Anabolic-androgenic steroids decrease dendritic spine density in the nucleus accumbens of male rats

Wallin-Miller, Kathryn G.; Li, Grace; Kelishani, Diana; Wood, Ruth I.

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.05.045

Cited by 29 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…These effects seem to be region-specific within the striatum, as estrogenic effects on spine density and excitatory synaptic properties observed in the NAc were not seen in the caudate-putamen ( 197 , 198 ). The effects of gonadal hormones on NAc physiology is not limited to females, as long-term treatment with androgens in males also modulates NAc dendritic spine density ( 200 ).…”

Section: Reward Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior

Jennings

Lecea

2020

Endocrinology

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Gonadal hormones contribute to the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior throughout the lifespan, from initial neural patterning to ‘activation’ of adult circuits. Sexual behavior is an ideal system in which to investigate the mechanisms underlying hormonal activation of neural circuits. Sexual behavior is a hormonally regulated, innate social behavior found across species. Although both sexes seek out and engage in sexual behavior, the specific actions involved in mating are sexually dimorphic. Thus, the neural circuits mediating sexual motivation and behavior in males and females are overlapping yet distinct. Furthermore, sexual behavior is strongly dependent on circulating gonadal hormones in both sexes. There has been significant recent progress on elucidating how gonadal hormones modulate physiological properties within sexual behavior circuits with consequences for behavior. Therefore, in this mini-review we review the neural circuits of male and female sexual motivation and behavior from initial sensory detection of pheromones to the extended amygdala and on to medial hypothalamic nuclei and reward systems. We also discuss how gonadal hormones impact the physiology and functioning of each node within these circuits. By better understanding the myriad of ways in which gonadal hormones impact sexual behavior circuits, we can gain a richer and more complete appreciation for the neural substrates of complex behavior.

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Section: Reward Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior

Jennings

Lecea

2020

Endocrinology

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“…Investigating the interactions between sex, hormones, and environmental inputs such as stress or environmental chemical exposure is an essential future line of research. Regarding male MSNs, another possibility is that testosterone regulates excitatory synaptic input onto nucleus accumbens neurons, as suggested by experiments analyzing dendritic spine density in response to week-long exogenous testosterone exposure in gonad-intact male rats ( 107 ), and the role of androgens in reward-related behaviors ( 108 ).…”

Section: Excitatory Synapse Number Is Increased Onto Female Compared mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Differences in Medium Spiny Neuron Excitability and Glutamatergic Synaptic Input: Heterogeneity Across Striatal Regions and Evidence for Estradiol-Dependent Sexual Differentiation

et al. 2018

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Steroid sex hormones and biological sex influence how the brain regulates motivated behavior, reward, and sensorimotor function in both normal and pathological contexts. Investigations into the underlying neural mechanisms have targeted the striatal brain regions, including the caudate–putamen, nucleus accumbens core (AcbC), and shell. These brain regions are of particular interest to neuroendocrinologists given that they express membrane-associated but not nuclear estrogen receptors, and also the well-established role of the sex steroid hormone 17β-estradiol (estradiol) in modulating striatal dopamine systems. Indeed, output neurons of the striatum, the medium spiny neurons (MSNs), exhibit estradiol sensitivity and sex differences in electrophysiological properties. Here, we review sex differences in rat MSN glutamatergic synaptic input and intrinsic excitability across striatal regions, including evidence for estradiol-mediated sexual differentiation in the nucleus AcbC. In prepubertal animals, female MSNs in the caudate–putamen exhibit a greater intrinsic excitability relative to male MSNs, but no sex differences are detected in excitatory synaptic input. Alternatively, female MSNs in the nucleus AcbC exhibit increased excitatory synaptic input relative to male MSNs, but no sex differences in intrinsic excitability were detected. Increased excitatory synaptic input onto female MSNs in the nucleus AcbC is abolished after masculinizing estradiol or testosterone exposure during the neonatal critical period. No sex differences are detected in MSNs in prepubertal nucleus accumbens shell. Thus, despite possessing the same neuron type, striatal regions exhibit heterogeneity in sex differences in MSN electrophysiological properties, which likely contribute to the sex differences observed in striatal function.

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“…Here we used an additional control group of intact males to also establish that gonadal hormones are not necessary to maintain spine density and morphology in the striatum in males, as GDX left these variables unaffected. Another group found that in intact males, a chronic high dose of testosterone decreases spine density in the NAcSh, and has no effect on the NAcC (Wallin-Miller et al, 2016). This suggests that androgens induce loss of spines in the NAcSh regardless of whether the male is gonadectomized or not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of gonadectomy and androgen on neuronal plasticity in motivation and reward related brain regions in the male rat

Huijgens

Snoeren

Meisel

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Gonadal hormones affect neuronal morphology to ultimately regulate behavior. Here, we investigated the effect of both castration and androgen replacement on spine plasticity in the nucleus accumbens shell and core (NAcSh and NAcC), caudate putamen (CPu), medial amygdala (MeA), and medial preoptic nucleus (MPN). Intact and castrated (GDX) male rats were treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 1.5mg) or vehicle (oil) in 3 experimental groups: intact-oil, GDX-oil and GDX-DHT. Spine density and morphology, measured 24 hours after injection, were determined through 3D reconstruction of DiI-labeled dendritic segments. GDX decreased spine density in the MPN, which was rescued by DHT treatment. MeA spine density increased in GDX-DHT animals compared to intact-oil animals. In the NAcSh, DHT decreased spine density, and also rapidly increased the number of pCREB+ cell bodies.These findings indicate that androgen signaling plays a role in the regulation of spine plasticity within neurocircuits involved in motivated behaviors.

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Anabolic-androgenic steroids decrease dendritic spine density in the nucleus accumbens of male rats

Cited by 29 publications

References 51 publications

Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior

Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior

Sex Differences in Medium Spiny Neuron Excitability and Glutamatergic Synaptic Input: Heterogeneity Across Striatal Regions and Evidence for Estradiol-Dependent Sexual Differentiation

Effects of gonadectomy and androgen on neuronal plasticity in motivation and reward related brain regions in the male rat

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