GABAB Receptor Antagonism from Birth to Weaning Permanently Modifies Kiss1 Expression in the Hypothalamus and Gonads in Mice.

INTRODUCTION: The kisspeptin gene Kiss1 is expressed in two hypothalamic areas: anteroventral periventricular nucleus/periventricular nucleus (AVPV/PeN) and arcuate nucleus (ARC), and also in gonads. Several pieces of evidence suggests that gamma-amino butyric acid B receptors (GABAB) signaling can regulate Kiss1 expression. Here, we inhibited GABAB signaling from PND2 to PND21 and evaluated the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. METHODS: BALB/c mice were treated on postnatal days 2-21 (PND2-PND21) with CGP55845 (GABAB antagonist) and evaluated in PND21 and adulthood: gene expression (qPCR) in the hypothalamus and gonads, hormones by radioimmunoassay, gonad histochemistry (H&E), puberty onset, and estrous cycles. RESULTS: At PND21, CGP inhibited Kiss1 and Tac2 and increased Pdyn and Gabbr1 in the ARC of both sexes and decreased Th only in female AVPV/PeN. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testis weight were decreased in CGP-males, and puberty onset was delayed. In adults, Kiss1, Tac2, Pdyn, Pgr, Cyp19a1, and Gad1 were downregulated, while Gabbr1 was upregulated in the ARC of both sexes. In the AVPV/PeN, Kiss1, Th, Cyp19a1, and Pgr were decreased while Gad1 was increased in CGP-females, whereas Cyp19a1 was increased in CGP-males. Serum FSH was increased in CGP-males while prolactin was increased in CGP-females. Testosterone and progesterone were increased in ovaries from CGP-females, in which Kiss1, Cyp19a1, and Esr1 were downregulated while Hsd3b2 was upregulated, together with increased atretic and decreased ovulatory follicles. Testes from CGP-males showed decreased progesterone, increased Gabbr1, Kiss1, Kiss1r, and Esr2 and decreased Cyp19a1, and clear signs of seminiferous tubules atrophy. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that appropriate GABAB signaling during this critical prepubertal period is necessary for the normal development of the HPG axis.

A Pilot Study on an Integrated Service Based on Wearable Textile Platforms to promote Workers Wellness at Workplace.

This paper describes a study performed in the frame of Wearables project and reports preliminary results. Objective of the study was the implementation of an integrated service finalized to increase employees' well-being through the investigation on the correlation between daily working activity and the observed physical parameters. The project monitored 28 volunteers employed in the field of waste collection (at the Amey's contract with Wolverhampton City Council), for a total of 275 data acquisition sessions. The study has been performed using sensing textiles, to collect objective work-correlated parameters during daily activity, aiming at the acquisition of objective indicators for an improved wellbeing. Physical parameters like heart rate, energy expenditure and heart rate activity-zones distribution have been evaluated from data acquired during normal working activity. The service produced encouraging results both in terms of monitoring individual subjects and in identifying trends correlated to different roles or tasks covered by workers. Also in term of usability and acceptability the system showed interesting potentialities, proving how wearable technologies can trigger innovative approaches and open new prospective in the growing field of workplace wellness.

Elevated hypothalamic aromatization at the onset of precocious puberty in transgenic female mice hypersecreting human chorionic gonadotropin: effect of androgens.

Transgenic female mice overexpressing the α- and ß- subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGαß+) exhibited precocious puberty, as evidenced by early vaginal opening. Chronically elevated hCG in 21-day-old hCGαß+ females stimulated gonadal androgen production, which exerted negative feedback over the endogenous gonadotropin synthesis, and activated the hypothalamic GnRH pulsatility and gene expression. Transgenic females also exhibited elevated hypothalamic aromatization in the preoptic area (POA), which is the sexually-differentiated area that controls the LH surge in adulthood. Ovariectomy at 14 days of age was unable to rescue this phenotype. However, the blockade of androgen action by flutamide from postnatal day 6 onwards reduced the aromatase levels in the POA of hCGαß+ females. Our results suggest that early exposure of females to androgen action during a critical period between postnatal days 6-14 induces sex-specific organizational changes of the brain, which affect the aromatase expression in the POA at the onset of precocious puberty.

Effects of orexins A and B on expression of orexin receptors and progesterone release in luteal and granulosa ovarian cells.

