Genetic analysis of the relationships between behavioral and neuroendocrine traits in roman high and low avoidance rat lines

In order to determine whether the coselection observed between the selection trait (active avoidance behavior) of the Roman High Avoidance (RHA) and Roman Low Avoidance (RLA) rat lines and their neuroendocrine characteristics were genetically determined, we analyzed, in nonsegregating (RHA, RLA, and F₁) and segregating (F₂ and the two backcrosses) crosses, the inheritance pattern and the phenotypic correlations among behavioral (shuttle-box behavior), physiological (body, adrenal, and thymus weights), and neuroendocrine (corticosterone and prolactin reactivity, catecholamine enzyme activities) variables. Physiological characteristics and enzyme activities have acrucial role in sex dissociation. Avoidance behavior and prolactin reactivity to novel environment remained associated in segregating crosses despite gene rearrangement. They represented the most important variables to differentiate the Roman lines, perhaps sharing a common regulatory mechanism under genetic control.     

Effects of gonadal hormones on urinary behavior in dogs

The effects of testicular and ovarian hormones on urinary frequency and posture were studied in 8 groups of dogs. Three of the 4 female groups had been exposed to androgenic stimulation in utero, neonatally, or both in utero and in infancy. The fourth group of females consisted of ovariectomized controls. Males were intact or castrated as adults, as juveniles, or as neonates. Frequency of urination was increased in all groups by estrogen and by testosterone. Urinary posture was unaffected in males by castration in the adult or juvenile stages. Neonatal castration of males resulted in periodic regression from the adult male posture to the immature male posture. Control and prenatally androgenized females urinated in the feminine position. Females treated with large amounts of testosterone in infancy showed a limited degree of masculinization of urinary posture. Females exposed to testosterone before and immediately after birth urinated as females about 50% of the time and as adult males for approximately half of their urinations. Exogenous estrogen or androgen administered in adulthood had no effect on posture assumed for urination.     

Sex differences in prefrontal volume with aging and Alzheimer's disease

We used volumetric magnetic resonance imaging to examine sex differences in prefrontal tissue volumes of healthy aged and patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Healthy subjects had greater total prefrontal volume than AD, and men had greater total prefrontal volume than women (ps ≤ 0.02). This was true for both gray and white matter volumes. There were no interactions between group and sex for total prefrontal volume. An exploratory analysis of each group suggested that sex differences in both gray and white matter in healthy aging are not sustained in AD.     

Temporal aspects of the dependency of a dimorphic rate of extinction on testosterone.

Previous work has shown that rate of extinction of a conditioned taste aversion is affected by concurrent levels of testosterone in adult rats. In the present study, castrated male and female adult rates were given either oil or testosterone during acquisition of the conditioned taste aversion and then either oil or testosterone during extinction. The males and females that received testosterone during the extinction of the aversion showed the slower, masculine rate of extinction regardless of the type of injections they received during acquisition. Conversely, the animals that received oil during extinction showed the faster, feminine rate of extinction regardless of the type of injection during acquisition. In light of these findings, a number of alternative behavioral changes that could account for the effect of testosterone on the rate of extinction were evaluated.     

Effect of insulin on sex differences in the intake of glucose solutions in rats

Adult male and female Wistar rats maintained on ad lib diet were given a choice between tap water and a solution of glucose in the concentration of either 5 or 12%. Both sexes exhibited a marked preference for glucose solutions. With the 5% solution the volume intake was similar in both sexes and the total calorie intake was normal. With the 12% solution the volume intake was higher in females than in males, while in both sexes the total calorie intake was increased to a similar (maximum acceptable) level. Treatment with Protamine Zinc Insulin (PZI) in a daily dose of 40 U/kg b.w. markedly increased the intake of the 5% solution in both sexes, but significantly more in females than in males, thus revealing sex differences which were not manifest in untreated rats. PZI treatment had little effect on 12% glucose solution intake, presumably because with this solution the total calorie intake was increased to a maximum already in untreated rats.     

桥本氏甲状腺炎患者年龄、性别分布及自身免疫抗体水平分析

目的:分析桥本氏甲状腺炎(HT)在不同年龄男女性患者分布差异及相关抗体水平变化特点。方法:2014-01-01—2018-12-31五年间本院收治的HT患者共2705例,先按年龄分为儿童组(n=32)、青春期组(n=135)和成人组(n=2538),再将成人组中女性分为≤50岁组(n=1645)及>50岁组(n=519)两组,比较不同年龄组HT男女性占比差异,分析不同年龄组以及50岁前后女性甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb)和甲状腺球蛋白抗体(TgAb)的水平变化。结果:在三年龄组中,HT总病例数以成人组最多,儿童组较少。各年龄组间男性、女性HT占比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);各年龄组内女性占比均显著高于男性,尤以成人组女性占比最高(P<0.01)。三年龄组间TPOAb、TgAb水平有显著统计学意义(均P<0.01)。青春期组及成人组TPOAb水平均低于儿童组(P<0.01),成人组与青春期组TPOAb水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);青春期组TgAb水平低于儿童组(P<0.01),儿童组与成人组间、青春期组与成人组间TgAb水平的差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。≤50岁与>50岁女性的TPOAb和TgAb水平比较均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:成年人(>18岁)HT明显多于非成年人,且女性占比显著高于男性。TPOAb下降可能是成人HT的内分泌影响因素之一。     

