Neuronal network dynamics in the posterodorsal amygdala: shaping reproductive hormone pulsatility

Normal reproductive function and fertility rely on the rhythmic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is driven by the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. A key regulator of the GnRH pulse generator is the posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD), a brain region that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Royal Society interface 2024-08, Vol.21 (217), p.20240143
Main Authors: Nechyporenko, Kateryna, Voliotis, Margaritis, Li, Xiao Feng, Hollings, Owen, Ivanova, Deyana, Walker, Jamie J, O'Byrne, Kevin T, Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amygdala - metabolism
Amygdala - physiology
Animals
GABAergic Neurons - metabolism
GABAergic Neurons - physiology
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Life Sciences–Mathematics interface
Mice
Models, Neurological
Nerve Net - metabolism
Nerve Net - physiology
Neurons - metabolism
Neurons - physiology
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Summary:Normal reproductive function and fertility rely on the rhythmic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is driven by the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. A key regulator of the GnRH pulse generator is the posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD), a brain region that is involved in processing external environmental cues, including the effect of stress. However, the neuronal pathways enabling the dynamic, stress-triggered modulation of GnRH secretion remain largely unknown. Here, we employ modelling in order to explore the impact of dynamic inputs on GnRH pulse generator activity. We introduce and analyse a mathematical model representing MePD neuronal circuits composed of GABAergic and glutamatergic neuronal populations, integrating it with our GnRH pulse generator model. Our analysis dissects the influence of excitatory and inhibitory MePD projections' outputs on the GnRH pulse generator's activity and reveals a functionally relevant MePD glutamatergic projection to the GnRH pulse generator, which we probe with optogenetics. Our study sheds light on how MePD neuronal dynamics affect the GnRH pulse generator activity and offers insights into stress-related dysregulation.
ISSN:1742-5689
1742-5662
1742-5662
DOI:10.1098/rsif.2024.0143