[en] Neurons that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which control fertility, complete their nose-to-brain migration by birth. However, their function depends on integration within a complex neuroglial network during postnatal development. Here, we show that rodent GnRH neurons use a prostaglandin D(2) receptor DP1 signaling mechanism during infancy to recruit newborn astrocytes that 'escort' them into adulthood, and that the impairment of postnatal hypothalamic gliogenesis markedly alters sexual maturation by preventing this recruitment, a process mimicked by the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A. Inhibition of DP1 signaling in the infantile preoptic region, where GnRH cell bodies reside, disrupts the correct wiring and firing of GnRH neurons, alters minipuberty or the first activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis during infancy, and delays the timely acquisition of reproductive capacity. These findings uncover a previously unknown neuron-to-neural-progenitor communication pathway and demonstrate that postnatal astrogenesis is a basic component of a complex set of mechanisms used by the neuroendocrine brain to control sexual maturation.
Disciplines :
Pediatrics Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Author, co-author :
Pellegrino, Giuliana; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Martin, Marion; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Allet, Cécile ; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Lhomme, Tori; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Geller, Sarah; Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Franssen, Delphine ; Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Mansuy, Virginie; Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital and
Manfredi-Lozano, Maria; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Coutteau-Robles, Adrian; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Delli, Virginia; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Rasika, S ; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Mazur, Danièle; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Loyens, Anne; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Tena-Sempere, Manuel ; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, ; Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC/HURS), Cordoba, ; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Siepmann, Juergen; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1008, Lille, France.
Pralong, François P; Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital and
Ciofi, Philippe; Inserm U1215, Neurocentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France. ; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Corfas, Gabriel ; Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck
PARENT, Anne-Simone ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > > Service de pédiatrie
Ojeda, Sergio R; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center-Oregon Health &
Sharif, Ariane ; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Prevot, Vincent ; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the
Moffitt, J. R. et al. Molecular, spatial, and functional single-cell profiling of the hypothalamic preoptic region. Science 362, eaau5324 (2018).
Casoni, F. et al. Development of the neurons controlling fertility in humans: new insights from 3D imaging and transparent fetal brains. Development 143, 3969–3981 (2016).
Chachlaki, K., Garthwaite, J. & Prevot, V. The gentle art of saying NO: how nitric oxide gets things done in the hypothalamus. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 13, 521–535 (2017).
Messina, A. et al. A microRNA switch regulates the rise in hypothalamic GnRH production before puberty. Nat. Neurosci. 19, 835–844 (2016).
Prevot, V. Puberty in mice and rats. in Knobil and Neill’s Physiology of Reproduction (eds. Plant, T. M. & Zeleznik, J.) 1395–1439 (Elsevier, New York, 2015).
Clasadonte, J. & Prevot, V. The special relationship: glia–neuron interactions in the neuroendocrine hypothalamus. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 14, 25–44 (2018).
Sloan, S. A. & Barres, B. A. Mechanisms of astrocyte development and their contributions to neurodevelopmental disorders. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 27, 75–81 (2014).
Verkhratsky, A. & Nedergaard, M. Physiology of astroglia. Physiol. Rev. 98, 239–389 (2018).
Barnabe-Heider, F. et al. Evidence that embryonic neurons regulate the onset of cortical gliogenesis via cardiotrophin-1. Neuron 48, 253–265 (2005).
Bandeira, F., Lent, R. & Herculano-Houzel, S. Changing numbers of neuronal and non-neuronal cells underlie postnatal brain growth in the rat. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 14108–14113 (2009).
Elkharraz, K. et al. Paclitaxel-loaded microparticles and implants for the treatment of brain cancer: preparation and physicochemical characterization. Int. J. Pharm. 314, 127–136 (2006).
Wang, L. et al. Genetic dissection of the different roles of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons in regulating female reproduction. Elife 8, e43999 (2019).
Mohr, M. A., DonCarlos, L. L. & Sisk, C. L. Inhibiting production of new brain cells during puberty or adulthood blunts the hormonally induced surge of luteinizing hormone in female rats. eNeuro 4, ENEURO.0133-17.2017 (2017).
