Background matters: the effects of estrogen receptor alpha gene disruption on male sexual behavior are modified by background strain

One approach to study interactions between behavior and genetics is to use inbred mice with different genetic backgrounds. To examine the effect of background on a specific gene, we conducted a series of experiments with a well-characterized knockout (KO) mouse, the estrogen receptor alpha KO (ERalphaKO). The ERalphaKO mouse has so far been examined in one inbred line, C57BL/6J. Here, we examined the behavior of ERalphaKO mice within three different backgrounds mixed with C57BL/6J; DBA/2J, BALB/c, and A/J. First, we assessed masculine sexual behavior in both intact male and testosterone-treated female offspring. More ERalphaKO males in the DBA/2J (5/12) and BALB/c (5/13) backcrosses displayed intromissions and many ejaculated as compared with males in a C57BL/6J and A/J mixed background. Many fewer ERalphaKO females than males displayed masculine sexual behavior in any of the three hybrid crosses. We assessed fertility in males from the C57BL/6J by DBA/2J cross and found that one of 12 ERalphaKO males sired a litter. Several other characteristics of sexual behavior and physiology were unaffected by genetic background in ERalphaKO mice. Our data suggest that genetic background has dramatic effects on male sexual behavior and its dependence on the ERalpha gene.     

Osbpl8 Deficiency in Mouse Causes an Elevation of High-Density Lipoproteins and Gender-Specific Alterations of Lipid Metabolism

OSBP-related protein 8 (ORP8) encoded by Osbpl8 is an endoplasmic reticulum sterol sensor implicated in cellular lipid metabolism. We generated an Osbpl8^−/− (KO) C57Bl/6 mouse strain. Wild-type and Osbpl8KO animals at the age of 13-weeks were fed for 5 weeks either chow or high-fat diet, and their plasma lipids/lipoproteins and hepatic lipids were analyzed. The chow-fed Osbpl8KO male mice showed a marked elevation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (+79%) and phospholipids (+35%), while only minor increase of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was detected. In chow-fed female KO mice a less prominent increase of HDL cholesterol (+27%) was observed, while on western diet the HDL increment was prominent in both genders. The HDL increase was accompanied by an elevated level of HDL-associated apolipoprotein E in male, but not female KO animals. No differences between genotypes were observed in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) or hepatic lipase (HL) activity, or in the fractional catabolic rate of fluorescently labeled mouse HDL injected in chow-diet fed animals. The Osbpl8KO mice of both genders displayed reduced phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity, but only on chow diet. These findings are consistent with a model in which Osbpl8 deficiency results in altered biosynthesis of HDL. Consistent with this hypothesis, ORP8 depleted mouse hepatocytes secreted an increased amount of nascent HDL into the culture medium. In addition to the HDL phenotype, distinct gender-specific alterations in lipid metabolism were detected: Female KO animals on chow diet showed reduced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and increased plasma triglycerides, while the male KO mice displayed elevated plasma cholesterol biosynthetic markers cholestenol, desmosterol, and lathosterol. Moreover, modest gender-specific alterations in the hepatic expression of lipid homeostatic genes were observed. In conclusion, we report the first viable OsbplKO mouse model, demonstrating a HDL elevating effect of Osbpl8 knock-out and additional gender- and/or diet-dependent impacts on lipid metabolism.     

IL-6 is essential for development of gut barrier dysfunction after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in mice

We sought to determine the role of IL-6 as a mediator of the alterations in gut barrier function that occur after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HS/R). C57Bl/6 wild-type (WT) and IL-6 knockout (KO) mice on a C57Bl/6 background were subjected to either a sham procedure or HS/R. Organ and tissue samples were obtained 4 h after resuscitation. In WT mice, HS/R significantly increased ileal mucosal permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (average molecular mass, 4 kDa) and bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes. These alterations in gut barrier function were not observed in IL-6 KO animals. HS/R increased ileal steady-state mRNA levels for IL-6, TNF, and IL-10 in WT but not in IL-6 KO mice. Ileal mucosal expression of the tight junction protein, ZO-1, decreased after HS/R in WT but not IL-6 KO mice. Collectively, these data support the view that expression of IL-6 is essential for the development of gut barrier dysfunction after HS/R.     

