scholarly journals Brain areas affected by intranasal oxytocin show higher oxytocin receptor expression

Author(s):  
Philippe C. Habets ◽  
Christabel Mclain ◽  
Onno C. Meijer
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Szymanska ◽  
Agnieszka Blitek

Abstract Background: The hormonal control of ovulation has become a standard procedure in the swine industry. However, exogenous gonadotropins can be detrimental to reproductive function, affecting follicle development, corpus luteum formation, and embryo development and survival. Much less is known about uterine receptivity in gilts with induced estrus. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of estrus induction with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the expression of steroid, prostaglandin, cytokine, and oxytocin receptors, as well as nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 (NFKB1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), and gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1), in the endometrium and myometrium of early pregnant gilts. Twenty prepubertal gilts received 750 IU PMSG and 500 IU hCG 72 h later, while eighteen prepubertal gilts in the control group were observed daily for estrus behavior. All gilts were inseminated in their first estrus and slaughtered on days 10, 12, and 15 of pregnancy to collect uterine tissues for mRNA expression analyses using real-time PCR.Results: Estrus induction did not affect progesterone receptor expression in either uterine tissue. In the endometrium, greater mRNA expression of estrogen receptors (ESR1 and ESR2), androgen receptor (AR), prostaglandin (PG) E2 receptors (PTGER2 and PTGER4), PGF2α receptor (PTGFR), interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R), tumor necrosis factor α receptors (TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B), and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) was detected in the control than in the PMSG/hCG-treated gilts (P < 0.05). In the myometrium, concentrations of AR, PTGER2, PTGFR, and NFKB1 transcripts were lower, while PGI2 receptor and PPARG transcripts were elevated in gilts with gonadotropin-induced estrus as compared with naturally ovulated gilts (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the administration of PMSG/hCG resulted in the greater expression of GJA1 mRNA in both the endometrium and myometrium of day 15 pregnant gilts (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Estrus induction with PMSG/hCG in prepubertal gilts may affect steroid, prostaglandin, cytokine, and oxytocin receptor expression in the endometrium and myometrium, thereby altering uterine receptivity to local or systemic factors. This may, in turn, contribute to disorders in embryo-maternal interactions and the process of implantation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Wallace ◽  
M. G. Thompson ◽  
R. P. Aitken ◽  
M. A. Cheyne

ABSTRACT Induction of ovulation early post partum in sheep is associated with a high incidence (30–40%) of premature luteolysis. The present study was designed to characterize oxytocin receptor levels, oxytocin-stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) turnover (second messenger) and oxytocin-stimulated prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) release in the endometrium of post-partum ewes induced to ovulate 21 days after parturition and expected to exhibit a range of corpus luteal functions subsequently. Ovulation was induced on day 21 post partum using a controlled internal drug release device and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin, and uterine tissues were collected on days 5, 10 or 15 of the cycle (n = 4/day). A further 12 ewes whose interval from previous parturition exceeded 150 days were similarly treated and acted as controls. Measurement of daily peripheral progesterone concentrations revealed that while all control ewes exhibited normal luteal function, abnormal luteal function was evident in two, two and one post-partum ewes studied on days 5, 10 and 15 of the cycle respectively. Oxytocin receptor binding was detected (by receptor-binding assay and in-vitro autoradiography) in the endometrium and myometrium of post-partum ewes at all three stages of the oestrous cycle but only at day 15 in control ewes. To determine IP turnover, 100 mg caruncular endometrium was incubated in duplicate for 2·5 h with 10 μCi [3H]inositol and treated with 0 or 2 μmol oxytocin/l for 30 min, then [3H]inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphates were quantified. Oxytocin stimulated total IPs in all day-5 and day-15 post-partum ewes, in three of four day-10 ewes and in all day-15 control ewes. Basal endometrial PGF2α release measured in triplicate (100 mg/well) during a 2 h incubation was higher in post-partum versus control ewes on days 5 and 10 but not on day 15 of the cycle. Similarly, oxytocin stimulated PGF2α release to varying levels at all stages of the cycle in post-partum ewes but only on day 15 in control ewes. Irrespective of the treatment group endometrial oxytocin receptor number was significantly (P < 0·001) correlated with oxytocin-stimulated IP turnover and PGF2α release. Thus the induction of ovulation and the subsequent luteal phase in post-partum ewes is against a back ground of high oxytocin receptor expression and enhanced PGF2α release which in some ewes may contribute to abnormal luteal function. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 17–25


2001 ◽  
Vol 168 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
ST Leung ◽  
Z Cheng ◽  
EL Sheldrick ◽  
K Derecka ◽  
K Derecka ◽  
...  

