Integrative Analysis of Vaginal Microorganisms and Serum Metabolomics in Rats With Estrous Cycle Disorder Induced by Long-Term Heat Exposure Based on 16S rDNA Gene Sequencing and LC/MS-Based Metabolomics

Long term heat exposure (HE) leads to estrous cycle disorder (ECD) in female rats and damages reproductive function. However, the regulation mechanism of vaginal microorganisms and serum metabolomics remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of microbes on the vaginal secretions of rats with ECD and describe the serum metabolomics characteristics and their relationship with vaginal microorganisms. The alterations in the serum levels of neurotransmitters were used to verify the possible regulatory pathways. The relative abundance, composition, and colony interaction network of microorganisms in the vaginal secretions of rats with ECD changed significantly. The metabolomics analysis identified 22 potential biomarkers in the serum including lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and mammalian target of rapamycin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling pathways. Further, 52 pairs of vaginal microbiota–serum metabolites correlations (21 positive and 31 negative) were determined. The abundance of Gardnerella correlated positively with the metabolite L-arginine concentration and negatively with the oleic acid concentration. Further, a negative correlation was found between the abundance of Pseudomonas and the L-arginine concentration and between the metabolite benzoic acid concentration and the abundance of Adlercreutzia. These four bacteria–metabolite pairs had a direct or indirect relationship with the estrous cycle and reproduction. The glutamine, glutamate, and dopamine levels were significantly uncontrolled. The former two were closely related to GnRH signaling pathways involved in the development and regulation of HE-induced ECD in rats. Serum neurotransmitters partly reflected the regulatory effect of vaginal microorganisms on the host of HE-induced ECD, and glutamatergic neurotransmitters might be closely related to the alteration in vaginal microorganisms. These findings might help comprehend the mechanism of HE-induced ECD and propose a new intervention based on vaginal microorganisms.

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Effects of psychotropic drugs on the estrous cycle of female rats modified by the long term appetitive competition

The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/s0021-5198(19)67495-0 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 198

Author(s):

Chiaki Hara ◽

Nobuya Ogawa

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Psychotropic Drugs ◽

Female Rats

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Comparison of long-term feeding pattern between male and female Fischer 344 rats: influence of estrous cycle

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.1996.270.2.r413 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 270 (2) ◽

pp. R413-R419 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A. Laviano ◽

M. M. Meguid ◽

J. R. Gleason ◽

Z. J. Yang ◽

T. Renvyle

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Food Intake ◽

Estrous Cycle ◽

Meal Size ◽

Female Rats ◽

Fischer 344 Rats ◽

Male And Female ◽

Fischer 344 ◽

Males And Females

We studied the effect of gender on food intake, meal number, and meal size in eight 10-wk-old female and seven age-matched male Fischer 344 rats for 44 consecutive days. Although food intake (g/100 g body wt) was similar in males and females (5.42 +/- 0.10 vs. 5.13 +/- 0.13 g food.day-1.100 g body wt-1, respectively; not significant), weight gain in males was approximately seven times greater than in female rats (1.49 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.03 g/day, respectively; P < 0.001). During this time, males had a relatively constant food intake. They increased their meal size but decreased their meal number. In female rats, food intake was relatively stable for the duration of the study, despite cyclically and reciprocally recurring changes in meal number and meal size, which are synchronized with the estrous cycle. Data confirm that net food intake is a dynamic process and suggest that, in the rat, the homeostasis of food intake in response to external as well as internal stimuli is maintained via the modulation of meal number and size.

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Glucocorticoid-induced impairment of long-term memory retrieval in female rats: Influences of estrous cycle and estrogen

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory ◽

10.1016/j.nlm.2014.12.011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 118 ◽

pp. 209-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Raziyeh Mohammadkhani ◽

Niloufar Darbandi ◽

Abbas Ali Vafaei ◽

Ali Ahmadalipour ◽

Ali Rashidy-Pour

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Memory Retrieval ◽

Female Rats ◽

Long Term Memory ◽

Term Memory

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Development of ventilatory long-term facilitation is dependent on estrous cycle stage in adult female rats

Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology ◽

10.1016/j.resp.2019.02.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 264 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Danielle McIntosh ◽

Brendan J. Dougherty

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Adult Female ◽

Female Rats ◽

Estrous Cycle Stage ◽

Long Term Facilitation

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Pathophysiological Changes in Female Rats with Estrous Cycle Disorder Induced by Long-Term Heat Stress

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/4701563 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

GaiHong An ◽

XueWei Chen ◽

Chao Li ◽

Li Zhang ◽

MengFan Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

High Temperature ◽

Estrous Cycle ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Female Rats ◽

Stable Model ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Pathological Characteristics ◽