The characteristics of the manifestation of hereditarily induced anxiety in male C57Bl/6J and CBA/Lac mice

Behavior of male mice of C57Bl/6J and CBA/Lac strains was tested in the elevated plus-maze and open field in order to estimate state anxiety in novel conditions. The cube and partition tests were used to reveal trait anxiety in the familiar conditions of the home cage. It is concluded that genetically defined state anxiety is more pronounced in CBA/Lac mice and trait anxiety in C57Bl/6J strain.     

Male and female Fmr1 knockout mice on C57 albino background exhibit spatial learning and memory impairments

Impaired spatial learning is a prominent deficit in fragile X syndrome (FXS). Previous studies using the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model of FXS have not consistently reported a deficit in spatial learning. Fmr1 KO mice bred onto an albino C57BL/6J‐Tyr^c‐Brd background showed significant deficits in several primary measures of performance during place navigation and probe trials in the Morris water maze. Fmr1 KO mice were also impaired during a serial reversal version of the water maze task. We examined fear conditioning as an additional cognitive screen. Knockout mice exhibited contextual memory deficits when trained with unsignaled shocks; however, deficits were not found in a separate group of KO mice trained with signaled shocks. No potentially confounding genotypic differences in locomotor activity were observed. A decreased anxiety‐like profile was apparent in the open field, as others have noted, and also in the platform test. Also as previously reported, startle reactivity to loud auditory stimuli was decreased, prepulse inhibition and social interaction increased in KO mice. Female Fmr1 KO mice were tested along with male KO mice in all assays, except for social interaction. The female and male KO exhibited very similar impairments indicating that sex does not generally drive the behavioral symptoms of the disorder. Our results suggest that procedural factors, such as the use of albino mice, may help to reliably detect spatial learning and memory impairments in both sexes of Fmr1 KO mice, making it more useful for understanding FXS and a platform for evaluating potential therapeutics.     

Potentiation by caffeine of the frequencies of micronuclei induced by mitomycin C and cyclophosphamide in young mice

Employing the micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow and in fetal mouse liver, the possible clastogenicity of caffeine as well as its influence on MMC- and CP-induced micronucleus levels were studied. The treatment of male and female C57Bl or BDF1 (C57Bl x DBA2) mice with caffeine (1 or 3 x 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, s.c.) had no clastogenic effect in mouse bone marrow or in the fetal livers and maternal bone marrow when pregnant mice were injected with caffeine on day 16-17 of gestation. MMC (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) increased up to 10-30-fold the number of MNPCEs in bone marrow compared to a 3-7 fold elevation of MNPCEs in fetal liver. A similar effect was also established in pregnant mice treated with CP (30 mg/kg, i.p.). No significant sex differences in spontaneous and MMC- or CP-induced MNPCEs levels were established in C57Bl and BDF1 mice. However, a significantly higher spontaneous rate of MNPCEs as well as a better-expressed responsiveness to the clastogenic activity of MMC and CP were established in C57Bl compared to BDF1 mice. The pregnancy had no effect on MMC- or CP-induced clastogenicity although a tendency to a decreased sensitivity to the damaging activity of MMC seemed to be detected in pregnant C57Bl mice compared to virgin female animals. The combined treatment of mice with caffeine (3 x 100 mg/kg) and MMC or CP caused an up to 45-49% potentiation of clastogenesis in the bone marrow of male, female and pregnant female C57Bl and BDF1 mice but not in fetal mouse livers.     