Up-regulation of endometrial oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression followed by an increase in pulsatile endometrial prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) secretion causes luteolysis in cattle. Inhibition of luteolysis is essential for the maternal recognition of pregnancy but also occurs in association with endometritis. The factors regulating OTR expression at this time are unclear. The OTR gene promoter region contains binding elements for acute phase proteins but their function has not been established. This study investigated the effects of various cytokines on OTR expression and on PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) production in explant cultures of bovine endometrium. Endometrium was collected in the late luteal phase (mean day of cycle 15.4+/-0.50) or early luteolysis (mean day of cycle 16.4+/-0.24) as determined by the initial concentration of endometrial OTR. Explants were treated for 48 h with: (i) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or dexamethasone (DEX), (ii) ovine interferon-tau (oIFN-tau), or (iii) human recombinant interleukin (IL)-1alpha, -2 or -6. OTR mRNA was then measured in the explants by in situ hybridisation and the medium was collected for measurement of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) by RIA. LPS treatment stimulated production of PGF(2alpha), whereas DEX either alone or in combination with LPS was inhibitory to both PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2). Neither of these treatments altered OTR mRNA expression. oIFN-tau reduced OTR mRNA expression but stimulated production of both PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2). In endometrial samples collected in the late luteal phase, IL-1alpha, -2 and -6 all inhibited OTR mRNA expression, but IL-1alpha and -2 both stimulated PGF(2alpha) production. In contrast, when endometrium was collected in early luteolysis, none of the interleukins altered OTR expression or caused a significant stimulation of PGF(2alpha) production but IL-2 increased PGE(2). Neither IL-1alpha nor -2 altered OTR promoter activity in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with a bovine OTR promoter/chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene construct. In conclusion, the action of interleukins on both OTR mRNA expression and endometrial prostaglandin production alters around luteolysis. Pro-inflammatory interleukins suppress OTR expression in the late luteal phase, while LPS stimulates PGF(2alpha) without altering OTR mRNA expression. IL-I and -2 and LPS are therefore unlikely to initiate luteolysis but may cause raised production of PGF(2alpha) during uterine infection.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Schiene ◽  
Claus Bruehl ◽  
Karl Zilles ◽  
Meishu Qu ◽  
Georg Hagemann ◽  
...  

Changes of neuronal excitability and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA)-receptor expression were studied in the surround of photothrombotic infarcts, which were produced in the sensorimotor cortex of the rat by using the rose bengal technique. In a first series of experiments, multiunit recordings were performed on anesthetized animals 2–3 mm lateral from the lesion. Mean discharge frequency was considerably higher in recordings from lesioned animals (>100 Hz in the first postlesional week) compared with control animals (mean, 15 Hz). These alterations were already present after 1 day but were most pronounced 3 to 7 days after lesion induction. Thereafter the hyperexcitability declined again, although it remained visible up to 4 months. In a second series of experiments, the GABAA-receptor expression was studied autoradiographically. This revealed a reduction of GABAA receptors in widespread brain areas ipsilateral to the lesion. The reduction was most pronounced in the first days after lesion induction and declined with longer intervals. It is concluded that cortical infarction due to photothrombosis leads to a long-lasting and widespread reduction of GABAA-receptor expression in the surround of the lesion, which is associated with an increased neuronal excitability. Such alterations may be responsible for epileptic seizures that can be observed in some patients after stroke and may contribute to neurologic deficits after stroke.


2016 ◽  
Vol 214 (1) ◽  
pp. S416
Author(s):  
Ruchira Sharma ◽  
Kelly Kuo ◽  
Huiqing Tan ◽  
Peyvand Amini ◽  
Sam Mesiano ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonida Fusani ◽  
Manfred Gahr

Previous autoradiography studies illustrated that several areas of the avian brain can bind the pineal hormone melatonin. In birds, there are three melatonin receptor (MelR) subtypes: MelIa, MelIb and MelIc. To date, their brain distribution has not been studied in any passerine bird. Therefore, we investigated mRNA distribution of MelR subtypes in adjacent sections of the brain of two songbirds, the blackcap and the zebra finch, in parallel with that of 2-[125I]-iodomelatonin (IMEL) binding sites in the same brains. The general pattern of receptor expression shown by in situ hybridization of species-specific probes matched well with that of IMEL binding. However, the expression of the three subtypes was area specific with similar patterns in the two species. Some brain areas expressed only one receptor subtype, most brain regions co-expressed either MelIa with MelIb or MelIa with MelIc, whereas few areas expressed MelIb and MelIc or all three receptor subtypes. Since many sensory areas, most thalamic areas and subareas of the neopallium, a cortex analogue, express MelR, it is likely that most sensory motor integration functions are melatonin sensitive. Further, the area-specific expression patterns suggest that the regulatory role of melatonin differs among different brain areas. Since subareas of well-defined neural circuits, such as the visual system or the song control system, are equipped with different receptor types, we hypothesize a diversity of functions for melatonin in the control of sensory integration and behavior.


2020 ◽  
Vol 714 ◽  
pp. 134561 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Banki ◽  
Alexandra Büki ◽  
Gyongyi Horvath ◽  
Gabriella Kekesi ◽  
Gyongyi Kis ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document