Spinal estrogen receptor alpha mediates estradiol-induced pronociception in a visceral pain model in the rat

We previously reported that 17β-estradiol (E2) is pronociceptive in a visceral pain model in the rat. Subcutaneously (s.c.) administered E2 reversed the decrease in the colorectal distention (CRD)-evoked visceromotor response produced by ovariectomy (OVx) and CRD-induced nociceptive responses were greater in proestrous rats compared with met/diestrous rats. The site of action, the type of estrogen receptors activated, and the possible intracellular signaling pathway involved are yet to be established. In the present study, intrathecal (i.t.) E2 administered to OVx rats mimicked the effects of s.c. E2, suggesting that spinal estrogen receptors are involved. This is further supported by the observations that the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780 injected i.t. in intact female rats significantly decreased the visceromotor response to CRD, the response of colonic afferents was not affected by OVx, and colonic afferents did not label for estrogen receptor α (ERα). The ERα selective agonist, 4,4′,4′′-[4-propyl-(1H)-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl]tris-phenol (PPT; s.c. or i.t.) facilitated the visceromotor response similar to E2, suggesting ERα activation is involved in mediating the pronociceptive effect of E2. PPT (s.c. or i.t.) increased the response of spinal dorsal horn neurons to CRD, indicating a spinal site of action. In addition, s.c. E2 or PPT increased CRD-induced spinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation that was not observed in OVx rats and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor blocked facilitation of the visceromotor response by PPT. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that spinal ERα mediates the pronociceptive effect of E2 on visceral signal processing through activation of the MAPK pathway.     

Estrogen modulation of morphine analgesia of visceral pain in female rats is supraspinally and peripherally mediated.

We have recently reported a sex difference in morphine-induced analgesia in a visceral pain model. To test the hypothesis that estrogen plays a role in mediating this sex difference, the effect of morphine on the visceromotor response (vmr) to colorectal distention was compared between ovariectomized (OVx) and OVx with estrogen replacement (E2) rats. After demonstrating that estrogen attenuates the potency of systemically administered morphine, we tested peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal sites for estrogen modulation of micro-opioid receptor (MOR) activity. The peripheral MOR antagonist naloxone methiodide reversed the effect of systemic morphine. The peripheral MOR agonist loperamide also attenuated the vmr and in addition was more potent in OVx rats than E2 rats, demonstrating estrogen modulation of peripheral micro-opioid analgesia. Intrathecally injected morphine attenuated the vmr, with no difference in potency noted between the 2 groups. Morphine given by intracerebroventricular injection was more potent in OVx rats than in E2 rats, suggesting estrogen modulation of supraspinal micro-opioid receptors. Results from all administration routes revealed that the potency of morphine in OVx and E2 rats was similar to male and intact female rats, respectively, suggesting that estrogen is one of the key factors contributing to the sex difference in micro-opioid analgesia. PERSPECTIVE: Female rats are less sensitive to morphine analgesia of visceral pain than male rats. This study demonstrates that estrogen decreases the analgesic potency of peripheral and supraspinal but not spinal morphine in a model of visceral pain and may be a key factor contributing to the sex difference in micro-opioid analgesia.     

Estrogen alters spinal NMDA receptor activity via a PKA signaling pathway in a visceral pain model in the rat

Pain symptoms in several chronic pain disorders in women, including irritable bowel syndrome, fluctuate with the menstrual cycle suggesting a gonadal hormone component. In female rats, estrogens modulate visceral sensitivity although the underlying mechanism(s) are unknown. In the present study the effects of 17-β estradiol on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signaling of colorectal nociceptive processing in the spinal cord were examined. Estrogen receptor alpha and the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor are co-expressed in dorsal horn neurons, supporting a direct action of estradiol on NMDA receptors. Intrathecal administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist d(−)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) dose-dependently attenuated the visceromotor response with greater potency in ovariectomized (OVx) rats compared to OVx with estradiol replacement (E2) rats. Estradiol significantly increased protein expression of NR1 in the lumbosacral spinal cord compared to OVx rats. Colorectal distention significantly increased phosphorylation of NR1ser-897, a PKA phosphorylation site on the NR1 subunit in E2, but not OVx rats. Intrathecal administration of a PKA inhibitor significantly attenuated the visceromotor response, decreased NR1 phosphorylation and increased the potency of APV to attenuate the visceromotor response compared to vehicle-treated E2 rats. These data suggest that estradiol increases spinal processing of visceral nociception by increasing NMDA receptor NR1 subunit expression and increasing site-specific receptor phosphorylation on the NR1 subunit contributing to an increase in NMDA receptor activity.     