Invariant NKT cell defects in vitamin D receptor knockout mice prevents experimental lung inflammation

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) deficiency (knockout [KO]) results in a failure of mice to generate an airway hyperreactivity (AHR) response on both the BALB/c and C57BL/6 background. The cause of the failed AHR response is the defective population of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in the VDR KO mice because wild-type (WT) iNKT cells rescued the AHR response. VDR KO mice had significantly fewer iNKT cells and normal numbers of T cells in the spleen compared with WT mice. In BALB/c VDR KO mice, the reduced frequencies of iNKT cells were not apparent in the liver or thymus. VDR KO and WT Th2 cells produced similar levels of IFN-γ and IL-5. On the BALB/c background, Th2 cells from VDR KO mice produced less IL-13, whereas on the C57BL/6 background, Th2 cells from VDR KO mice produced less IL-4. Conversely, VDR KO iNKT cells were defective for the production of multiple cytokines (BALB/c: IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13; C57BL/6: IL-4 and IL-17). Despite relatively normal Th2 responses, BALB/c and C57BL/6 VDR KO mice failed to develop AHR responses. The defect in iNKT cells as a result of the VDR KO was more important than the highly susceptible Th2 background of the BALB/c mice. Defective iNKT cell responses in the absence of the VDR result in the failure to generate AHR responses in the lung. The implication of these mechanistic findings for human asthma requires further investigation.     

Astrocytic IL-6 mediates locomotor activity,exploration, anxiety,learning and social behavior

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major cytokine in the central nervous system, secreted by different brain cells and with roles in a number of physiological functions. We herewith confirm and expand the importance of astrocytic production of and response to IL-6 by using transgenic mice deficient in astrocytic IL-6 (Ast-IL-6 KO) or in its receptor (Ast-IL-6R KO) in full C57Bl/6 genetic background. A major prosurvival effect of astrocytic IL-6 at early ages was clearly demonstrated. Robust effects were also evident in the control of activity and anxiety in the hole-board and elevated plus-maze, and in spatial learning in the Morris water-maze. The results also suggest an inhibitory role of IL-6 in the mechanism controlling the consolidation of hippocampus-dependent spatial learning. Less robust effects of astrocytic IL-6 system were also observed in despair behavior in the tail suspension test, and social behavior in the dominance and resident–intruder tests. The behavioral phenotype was highly dependent on age and/or sex in some cases. The phenotype of Ast-IL-6R KO mice mimicked only partially that of Ast-IL-6KO mice, which indicates both a role of astrocytes in behavior and the participation of other cells besides astrocytes. No evidences of altered function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis were observed. These results demonstrate that astrocytic IL-6 (acting at least partially in astrocytes) regulates normal behavior in mice.     

The physiological effects of deleting the mouse SLC30A8 gene encoding zinc transporter-8 are influenced by gender and genetic background

Objective

The SLC30A8 gene encodes the islet-specific transporter ZnT-8, which is hypothesized to provide zinc for insulin-crystal formation. A polymorphic variant in SLC30A8 is associated with altered susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Several groups have examined the effect of global Slc30a8 gene deletion but the results have been highly variable, perhaps due to the mixed 129SvEv/C57BL/6J genetic background of the mice studied. We therefore sought to remove the conflicting effect of 129SvEv-specific modifier genes.

Methods

The impact of Slc30a8 deletion was examined in the context of the pure C57BL/6J genetic background.

Results

Male C57BL/6J Slc30a8 knockout (KO) mice had normal fasting insulin levels and no change in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from isolated islets in marked contrast to the ∼50% and ∼35% decrease, respectively, in both parameters observed in male mixed genetic background Slc30a8 KO mice. This observation suggests that 129SvEv-specific modifier genes modulate the impact of Slc30a8 deletion. In contrast, female C57BL/6J Slc30a8 KO mice had reduced (∼20%) fasting insulin levels, though this was not associated with a change in fasting blood glucose (FBG), or GSIS from isolated islets. This observation indicates that gender also modulates the impact of Slc30a8 deletion, though the physiological explanation as to why impaired insulin secretion is not accompanied by elevated FBG is unclear. Neither male nor female C57BL/6J Slc30a8 KO mice showed impaired glucose tolerance.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that, despite a marked reduction in islet zinc content, the absence of ZnT-8 does not have a substantial impact on mouse physiology.     

