scholarly journals Estradiol decreases medium spiny neuron excitability in female rat nucleus accumbens core

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 2465-2475
Author(s):  
Stephanie B. Proaño ◽  
John Meitzen
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Medium Spiny Neuron ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
Neuron Excitability ◽  
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms ◽  
Rat Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Brain

The present study shows, for the first time, that an estrous cycle-relevant estradiol exposure modulates nucleus accumbens neuron excitability. This evidence provides insight into the neuroendocrine mechanisms by which estradiol cyclically alters neuron properties during the estrous cycle. Overall, these data emphasize the significant influence of hormone action in the brain and especially individual neuron physiology.

scholarly journals Differential and synergistic roles of 17β-estradiol and progesterone in modulating adult female rat nucleus accumbens core medium spiny neuron electrophysiology

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 2390-2405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie B. Proaño ◽  
Amanda A. Krentzel ◽  
John Meitzen
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Medium Spiny Neuron ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Rat Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Neuron Electrophysiology ◽  
Accumbens Core

This research indicates that estradiol and progesterone act both differentially and synergistically to modulate neuron physiology in the nucleus accumbens core. These actions by specific hormones provide key data indicating the endocrine mechanisms underlying how the estrous cycle modulates neuron physiology in this region. Overall, these data reinforce that hormones are an important influence on neural physiology.

scholarly journals Estrous cycle-induced sex differences in medium spiny neuron excitatory synaptic transmission and intrinsic excitability in adult rat nucleus accumbens core

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 1356-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie B. Proaño ◽  
Hannah J. Morris ◽  
Lindsey M. Kunz ◽  
David M. Dorris ◽  
John Meitzen
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Medium Spiny Neuron ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
Female Hormone ◽  
Electrophysiological Properties ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Males And Females

Naturally occurring hormone cycles in adult female humans and rodents create a dynamic neuroendocrine environment. These cycles include the menstrual cycle in humans and its counterpart in rodents, the estrous cycle. These hormone fluctuations induce sex differences in the phenotypes of many behaviors, including those related to motivation, and associated disorders such as depression and addiction. This suggests that the neural substrate instrumental for these behaviors, including the nucleus accumbens core (AcbC), likewise differs between estrous cycle phases. It is unknown whether the electrophysiological properties of AcbC output neurons, medium spiny neurons (MSNs), change between estrous cycle phases. This is a critical knowledge gap given that MSN electrophysiological properties are instrumental for determining AcbC output to efferent targets. Here we test whether the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of adult rat AcbC MSNs differ across female estrous cycle phases and from males. We recorded MSNs with whole cell patch-clamp technique in two experiments, the first using gonad-intact adult males and females in differing phases of the estrous cycle and the second using gonadectomized males and females in which the estrous cycle was eliminated. MSN intrinsic electrophysiological and excitatory synaptic input properties robustly changed between female estrous cycle phases and males. Sex differences in MSN electrophysiology disappeared when the estrous cycle was eliminated. These novel findings indicate that AcbC MSN electrophysiological properties change across the estrous cycle, providing a new framework for understanding how biological sex and hormone cyclicity regulate motivated behaviors and other AcbC functions and disorders. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This research is the first demonstration that medium spiny neuron electrophysiological properties change across adult female hormone cycle phases in any striatal region. This influence of estrous cycle engenders sex differences in electrophysiological properties that are eliminated by gonadectomy. Broadly, these findings indicate that adult female hormone cycles are an important factor for neurophysiology.

The contribution of medium spiny neuron subtypes in the nucleus accumbens core to compulsive-like ethanol drinking

2021 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 108497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Sneddon ◽  
Kristen M. Schuh ◽  
John W. Frankel ◽  
Anna K. Radke
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Medium Spiny Neuron ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
Ethanol Drinking ◽  
Accumbens Core

scholarly journals The Role of Neuropeptide Y in the Nucleus Accumbens

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7287
Author(s):  
Masaki Tanaka ◽  
Shunji Yamada ◽  
Yoshihisa Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Emotional Behavior ◽  
Characteristic Functions ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
The Brain