Sex differences in severity of inflammation-induced anorexia and weight loss

Food intake and body weight changes in response to induction of acute inflammation were examined in intact cycling females, ovariectomized females, and sham-operated male rats. In intact females, body weight and feeding responses were compared between rats in which inflammation was induced on day of estrus with rats in which inflammation was induced on day of diestrus. Anorexia and weight loss were more severe in the female rats with inflammation induced on estrus day, which coincides with peak serum estrogen levels. In ovariectomized females, inflammation was induced the day after rats received injections of estrogen, progesterone, or sesame oil (vehicle). Males received vehicle injections. Among female rats, the group that received estradiol injections the previous day displayed the most severe anorexia. The least severe anorexia was observed in female rats that received progesterone the previous day. Food intake of female rats that received vehicle injections prior to induction of inflammation was greater than the rats receiving estrogen but less than the rats receiving progesterone. Male rats displayed the most severe anorexia and greatest weight loss. These data suggest that, although females exposed to estradiol prior to induction of acute inflammation display more severe anorexia than those exposed to progesterone, it may be that progesterone attenuates severity of anorexia rather than estrogen solely potentiating severity. Male rats, however, appear to experience the most severe anorexia in response to this form of inflammation.     

Colonic inflammation induces fos expression in the thoracolumbar spinal cord increasing activity in the spinoparabrachial pathway.

The descending colon and rectum are innervated by primary afferent fibers projecting to the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar spinal cord segments. Previous work from this laboratory has suggested that afferent input and sensory processing in the lumbosacral spinal cord is necessary and sufficient to mediate reflex responses to transient colorectal stimulation while processing in both the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar spinal cord segments contribute to visceral hyperalgesia. In the rat, repetitive noxious colorectal distention (CRD) induces >200 Fos labeled cells per section in the lumbosacral segments, but few in the thoracolumbar segments, further suggesting that transient colonic nociceptive input is transduced primarily in the lumbosacral spinal cord. The laminar distribution of this CRD-induced Fos suggests some of these neurons project to the parabrachial nucleus (PBn), an important relay for visceroceptive input from the spinal cord to higher order centers for nociceptive processing. In this study, two hypotheses were tested: first, inflammation of the colon prior to CRD would induce Fos expression in neurons in the thoracolumbar spinal cord segments and increase the number of neurons in the lumbosacral spinal cord segments that express Fos in response to noxious CRD; and second, the inflammation-induced increase in Fos expression in the spinal cord would be partially manifest as an increase in the number of spinoparabrachial projection neurons that respond to CRD.The retrograde tracer Fluorogold (FG) was injected unilaterally into the PBn of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten to 14 days later the rat's colon was either distended or inflamed and distended. Sections from the T13-L2 and L6-S2 spinal cord segments were double labeled using antibodies directed against FG and Fos protein. The results show that: (1) colonic inflammation plus distention induced Fos expression in the thoracolumbar spinal cord and increased Fos expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord compared to distention alone. In the lumbosacral cord, the increase in Fos expression was localized primarily to the superficial dorsal horn (SDH). In the thoracolumbar spinal segments, Fos was induced primarily in the SDH and the area around the central canal. (2) Injection of FG into the PBn produced dense retrograde labeling in the SDH, the lateral deeper gray matter and the area around the central canal at the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar levels. (3) In the lumbosacral spinal cord, 30-40% of the FG labeled cells double labeled for Fos. Colonic inflammation plus CRD did not significantly increase the percentage of spinoparabrachial neurons that were labeled for Fos compared to distention alone. (4) In the thoracolumbar spinal cord less than 10% of the FG labeled neurons were double labeled for Fos following CRD, but 25% of the FG labeled neurons in the SDH were double labeled following colonic inflammation. These data support the hypothesis that colonic inflammation activates viscerosensory processing in the thoracolumbar spinal cord and further suggests that this information is relayed to the PBn. The increase in information reaching the PBn over these parallel pathways may contribute to the affective-motivational component of the pain experience.     