Increased Adiposity in Annexin A1-Deficient Mice

Production of Annexin A1 (ANXA1), a protein that mediates the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids, is altered in obesity, but its role in modulation of adiposity has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate modulation of ANXA1 in adipose tissue in murine models of obesity and to study the involvement of ANXA1 in diet-induced obesity in mice. Significant induction of ANXA1 mRNA was observed in adipose tissue of both C57BL6 and Balb/c mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity versus mice on chow diet. Upregulation of ANXA1 mRNA was independent of leptin or IL-6, as demonstrated by use of leptin-deficient ob/ob mice and IL-6 KO mice. Compared to WT mice, female Balb/c ANXA1 KO mice on HFD had increased adiposity, as indicated by significantly elevated body weight, fat mass, leptin levels, and adipocyte size. Whereas Balb/c WT mice upregulated expression of enzymes involved in the lipolytic pathway in response to HFD, this response was absent in ANXA1 KO mice. A significant increase in fasting glucose and insulin levels as well as development of insulin resistance was observed in ANXA1 KO mice on HFD compared to WT mice. Elevated plasma corticosterone levels and blunted downregulation of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in adipose tissue was observed in ANXA1 KO mice compared to diet-matched WT mice. However, no differences between WT and KO mice on either chow or HFD were observed in expression of markers of adipose tissue inflammation.These data indicate that ANXA1 is an important modulator of adiposity in mice, with female ANXA1 KO mice on Balb/c background being more susceptible to weight gain and diet-induced insulin resistance compared to WT mice, without significant changes in inflammation.     

Breeding Strategy Determines Rupture Incidence in Post-Infarct Healing WARPing Cardiovascular Research

Background

Von Willebrand A domain Related Protein (WARP), is a recently identified extracellular matrix protein. Based upon its involvement in matrix biology and its expression in the heart, we hypothesized that WARP regulates cardiac remodeling processes in the post-infarct healing process.

Methods and results

In the mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI), WARP expression increased in the infarcted area 3-days post-MI. In the healthy myocardium WARP localized with perlecan in the basement membrane, which was disrupted upon injury. In vitro studies showed high expression of WARP by cardiac fibroblasts, which further increases upon TGFβ stimulation. Furthermore, WARP expression correlated with aSMA and COL1 expression, markers of fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, in vivo and in vitro. Finally, WARP knockdown in vitro affected extra- and intracellular basic fibroblast growth factor production in myofibroblasts. To investigate the function for WARP in infarction healing, we performed an MI study in WARP knockout (KO) mice backcrossed more than 10 times on an Australian C57Bl/6-J background and bred in-house, and compared to wild type (WT) mice of the same C57Bl/6-J strain but of commercial European origin. WARP KO mice showed no mortality after MI, whereas 40% of the WT mice died due to cardiac rupture. However, when WARP KO mice were backcrossed on the European C57Bl/6-J background and bred heterozygous in-house, the previously seen protective effect in the WARP KO mice after MI was lost. Importantly, comparison of the cardiac response post-MI in WT mice bred heterozygous in-house versus commercially purchased WT mice revealed differences in cardiac rupture.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate a redundant role for WARP in the wound healing process after MI but demonstrate that the continental/breeding/housing origin of mice of the same C57Bl6-J strain is critical in determining the susceptibility to cardiac rupture and stress the importance of using the correct littermate controls.     

Vascular extracellular adenosine metabolism in mice correlates with susceptibility to atherosclerosis

Abstract

Animal models are widely used in atherosclerosis research. The most useful, economic and valid is mouse genetic model of this pathology. Purinergic signaling is an important mechanism regulating processes involved in the vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to measure vascular activities of nucleotide and adenosine-degrading ecto-enzymes in different strains of mice and to compare them to atherosclerotic susceptibility.