Orexin-A and orexin-B are neuropeptides controlling sleep-wakefulness, feeding and neuroendocrine functions via their G protein-coupled receptors, orexin-1R and orexin-2R. They are synthesized in the lateral hypothalamus and project throughout the brain. Orexins and orexin receptors have also been described outside the brain. Previously we demonstrated the presence of both receptors in the ovary, their increased expression during proestrous afternoon and the dependence on the gonadotropins. Here we studied the effects of orexins on the mRNA expression of both receptors, by quantitative real-time PCR, on luteal cells from superovulated rat ovaries and granulosa cells from diethylstilbestrol-treated rat ovaries. Effects on progesterone secretion were also measured. In luteal cells, 1 nM of either orexin-A or orexin-B decreased progesterone secretion. Orexin-A treatment increased expression of both orexin-1R and orexin-2R mRNA. The effect on orexin-1R mRNA expression was abolished by an orexin-1R selective receptor antagonist SB-334867 and the effect on orexin-2R mRNA expression was abolished by a selective orexin-2R antagonist JNJ-10397049. Orexin-B did not modify orexin-1R mRNA expression, but increased orexin-2R mRNA expression. The effect of orexin-B on orexin-2R was abolished by a selective orexin-2R antagonist. Neither the expression of orexin receptors nor progesterone secretions by granulosa cells were affected by orexins. FSH, as positive control, increased both steroid hormones secretion, but did not induce the expression of OX receptors in granulosa cells isolated from late preantral/early antral follicles. Finally in ovaries obtained immediately after sacrifice, the expression of orexin-1R and orexin-2R was higher in superovulated rat ovaries compared to control or diethylstilbestrol treated rat ovaries. A selective presence and function of both orexinergic receptors in luteal and granulosa cells is described, suggesting that the orexinergic system may have a functional role in the ovary.

Endogenously elevated androgens alter the developmental programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in male mice.

Transgenic male mice that express human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) α and ß subunits constitutively hypersecrete hCG and produce elevated levels of androgens. The aim of this study was to characterize the hypothalamic-pituitary function of these transgenic (hCGαß+) males by focusing on FSH regulation. Serum FSH levels and pituitary mRNA expression of Fshb, Lhb, Cga, Gnrhr and Esr1 were reduced, whereas Fst expression was increased in prepubertal hCGαß+ males as compared with wild-type. In the hypothalamus, Cyp19a1 expression, GnRH concentration and ex-vivo GnRH pulsatility were elevated in prepubertal hCGαß+ mice, whereas Kiss1 expression was decreased prepubertally and Gad67 expression was elevated neonatally. The effect of androgens on the developmental programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of hCGαß+ males was evaluated by perinatal and prepubertal antiandrogen (flutamide) administration. Our studies identified a critical window between gestational day 18 and postnatal day 14, during which chronically elevated androgens and/or their locally produced metabolites activate the hypothalamus and concomitantly shut-down the gonadotropin axis.

Multimodal BCI-mediated FES suppression of pathological tremor.

Tremor constitutes the most common movement disorder; in fact 14.5% of population between 50 to 89 years old suffers from it. Moreover, 65% of patients with upper limb tremor report disability when performing their activities of daily living (ADL). Unfortunately, 25% of patients do not respond to drugs or neurosurgery. In this regard, TREMOR project proposes functional compensation of upper limb tremors with a soft wearable robot that applies biomechanical loads through functional electrical stimulation (FES) of muscles. This wearable robot is driven by a Brain Neural Computer Interface (BNCI). This paper presents a multimodal BCI to assess generation, transmission and execution of both volitional and tremorous movements based on electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) and inertial sensors (IMUs). These signals are combined to obtain: 1) the intention to perform a voluntary movement from cortical activity (EEG), 2) tremor onset, and an estimation of tremor frequency from muscle activation (EMG), and 3) instantaneous tremor amplitude and frequency from kinematic measurements (IMUs). Integration of this information will provide control signals to drive the FES-based wearable robot.

Effect of androgens on sexual differentiation of pituitary gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit GABA(B) expression.

