Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ryan J. Keenan, Heather Daykin, Jiahui Chu, Linda Cornthwaite-Duncan, Giancarlo Allocca, Daniel Hoyer, Laura H. Jacobson
Summary: This study investigates the effects of sleep-promoting compounds in transgenic mouse models of tauopathy and finds that these compounds can effectively improve sleep disturbances. The results also suggest that there may be gender differences in the response to hypnotics, which could have implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in humans.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
William Parsons, Eliza Greiner, Laura Buczek, Jennifer Migliaccio, Erin Corbett, Amanda M. K. Madden, Gorica D. Petrovich
Summary: Palatable foods stimulate appetite and contribute to obesity and binge eating. Women are more prone to these problems than men, but the neural causes are unknown. This study identified key functional circuits that may drive hedonic eating in a sex-specific manner.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sandra S. Feijoo, James O'Higgins-Norman, Mairead Foody, Rafael Pichel, Teresa Brana, Jesus Varela, Antonio Rial
Summary: The study found no differences in cyberbullying rates between boys and girls, with more bully-victims among boys in cases of bullying. Differences were found in specific bullying behaviors, but they were discrete, discouraging the use of clearly differentiated preventive strategies for boys and girls.
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Andrew T. Gargiulo, Jiayin Hu, Isabella C. Ravaglia, Annie Hawks, Xinyue Li, Katherine Sweasy, Laura Grafe
Summary: This study explored the effects of stress and sex differences on cognitive flexibility. The results showed that stress impaired certain aspects of cognitive flexibility and that there were sex differences driven by the estrous cycle. Specifically, stress increased latency to first press and trials to criterion in certain tasks, and female rats demonstrated more omissions and perseverative errors than male rats, with the sex differences being mostly driven by proestrus female rats. Interestingly, the number of orexinergic neurons was higher in proestrus female rats than in male rats under control conditions, and orexin neural count was positively correlated with the number of perseverative errors made in cognitive flexibility testing.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nathan M. Petro, Lauren R. Ott, Samantha H. Penhale, Maggie P. Rempe, Christine M. Embury, Giorgia Picci, Yu-Ping Wang, Julia M. Stephen, Vince D. Calhoun, Tony W. Wilson
Summary: This study used MEG to record brain activity in typically developing youth during eyes-open and eyes-closed rest. The results showed that eyes-open condition had stronger neural activity, especially in the visual cortex. Additionally, the theta power in the frontal cortex became stronger with increasing age in the eyes-open condition. There were no differences observed between males and females.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lindsay Ferguson, Christopher C. Giza, Rebecka O. Serpa, Tiffany Greco, Hannah Robert, Michael Folkerts, Mayumi L. Prins
Summary: Adolescence is a period marked by puberty onset, cognitive and social developments, and physical changes, with sex differences impacting athletic performance. Results from a study on adolescent rats engaging in 10 days of exercise show changes in physiological functions, with females exhibiting greater running distances and durations.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Andrew T. Gargiulo, Varuna Jasodanand, Sandra Luz, Lauren O'Mara, Leszek Kubin, Richard J. Ross, Seema Bhatnagar, Laura A. Grafe
Summary: Sleep disruptions are hallmarks in stress-related disorders, affecting female populations disproportionately. This study found that repeated stress exposure led to persistent disruptions in sleep in female rats, with increased time spent awake, decreased SWS and REMS, and exaggerated motor responses during waking from REMS. Male rats, on the other hand, showed transient effects of stress on sleep.
STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Ting Chang, Yung-Lung Chen, Hong-Yo Kang
Summary: Sex differences play a significant role in cardiovascular and cognitive function, impacting various aspects including pathophysiology, disease onset, symptoms, and severity. Atrial fibrillation (AF) may contribute to vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), with sex hormones potentially serving as therapeutic targets for early intervention.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Cristina Aguirre-Portoles, Riley Payne, Aspen Trautz, J. Kevin Foskett, Christopher A. Natale, John T. Seykora, Todd W. Ridky
Summary: Testosterone signaling through ZIP9 mediates some of the sex differences in melanoma, and drugs that target AR can be repurposed to block ZIP9 and inhibit melanoma in males.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Maria P. Mogavero, Alessandro Silvani, Giuseppe Lanza, Lourdes M. DelRosso, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Raffaele Ferri
Summary: After describing orexins and their roles in sleep and medical disorders, the article discusses the clinical evidence on the effects of DORAs and SORAs on insomnia to provide recommendations for further assessment in personalized and precision medicine. Trials with orexin receptor antagonists have shown potential as a valid therapeutic option for insomnia in various medical conditions, but more studies are needed to determine the most suitable options for different patient populations.