The vascular extracellular nucleotide catabolism pathway was analyzed in 6-month-old male genetically unmodified mouse strains: FVB/NJ, DBA/2J, BALB/c, C57Bl/6J and mouse knock-outs on C57Bl/6J background for LDLR (LDLR-/-) and for ApoE and LDLR (ApoE-/-LDLR-/-). LDLR-/- mice were a model of moderate hypercholesterolemia, while ApoE-/-LDLR-/- mice, a model of severe hypercholesterolemia with advanced atherosclerosis.

FVB/NJ, DBA/2J and BALB/c mice showed high rates of vascular extracellular AMP hydrolysis and low activity of adenosine deamination. In turn, all mice with the C57Bl/6J background expressed diminished activity of vascular AMP hydrolysis. Mice with genetically-induced hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis on the C57Bl/6J background revealed increased ecto-adenosine deaminase activity.

Mouse strains that were resistant to atherosclerosis (FVB/NJ, DBA/2J, BALB/c) exhibited a protective extracellular vascular ecto-enzyme pattern directed toward the production of anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic adenosine. In turn, mice with genetically induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis expressed disturbed activities of ecto-5’nucleotidase and ecto-adenosine deaminase related to decreased production and increased degradation of extracellular adenosine.     

Influence of ionizing radiation on the attractiveness of male mice to chemosignals of intact individuals

Within short-terms after exposure to ionizing radiation, CBA and C57Bl/6 male mice were found not only to retain but also to enhance their attractiveness to chemosignals of intact males of the same genotype (syngenic). It was shown that the time period of higher attractiveness increased with the absorbed dose (from 1 to 6 Gy). Within several days after exposure to 6-Gy irradiation, male mice were temporarily unable to discriminate between chemosignals of syngenic and allogenic (alien genotype) individuals. Unlike male mice of the CBA strain, male mice of the C57Bl/6 strain displayed no changes after exposure to 1-Gy irradiation, but the effect of 2-6 Gy was more persistent. These phenomena can be explained by the lower olfactory reactivity combined with higher radiosensitivity of C57Bl/6 mice. Irradiated male mice temporarily lost their olfactory ability to discriminate the genotype of females' volatile secretions and to distinguish between females' and males' volatile secretions.     

Interferon-gamma is required for the late but not early control of Leishmania amazonensis infection in C57Bl/6 mice

The critical role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the resistance of C57Bl/6 mice to Leishmania major is widely established but its role in the relative resistance of these animals to L. amazonensis infection is still not clear. In this work we use C57Bl/6 mice congenitally deficient in the IFN-gamma gene (IFN-gamma KO) to address this issue. We found that IFN-gamma KO mice were as resistant as their wild-type (WT) counterparts at least during the first two months of infection. Afterwards, whereas WT mice maintained lesion growth under control, IFN-gamma KO mice developed devastating lesions. At day 97 of infection, their lesions were 9-fold larger than WT controls, concomitant with an increased parasite burden. At this stage, lesion-draining cells from IFN-gamma KO mice had impaired capacity to produce interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumour necrosis factor-a in response to parasite antigens whereas IL-4 was slightly increased in comparison to infected WT mice. Together, these results show that IFN-gamma is not critical for the initial control of L. amazonensis infection in C57Bl/6 mice, but is essential for the development of a protective Th1 type immune response in the later stages.     