Antinociceptive effects of melatonin in a rat model of post-inflammatory visceral hyperalgesia: A centrally mediated process

Previous reports suggest that melatonin may play an important role in visceral nociception and neurogenic inflammation. We aimed to examine the role of melatonin on visceral hypersensitivity and to explore the site of action using a rat model of post-inflammatory visceral hyperalgesia. In all rats, a baseline viscero-motor response (VMR) to graded colorectal distension (CRD; 10–60 mmHg) was recorded prior and 1 week following tri-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colonic inflammation. Melatonin (30, 45 or 60 mg/kg, ip) was given 20 min before testing the VMR in naïve and TNBS-treated rats. Extracellular single-unit recordings were made from CRD-sensitive pelvic nerve afferent (PNA) fibers and lumbosacral (LS) spinal neurons in TNBS-treated animals. The effect of melatonin (60 mg/kg) was examined on responses of PNAs and spinal neurons to graded CRD. In separate experiments, luzindole (non-specific MT₁/MT₂ receptor antagonist) or naltrexone (non-specific opiod receptor antagonist) was injected prior to melatonin. Following TNBS, there was a significant increase in the VMR to CRD compared to baseline. This increase was attenuated by melatonin (60 mg/kg) at pressures >20 mmHg. The same dose of melatonin had no effect on the VMR in naïve animals. In TNBS-treated rats, melatonin significantly attenuated the responses of CRD-sensitive spinal neurons to CRD, but had no effect in spinal transected rats or PNA fibers. Both luzindole and naltrexone blocked melatonin’s effect on the VMR and LS spinal neurons. Results indicate melatonin’s antinociceptive effects are not via a peripheral site of action but rather a supra-spinal process linked to the central opioidergic system.     

Sex differences in spinal processing of transient and inflammatory colorectal stimuli in the rat

Sex differences in the spinal processing of somatic and visceral stimuli contribute to greater female sensitivity in many pain disorders. The present study examined spinal mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in visceral sensitivity. The visceromotor response to colorectal distention (CRD) was more robust in normal female rats and after intracolonic mustard oil compared with that in male rats. No sex difference was observed in the CRD-evoked response of lumbosacral (LS) and thoracolumbar (TL) colonic afferents in normal and mustard oil-treated rats, but there was a sex difference in spontaneous activity that was exacerbated by intracolonic mustard oil. The response of visceroceptive dorsal horn neurons to CRD was greater in normal female rats in the LS and TL spinal segments. The effect of intracolonic mustard oil on the CRD-evoked response of different phenotypes of visceroceptive dorsal horn neurons was dependent on sex and segment. The NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) dose-dependently attenuated the visceromotor response in normal rats with greater effect in male rats. Correspondingly, there was greater cell membrane expression of the GluN1 subunit in dorsal horn extracts in female rats. After intracolonic mustard oil, there was no longer a sex difference in the effect of APV nor GluN1 expression in LS segments, but greater female expression in TL segments. These data document a sex difference in spinal processing of nociceptive visceral stimuli from the normal and inflamed colon. Differences in dorsal horn neuronal activity and NMDA receptor expression contribute to the sex differences in the visceral sensitivity observed in awake rats.     

Hyperalgesic priming in the rat demonstrates marked sexual dimorphism

In male rats, carrageenan (CAR)-induced inflammation or exposure to a selective protein kinase C epsilon (PKC epsilon ) agonist (psi epsilon RACK) produces prolongation of the hyperalgesia induced by a subsequent exposure to an inflammatory mediator, a phenomenon referred to as hyperalgesic priming. Since many chronic inflammatory conditions are sexually dimorphic, we tested the hypothesis that hyperalgesic priming is sexually dimorphic. Prior injection of CAR or psi epsilon RACK produced a prolongation of the hyperalgesia induced by a subsequent injection of prostaglandin E(2), from less than 3 h to greater than 24 h, but only in male rats. In ovariectomized female rats priming with CAR and psi epsilon RACK produced hyperalgesic priming effects similar to that observed in the male rat, and this effect was reversed by estrogen replacement. While gonadectomy in males had no effect on CAR and psi epsilon RACK induced hyperalgesic priming, female phenotype was observed following implantation of estrogen in males. Thus, mechanisms mediating the development of hyperalgesic priming produced by inflammation are suppressed by estrogen. This regulation of priming by estrogen appears to occur at or downstream of the activation of PKC epsilon.     

