Alterations in Arginine Vasopressin Neurons in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus in Depression

Zhou, Jiang‐Ning; Rf, Riemersma; Ua, Unmehopa; Wj, Hoogendijk; Jj, van Heerikhuize; Ma, Hofman; Df, Swaab

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.58.7.655

Cited by 157 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The temperature effects are believed to be mediated by the temperature- and sex hormone-sensitive hypothalamic neurons of the anterior preoptic area [51], an area which is known to be under direct control of the SCN [2, 6, 52]. In turn, the human SCN has recently been shown to be a crucial brain site in the regulation of body temperature [3, 9]and sleep [9], and has been implicated in the regulation of mood [4, 11, 12, 53]. Body temperature, sleep and well-being, including the psychosexual aspects of mood, are also known to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle [54, 55, 56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Hormone Receptors Are Present in the Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Kruijver¹,

Swaab²

2002

Neuroendocrinology

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152

102

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The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the clock of the brain that orchestrates circadian and circannual biological rhythms, such as the rhythms of hormones, body temperature, sleep and mood. These rhythms are frequently disturbed in menopause and even more so in dementia and can be restored in postmenopausal women by sex hormone replacement therapy (SHRT). Although it seems clear, both from clinical and experimental studies, that sex hormones influence circadian rhythms, it is not known whether this is by a direct or an indirect effect on the SCN. Therefore, using immunocytochemistry in the present study, we investigated whether the human SCN expresses sex hormone receptors in 5 premenopausal women and 5 young men. SCN neurons appeared to contain estrogen receptor-α (ERα), estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) and progesterone receptors. Median ratings of ER immunoreactivity per individual and per gender group revealed a statistically significantly stronger nuclear ERα expression pattern in female SCN neurons (p < 0.05). No significant sexual dimorphic tendency was observed for nuclear ERβ (p > 0.1) and progesterone receptors (p > 0.7). These data seem to support previously reported functional and structural SCN differences in relation to sex and sexual orientation and indicate for the first time that estrogen and progesterone may act directly on neurons of the human biological clock. In addition, the present findings provide a potential neuroendocrine mechanism by which SHRT can act to improve or restore SCN-related rhythm disturbances, such as body temperature, sleep and mood.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Hormone Receptors Are Present in the Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Kruijver¹,

Swaab²

2002

Neuroendocrinology

Self Cite

152

102

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“…Patients with Alzheimer's disease have over 30% less Avp mRNA in the SCN than do healthy age-matched persons Ishunina and Swaab, 2002). Decreased Avp mRNA is seen in Alzheimer's patients both with and without depression, although other work has found greater Avp-ir neurons in the SCN of elderly patients with depression as compared to age-matched controls (Zhou et al, 2001). It is possible that synthesis and release of Avp is reduced in depressed patients and those with Alzheimer's disease, which could contribute to the disturbances in circadian rhythmicity that are prevalent in both disorders.…”

Section: Regulation Of Behavior By the Suprachiasmatic Nucleusmentioning

confidence: 92%

Vasopressin: Behavioral roles of an “original” neuropeptide

Caldwell

Lee

Macbeth

et al. 2008

Progress in Neurobiology

421

416

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Vasopressin (Avp) is mainly synthesized in the magnocellular cells of the hypothalamic supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) whose axons project to the posterior pituitary. Avp is then released into the blood stream upon appropriate stimulation (e.g., hemorrhage or dehydration) to act at the kidneys and blood vessels. The brain also contains several populations of smaller, parvocellular neurons whose projections remain within the brain. These populations are located within the PVN, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), medial amygdala (MeA) and suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).Since the 1950's, research examining the roles of Avp in the brain and periphery has intensified. The development of specific agonists and antagonists for Avp receptors has allowed for a better elucidation of its contributions to physiology and behavior. Anatomical, pharmacological and transgenic, including "knockout," animal studies, have implicated Avp in the regulation of various social behaviors across species.Avp plays a prominent role in the regulation of aggression, generally of facilitating or promoting it. Affiliation and certain aspects of pair-bonding are also influenced by Avp. Memory, one of the first brain functions of Avp that was investigated, has been implicated especially strongly in social recognition. The roles of Avp in stress, anxiety, and depressive states are areas of active exploration. In this review, we concentrate on the scientific progress that has been made on understanding the role of Avp in regulating of these and other behaviors across species, as well as discuss the implications for human behavior.

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“…Both types of depression exhibit similar activation of the CRF-and ESR1-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic PVN, 4,5,28 both go together with a decreased activity in the biological clock. 79 Apparently, whatever the individual risk factors and pathogenetic mechanisms for MD and BD are, they ultimately seem to lead to similar activity changes on the level of the hypothalamus.…”

Section: Avpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene expression analysis in the human hypothalamus in depression by laser microdissection and real-time PCR: the presence of multiple receptor imbalances

et al. 2008

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Hyperactivity of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is a prominent feature in depression and may be important in the etiology of this disease. The activity of the CRF neurons in the stress response is modulated by a number of factors that stimulate or inhibit CRF expression, including (1) corticosteroid receptors and their chaperones, heat shock proteins 70 and 90, (2) sex hormone receptors, (3) CRF receptors 1 (CRFR1) and 2, (4) cytokines interleukin 1-b and tumor necrosis factor-a, (5) neuropeptides and receptors, vasopressin (AVP), AVP receptor 1a (AVPR1A) and oxytocin and (6) transcription factor cAMP-response element-binding protein. We hypothesized that, in depression, the transcript levels of those genes that are involved in the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are upregulated, whereas the transcript levels of the genes involved in the inhibition of the HPA axis are downregulated. We performed laser microdissection and real-time PCR in the PVN and as a control in the supraoptic nucleus. Snap-frozen post-mortem hypothalami of seven depressed and seven matched controls were used. We found significantly increased CRF mRNA levels in the PVN of the depressed patients. This was accompanied by a significantly increased expression of four genes that are involved in the activation of CRF neurons, that is, CRFR1, estrogen receptor-a, AVPR1A and mineralocorticoid receptor, while the expression of the androgen receptor mRNA involved in the inhibition of CRF neurons was decreased significantly. These findings raise the possibility that a disturbed balance in the production of receptors may contribute to the activation of the HPA axis in depression.

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Alterations in Arginine Vasopressin Neurons in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus in Depression

Cited by 157 publications

References 43 publications

Sex Hormone Receptors Are Present in the Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Sex Hormone Receptors Are Present in the Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Vasopressin: Behavioral roles of an “original” neuropeptide

Gene expression analysis in the human hypothalamus in depression by laser microdissection and real-time PCR: the presence of multiple receptor imbalances

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