NATURE AND SCIENCE OF SLEEP
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ellen R. Cullity, Alexandre A. Guerin, Christina J. Perry, Jee Hyun Kim
Summary: Adolescents may be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of methamphetamine, while females may be less likely to form an aversion compared to males. These results are in line with sex-specific findings in human research.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Archana Durairaja, Ceylan-Scarlett Steinecke, Markus Fendt
Summary: The study found that orexin 1 receptor antagonist impairs cognitive flexibility in a sex-dependent manner, affecting females more than males. Consumption of the reward used in the ASST was not affected by the antagonist, indicating a specific impact on cognitive flexibility rather than reward response.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anthony Markham
Summary: Daridorexant, an orally administered dual orexin receptor antagonist, has been approved in the USA for the treatment of insomnia based on the results of pivotal phase III trials.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina J. Perry, Erin J. Campbell, Katherine D. Drummond, Jeremy S. Lum, Jee Hyun Kim
Summary: Traumatic events in early life can affect later psychopathology, and research shows that factors such as gender, type of stress, and timing of stress can influence neurochemical changes in the brain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Natasha C. Dale, Daniel Hoyer, Laura H. Jacobson, Kevin D. G. Pfleger, Elizabeth K. M. Johnstone
Summary: The orexin system consists of two G protein-coupled receptors, OX1 and OX2 receptors, along with two endogenous agonists. Orexin receptor coupling is diverse and can vary depending on tissue, cell, and context. Ligands, receptor-protein interactions, and cellular environment play important roles in the G protein coupling profiles of the orexin receptors. This has implications for understanding the function of the orexin system and developing drugs targeting it.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Aditi Bhargava, Arthur P. Arnold, Debra A. Bangasser, Kate M. Denton, Arpana Gupta, Lucinda M. Hilliard Krause, Emeran A. Mayer, Margaret McCarthy, Walter L. Miller, Armin Raznahan, Ragini Verma
Summary: The NIH announced in 2014 that applicants for research funding must consider sex as a biological variable. Despite efforts to include both sexes in research plans, confusion remains among researchers and reviewers about sex differences. Gender and sex are often used interchangeably, and the gender of the researcher may impact the outcomes of studies, particularly in behavioral research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, Charlotte C. Bavley, Andre U. Deutschmann, Rachel Carpenter, Drew R. Peterson, Reza Karbalaei, James Flowers, Charleanne M. Rogers, Miranda G. Langrehr, Cory S. Ardekani, Sydney T. Famularo, Angela R. Bongiovanni, Melissa C. Knouse, Stan B. Floresco, Lisa A. Briand, Mathieu E. Wimmer, Debra A. Bangasser
Summary: This study investigated the stress inoculation effect of early adversity using the LBN model, focusing on addiction-related phenotypes in adulthood. Results showed that LBN reduced impulsive choice, morphine self-administration, and AMPA/NMDA ratio in males, indicating a male-specific stress inoculation effect against addiction-related behaviors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Debra A. Bangasser, Amelia Cuarenta
Summary: Male-dominated preclinical studies on anxiety and depression are being addressed to include females, leading to the discovery of new mechanisms and treatment targets. Epidemiological sex differences in these disorders are well-known, but the underlying circuits and mechanisms contributing to these differences still lack attention due to historical exclusion of females in research. Comparing the sexes may help in the discovery of novel therapeutics.