The effects of a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, on behavioral hyperalgesia and dorsal horn neuronal activity in rats with unilateral inflammation

The involvement of NMDA receptors in rats with peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia was evaluated by administration of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. Inflammation and hyperalgesia was induced by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or carrageenan into the left hind paw. The latency of paw withdrawal from a thermal stimulus was used as a measure of hyperalgesia in awake rats. MK-801 (1.6 mg/kg, i.p., or 31.5 μg, intrathecal) significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and reduced its duration in comparison to saline-injected rats (P < 0.05). The receptive field size of nociceptive-specific and wide-dynamic-range neurons in the superficial and deep spinal dorsal horn recorded 24 h after injection of CFA was significantly reduced to 73 ± 6% (P < 0.05, n = 8) and 74 ± 4% (P < 0.05, n = 8) of control values, respectively, by a cumulative dose of 3 mg/kg of MK-801 (i.v.). MK-801 (2 mg/kg) prevented the expansion of the receptive fields of dorsal horn neurons recorded 5 ± 0.4 h (n = 5) after intradermal injection of CFA as compared to saline-injected rats (P < 0.05). MK-801 had no significant effect on receptive field size of dorsal horn neurons in rats without CFA-induced inflammation but blocked a transient expansion of the receptive fields induced by 1 Hz, C-fiber intensity electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. The background activity and noxious heat-evoked response of dorsal horn neurons in rats with CFA-induced inflammation were primarily inhibited and noxious pinch-evoked activity was both facilitated and inhibited by the administration of MK-801. These results support the hypothesis that NMDA receptors are involved in the dorsal horn neuronal plasticity and behavioral hyperalgesia that follows peripheral tissue inflammation.     

Role of RVM neurons in capsaicin‐evoked visceral nociception and referred hyperalgesia

Most forms of visceral pain generate intense referred hyperalgesia but the mechanisms of this enhanced visceral hypersensitivity are not known. The on‐cells of the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) play an important role in descending nociceptive facilitation and can be sensitized to somatic mechanical stimulation following peripheral nerve injury or hindpaw inflammation. Here we have tested the hypothesis that visceral noxious stimulation sensitizes RVM ON‐like cells, thus promoting an enhanced descending facilitation that can lead to referred visceral hyperalgesia. Intracolonic capsaicin instillation (ICI) was applied to rats in order to create a hyperalgesic state dependent on noxious visceral stimulation. This instillation produced acute pain‐related behaviors and prolonged referred hyperalgesia that were prevented by the RVM microinjection of AP5, an NMDA selective antagonist. In electrophysiological experiments, ON‐like RVM neurons showed ongoing spontaneous activity following ICI that lasted for and an enhanced responsiveness to von Frey and heat stimulation of the hindpaw and to colorectal distention (CRD) that lasted for at least 50 min post capsaicin administration. Moreover, ON‐like cells acquired a novel response to CRD and responded to heat stimulation in the innocuous range. OFF‐like neurons responded to capsaicin administration with a brief (<5 min) inhibition of activity followed by an enhanced inhibition to noxious stimulation and a novel inhibition to innocuous stimulation (CRD and heat) at early time points (10 min post capsaicin). These results support the hypothesis that noxious visceral stimulation may cause referred hypersensitivity by promoting long‐lasting sensitization of RVM ON‐like cells.     

Differential effects of spinal CNQX on two populations of dorsal horn neurons responding to colorectal distension in the rat