The role of estrogen and progesterone in the control of preputial gland sex attractant odors in the female rat

Sexually experienced male rats were used to test the attractiveness of body odors of female rats. The attractiveness of these odors varied with the estrous cycle. Odors from female rats in proestrus were the most attractive to male rats and those from female rats during the darkness hours of diestrus the least attractive. The preputial glands appeared to be the source of these odors for the male rats showed no preference for the odors of proestrous female rats that had been preputialectomized. Administration of 1 μg estrdiol benzoate (EB) for 5 days increased the attractiveness of body odors of ovariectomized rats. A higher dose of EB (5 μg) had the same effect when administered for 1 or 5 days although the increase that occurred after 3 days was not significant. A single dose of progesterone (P) (500 μg) on the other hand, decreased the attractiveness of ovariectomized female odors although no change was seen after 3 days of treatment. A single injection of P also decreased the attractiveness of odors of ovariectomized females that had received EB for 3 days. However, P failed to decrease the attractiveness of odors in ovariectomized females after preputialectomy. We conclude that the preputial glands are an important source of sex attractant odors in the female rat and that the changes in the release of these odors that occur throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy are controlled by ovarian steroids. While estrogen acts to stimulate the production and release of these odors P appears to inhibit their release.     

A study of finger lengths, semen quality and sex hormones in 360 young men from the general Danish population

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that finger length may correlate with function or disorders of the male reproductive system. This is based on the HOXA and HOXD genes' common embryological control of finger development and differentiation of the genital bud. The objective of this study was to explore the association between the ratio of 2nd to 4th finger length (2D:4D ratio) and testis function in a sample of young Danish men from the general population. METHODS: Semen samples and finger measurements were obtained from a total of 360 young Danish men in addition to blood samples for sex hormone analysis to describe the possible association between 2D:4D and semen and sex-hormone parameters. RESULTS: A statistically significant inverse association with the 2D:4D was found only in relation to hormone levels of FSH in the group of young men with a 2D:4D >1 (P = 0.036) and a direct association with the total sperm count in the group of young men with a 2D:4D < or = 1 (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The statistically significant results may be 'false positives' (type I error) rather than representing true associations. This relatively large study of young, normal Danish men shows no reliable association between 2D:4D finger ratio and testicular function. Measurements of finger lengths do not have the power to predict the testicular function of adult men.     

Relationships among sexual behavior,hot flashes,and hormone levels in perimenopausal women

Forty-three perimenopausal women kept daily records of menstrual cycles and sexual activity. Data on hot flashes and plasma estradiol and testosterone levels were obtained at two points during the menopausal transition. The prospective data yielded a significant negative association between hot flash ratings and regularity of sexual intercourse at both time points. A significant negative correlation was found between estradiol (in the early part of the cycle) and hot flashes ratings at the first data point only, and positive correlations were found between hot flashes and ratio of testosterone to estradiol (T/E) at both. Frequency of sexual intercourse and level of plasma estradiol were higher, and T/E and hot flash ratings were lower in early perimenopausal women who were still having cycles at least once every 30 days, as compared with late perimenopausal women who were cycling less often. It was concluded that a close association exists between increasing irregularity of menstrual cycles, hot flashes, declining estradiol levels, and declining frequency of intercourse during the perimenopause. Causal relationships remain to be established.Supported by NIH Grant AG1437.     

Effects of acute continuous exposure of the rat to cigarette smoke on amine levels and utilization in discrete hypothalamic catecholamine nerve terminal systems and on neuroendocrine function

Summary The effects of acute continuous exposure to the smoke from 1–4 cigarettes have been studied in the male rat in terms of hypothalamic catecholamine levels and utilization as well as the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. Catecholamine levels in discrete hypothalamic catecholamine nerve terminal systems were studied by quantitative histofluorimetry. Catecholamine utilization was studied by means of the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition method using -methyl-(±)-p-tyrosine methyl ester. The serum hormone levels of adenohypophyseal hormones and of corticosterone were measured by the use of radioimmunoassay procedures. The results show that acute continuous exposure to unfiltered but not to filtered (Cambridge glass fibre filters) cigarette smoke leads to small but dose-dependent reductions of amine levels in most of the hypothalamic noradrenaline and dopamine nerve terminal system. These effects were associated with an enhancement of regional hypothalamic noradrenaline utilization but not of dopamine utilization in the median eminence. Furthermore, a reduction of TSH and prolactin serum levels was noted as well as increases in ACTH secretion. These results are partly different from those previously obtained with rats acutely exposed to intermittent unfiltered cigarrete smoke. This difference is suggested to be due to a temporary blockade of catecholamine release following acute continuous exposure to cigarette smoke.This work has been supported by a grant (1223) from the Council for Tobacco Research, New York, USA and by a grant from the Svenska Tobaks monopolet Send offprint requests to K. Andersson at the above address