Previous work demonstrated a sexually dimorphic ontogenic expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA(B)R) in rat pituitary. As sex steroids determine sex-specific expression patterns, we now studied the effect of sex hormones on pituitary GABA(B)R expression. GABA(B)R subunits, measured by Western blot and by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone measured by RIA were determined in two experimental designs: First experimental design: 8- and 15-day-old females (8F, 15F); 8F and 15F treated with 100 mug testosterone propionate (TP) on day 1 of life (8F100TP, 15F100TP), 8- and 15-day-old males (8M, 15M) and 8M and 15M castrated on day 1 (8MC, 15MC). Second experimental design: 8-day-old female and male animals: 8F, 8F100TP, 8F treated with 1 mug/day TP on days 1-4 (8F1TP), 8F treated with the androgen antagonist Flutamide (Flut: 2.5 mg/100 g BW of pregnant mother on days E17-E23) (8F-Flut), 8M, 8MC, 8M treated with Flut as above (8M-Flut) and 8MC-Flut. In these animals, in addition, GABA, glutamate, aspartate and taurine were measured by HPLC in hypothalami and cortex. In the first set of experiments, GABA(B1)R mRNA/protein expression was higher in 8F than in 15F, 8M or 15M. In 8F100TP, GABA(B1)R mRNA/protein decreased to male levels. TP treatment did not alter GABA(B1)R expression in 15F. There was no difference in GABA(B1)R expression between 8M and 15M and neonatal castration did not modify its expression. In the second set of experiments, TP (1 mug) or Flut did not modify GABA(B1)R in 8F, while 100 microg TP continued to decrease GABA(B1)R expression. In 8M, Flut, alone or with castration, increased GABA(B1)R mRNA/protein expression to 8F. Hypothalamic GABA content followed the same pattern as pituitary GABA(B)R expression in 8-day-old animals, suggesting a cross-regulation. With regard to hormonal levels, 100 microg, but not 1 microg TP altered gonadotropins at 8 days, although both treatments effectively androgenized females as evidenced by lack of cycling. We conclude that androgens, acting pre- and postnatally, decrease pituitary GABA(B)R subunit expression.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathways in an experimental ovarian tumor.

Previous results showed that GnRH signaling is altered in cells from rat luteinized ovarian tumors (tumor group) because it did not activate the phospholipase C pathway, in contrast to control ovarian cells from superovulated prepubertal rats (SPO). In the present work, alternate GnRH-induced second messengers such as phospholipase A(2) and phospholipase D activation, cAMP production, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and the presence of G proteins were evaluated to determine GnRH mechanism of action in tumor cells. G proteins examined were present in both cell types. Buserelin, a GnRH agonist, (1, 10, and 100 ng/ml) increased phosphatidylethanol in SPO, indicating phospholipase D activation. Only 100 ng/ml buserelin induced a significant response in the tumor group. Buserelin (100 ng/ml) increased (3)H-arachidonic acid in culture media in SPO, indicating phospholipase A(2) activation; no effect was observed in the tumor group. Buserelin (100 and 1000 ng/ml) induced pertussis toxin-insensitive cAMP increases in both cell types, with similar potencies. In the tumor group, buserelin (100 ng/ml) inhibited human chorionic gonadotropin-induced cAMP and progesterone; this effect was protein kinase C (PKC) dependent (inhibited by GF109203X, a PKC inhibitor). Buserelin (100 and 1000 ng/ml) induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in both cell kinds. Buserelin-induced ERK1/2 activation was G(i/0) independent and PKC dependent. Only in the tumor group, buserelin-induced ERK1/2 activation was cAMP dependent (abolished by SQ 22536, the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor). Furthermore, dibutyryl cAMP-induced ERK1/2 activation in the tumor group was PKC dependent (inhibited by GF109203X). In conclusion, activation of phospholipases in tumor cells does not seem to mediate GnRH effects. GnRH signaling seems to involve adenylyl cyclase activation, PKC stimulation, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

Effects of polyamines on the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropins in developing female rats.

Polyamines, putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD), spermine (SPM), and agmatine (AGM), are polycationic amines related to multiple cell functions found in high concentrations during the development of hypothalamus and pituitary. In previous works, we demonstrated that alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of polyamines biosynthesis, induced a delay in puberty of female rats, accompanied by high, sustained follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels during the infantile period. Also, DFMO treatment induced changes in polyamine concentration both in hypothalamus and pituitary of rats, mainly a decrease of PUT and SPD, an increase in SPM, and no change in AGM. In the present work, we investigated the direct effects of polyamines on the secretion of hypothalamic GnRH and pituitary gonadotropins in 6- and 15-day-old female rats. In 6-day-old animals, in vitro incubations with PUT, SPD, and AGM of hypothalami or anterior pituitaries were able to inhibit GnRH, FSH, and leutinizing hormone (LH) secretion, respectively. SPM showed a nonspecific transient inhibitory effect on FSH. When challenged with either high K(+) (hypothami) or GnRH (pituitaries), the tissues incubated in the presence of polyamines showed no differences when compared with their controls. No effects of polyamines in 15-day-old rats in either tissue were observed. Pituitary cell cultures of 6-day-old animals incubated with DFMO for 4 days showed a significant increase in FSH, but not in LH. We conclude that high PUT, SPD, and AGM levels during the first 10 days of life are important for the development of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal unit, probably related to an inhibitory effect on GnRH and gonadotropins. Therefore, polyamine participation, especially PUT and SPD, is of importance in the regulation of GnRH and gonadotropin secretion in the neonatal and infantile periods, critical stages in the establishment of sexual differentiation.