Lopez-Rodriguez, D., Franssen, D., Bakker, J., Lomniczi, A. & Parent, A. S. Cellular and molecular features of EDC exposure: consequences for the GnRH network. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 17, 83–96 (2021).
Geens, T. et al. A review of dietary and non-dietary exposure to bisphenol A. Food Chem. Toxicol. 50, 3725–3740 (2012).
Franssen, D. et al. Delayed neuroendocrine sexual maturation in female rats after a very low dose of bisphenol A through altered GABAergic neurotransmission and opposing effects of a high dose. Endocrinology 157, 1740–1750 (2016).
Kuiri-Hanninen, T., Sankilampi, U. & Dunkel, L. Activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis in infancy: minipuberty. Horm. Res. Paediatr. 82, 73–80 (2014).
Ciofi, P. Phenotypical segregation among female rat hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons as revealed by the sexually dimorphic coexpression of cholecystokinin and neurotensin. Neuroscience 99, 133–147 (2000).
Chachlaki, K. et al. Phenotyping of nNOS neurons in the postnatal and adult female mouse hypothalamus. J. Comp. Neurol. 525, 3177–3189 (2017).
Mansuy, V. et al. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of proliferating and differentiated GnRH-expressing GnV-3 cells. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 332, 97–105 (2011).
Hirai, H. et al. Prostaglandin D2 selectively induces chemotaxis in T helper type 2 cells, eosinophils, and basophils via seven-transmembrane receptor CRTH2. J. Exp. Med. 193, 255–261 (2001).
Ohinata, K. et al. Central prostaglandin D2 stimulates food intake via the neuropeptide Y system in mice. FEBS Lett. 582, 679–684 (2008).
Tokudome, S. et al. Glucocorticoid protects rodent hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase-derived PGD2 biosynthesis. J. Clin. Invest. 119, 1477–1488 (2009).
Kato, M., Ui-Tei, K., Watanabe, M. & Sakuma, Y. Characterization of voltage-gated calcium currents in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons tagged with green fluorescent protein in rats. Endocrinology 144, 5118–5125 (2003).
Ma, Y. J., Junier, M. P., Costa, M. E. & Ojeda, S. R. Transforming growth factor-alpha gene expression in the hypothalamus is developmentally regulated and linked to sexual maturation. Neuron 9, 657–670 (1992).
Rage, F., Lee, B. J., Ma, Y. J. & Ojeda, S. R. Estradiol enhances prostaglandin E2 receptor gene expression in luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons and facilitates the LHRH response to PGE2 by activating a glia-to-neuron signaling pathway. J. Neurosci. 17, 9145–9156 (1997).
Lomniczi, A., Wright, H. & Ojeda, S. R. Epigenetic regulation of female puberty. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 36, 90–107 (2015).
Boehm, U., Zou, Z. & Buck, L. B. Feedback loops link odor and pheromone signaling with reproduction. Cell 123, 683–695 (2005).
Yoon, H., Enquist, L. W. & Dulac, C. Olfactory inputs to hypothalamic neurons controlling reproduction and fertility. Cell 123, 669–682 (2005).
Clasadonte, J., Scemes, E., Wang, Z., Boison, D. & Haydon, P. G. Connexin 43-mediated astroglial metabolic networks contribute to the regulation of the sleep–wake cycle. Neuron 95, 1365–1380 (2017).
Araque, A. et al. Gliotransmitters travel in time and space. Neuron 81, 728–739 (2014).
Clasadonte, J. et al. Prostaglandin E2 release from astrocytes triggers gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron firing via EP2 receptor activation. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 16104–16109 (2011).
Glanowska, K. M. & Moenter, S. M. Endocannabinoids and prostaglandins both contribute to GnRH neuron-GABAergic afferent local feedback circuits. J. Neurophysiol. 106, 3073–3081 (2011).
Bezzi, P. et al. Prostaglandins stimulate calcium-dependent glutamate release in astrocytes. Nature 391, 281–285 (1998).
Zonta, M. et al. Neuron-to-astrocyte signaling is central to the dynamic control of brain microcirculation. Nat. Neurosci. 6, 43–50 (2003).
