Alterations in corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 in the preoptic area and hypothalamus in mice during the postpartum period

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling through CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) regulates autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress, as well as behavioral changes during the maternal period. Previous work in our lab reported higher levels of CRFR1 in female, compared to male, mice withi...

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Published in:Hormones and behavior 2021-09, Vol.135, p.105044-105044, Article 105044
Main Authors: De Guzman, Rose M., Rosinger, Zachary J., Parra, Katherine E., Jacobskind, Jason S., Justice, Nicholas J., Zuloaga, Damian G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Corticotropin-releasing factor
Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Female
Humans
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus - metabolism
Male
Mice
Paraventricular nucleus
Postpartum
Postpartum Period
Preoptic area
Preoptic Area - metabolism
Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Rostral anteroventral periventricular nucleus
Sex differences
Tyrosine hydroxylase
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Summary:Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling through CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) regulates autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress, as well as behavioral changes during the maternal period. Previous work in our lab reported higher levels of CRFR1 in female, compared to male, mice within the rostral anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV/PeN), a brain region involved in maternal behaviors. In this study, we used CRFR1-GFP reporter mice to investigate whether the reproductive status (postpartum vs. nulliparous) of acutely stressed females affects levels of CRFR1 in the AVPV/PeN and other regions involved in maternal functions. Compared to nulliparous, postpartum day 14 females showed increased AVPV/PeN CRFR1-GFP immunoreactivity and an elevated number of restraint stress-activated AVPV/PeN CRFR1 cells as assessed by immunohistochemical co-localization of CRFR1-GFP and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB). The medial preoptic area (MPOA) and paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN) of postpartum mice showed modest decreases in CRFR1-GFP immunoreactivity, while increased CRFR1-GFP/pCREB co-expressing cells were found in the PVN following restraint stress relative to nulliparous mice. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and CRFR1-GFP co-localization was also assessed in the AVPV/PeN and other regions and revealed a decrease in co-localized neurons in the AVPV/PeN and ventral tegmental area of postpartum mice. Corticosterone analysis of restrained mice revealed blunted peak, but elevated recovery, levels in postpartum compared to nulliparous mice. Finally, we investigated projection patterns of AVPV/PeN CRFR1 neurons using female CRFR1-Cre mice and revealed dense efferent projections to several preoptic, hypothalamic, and hindbrain regions known to control stress-associated and maternal functions. Together, these findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiology that might underlie changes in stress-related functions during the postpartum period. •CRFR1 is increased in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of postpartum mice.•CRFR1 decreases postpartum in the paraventricular hypothalamus and medial preoptic area.•AVPV tyrosine hydroxylase/CRFR1 co-expression decreases in postpartum mice.•These alterations in CRFR1 have implications for stress-related and maternal behaviors.
ISSN:0018-506X
1095-6867
DOI:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105044