The Impact

High-temperature exposure is detrimental to women’s reproductive health; however, the impact caused by long-term high temperature is not comprehensive, and a stable model of estrous cycle disorder induced by a high temperature is yet lacking. Herein, we aimed to establish a stable and effective model of estrous cycle disorder in female rats induced by long-term heat stress to study its physiological and pathological characteristics and explore the underlying mechanism. In the present study, female Sprague-Dawley rats with normal estrous cycles were exposed to the temperature of 38±0.5°C, relative humidity (RH) of 55±5% (2 h/d, 1 time/d) hot cabin at more than 90 days. Consequently, after long-term heat stress, no difference was detected in body weight and rectal temperature, but the estrus cycle was prolonged, the uterine organ index was increased, pathological changes occurred, the increase latitude of stress hormones heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and corticosterone (CORT) decreased, estradiol (E2) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels decreased, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Prl) levels increased, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and thyroid hormone (T4) showed no difference, and insulin (INS) decreased significantly. Moreover, the mRNA expression of the sex hormone receptor in the uterus and ovary was altered. Therefore, the estrous cycle disorder in female rats can be induced by regular heat stress for 90 days, which can be considered the pioneer method. Subsequently, prominent physiological and pathological characteristics and disruption in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis were noted.

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Long-Term Exercise Training Selectively Alters Serum Cytokines Involved in Fever

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800408329409 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 374-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Pamela Johnson Rowsey ◽

Bonnie L. Metzger ◽

John Carlson ◽

Christopher J. Gordon

Keyword(s):

Exercise Training ◽

Core Temperature ◽

Binding Capacity ◽

Serum Zinc ◽

Female Rats ◽

Chronic Exercise ◽

Serum Cytokines ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Running Wheels

Long-term exercise training selectively alters serum cytokines involved in fever. Chronic exercise training has a number of effects on the immune system that may mimic the physiological response to fever. Female rats that voluntarily exercise on running wheels develop an elevated daytime core temperature after several weeks of training. It remains to be seen whether the elevation in daytime temperature involves inflammatory patterns characteristic of an infectious fever. We assessed whether chronic exercise training in the rat would alter levels of cytokines involved in fever. Female Sprague Dawley rats at 45 days of age weighing 90—110 g were divided into two groups (exercise and sedentary) and housed at an ambient temperature of 22°C. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), iron, and zinc levels were analyzed. Rats underwent 8 weeks of exercise on running wheels. Exercise led to altered levels of some key cytokines that are involved in fever. Exercise animals had significantly higher IL-1β levels and lower IL-10 levels compared to sedentary animals. Although IL-6 levels were slightly lower in the exercise animals, these levels were not significantly affected by training. TNF-α activity was similar in the two groups. Training also led to a slight increase in serum zinc and decrease in serum unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC). The data suggest that chronic exercise training evokes immune responses that mimic some, but not all, aspects of fever. This may explain why exercise leads to elevated daytime core temperature.

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Shifts in preferred learning strategy across the estrous cycle in female rats

Hormones and Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.01.005 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 330-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 146

Author(s):

Donna L Korol ◽

Emily L Malin ◽

Kristine A Borden ◽

Rachel A Busby ◽

Julia Couper-Leo

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Learning Strategy ◽

Female Rats

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The anorectic effect of fenfluramine is influenced by sex and stage of the estrous cycle in rats

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00779.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 288 (6) ◽

pp. R1486-R1491 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Lisa A. Eckel ◽

Heidi M. Rivera ◽

Deann P. D. Atchley

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Estrous Cycle ◽

Female Rats ◽

Male Rats ◽

Gonadal Hormone ◽

Estrous Female ◽

Male And Female Rats ◽

Daily Food ◽

Hormone Status ◽

Anorectic Effect

The controls of food intake differ in male and female rats. Daily food intake is typically greater in male rats, relative to female rats, and a decrease in food intake, coincident with the estrous stage of the ovarian reproductive cycle, is well documented in female rats. This estrous-related decrease in food intake has been attributed to a transient increase in the female rat's sensitivity to satiety signals generated during feeding bouts. Here, we investigated whether sex or stage of the estrous cycle modulate the satiety signal generated by fenfluramine, a potent serotonin (5-HT) releasing agent. To examine this hypothesis, food intake was monitored in male, diestrous female, and estrous female rats after intraperitoneal injections of 0, 0.25, and 1.0 mg/kg d-fenfluramine. The lower dose of fenfluramine decreased food intake only in diestrous and estrous females, suggesting that the minimally effective anorectic dose of fenfluramine is lower in female rats, relative to male rats. Although the larger dose of fenfluramine decreased food intake in both sexes, the duration of anorexia was greater in diestrous and estrous female rats, relative to male rats. Moreover, the magnitude of the anorectic effect of the larger dose of fenfluramine was greatest in estrous rats, intermediate in diestrous rats, and least in male rats. Thus our findings indicate that the anorectic effect of fenfluramine is modulated by gonadal hormone status.

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