The present study examined the effect of a spinally administered excitatory amino acid antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 1, 2.5, 5 microg) on responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons to graded intensities (20, 40, 60, 80 mmHg) of colorectal distention (CRD). Extracellular single unit recordings were made from 28 dorsal horn neurons in the L6-S2 spinal cord. Neurons excited by CRD were subclassified as short latency abrupt (SLA) neurons and short latency sustained (SLS) neurons. The response to graded intensities of CRD was dose-dependently attenuated in 9/17 SLA neurons (53%). The response to CRD was also dose-dependently attenuated in 8/11 SLS neurons (73%). The response to CRD in the remaining eight SLA neurons and three SLS neurons was not attenuated by CNQX. Comparing only neurons that were significantly attenuated by the CNQX, it was found that the magnitude of attenuation of the response to noxious CRD (80 mmHg) produced by 5 microg CNQX was significantly greater in SLA (63 +/-6%) vs. SLS (40 +/- 6%) neurons. While CNQX produced a significant attenuation of the response to innocuous CRD (20 mmHg), there was no difference between the SLA and SLS neurons. The effects of CNQX on the response to somatic stimulation (touch, pinch) of the cutaneous receptive field of these 28 neurons were qualitatively examined in all neurons and quantitatively examined in nine neurons (five SLA and four SLS neurons). CNQX generally decreased the response to pinch or touch, even if CNQX did not attenuate the response to CRD. These results suggest that subpopulations of SLA and SLS neurons are differentially modulated by non-NMDA ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptors and that these neuronal subtypes contribute differently to visceral sensory processing. Furthermore, the lack of correlation between the effects of CNQX on visceral and somatic sensory processing in the same neuron underscores potential differences in processing of visceral and somatic pain.     

雌激素替代抑制萘诱导去卵巢大鼠的晶状体氧化损伤

背景:抗氧化作用可能是雌激素对晶状体保护作用的机制之一,但此机制的具体途径目前仍不明确,同时临床上常用的几种雌激素替代治疗方法对晶状体氧化损伤的影响至今少见报道。目的:观察雌二醇及其联合孕酮对萘诱导去卵巢雌性大鼠晶状体氧化损伤模型中晶状体混浊情况、晶状体氧化防御系统、脂质过氧化产物及可溶性蛋白水平的影响。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、雌二醇组、雌二醇+孕酮组,后3组均行双侧卵巢切除。术后2周,4组均用萘混悬液灌胃,定期行裂隙灯显微镜检查观察各组大鼠晶状体变化;灌胃6周后检测晶状体氧化防御系统、脂质过氧化产物及可溶性蛋白水平,测定血清雌二醇和孕酮水平。结果与结论:与模型组相比,雌二醇组、雌二醇+孕酮组及假手术组晶状体混浊程度轻,出现时间晚,而晶状体超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽、维生素C,可溶性蛋白含量,血清雌二醇与孕酮水平增高(P<0.05或P<0.01),丙二醛水平降低(P<0.05)。结果证实,雌二醇及其联合孕酮两种替代治疗方法对萘诱导去卵巢雌性大鼠晶状体的氧化损伤均有抑制作用,其机制与晶状体氧化防御系统的活性、抑制脂质过氧化产物的形成并维持可溶性蛋白的水平有关,抑制晶状体的氧化损伤是雌激素替代治疗发挥晶状体保护作用的机制之一。     

Effect of nepadutant,a neurokinin 2 tachykinin receptor antagonist,on immediate-early gene expression after trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis in the rat

Tachykinins have been implicated in inflammatory responses such as those occurring in inflammatory bowel disease. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of a selective neurokinin (NK) 2 receptor antagonist, nepadutant, on proto-oncogene expression in the L(6)-S(1) spinal cord as well as in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after either non-noxious colorectal distension (CRD) or trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in the adult rat. In both preparations, c-fos was expressed in similar spinal cord regions, including medial and lateral dorsal horn, dorsal commissure (DCM; laminae X above the central canal), and the sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN, laminae V-VII). However, TNBS-induced colitis produced significantly larger numbers (8-10-fold increase over control) of Fos-positive spinal cord neurons. In addition, there was also a significant increase (3-4-fold) in the number of Jun-positive colon DRG neurons after colitis compared with CRD. Nepadutant had no significant effect on proto-oncogene expression induced by CRD in either spinal cord neurons or DRG neurons. In contrast, nepadutant significantly decreased (70%) the number of Fos-positive neurons in dorsal horn, DCM, and SPN spinal cord regions and significantly decreased (75%) the number of Jun-positive DRG neurons after TNBS-induced irritation of the colon. These findings indicate that nepadutant suppresses the responses of colonic afferent neurons to nociceptive stimuli and that NK2 receptor antagonists may be beneficial in the treatment of sensory symptoms of colitis.     

