Postweaning Social Isolation Alters Puberty Onset by Suppressing Electrical Activity of Arcuate Kisspeptin Neurons


Agus S., Yavuz Y., Atasoy D., Yilmaz B.

Neuroendocrinology, vol.114, no.5, pp.439-452, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 114 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000535721
  • Journal Name: Neuroendocrinology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.439-452
  • Keywords: Electrophysiology, Hypothalamus, Kisspeptin, Postweaning social isolation, Puberty, Stress
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Introduction: Postweaning social isolation (PWSI) in rodents is an advanced psychosocial stress model in early life. Some psychosocial stress, such as restrain and isolation, disrupts reproductive physiology in young and adult periods. Mech- anisms of early-life stress effects on central regulation of reproduction need to be elucidated. We have investigated the effects of PWSI on function of arcuate kisspeptin (ARCKISS1 ) neurons by using electrophysiological techniques combining with monitoring of puberty onset and estrous cycle in male and female Kiss1-Cre mice. Methods: Female mice were monitored for puberty onset with vaginal opening examination during social isolation. After isolation, the estrous cycle of female mice was monitored with vaginal cytology. Anxiety-like behavior of mice was determined by an elevated plus maze test. Effects of PWSI on electrophysiology of ARCKISS1 neurons were investigated by the patch clamp method after intracranial injection of AAV-GFP virus into arcuate nucleus of Kiss1-Cre mice after the isolation period. Results: We found that both male and female isolated mice showed anxiety-like behavior. PWSI caused delay in vaginal opening and extension in estrous cycle length. Spontaneous firing rates of ARCKISS1 neurons were significantly lower in the isolated male and female mice. The peak amplitude of in- hibitory postsynaptic currents to ARCKISS1 neurons was higher in the isolated mice, while frequency of excitatory postsyn- aptic currents was higher in group-housed mice. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that PWSI alters pre- and post- pubertal reproductive physiology through metabolic and electrophysiological pathways.