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha R. Eck, Jamie L. Palmer, Charlotte C. Bavley, Reza Karbalaei, Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, James Flowers, Amanda Holley, Mathieu E. Wimmer, Debra A. Bangasser
Summary: Early life adversity, such as limited access to resources, can alter reproductive development and behavior in rats. Male rats raised in a low resource environment showed elevated levels of plasma estradiol and acquired reproductive behaviors faster than control males. There was no effect of limited bedding/nesting (LBN) on puberty onset or masculinization of certain brain regions. RNA sequencing revealed sex-specific alterations in gene expression in the medial preoptic area (mPOA), which is involved in male reproductive behaviors, with many transcripts regulated by estradiol. Pathway analysis showed changes in neurosignaling and immune signaling in males and females, respectively. These findings uncover new neurobiological mechanisms by which early life adversity affects reproductive strategies.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Jamie L. Hanson, Alexia Williams, Debra A. Bangasser, Catherine J. Pena
Summary: Early life stress increases the risk of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders throughout one's lifetime, mainly through changes in motivation and reward processing in the reward circuit. Research indicates that early life stress impacts the structure and function of the reward circuit.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, Debra A. Bangasser
Summary: Impulsivity is a common symptom in various psychiatric disorders, and early life stress has been found to affect impulsive behaviors and brain circuits associated with impulsivity, which is essential for developing treatments aimed at reducing impulsivity symptoms in psychiatric disorders.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexia Williams, James Flowers, Kennedy S. Coates, Atiba Ingram, Alexandra T. Hehn, Molly Dupuis, Mathieu E. Wimmer, Marco Venniro, Debra A. Bangasser
Summary: This study used the limited bedding and nesting (LBN) procedure to investigate the impact of early resource scarcity on motivation for natural rewards in rats. The results showed that the effects of LBN on motivation for natural rewards were both sex- and reinforcer-dependent, with males showing increased motivation for both food and social rewards, while females showed reduced motivation for food rewards but no effect on social rewards.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Samantha R. Eck, Nikolaos Kokras, Brittany Wicks, Petros Baltimas, Arron Hall, Nina van Bendegem, Madeleine Salvatore, Sarah R. Cohen, Joy Bergmann, Attilio Ceretti, Vinay Parikh, Christina Dalla, Debra A. Bangasser
Summary: This study suggests that stress-induced attention deficits may be related to CRF regulation of cholinergic and non-cholinergic signaling, and CRF in the NBM leads to a decrease in taurine and several amino acids involved in glutamate synthesis.
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Vinay Parikh, Alyssa Kniffin, Charlotte Bavley, Miranda Targum, Joanna Severino, James Flowers, Debra Bangasser, Mathieu Wimmer
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Amelia Cuarenta, Reza Karbalaei, James Flowers, Alexandra Hehn, Molly Dupuis, Atiba Ingram, Claire Deckers, Sydney Roth, Sydney Famularo, Mathieu Wimmer, Debra Bangasser
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, Charlotte C. Bavley, Andre U. Deutschmann, Rachel Carpenter, Drew R. Peterson, Reza Karbalaei, James Flowers, Charleanne M. Rogers, Miranda G. Langrehr, Cory S. Ardekani, Sydney T. Famularo, Angela R. Bongiovanni, Melissa C. Knouse, Stan B. Floresco, Lisa A. Briand, Mathieu E. Wimmer, Debra A. Bangasser
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, Charlotte Bavley, Reza Karbalaei, James Flowers, Angela Bongiovanni, Alessandro Jean-Louis, Atiba Ingram, Cori Petersen, Dieuseul Joseph, Stan Floresco, Mathieu Wimmer, Debra Bangasser
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Debra Bangasser
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Amelia Cuarenta, Charlotte Bavley, Reza Karbalaei, Sydney Famularo, Mathieu Wimmer, Debra Bangasser
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Debra Bangasser, Evelyn Ordones Sanchez, Charlotte Bavley, Andre Deutschmann, Drew Peterson, Rachel Carpenter, Reza Karbalaei, James Flowers, Charleanne Rogers, Miranda Langrehr, Cory Ardekani, Sydney Famularo, Angela Bongiovanni, Melissa Knouse, Stan Floresco, Benjamin Garcia, Lisa Briand, Mathieu Wimmer
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.