雌激素替代抑制萘诱导去卵巢大鼠的晶状体氧化损伤

背景：抗氧化作用可能是雌激素对晶状体保护作用的机制之一,但此机制的具体途径目前仍不明确,同时临床上常用的几种雌激素替代治疗方法对晶状体氧化损伤的影响至今少见报道。目的：观察雌二醇及其联合孕酮对萘诱导去卵巢雌性大鼠晶状体氧化损伤模型中晶状体混浊情况、晶状体氧化防御系统、脂质过氧化产物及可溶性蛋白水平的影响。方法：将SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、雌二醇组、雌二醇＋孕酮组,后3组均行双侧卵巢切除。术后2周,4组均用萘混悬液灌胃,定期行裂隙灯显微镜检查观察各组大鼠晶状体变化;灌胃6周后检测晶状体氧化防御系统、脂质过氧化产物及可溶性蛋白水平,测定血清雌二醇和孕酮水平。结果与结论：与模型组相比,雌二醇组、雌二醇＋孕酮组及假手术组晶状体混浊程度轻,出现时间晚,而晶状体超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽、维生素C,可溶性蛋白含量,血清雌二醇与孕酮水平增高（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）,丙二醛水平降低（P〈0.05）。结果证实,雌二醇及其联合孕酮两种替代治疗方法对萘诱导去卵巢雌性大鼠晶状体的氧化损伤均有抑制作用,其机制与晶状体氧化防御系统的活性、抑制脂质过氧化产物的形成并维持可溶性蛋白的水平有关,抑制晶状体的氧化损伤是雌激素替代治疗发挥晶状体保护作用的机制之一。     

Relative effects of pregnancy, estradiol, and progesterone on plasma insulin and pancreatic islet insulin secretion

Influences of estrogen and progesterone on the development of hyperinsulinemia and augmented pancreatic islet insulin secretion during pregnancy were assessed in this study. Groups of female rats were injected subcutaneously for 21 days with varying daily dosages of estradiol benzoate or progesterone in oil. On day 21, pancreatic islets were isolated by a collagenase method. Total insulin secretion was measured after 90-min incubations of 10 islets in buffered medium containing glucose. Higher physiologic dosages of estradiol or progesterone, singly or in combination, significantly increased islet secretion above values of untreated control rats and were comparable to augmented islet responses of term, 3-wk pregnant rats. Diameter and protein content of islets obtained from steroid-treated and pregnant rats exceeded control measurements in these instances. However, 2-hr preincubations of control islets with 1 or 10 mug/ml of either steroid did not influence subsequent glucose-stimulated insulin output.In related studies, plasma insulin responses during 30 min intravenous glucose tolerance tests were significantly above control responses in term-pregnant rats and animals receiving comparable dosages of steroids for 3 wk. Unlike pregnancy or progesterone treatment, estradiol administration alone or with progesterone significantly lowered postchallenge plasma glucose concentrations.These results indicate that estradiol and progesterone contribute to enhanced islet insulin secretion and plasma insulin responses to glucose administration during pregnancy. This change is not acutely produced but can be related to hypertrophy of islets following chronic hormonal administration. Although the data do not distinguish between direct and indirect beta-cytotrophic effects of these sex steroids, metabolic actions of estradiol and progesterone may differ, since estrogen treatment lowers plasma glucose curves following the induction of hyperinsulinemia.     

Gender differences in ethanol preference and ingestion in rats. The role of the gonadal steroid environment.

An ethanol oral self administration paradigm showed the existence of gender differences in alcohol preference in rats: whereas males and females initiated alcohol drinking at similar rates, females maintained their preference for ethanol over a longer duration. Neonatal estrogenization of females, which effectively confers a male phenotype on a genetically female brain, resulted in patterns of drinking that were similar to those displayed by intact male rats, indicating that gender differences in alcohol drinking patterns may be, at least partially, accounted for by sexual differentiation of the brain. To test whether gonadal steroids also exert activational effects on ethanol-seeking behavior, we also examined the effects of gonadectomy alone, or in combination with gonadal steroid replacement therapy. Castration did not significantly alter ethanol consumption in males, although treatment of castrated rats with dihydrotestosterone resulted in a significant inhibition of this parameter. As compared with the situation in intact female rats, ethanol ingestion was significantly reduced in ovariectomized female rats receiving estradiol (E2) and in ovariectomized female rats receiving combined E2 and progesterone replacement therapy. However, neither ovariectomy nor progesterone replacement in ovariectomized rats resulted in ethanol drinking patterns that were different compared to those observed in intact female controls. Thus, dihydrotestosterone and E2, respectively, appear to exert modulatory influences on the male and female rats' preference for ethanol, but further investigations are necessary to determine to what extent these effects result from activational actions on the brain.     

