Sex differences in neurogenesis and activation of new neurons in response to spatial learning and memory

Chow, Carmen; Epp, Jonathan R.; Lieblich, Stephanie E.; Barha, Cindy K.; Galea, Liisa A.M.

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.11.007

Cited by 94 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 65 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…They also had a higher expression of GluR1 and nNOS in the hilus and SGZ. Neurogenesis, GluR1 receptors and nNOS in the DG all play a role in synaptic plasticity and spatial learning [25,49], which could account for the faster rate of learning of control females in the MWM and NOR. No difference was found between the sexes in protein levels of nNOS, as assessed by Western blot, probably because Western blot measured the protein in all cells and dendritic processes in the sample, while immunohistochemistry assessments were restricted to interneurons with a complete cross-sectional profile.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By contrast, PS females swam a longer distance than control females on the 2nd and 3rd days of the test, probably because they show greater fear of novelty than males at this age [69]. This may have caused them to use a less efficient strategy to locate the escape platform [25]. In the NOR, which is much less stressful than the MWM test, PS females showed significant recognition of a novel object at an ITI of 40 and 120 min.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neurogenesis in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal DG influences memory and synaptic plasticity [25]. In the DG, neurogenesis plays a critical role in NOR [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Memory and Markers of Neuronal Activity in Juvenile Rats

Barbie-Shoshani

Shoham²,

Bejar³

et al. 2016

Dev Neurosci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stress during pregnancy can increase the incidence of emotional problems, learning and language difficulties in human infants and pre-adolescents. Most preclinical studies in rats that attempted to find experimental support for these observations were performed in adult male offspring, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of prenatal stress on novel object recognition (NOR) and spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) of juvenile rats of both sexes. By the use of fluorescence immunohistochemistry and protein measurements by Western blot, we measured the expression of markers of neurogenesis (doublecortin, DCX) and neuronal activity that are important for synaptic plasticity and learning (c-fos, GluR1, nNOS). Since neuronal activity in the developing and adult brain can be regulated by astrocytes, we also measured the number of astrocytes and the expression of two astroglial proteins (GFAP and S100B) in the stress-responsive hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Experiments were performed on littermates of rats in which its effects on behavior were measured. We found for the first time that juvenile females performed better than males in the NOR and MWM tests. They also had higher densities of DCX and c-fos in the DG, together with the expression of nNOS and GluR1 in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the DG. There were no sex differences in the expression of GFAP and S100B in astrocytes. Prenatal stress did not affect NOR in females, but improved it in males, together with an increase in DCX+ and c-fos, the number of GFAP-expressing astrocytes and the intensity of GFAP and S100B immunofluorescence in the DG. Staining intensity of GluR1 and nNOS in the hilus and SGZ of the DG, and protein expression in the whole DG, was unchanged in prenatally stressed males. Thus, prenatal stress changed the behavior and expression of key proteins in the DG to resemble that in females. A reduction in plasma testosterone, which although not attaining statistical significance was associated with that in anogenital distance, may contribute to the effect of prenatal stress in males. In females, prenatal stress had no effect on c-fos, DCX or the number of astrocytes but reduced the staining intensity of GluR1 and nNOS. Protein expression of nNOS was also significantly lower than that in prenatally stressed males. The differential effects of prenatal stress on hippocampal neuronal and glial markers may help to explain the sex-dependent effect on spatial learning in prepubertal rats.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Memory and Markers of Neuronal Activity in Juvenile Rats

Barbie-Shoshani

Shoham²,

Bejar³

et al. 2016

Dev Neurosci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although some studies have demonstrated that neonatal injections of MSG affect learning and memory in both sexes of rodents (Berry et al 1974;Kubo et al 1993), our findings demonstrated that male rats appear to be more susceptible to memory impairment (recognition and location) induced by MSG exposure than female rats (location). Accordingly, it has been proposed that male rats are more sensitive to neonatal stress associated with injections of MSG (Dubovicky et al 1999;Chow et al 2013). Moreover, sex differences might contribute to the neurotoxic action of MSG during early postnatal development and, as a consequence, to differences in learning and memory and vulnerability to neurological diseases found in male and female rats (Grimm & Frieder, 1985).…”