Strain-dependent differences in responses to exercise training in inbred and hybrid mice

The aim of this study was to characterize the response to exercise training in several mouse strains and estimate the genetic contribution to phenotypic variation in the responses to exercise training. Male mice from three inbred strains [C57Bl/6J (BL6), FVB/NJ (FVB), and Balb/cJ (Balb/c)] and three hybrid F(1) strains [CB6F1/J (CB6 = female Balb/c x male BL6), B6F F(1) (female BL6 x male FVB), and FB6 F(1) (female FVB x male BL6)] completed an exercise performance test before and after a 4-wk treadmill running program. Distance was used as the primary estimate of endurance exercise performance. FVB mice showed the greatest response to training, with five- to sevenfold greater increases in distance run compared with BL6 and Balb/c strains. Specifically, BL6, FVB, and Balb/c strains increased distance by 33, 172, and 23%, respectively. A similar pattern of changes across strains was observed for run time (17, 87, and 11%) and work (99, 287, and 57%). As a group, F(1) hybrid mice derived from BL6 and FVB strains showed an intermediate response to training (61%). However, further analysis indicated that training responses in FB6 F(1) mice (80%) were approximately 2.5-fold greater than responses in B6F F(1) mice (33%, P = 0.08). A similar pattern of changes between FB6 and B6F F(1) mice was observed for run time (44.5 and 17%) and work (141 and 59%). These data demonstrate that there are large strain-dependent differences in training responses among inbred mouse strains, suggesting that genetic background contributes significantly to adaptation to exercise. Furthermore, the contrasting responses in B6F and FB6 F(1) strains show that a maternal component strongly influences strain-dependent differences in training responses.     

Angiotensin AT2 Receptor Contributes towards Gender Bias in Weight Gain

Obesity is a major disease condition, in turn leading to pathological changes collectively recognized as metabolic syndrome. Recently angiotensin receptor AT₂R has been associated negatively with body weight (BW) gain in male mice. However, the gender differences in AT₂R and BW changes have not been studied. To understand the gender based role of AT₂R involving BW changes, we fed male and female wild type (WT) and AT₂R knock out (AT₂KO) mice with C57BL6 background with high fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. The male AT₂KO had higher HFD calorie intake (WT: 1280±80; AT₂KO:1680±80 kcal) but gained less BW compared with the WT (WT: 13; AT₂KO: 6 g). Contrary to the male animals, the female AT₂KO mice with equivalent caloric intake (WT: 1424±48; AT₂KO:1456±80 kcal) gained significantly more BW than the WT mice (WT: 9 g; AT₂KO: 15 g). The male AT₂KO on HFD displayed lower plasma insulin level, less impaired glucose tolerance (GT), and higher plasma T3 compared with WT males on HFD; whereas the female AT₂KO mice on HFD showed elevated levels of plasma insulin, more impaired GT, lower plasma T3 and higher free fatty acid and hepatic triglycerides compared with WT females on HFD. Interestingly, compared with WT, AT₂KO female mice had significantly lower estrogen, which was further reduced by HFD. These results suggest that AT₂R in female mice via potentially regulating estrogen may have protective role against BW gain and impaired glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism.     

Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of the adenosine A2A receptor attenuates 3-nitropropionic acid-induced striatal damage

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonism attenuates 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and quinolinic acid-induced excitotoxicity in the neostriatum. As A2ARs are enriched in striatum, we investigated the effect of genetic and pharmacological A2A inactivation on striatal damage produced by the mitochondrial complex II inhibitor 3-nitropriopionic acid (3-NP). 3-NP was administered to A2AR knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) littermate mice over 5 days. Bilateral striatal lesions were analyzed from serial brain tissue sections. Whereas all of the 3-NP-treated WT mice (C57BL/6 genetic background) had bilateral striatal lesions, only one of eight of the 3-NP-treated A2AR KO mice had detectable striatal lesions. Similar attenuation of 3-NP-induced striatal damage was observed in A2AR KO mice in a 129-Steel background. In addition, the effect of pharmacological antagonism on 3-NP-induced striatal neurotoxicity was tested by pre-treatment of C57Bl/6 mice with the A2AR antagonist 8-(3-chlorostyryl) caffeine (CSC). Although bilateral striatal lesions were observed in all mice treated either with 3-NP alone or 3-NP plus vehicle, there were no demonstrable striatal lesions in mice treated with CSC (5 mg/kg) plus 3-NP and in five of six mice treated with CSC (20 mg/kg) plus 3-NP. We conclude that both genetic and pharmacological inactivation of the A2AR attenuates striatal neurotoxicity produced by 3-NP. Since the clinical and neuropathological features of 3-NP-induced striatal damage resemble those observed in Huntington's disease, the results suggest that A2AR antagonism may be a potential therapeutic strategy in Huntington's disease patients.     