Sex differences and phases of the estrous cycle alter the response of spinal cord dynorphin neurons to peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia

The neuromodulatory interactions of sex steroids with the opioid system may result in sex differences in pain and analgesia. Dynorphin is an endogenous kappa-opioid peptide that is upregulated in an animal model of peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia and is possibly regulated by circulating levels of sex steroids. The present study compared behavioral responses of male, cycling female, and gonadectomized Sprague-Dawley rats in a model of persistent pain. Cycling female rats were behaviorally tested over a 14-day period, and their estrous cycles were monitored by daily vaginal smears. Thermal hyperalgesia was measured by paw withdrawal latencies taken prior to and 24-72 h after rats received a unilateral hindpaw injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Prior to CFA administration, there was no significant difference in paw withdrawal latencies between male rats, cycling female rats, and ovariectomized female rats. Following CFA administration, female rats in proestrus exhibited significantly increased hyperalgesia compared with male rats, ovariectomized female rats, and female rats in other estrous stages (P相似文献   

Opposing Roles of Estradiol and Testosterone on Stress-Induced Visceral Hypersensitivity in Rats

Chronic stress produces maladaptive pain responses, manifested as alterations in pain processing and exacerbation of chronic pain conditions including irritable bowel syndrome. Female predominance, especially during reproductive years, strongly suggests a role of gonadal hormones. However, gonadal hormone modulation of stress-induced pain hypersensitivity is not well understood. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that estradiol is pronociceptive and testosterone is antinociceptive in a model of stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity (SIVH) in rats by recording the visceromotor response to colorectal distention after a 3-day forced swim (FS) stress paradigm. FS induced visceral hypersensitivity that persisted at least 2 weeks in female, but only 2 days in male rats. Ovariectomy blocked and orchiectomy facilitated SIVH. Furthermore, estradiol injection in intact male rats increased SIVH and testosterone in intact female rats attenuated SIVH. Western blot analyses indicated estradiol increased excitatory glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 expression and decreased inhibitory metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 expression after FS in male thoracolumbar spinal cord. In addition, the presence of estradiol during stress increased spinal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression independent of sex. In contrast, testosterone blocked the stress-induced increase in BDNF expression in female rats. These data suggest that estradiol facilitates and testosterone attenuates SIVH by modulating spinal excitatory and inhibitory glutamatergic receptor expression.

Sex-specificity and estrogen-dependence of kappa opioid receptor-mediated antinociception and antihyperalgesia

This investigation determined whether the activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in the spinal cord produces estrogen-dependent, sex-specific modulation of acute and inflammation-induced persistent nociception. We demonstrate for the first time that KOR antinociception and gene expression are enhanced by exogenous or endogenous estrogen in the female. The lack of KOR antinociception and KOR gene expression are not altered by the hormonal status (testosterone or estrogen) in males. Cannulae were implanted intrathecally in male, gonadectomized male (GDX), intact and ovariectomized female (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats. Estradiol was injected subcutaneously, 48 h before testing (GDX+E and OVX+E). Intrathecal injection of U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, dose dependently increased heat-evoked tail flick latencies (TFLs) in proestrous and OVX+E groups, but not in male, GDX, GDX+E, OVX, and diestrous groups. Further, estrogen dose-dependently enhanced the effect of U50,488H in OVX rats. KOR selective antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI), blocked the antinociceptive effect of U50,488H. U50,488H reversed the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in OVX+E rats, but not in male or OVX rats. However, U50,488H treatment did not alter mechanical thresholds in any group, with or without inflammation. KOR gene expression was enhanced in proestrous and OVX+E groups as compared to any other group. We conclude that selective activation of KOR in the spinal cord produces sex-specific, stimulus- and estrogen-dependent attenuation of acute and inflammatory pain in the rat via estrogen-induced upregulation of the KOR gene expression in the spinal cord. These findings may further implicate estrogen dependence of KOR effects in learning, epilepsy, stress response, addiction etc.