Astrocytic Modulation of Supraoptic Oxytocin Neuronal Activity in Rat Dams with Pup-Deprivation at Different Stages of Lactation

Li, Dongyang; Li, Tong; Jin, Yu; Liu, Xiaoyu; Jia, Shuwei; Wang, Xiaoran; Wang, Ping; Wang, Yufeng

doi:10.1007/s11064-020-03129-5

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This histology feature sets a solid neural basis for OT to modulate parental behaviors. Notably, OT neurons in the SON are also implicated in maintenance of maternal behaviors as highlighted in a series of observations recently in rats ( Li et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021a ; Li et al, 2021b ; Li et al, 2021c ). This is consistent with the structural connection of the SON neurons with the brain regions in rats ( Zhang et al, 2021 ) that regulate maternal behaviors.…”

Section: Higher Brain Functionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Wang

Liu

et al. 2022

ASN Neuro

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Oxytocin (OT), a nonapeptide, has a variety of functions. Despite extensive studies on OT over past decades, our understanding of its neural functions and their regulation remains incomplete. OT is mainly produced in OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and accessory nuclei between the SON and PVN. OT exerts neuromodulatory effects in the brain and spinal cord. While magnocellular OT neurons in the SON and PVN mainly innervate the pituitary and forebrain regions, and parvocellular OT neurons in the PVN innervate brainstem and spinal cord, the two sets of OT neurons have close interactions histologically and functionally. OT expression occurs at early life to promote mental and physical development, while its subsequent decrease in expression in later life stage accompanies aging and diseases. Adaptive changes in this OT system, however, take place under different conditions and upon the maturation of OT release machinery. OT can modulate social recognition and behaviors, learning and memory, emotion, reward, and other higher brain functions. OT also regulates eating and drinking, sleep and wakefulness, nociception and analgesia, sexual behavior, parturition, lactation and other instinctive behaviors. OT regulates the autonomic nervous system, and somatic and specialized senses. Notably, OT can have different modulatory effects on the same function under different conditions. Such divergence may derive from different neural connections, OT receptor gene dimorphism and methylation, and complex interactions with other hormones. In this review, brain functions of OT and their underlying neural mechanisms as well as the perspectives of their clinical usage are presented.

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Section: Higher Brain Functionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Wang

Liu

et al. 2022

ASN Neuro

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“…H 2 S can not only activate protein kinase A (Shao et al, 2011) that increases burst firing (Li et al, 2021a), but also increase intracellular calcium in astrocytes (Nagai et al, 2004;Nii et al, 2021), which is known to promote retraction of astrocytic processes (Li et al, 2020b), thereby potentially facilitating OT neuronal activity. In social stress evoked by separation of newborns from the mothers, abnormal astrocytic plasticity and malfunction of OT neurons have been identified in rats (Wang & Hatton, 2009a;Liu et al, 2019;Li et al, 2020a). However, neurochemical modulation of OT neuronal activity for the adaptive response of OT neurons to social stress in breastfeeding women, particularly involving H 2 S from astrocytes, remains largely unexplored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrocytic Hydrogen Sulfide Regulates Supraoptic Cellular Activity in the Adaptive Response of Lactating Rats to Chronic Social Stress

Liu

Wang

et al. 2021

ASN Neuro

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Maternal social stress among breastfeeding women can be adapted in chronic process. However, neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying such adaptation remain to be identified. Here, we report the effects of 2 hr/day unfamiliar male rat invasion (UMI) stress on maternal behaviors in lactating rats during postpartum day 8 (UMI8) to postpartum day 12 (UMI12). Rat dams at UMI8 presented signs of maternal anxiety, depression, and attacks toward male intruder. These changes partially reversed at UMI12 except the sign of anxiety. In the supraoptic nucleus (SON), UMI12 but not UMI8 significantly increased the expression of c-Fos and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2. At UMI8 but not UMI12, length of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, astrocytic cytoskeletal element) filaments around oxytocin (OT) neurons was significantly longer than that of their controls; the amount of GFAP fragments at UMI12 was significantly less than that at UMI8. Expression of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS, enzyme for H2S synthesis) at UMI12 was significantly higher than that at UMI8. CBS expression did not change significantly in the somatic zone of the SON but decreased significantly at the ventral glia lamina at UMI8. In brain slices of the SON, aminooxyacetate (a CBS blocker) significantly increased the expression of GFAP proteins that were molecularly associated with CBS. Aminooxyacetate also reduced the firing rate of OT neurons whereas Na2S, a donor of H2S, increased it. The adaptation during chronic social stress is possibly attributable to the increased production of H2S by astrocytes and the subsequent retraction of astrocytic processes around OT neurons.

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“…Postpartum depression is associated with disorders on maternal OT system. As reported in rats, lack of suckling stimulation and bolus OT release during lactation can decrease maternal blood OT levels and cause milk insufficiency and maternal depression in lactating mothers deprived of offspring (13,95) or following cesarean delivery (14). However, disrupted maternal behavior and lactation performance can be largely improved by IAO during offspring deprivation (13) or following cesarean delivery (14).…”

Section: Ot and Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…As revealed in animal study, maternal behavior in OT knockout mice is incomplete ( 83 ). Lack of suckling stimulation and bolus OT release during lactation can decrease maternal blood OT levels and cause hypogalactia and maternal depression ( 13 , 95 ). By contrast, IAO can largely restore maternal behavior and lactation performance as stated above.…”

Section: Ot Functions At Different Reproductive Stages Of Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin in Women’s Health and Disease

et al. 2022

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Oxytocin (OT) is a nonapeptide mainly produced in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. OT in the brain and blood has extensive functions in both mental and physical activities. These functions are mediated by OT receptors (OTRs) that are distributed in a broad spectrum of tissues with dramatic sexual dimorphism. In both sexes, OT generally facilitates social cognition and behaviors, facilitates parental behavior and sexual activity and inhibits feeding and pain perception. However, there are significant differences in OT levels and distribution of OTRs in men from women. Thus, many OT functions in men are different from women, particularly in the reproduction. In men, the reproductive functions are relatively simple. In women, the reproductive functions involve menstrual cycle, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, and menopause. These functions make OT regulation of women’s health and disease a unique topic of physiological and pathological studies. In menstruation, pre-ovulatory increase in OT secretion in the hypothalamus and the ovary can promote the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and facilitate ovulation. During pregnancy, increased OT synthesis and preterm release endow OT system the ability to promote maternal behavior and lactation. In parturition, cervix expansion-elicited pulse OT secretion and uterine OT release accelerate the expelling of fetus and reduce postpartum hemorrhage. During lactation, intermittent pulsatile OT secretion is necessary for the milk-ejection reflex and maternal behavior. Disorders in OT secretion can account for maternal depression and hypogalactia. In menopause, the reduction of OT secretion accounts for many menopausal symptoms and diseases. These issues are reviewed in this work.

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Astrocytic Modulation of Supraoptic Oxytocin Neuronal Activity in Rat Dams with Pup-Deprivation at Different Stages of Lactation

Cited by 12 publications

References 26 publications

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Astrocytic Hydrogen Sulfide Regulates Supraoptic Cellular Activity in the Adaptive Response of Lactating Rats to Chronic Social Stress

Oxytocin in Women’s Health and Disease

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