Sex steroids are necessary in the second postnatal week for the expression of male alloparental behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochragaster).

Kramer, Kristin M.; Perry, Adam N.; Golbin, Dina; Cushing, Bruce S.

doi:10.1037/a0016927

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Male and female prairie vole pups were orally exposed across PNDs 8–14, which has been identified as a crucial sociosexual developmental window in this species and akin to the neonatal period in rats/mice (Kramer et al, 2009). Animals received one of three doses of BPA: 5 µg/kg bw, 50 µg/kg bw (established reference dose) and 50 mg/kg bw (lowest observed adverse effect level).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in microglial colonization and vulnerabilities to endocrine disruption in the social brain

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Gibson

Rhodes

et al. 2016

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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During development, microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, play an important role in synaptic organization. Microglial colonization of the developing brain is sexually dimorphic in some regions, including nuclei critical for the coordination of social behavior, suggesting steroid hormones have an influencing role, particularly estrogen. By extension, microglial colonization may be vulnerable to endocrine disruption. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) to alter brain development and behavior. Developmental exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous EDC, has been associated with altered sociosexual and mood-related behaviors in various animal models and children. Through a comparison of the promiscuous Wistar rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), we are the first to observe that developmental exposure to the synthetic estrogen ethinyl estradiol (EE) or BPA alters the sex-specific colonization of the hippocampus and amygdala by microglia.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in microglial colonization and vulnerabilities to endocrine disruption in the social brain

Rebuli

Gibson

Rhodes

et al. 2016

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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“…Male and female prairie vole pups were orally exposed across postnatal day (PND)8 -PND14, which has been identified as the crucial sociosexual developmental window in this species and akin to the neonatal period in rats/mice (30). On PND8, litters were removed from their home cage and placed in a clean cage on cotton bedding.…”

Section: Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Model for Neuroendocrine Toxicology: Neurobehavioral Effects of BPA Exposure in a Prosocial Species, the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

et al. 2014

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Impacts on brain and behavior have been reported in laboratory rodents after developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), raising concerns about possible human effects. Epidemiological data suggest links between prenatal BPA exposure and altered affective behaviors in children, but potential mechanisms are unclear. Disruption of mesolimbic oxytocin (OT)/vasopressin (AVP) pathways have been proposed, but supporting evidence is minimal. To address these data gaps, we employed a novel animal model for neuroendocrine toxicology: the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), which are more prosocial than lab rats or mice. Male and female prairie vole pups were orally exposed to 5-μg/kg body weight (bw)/d, 50-μg/kg bw/d, or 50-mg/kg bw/d BPA or vehicle over postnatal days 8-14. Subjects were tested as juveniles in open field and novel social tests and for partner preference as adults. Brains were then collected and assessed for immunoreactive (ir) tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (a dopamine marker) neurons in the principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBNST) and TH-ir, OT-ir, and AVP-ir neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Female open field activity indicated hyperactivity at the lowest dose and anxiety at the highest dose. Effects on social interactions were also observed, and partner preference formation was mildly inhibited at all dose levels. BPA masculinized principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis TH-ir neuron numbers in females. Additionally, 50-mg/kg bw BPA-exposed females had more AVP-ir neurons in the anterior PVN and fewer OT-ir neurons in the posterior PVN. At the 2 lowest doses, BPA eliminated sex differences in PVN TH-ir neuron numbers and reversed this sex difference at the highest dose. Minimal behavioral effects were observed in BPA-exposed males. These data support the hypothesis that BPA alters affective behaviors, potentially via disruption of OT/AVP pathways.

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“…Manipulation of OT/AVP levels via direct exposures to exogenous hormones, agonists, or alteration of the social environment can significantly modify the number of OT, AVP, and TH neurons in the PVN, thereby resulting in anxiety-like behavior and alterations of prototypical male and female sociosexual behavior (123–127). Similarly, neonatal manipulation of estradiol or testosterone alters prairie vole affiliative behaviors later in life, and estradiol administration during adulthood alters estrus and locomotor activity (57, 128, 129). Males gonadectomized on the day of birth, for example, fail to form a pair bond after AVP administration (52).…”

Section: Endocrine Disruption Of Avp/ot Pathways: a Role For Ersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors

Patisaul

2017

Front. Endocrinol.

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Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that interfere with the organizational or activational effects of hormones. Although the vast majority of the EDC literature focuses on steroid hormone signaling related impacts, growing evidence from a myriad of species reveals that the nonapeptide hormones vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) may also be EDC targets. EDCs shown to alter pathways and behaviors coordinated by AVP and/or OT include the plastics component bisphenol A (BPA), the soy phytoestrogen genistein (GEN), and various flame retardants. Many effects are sex specific and likely involve action at nuclear estrogen receptors. Effects include the elimination or reversal of well-characterized sexually dimorphic aspects of the AVP system, including innervation of the lateral septum and other brain regions critical for social and other non-reproductive behaviors. Disruption of magnocellular AVP function has also been reported in rats, suggesting possible effects on hemodynamics and cardiovascular function.

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Sex steroids are necessary in the second postnatal week for the expression of male alloparental behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochragaster).

Cited by 19 publications

References 46 publications

Sex differences in microglial colonization and vulnerabilities to endocrine disruption in the social brain

Sex differences in microglial colonization and vulnerabilities to endocrine disruption in the social brain

A Novel Model for Neuroendocrine Toxicology: Neurobehavioral Effects of BPA Exposure in a Prosocial Species, the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors

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