Sex and stress steroids in adolescence: Gonadal regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the rat

Green, Matthew R.; McCormick, Cheryl M.

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.02.004

Cited by 57 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…The same was found for the larger population from which the 12 rabbits used in this study were sampled, as discussed by North et al (2018). Similar sex differences in serum cortisol levels have been reported in humans (Gunn et al, 2016;Kirschbaum et al, 1992) and a variety of other mammals (Tilbrook et al, 2000;Green & McCormick, 2016).…”

Section: Effects Of Sexsupporting

confidence: 82%

Composition of rabbit caecal microbiota and the effects of dietary quercetin supplementation and sex thereupon

2019

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The purpose of this study was to add to the current understanding of rabbit caecal microbiota. This involved describing its microbial composition and linking this to live performance parameters, as well as determining the effects of dietary quercetin (Qrc) supplementation (2 g/kg feed) and sex on the microbial population. The weight gain and feed conversion ratio of twelve New Zealand White rabbits was measured from 5 to 12 wk old, blood was sampled at 11 wk old for the determination of serum hormone levels, and the rabbits were slaughtered and caecal samples collected at 13 wk old. Ion 16STM metagenome sequencing was used to determine the microbiota profile. The dominance of Firmicutes (72.01±1.14% of mapped reads), Lachnospiraceae (23.94±1.01%) and Ruminococcaceae (19.71±1.07%) concurred with previous reports, but variation both between studies and individual rabbits was apparent beyond this. Significant correlations between microbial families and live performance parameters were found, suggesting that further research into the mechanisms of these associations could be useful. Negative correlations with the caecal flavonoid content were found, but the latter was not affected by diet, and the effects of quercetin supplementation on the microbiota were very limited, possibly due to the absorption of the quercetin-aglycone from the gastrointestinal tract prior to the caecum. Nonetheless, Clostridiales Family XIII. Incertae Sedis was more abundant in the quercetin-supplemented rabbits (Control: 0.003±0.003%; Qrc: 0.020±0.000; P=0.005), as was the genus Anaerofustis (Control: 0.000±0.002; Qrc: 0.010±0.002; P=0.003). Serum cortisol levels were higher in females, and several microbial families differed between the sexes. Most were more abundant in female rabbits, including the most abundant, the family Eubacteriaceae (Male: 2.93±0.40; Female: 4.73±0.40; P=0.01).

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Section: Effects Of Sexsupporting

confidence: 82%

Composition of rabbit caecal microbiota and the effects of dietary quercetin supplementation and sex thereupon

2019

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“…Nonetheless, Gunn et al (2016) found that women had consistently higher cortisol levels than men, throughout the circadian cycle, which supports the current findings that female rabbits had higher cortisol levels than males (Table 3). While this difference does not seem to have been reported in rabbits, female rats have been found to have higher baseline corticosterone levels and a number of studies have demonstrated differences in the stress response linked to sex in other species (Kirschbaum et al,1992;Tilbrook et al, 2000;Green & McCormick, 2016). The sex-effect on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been linked to circulating androgen and oestrogen levels, with the former decreasing and the latter increasing the HPA axis function (Handa et al, 1994;Green & McCormick, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of quercetin supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency and serum hormone levels of New Zealand White rabbits

North¹,

Zotte²,

Hoffman³

2019

SA J. An. Sci.

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Meat rabbits could provide a new avenue for agricultural development in South Africa, and flavonoids may be able to improve their live performance. This study investigated the effects of quercetin dihydrate (0 and 2 g/kg feed) on the growth parameters and serum-free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine, somatotropin, and cortisol levels of growing rabbits. It also provides the first growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) data for South African New Zealand Whites. Control (Ctrl) and quercetin-supplemented (Qrc) diets were provided to 34 (16 male, 18 female) and 32 (15 male, 17 female) rabbits, respectively, from 5 to 12 weeks old. Live performance was measured weekly, and serum hormone levels were determined at 11 weeks old. Overall, the rabbits performed well for live weight and growth rate, growing from 1052 ± 13.4 g to 3192 ± 45.3 g (5 -12 weeks). Females had higher cortisol levels than males, as found for other species (female = 10.9 ng/mL, male = 3.89 ng/mL). Qrc rabbits tended to have a higher overall FCR than Ctrl rabbits (Ctrl = 3.83, Qrc = 4.01), possibly due to lower feed digestibility, and had smaller sex differences in growth and FCR than Ctrl rabbits, possibly owing to xenoestrogenic activity. They also tended to have higher fT3 levels than Ctrl rabbits (Ctrl = 3.62 ng/mL, Qrc = 4.98 ng/mL), possibly owing to the inhibition of binding to transthyretin. However, it does not seem that the provision of quercetin is commercially justified for improving the live performance of rabbits.

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“…Much of what is known about sex differences in the stressinduced activity of the HPA axis and their underlying mechanisms comes from studies done in rodents. Such studies have demonstrated that sex differences in the HPA axis can arise from the influence of gonadal hormones during adulthood or during key developmental periods [6][7][8][9]. Additionally, they support the possibility that sex biases result from sex chromosomal effects, although supporting evidence is currently limited [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Perinatal gonadal hormones and the HPA axis Sex differences in HPA function appear to also be organized by exposure to gonadal steroids during key developmental periods that program lasting differences in the HPA axis (i.e., organizational effects) [8] (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Organizational Effects Of Gonadal Hormonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex differences in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis’ response to stress: an important role for gonadal hormones

Heck

Handa

2018

Neuropsychopharmacol

317

188

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The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a neuroendocrine network that controls hormonal responses to internal and external challenges in an organism's environment, exhibits strikingly sex-biased activity. In adult female rodents, acute HPA function following a stressor is markedly greater than it is in males, and this difference has largely been attributed to modulation by the gonadal hormones testosterone and estradiol. These gonadal hormones are produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and have been shown to determine sex differences in adult HPA function after acute stress via their activational and organizational effects. Although these actions of gonadal hormones are well supported, the possibility that sex chromosomes similarly influence HPA activity is unexplored. Moreover, questions remain regarding sex differences in the activity of the HPA axis following chronic stress and the underlying contributions of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes. The present review examines what is currently known about sex differences in the neuroendocrine response to stress, as well as outstanding questions regarding this sex bias. Although it primarily focuses on the rodent literature, a brief discussion of sex differences in the human HPA axis is also included.

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Sex and stress steroids in adolescence: Gonadal regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the rat

Cited by 57 publications

References 110 publications

Composition of rabbit caecal microbiota and the effects of dietary quercetin supplementation and sex thereupon

Composition of rabbit caecal microbiota and the effects of dietary quercetin supplementation and sex thereupon

Effect of quercetin supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency and serum hormone levels of New Zealand White rabbits

Sex differences in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis’ response to stress: an important role for gonadal hormones

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