No abstract

The mesolimbic dopamine system-which originates in the ventral tegmental area and projects to the striatum-has been shown to be involved in the expression of sex-specific behavior and is thought to be a critical mediator of many psychiatric diseases. While substantial work has focused on sex differences in the anatomy of dopamine neurons and relative dopamine levels between males and females, an important characteristic of dopamine release from axon terminals in the striatum is that it is rapidly modulated by local regulatory mechanisms independent of somatic activity. These processes can occur via homosynaptic mechanisms-such as presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors and dopamine transporters-as well as heterosynaptic mechanisms, such as retrograde signaling from postsynaptic cholinergic and GABAergic systems, among others. These regulators serve as potential targets for the expression of sex differences in dopamine regulation in both ovarian hormone-dependent and independent fashions. This review describes how sex differences in microcircuit regulatory mechanisms can alter dopamine dynamics between males and females. We then describe what is known about the hormonal mechanisms controlling/regulating these processes. Finally, we highlight the missing gaps in our knowledge of these systems in females. Together, a more comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of how sex differences in dopamine function manifest will be particularly important in developing evidence-based therapeutics that target this system and show efficacy in both sexes.

ObjectiveIn this study, we used a systemic Fmr1 knockout in order to investigate both genotype‐ and sex‐specific differences across multiple measures of sociability, repetitive behaviors, activity levels, anxiety, and fear‐related learning and memory.BackgroundFragile X syndrome is the most common monogenic cause of intellectual disability and autism. Few studies to date have examined sex differences in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, though clinical data support the idea of differences in both overall prevalence and phenotype between the sexes.MethodsUsing wild‐type and systemic homozygous Fmr1 knockout mice, we assessed a variety of behavioral paradigms in adult animals, including the open field test, elevated plus maze, nose‐poke assay, accelerating rotarod, social partition task, three‐chambered social task, and two different fear conditioning paradigms. Tests were ordered such that the most invasive tests were performed last in the sequence, and testing paradigms for similar behaviors were performed in separate cohorts to minimize testing effects.ResultsOur results indicate several sex‐specific changes in Fmr1 knockout mice, including male‐specific increases in activity levels, and female‐specific increases in repetitive behaviors on both the nose‐poke assay and motor coordination on the accelerating rotarod task. The results also indicated that Fmr1 deletion results in deficits in fear learning and memory across both sexes, and no changes in social behavior across two tasks.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of including female subjects in preclinical studies, as simply studying the impact of genetic mutations in males does not yield a complete picture of the phenotype. Further research should explore these marked phenotypic differences among the sexes. Moreover, given that treatment strategies are typically equivalent between the sexes, the results highlight a potential need for sex‐specific therapeutics.

Regulation of axonal dopamine release by local microcircuitry is at the hub of several biological processes that govern the timing and magnitude of signaling events in reward-related brain regions. An important characteristic of dopamine release from axon terminals in the striatum is that it is rapidly modulated by local regulatory mechanisms. These processes can occur via homosynaptic mechanisms-such How to cite this article: NolanSO, Zachry JF, Johnson AR,

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a trinucleotide (CGG) hyperexpansion in the FMR1 gene, functionally silencing transcription of the fragile x mental retardation protein (FMRP). This disorder is characterized by impaired cognition, communication, and social behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) behavior in a FMR1 deficient mouse model. On postnatal days (PD) 9–14, separate cohorts of FVB/NJ pups were removed from their home cage and isolation-induced USVs were recorded. There were significant genotype- and sex-dependent differences in USV behavior across the different testing days. FMR1 knockout mice showed a significant reduction in vocalizations across all days. There was also a significant difference in vocalizations between male and female mice. We found a significant decrease in total number of calls for KO males on PD9 and PD13, as well as an increase in the total number of calls for KO males on PD12. The KO males also had a significant increase in total call duration on PD12 and a reduction on PD13. The KO female had a significant decrease in the total number of calls on PD9 and PD10. They also had a significant decrease in the total call duration on PD9 and a marginal decrease in total call duration on PD10. These results provide additional evidence for communication deficits in FMR1 deficient mice and provide new insight suggesting sexually dimorphic vocalizations during the neonatal period.

No abstract

Early-life seizures are known to cause long-term deficits in social behavior, learning, and memory, however little is known regarding their acute impact. Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) recordings have been developed as a tool for investigating early communicative deficits in mice. Previous investigation from our lab found that postnatal day (PD) 10 seizures cause male-specific suppression of 50-kHz USVs on PD12 in 129 SvEvTac mouse pups. The present study extends these findings by spectrographic characterization of USVs following neonatal seizures. On PD10, male C57BL/6 pups were administered intraperitoneal injections of kainic acid or physiological saline. On PD12, isolation-induced recordings were captured using a broad-spectrum ultrasonic microphone. Status epilepticus significantly suppressed USV quantity (p=0.001) and total duration (p<0.05). Seizure pups also utilized fewer complex calls than controls (p<0.05). There were no changes in call latency or inter-call intervals. Spectrographic analysis revealed increased peak amplitude for complex, downward, short, two-syllable, and upward calls, as well as reduced mean duration for short and two-syllable calls in seizure mice. This investigation provides the first known spectrographic characterization of USVs following early-life seizures. These findings also enhance evidence for USVs as an indicator of select communicative impairment.

The Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse has commonly been used to investigate communication impairments, one of the key diagnostic symptoms observed in Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many studies have found alterations in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in neonatal Fmr1 KO mice, however, there is limited research investigating whether these deficits continue into adulthood. In the present study, we examine differences in female urine-induced ultrasonic vocalizations, scent marking behavior, odor discrimination, and open field activity in adult male Fmr1 KO and wildtype (WT) mice. Overall, we found extensive alterations between genotypes in both spectral and temporal properties of ultrasonic vocalizations. There was no difference in the average number of calls emitted by both genotypes, however, Fmr1 KO mice emitted calls of a higher frequency, decreased amplitude, and shorter duration than WT mice. Spectrographic analyses revealed statistically significant differences between genotypes in the types of calls emitted. Contrastingly, we found no differences in scent marking behavior, a form of social communication, or in odor discrimination and activity levels of the mice. The results corroborate previous studies emphasizing the importance of qualitative differences observed in vocalization behavior of Fmr1 KO mice, rather than quantitative measurements such as number of calls emitted. Overall, the study confirms the presence of abnormalities in vocalization behavior in adult Fmr1 KO mice that we believe are consistent with communication deficits seen in the syndrome.