Sex-specific neuroendocrine and behavioral phenotypes in hypomorphic Type II Neuregulin 1 rats
Autor: | Brooke Z. Kanaskie, Adam R. Taylor, James I. Koenig, Sara B. Taylor, Julie A. Markham |
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Rok vydání: | 2011 |
Předmět: |
Male
Restraint Physical Genetically modified mouse Reflex Startle medicine.medical_specialty Genotype Neuregulin-1 Blotting Western Central nervous system Motor Activity Biology Article Open field Behavioral Neuroscience chemistry.chemical_compound Receptors Glucocorticoid Corticosterone Internal medicine mental disorders medicine Animals Sexual Maturation Habituation Neuregulin 1 Prepulse inhibition Sex Characteristics Behavior Animal Reproduction Neurosecretory Systems Rats Inbred F344 Rats Receptors Mineralocorticoid Endocrinology medicine.anatomical_structure chemistry Mutation biology.protein Neuregulin Female Stress Psychological |
Zdroj: | Behavioural Brain Research. 224:223-232 |
ISSN: | 0166-4328 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.05.008 |
Popis: | Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is an important growth factor involved in the development and plasticity of the central nervous system. Since its identification as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, several transgenic mouse models have been employed to elucidate the role NRG1 may play in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disease. Unfortunately very few studies have included females, despite the fact that some work suggests that the consequences of disrupted NRG1 expression may be sex-specific. Here, we used Nrg1 hypomorphic (Nrg1(Tn)) Fischer rats to demonstrate sex-specific changes in neuroendocrine and behavioral phenotypes as a consequence of reduced Type II NRG1 expression. We have previously shown that male Nrg1(Tn) rats have increased basal corticosterone levels, and fail to habituate to an open field despite normal overall levels of locomotor activity. The current studies show that, in contrast, female Nrg1(Tn) rats exhibit enhanced suppression of corticosterone levels following an acute stress, reduced locomotor activity, and enhanced habituation to novel environments. Furthermore, we also show that female, but not male, Nrg1(Tn) rats have impaired prepulse inhibition. Finally, we provide evidence that sex-specific changes are not likely attributable to major disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, as measures of pubertal onset, estrous cyclicity, and reproductive capacity were unaltered in female Nrg1(Tn) rats. Our results provide further support for both the involvement of NRG1 in the control of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and the sex-specific nature of this relationship. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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