Section: P C O Araujo and Othersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance exercise reduces memory impairment induced by monosodium glutamate in male and female rats

Araujo

Quines

Jardim

et al. 2017

Experimental Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Edited by: Michael White New Findings r What is the central question of this study?Monosodium glutamate causes cognitive impairment. Does resistance exercise improve the performance of rats treated with monosodium glutamate? r What is the main finding and its importance?Resistance exercise is effective against monosodium glutamate-induced memory impairment in male and female rats.Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavour enhancer in diets, causes cognitive impairment in rodents. Exercise has been reported to protect against impairment of memory in humans. In this study, we investigated whether resistance exercise improves the performance of male and female rats treated with MSG in tests of memory and motor co-ordination. Wistar rats received MSG [4 g (kg body weight) −1 day −1 , s.c.] from postnatal day 1 to 10. At postnatal day 60, the animals started a resistance exercise protocol in an 80 deg inclined vertical ladder apparatus and performed it during 7 weeks. Rats performed object recognition and location memory tests. Resistance exercise reduced impairment in motor co-ordination of male and female rats treated with MSG. Resistance exercise was effective against the decrease in exploratory preference in the long-term recognition memory for novel objects of male rats treated with MSG. In MSG-treated female rats, resistance exercise was effective against the decrease in exploratory preference in the novel object location test. The exploratory preference of female rats in the long-term recognition memory test was similar in all groups. The short-term memory was not altered by MSG or resistance exercise in male and female rats. This study demonstrates that MSG affected the memory of male and female rats in different ways. Resistance exercise was effective against the decrease in recognition for male rats and in location memory for female rats treated with MSG. This report demonstrates the beneficial effects of resistance exercise against the prejudice of motor condition and impairment of memory induced by MSG in male and female rats.

show abstract

“…Although there is no strong evidence for sex differentiation in adult neurogenesis, some differences have been reported (Chow et al, 2013, Marques et al, 2016. These differences appear to be largely dependent on hormonal variations (Marques et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Trading new neurons for status: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis in eusocial Damaraland mole-rats

Oosthuizen

Amrein

2016

Neuroscience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Highlights• The hippocampal architecture of the Damaraland mole-rat corresponds largely to that of other mole-rat species.• No gender differences are found in hippocampal neurogenesis of Damaraland mole-rats.• Neurogenesis is unrelated to relative age in Damaraland mole-rats.• There is an inverse relationship between social status and neurogenesis in Damaraland mole-rats. 1 AbstractDiversity in social structures, from solitary to eusocial, is a prominent feature of subterranean African mole-rat species. Damaraland mole-rats are eusocial, they live in colonies that are characterized by a reproductive division of labour and a subdivision into castes based on physiology and behaviour. Damaraland mole-rats are exceptionally long lived and reproductive animals show delayed aging compared to non-reproductive animals. In the present study, we described the hippocampal architecture and the rate of hippocampal neurogenesis of wild derived, adult Damaraland mole-rats in relation to sex, relative age and social status or caste. Overall, Damaraland mole-rats were found to have a small hippocampus and low rates of neurogenesis. We found no correlation between neurogenesis and sex or relative age. Social status or caste were the most prominent modulator of neurogenesis. An inverse relationship between neurogenesis and social status was apparent, with queens displaying the lowest neurogenesis while the worker mole-rats had the most. As there is no natural progression from one caste to another, social status within a colony was relatively stable and is reflected in the level of neurogenesis. Our results correspond to those found in the naked mole-rat, and may reflect an evolutionary and environmentally conserved trait within social mole-rat species.

show abstract

Sex differences in neurogenesis and activation of new neurons in response to spatial learning and memory

Cited by 94 publications

References 65 publications

Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Memory and Markers of Neuronal Activity in Juvenile Rats

Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Memory and Markers of Neuronal Activity in Juvenile Rats

Resistance exercise reduces memory impairment induced by monosodium glutamate in male and female rats

Trading new neurons for status: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis in eusocial Damaraland mole-rats

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About