Glucocorticoid-deficient corticotropin-releasing hormone knockout mice maintain glucose requirements but not autonomic responses during repeated hypoglycemia

Glucocorticoids have been implicated in hypoglycemia-induced autonomic failure but also contribute to normal counterregulation. To determine the influence of normal and hypoglycemia-induced levels of glucocorticoids on counterregulatory responses to acute and repeated hypoglycemia, we compared plasma catecholamines, corticosterone, glucagon, and glucose requirements in male wild-type (WT) and glucocorticoid-deficient, corticotropin-releasing hormone knockout (CRH KO) mice. Conscious, chronically cannulated, unrestrained WT and CRH KO mice underwent a euglycemic (Prior Eu) or hypoglycemic clamp (Prior Hypo) on day 1 followed by a hypoglycemic clamp on day 2 (blood glucose both days, 65 +/- 1 mg/dl). Baseline epinephrine and glucagon were similar, and norepinephrine was elevated, in CRH KO vs. WT mice. CRH KO corticosterone was almost undetectable (<1.5 microg/dl) and unresponsive to hypoglycemia. CRH KO glucose requirements were significantly higher during day 1 hypoglycemia despite epinephrine and glucagon responses that were comparable to or greater than those in WT. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemia did not increase hormones or glucose requirements above baseline. On day 2, Prior Hypo WT had significantly higher glucose requirements and significantly lower corticosterone and glucagon responses. Prior Hypo and Prior Eu CRH KO mice had similar day 2 glucose requirements. However, Prior Hypo CRH KO mice had significantly lower day 2 epinephrine and norepinephrine vs. Prior Eu CRH KO and tended to have lower glucagon than on day 1. We conclude that glucocorticoid insufficiency in CRH KO mice correlates with 1) impaired counterregulation during acute hypoglycemia and 2) complex effects after repeated hypoglycemia, neither preventing decreased hormone responses nor worsening glucose requirements.     

Neuropeptide‐S‐receptor deficiency affects sex‐specific modulation of safety learning by pre‐exposure to electric stimuli

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of fear. Because safety learning is impaired in patients suffering from anxiety‐related psychiatric disorders, and polymorphisms of the human neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) gene have also been associated with anxiety disorders, we wanted to investigate whether NPSR‐deficiency interferes with safety learning, and how prior stress would affect this type of learning. We first investigated the effect of pre‐exposure to two different types of stressors (electric stimuli or immobilization) on safety learning in female and male C57Bl/6 mice, and found that while stress induced by electric stimuli enhanced safety learning in males, there were no differences in safety learning following immobilization stress. To further investigate the role of the NPS system in stress‐induced modulation of safety learning, we exposed NPSR‐deficient mice to stress induced by electric stimuli 10 days before safety learning. In nonstressed male mice, NPSR‐deficiency enhanced safety learning. As in male C57Bl/6 mice, pre‐exposure to electric stimuli increased safety learning in male NPSR +/+ mice. This pre‐exposure effect was blocked in NPSR‐deficient male mice showing impaired, but still intact, safety learning in comparison to their NPSR +/+ and NPSR +/? littermates. There was neither a pre‐exposure nor a genotype effect in female mice. Our findings provide evidence that pre‐exposure to stress induced by electric stimuli enhances safety learning in male mice, and that NPSR‐deficiency prevents the beneficial effect of stress exposure on safety learning. We propose an inverted U‐shape relationship between stress and safety learning.