| Sexual differentiation of vasopressin innervation of the brain: cell death versus phenotypic differentiation. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 18499746 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
In most vertebrates studied, males have more vasopressin (VP) cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or homologous vasotocin cells in nonmammalian species, than females. Previous research excluded differential cell birth and migration as likely mechanisms underlying this difference, leaving just differential cell death and phenotypic differentiation of existing cells. To differentiate between these remaining possibilities, we compared VP cell number in wild-type mice vs. mice overexpressing the anti-cell death factor, Bcl-2. All animals were gonadectomized in adulthood and given testosterone capsules. Three weeks later, brains were processed for in situ hybridization to identify VP cells. Bcl-2 overexpression increased VP cell number in both sexes but did not reduce the sex difference. We repeated this experiment in mice with a null mutation of the pro-cell death gene, Bax, and obtained similar results; cell number was increased in Bax(-/-) mice of both sexes, but males had about 40% more VP cells, regardless of Bax gene status. Taken together, cell death is unlikely to account for the sex difference in VP cell number, leaving differentiation of cell phenotype as the most likely underlying mechanism. We also used immunocytochemistry to examine VP projections in Bcl-2-overexpressing mice. As expected, males showed denser VP-immunoreactive fibers than females in the lateral septum, a projection area of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. However, even though Bcl-2 overexpression increased VP cell number, it did not affect fiber density. Thus, a compensatory mechanism may control total septal innervation regardless of the number of contributing cells. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Geert J de Vries; Michelle Jardon; Mohammed Reza; Greta J Rosen; Eleanor Immerman; Nancy G Forger |
Related Documents
:
|
18188926 - Neurotrophins induce neuroprotective signaling in the retinal pigment epithelial cell b... 15525476 - 2-methoxyestradiol induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ... 15649646 - Differential effects of clusterin/apolipoprotein j on cellular growth and survival. 9187486 - Dopamine-induced apoptosis is inhibited in pc12 cells expressing bcl-2. 1520296 - The cloning and expression of a human alpha-1,3 fucosyltransferase capable of forming t... 18281366 - Anti-arthritic effects of combined treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitor and low... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Date: 2008-05-22 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Endocrinology Volume: 149 ISSN: 0013-7227 ISO Abbreviation: Endocrinology Publication Date: 2008 Sep |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2008-08-25 Completed Date: 2008-10-02 Revised Date: 2013-03-21 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0375040 Medline TA: Endocrinology Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 4632-7 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
|
Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. devries@cns.umass.edu |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animals Brain / metabolism* Cell Count Cell Death Female Genes, bcl-2 Male Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Transgenic Neurons / cytology, metabolism Phenotype RNA, Messenger / metabolism Sex Differentiation / physiology* Vasopressins / genetics, metabolism* |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
|
K02 MH01497/MH/NIMH NIH HHS; K02 MH072825/MH/NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH068482/MH/NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH47538/MH/NIMH NIH HHS |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
0/RNA, Messenger; 11000-17-2/Vasopressins |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: P-glycoprotein efflux and other factors limit brain amyloid beta reduction by beta-site amyloid prec...
Next Document: G protein-coupled receptor 30 expression is required for estrogen stimulation of primordial follicle...