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an abundant peptide in the central nervous system, is expressed in neurons of various regions throughout the brain. The physiological and behavioral effects of NPY are mainly mediated through Y1, Y2, and Y5 receptor subtypes, which are expressed in regions regulating food intake, fear and anxiety, learning and memory, depression, and posttraumatic stress. In particular, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has one of the highest NPY concentrations in the brain. In this review, we summarize the role of NPY in the NAc. NPY is expressed principally in medium-sized aspiny neurons, and numerous NPY immunoreactive fibers are observed in the NAc. Alterations in NPY expression under certain conditions through intra-NAc injections of NPY or receptor agonists/antagonists revealed NPY to be involved in the characteristic functions of the NAc, such as alcohol intake and drug addiction. In addition, control of mesolimbic dopaminergic release via NPY receptors may take part in these functions. NPY in the NAc also participates in fat intake and emotional behavior. Accumbal NPY neurons and fibers may exert physiological and pathophysiological actions partly through neuroendocrine mechanisms and the autonomic nervous system.

scholarly journals The dopamine patchwork of the rat nucleus accumbens core

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 3221-3229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan Shu ◽  
I. Mitch Taylor ◽  
Adrian C. Michael
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
Rat Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Accumbens Core

scholarly journals Local Cerebral Glucose Utilization in Normal Female Rats: Variations during the Estrous Cycle and Comparison with Males

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Nehlig ◽  
Linda J. Porrino ◽  
Alison M. Crane ◽  
Louis Sokoloff
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Glucose Utilization ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Normal Male ◽  
Normal Female ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Brain

The quantitative 2-[14C]deoxyglucose autoradiographic method was used to study the fluctuations of energy metabolism in discrete brain regions of female rats during the estrous cycle. A consistent though statistically nonsignificant cyclic variation in average glucose utilization of the brain as a whole was observed. Highest levels of glucose utilization occurred during proestrus and metestrus, whereas lower rates were found during estrus and diestrus. Statistically significant fluctuations were found specifically in the hypothalamus and in some limbic structures. Rates of glucose utilization in the female rat brain were compared with rates in normal male rats. Statistically significant differences between males and females at any stage of the estrous cycle were confined mainly to hypothalamic areas known to be involved in the control of sexual behavior. Glucose utilization in males and females was not significantly different in most other cerebral structures.

scholarly journals Nucleus accumbens core medium spiny neuron electrophysiological properties and partner preference behavior in the adult male prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1576-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime A. Willett ◽  
Ashlyn G. Johnson ◽  
Andrea R. Vogel ◽  
Heather B. Patisaul ◽  
Lisa A. McGraw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Medium Spiny Neuron ◽  
Partner Preference ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens Core ◽  
Electrophysiological Properties ◽  
Preference Behavior ◽  
Accumbens Core

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens have long been implicated in the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie numerous social and motivated behaviors as studied in rodents such as rats. Recently, the prairie vole has emerged as an important model animal for studying social behaviors, particularly regarding monogamy because of its ability to form pair bonds. However, to our knowledge, no study has assessed intrinsic vole MSN electrophysiological properties or tested how these properties vary with the strength of the pair bond between partnered voles. Here we performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings of MSNs in acute brain slices of the nucleus accumbens core (NAc) of adult male voles exhibiting strong and weak preferences for their respective partnered females. We first document vole MSN electrophysiological properties and provide comparison to rat MSNs. Vole MSNs demonstrated many canonical electrophysiological attributes shared across species but exhibited notable differences in excitability compared with rat MSNs. Second, we assessed male vole partner preference behavior and tested whether MSN electrophysiological properties varied with partner preference strength. Male vole partner preference showed extensive variability. We found that decreases in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude and the slope of the evoked action potential firing rate to depolarizing current injection weakly associated with increased preference for the partnered female. This suggests that excitatory synaptic strength and neuronal excitability may be decreased in MSNs in males exhibiting stronger preference for a partnered female. Overall, these data provide extensive documentation of MSN electrophysiological characteristics and their relationship to social behavior in the prairie vole. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This research represents the first assessment of prairie vole nucleus accumbens core medium spiny neuron intrinsic electrophysiological properties and probes the relationship between cellular excitability and social behavior.

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