much weaker than that produced by oestradiol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-diol).

INDUCTION OF GOITRE BY PTU OR KClO4 IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS. EFFECT OF GONADECTOMY

1973 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jolín ◽  
M. J. Tarin ◽  
M. D. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Iodine Content ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Disc Electrophoresis ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Tsh Levels

ABSTRACT Male and female rats of varying ages were placad on a low iodine diet (LID) plus KClO4 or 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) or on the same diet supplemented with I (control rats). Goitrogenesis was also induced with LID plus PTU in gonadectomized animals of both sexes. The weight of the control and goitrogen treated animals, and the weight and iodine content of their thyroids were determined, as well as the plasma PBI, TSH, insulin and glucose levels. The pituitary GH-like protein content was assessed by disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. If goitrogenesis was induced in young rats of both sexes starting with rats of the same age, body weight (B.W.) and pituitary growth hormone (GH) content, it was found that both the males and females developed goitres of the same size. On the contrary, when goitrogenesis was induced in adult animals, it was found that male rats, that had larger B.W. and pituitary GH content than age-paired females, developed larger goitres. However, both male and female rats were in a hypothyroid condition of comparable degree as judged by the thyroidal iodine content and the plasma PBI and TSH levels. When all the data on the PTU or KClO4-treated male and female rats of varying age and B.W. were considered together, it was observed that the weights of the thyroids increased proportionally to B.W. However, a difference in the slope of the regression of the thyroid weight over B.W. was found between male and female rats, due to the fact that adult male rats develop larger goitres than female animals. In addition, in the male rats treated with PTU, gonadectomy decreased the B.W., pituitary content of GH-like protein and, concomitantly, the size of the goitre decreased; an opposite effect was induced by ovariectomy on the female animals. However, when goitrogenesis was induced in weight-paired adult rats of both sexes, the male animals still developed larger goitres than the females. Among all the parameters studied here, the only ones which appeared to bear a consistent relationship with the size of the goitres in rats of different sexes, treated with a given goitrogen, were the rate of body growth and the amount of a pituitary GH-like protein found before the onset of the goitrogen treatment. Moreover, though the pituitary content of the GH-like protein decreased as a consequence of goitrogen treatment, it was still somewhat higher in male that in female animals. The present results suggest that GH may somehow be involved in the mechanism by which male and female rats on goitrogens develop goitres of different sizes, despite equally high plasma TSH levels.

GONADOTROPHIN PATTERNS IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS:

1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 600-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Boyd ◽  
Donald C. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Testosterone Propionate ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Feedback Effects ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Prostate Weight ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Normal Males

ABSTRACT The effects of various doses of testosterone propionate (TP) upon the release of luteinizing hormone (LH or ICSH) from the hypophysis of a gonadectomized male or female rat were compared. Prostate weight in hypophysectomized male parabiotic partners was used to evaluate the quantity of circulating LH. Hypophyseal LH was measured by the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion method. Males castrated when 45 days old secreted significantly more LH and had three times the amount of pituitary LH as ovariectomized females. Administration of 25 μg TP daily reduced the amount of LH in the plasma, and increased the amount in the pituitary gland, in both sexes. Treatment with 50 μg caused a further reduction in plasma LH in males, but not in females, while pituitary levels in both were equal to that of their respective controls. LH fell to the same low level in partners of males or females receiving 100 μg TP. When gonadectomized at 39 days, males and females had the same amount of plasma LH, but males had more stored hormone. Pituitary levels were unchanged from controls following treatment with 12.5, 25 or 50 μg TP daily, but plasma values dropped an equal amount in both sexes with the latter two doses. Androgenized males or females, gonadectomized when 39 days old, were very sensitive to the effects of TP and plasma LH was significantly reduced with 12.5 μg daily. Pituitary LH in androgenized males was higher than that of normal males but was reduced to normal by small amounts of TP. The amount of stored LH in androgenized females was not different from that of normal females and it was unchanged by any dose of TP tested. Results are consistent with the conclusion that the male hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis is at least as sensitive as the female axis to the negative feedback effects of TP. Androgenization increases the sensitivity to TP in both males and females.

Studies on progestin binding sites in the hepatic microsomal fraction of male and female rats

1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (4_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S191-S192
Author(s):  
M. STOPPOK ◽  
H. SCHRIEFERS ◽  
E. R. LAX
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Microsomal Fraction ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats
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