Open AccessSuppression of adult cytogenesis in the rat brain leads to sex‐differentiated disruption of the HPA axis activity
Author(s) -
SilveiraRosa Tiago,
MateusPinheiro António,
Correia Joana Sofia,
Silva Joana Margarida,
MartinsMacedo Joana,
Araújo Bruna,
MachadoSantos Ana Rita,
Alves Nuno Dinis,
Silva Mariana,
LoureiroCampos Eduardo,
Sotiropoulos Ioannis,
Bessa João Miguel,
Rodrigues Ana João,
Sousa Nuno,
Patrício Patrícia,
Pinto Luísa
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.13165
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , corticosterone , dentate gyrus , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , glucocorticoid receptor , glucocorticoid , glial fibrillary acidic protein , biology , amygdala , hormone , immunohistochemistry
Objectives The action of stress hormones, mainly glucocorticoids, starts and coordinates the systemic response to stressful events. The HPA axis activity is predicated on information processing and modulation by upstream centres, such as the hippocampus where adult‐born neurons (hABN) have been reported to be an important component in the processing and integration of new information. Still, it remains unclear whether and how hABN regulates HPA axis activity and CORT production, particularly when considering sex differences. Materials and Methods Using both sexes of a transgenic rat model of cytogenesis ablation (GFAP‐Tk rat model), we examined the endocrinological and behavioural effects of disrupting the generation of new astrocytes and neurons within the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Results Our results show that GFAP‐Tk male rats present a heightened acute stress response. In contrast, GFAP‐Tk female rats have increased corticosterone secretion at nadir, a heightened, yet delayed, response to an acute stress stimulus, accompanied by neuronal hypertrophy in the basal lateral amygdala and increased expression of the glucocorticoid receptors in the ventral DG. Conclusions Our results reveal that hABN regulation of the HPA axis response is sex‐differentiated.