Sex differences in urocortin 1 dynamics in the non-preganglionic Edinger–Westphal nucleus of the rat

Women have higher vulnerability to stress and stress-induced diseases than men. Estrogen may be involved in the control of sex-dependent stress adaptation via estrogen receptors α and β (ERα/β). Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) in the npEW plays an important role in stress adaptation. We hypothesize that the acti...

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Published in:Neuroscience research 2010, Vol.66 (1), p.117-123
Main Authors: Derks, Nicole M., Gaszner, Balázs, Roubos, Eric W., Kozicz, L. Tamás
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Estrogen Receptor beta - genetics
Estrogen Receptor beta - metabolism
Estrogen receptor β
Estrous Cycle
Female
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Male
Microscopy, Confocal
Neurons - metabolism
Q-RT-PCR
Quantitative immunocytochemistry
Rats
Rats, Wistar
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Secretory dynamics
Sex Characteristics
Stress
Tegmentum Mesencephali - cytology
Tegmentum Mesencephali - metabolism
Ucn1
Urocortins - genetics
Urocortins - metabolism
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Summary:Women have higher vulnerability to stress and stress-induced diseases than men. Estrogen may be involved in the control of sex-dependent stress adaptation via estrogen receptors α and β (ERα/β). Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) in the npEW plays an important role in stress adaptation. We hypothesize that the activity of npEW-Ucn1 neurons differs between sexes and is related to estrogen signalling. We here indicate by immunocytochemistry the absence of ERα and the presence of ERβ in the npEW-Ucn1 neurons. Q-RT-PCR of the npEW confirmed this notion, demonstrating that in male rats ERβ mRNA was almost 5 times higher than in females in di-estrus. Furthermore, Ucn1 mRNA in males was nearly 10 times and 1.6 times higher than in females in di- and pro-estrus, respectively, indicating a sex-dependent difference in Ucn1 biosynthetic activity. Since, at the same time, immunocytochemistry revealed that the amount of Ucn1 peptide stored in the cell bodies of the npEW-Ucn1 neurons did not differ between males and females, as judged on the basis of the number and immunosignal density of these neurons, we propose that the rate of axonal Ucn1 transport and, possibly, the strength of Ucn1 secretion, are dependent on sex to the same degree as is Ucn1 biosynthesis.
ISSN:0168-0102
1872-8111
DOI:10.1016/j.neures.2009.10.003