Dziedzic, B. et al. Neuron-to-glia signaling mediated by excitatory amino acid receptors regulates ErbB receptor function in astroglial cells of the neuroendocrine brain. J. Neurosci. 23, 915–926 (2003).
Prevot, V. et al. Normal female sexual development requires neuregulin-ErbB receptor signaling in hypothalamic astrocytes. J. Neurosci. 23, 230–239 (2003).
Nagai, J. et al. Behaviorally consequential astrocytic regulation of neural circuits. Neuron 109, 576–596 (2021).
Bouret, S. G., Draper, S. J. & Simerly, R. B. Trophic action of leptin on hypothalamic neurons that regulate feeding. Science 304, 108–110 (2004).
Caron, E., Ciofi, P., Prevot, V. & Bouret, S. G. Alteration in neonatal nutrition causes perturbations in hypothalamic neural circuits controlling reproductive function. J. Neurosci. 32, 11486–11494 (2012).
Paul, A., Chaker, Z. & Doetsch, F. Hypothalamic regulation of regionally distinct adult neural stem cells and neurogenesis. Science 356, 1383–1386 (2017).
Sandau, U. S. et al. SynCAM1, a synaptic adhesion molecule, is expressed in astrocytes and contributes to ErbB4 receptor-mediated control of female sexual development. Endocrinology 152, 2364–2376 (2011).
Sandau, U. S. et al. The synaptic cell adhesion molecule, SynCAM1, mediates astrocyte-to-astrocyte and astrocyte-to-GnRH neuron adhesiveness in the mouse hypothalamus. Endocrinology 152, 2353–2363 (2011).
Allen, N. J. & Eroglu, C. Cell biology of astrocyte-synapse interactions. Neuron 96, 697–708 (2017).
Verkhratsky, A., Matteoli, M., Parpura, V., Mothet, J. P. & Zorec, R. Astrocytes as secretory cells of the central nervous system: idiosyncrasies of vesicular secretion. EMBO J. 35, 239–257 (2016).
Kofuji, P. & Araque, A. G-protein-coupled receptors in astrocyte–neuron communication. Neuroscience 456, 71–84 (2021).
Ullian, E. M., Sapperstein, S. K., Christopherson, K. S. & Barres, B. A. Control of synapse number by glia. Science 291, 657–661 (2001).
Pfrieger, F. W. & Barres, B. A. Synaptic efficacy enhanced by glial cells in vitro. Science 277, 1684–1687 (1997).
Papouin, T., Dunphy, J. M., Tolman, M., Dineley, K. T. & Haydon, P. G. Septal cholinergic neuromodulation tunes the astrocyte-dependent gating of hippocampal NMDA receptors to wakefulness. Neuron 94, 840–854 (2017).
Mu, Y. et al. Glia accumulate evidence that actions are futile and suppress unsuccessful behavior. Cell 178, 27–43 (2019).
Bourguignon, J. P., Gerard, A., Alvarex-Gonzalez, M. L., Fawe, L. & Franchimont, P. Gonadal-independent developmental changes in activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors involved in gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Neuroendocrinology 55, 634–641 (1992).
Carbone, S., Szwarcfarb, B., Otero Losada, M. E. & Moguilevsky, J. A. Effects of ovarian steroids on the gonadotropin response to N-methyl-d-aspartate and on hypothalamic excitatory amino acid levels during sexual maturation in female rats. Endocrinology 130, 1365–1370 (1992).
DeFazio, R. A., Heger, S., Ojeda, S. R. & Moenter, S. M. Activation of A-type gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors excites gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. Mol. Endocrinol. 16, 2872–2891 (2002).
Berg, T., Silveira, M. A. & Moenter, S. M. Prepubertal development of GABAergic transmission to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and postsynaptic response are altered by prenatal androgenization. J. Neurosci. 38, 2283–2293 (2018).
Sardi, S. P., Murtie, J., Koirala, S., Patten, B. A. & Corfas, G. Presenilin-dependent ErbB4 nuclear signaling regulates the timing of astrogenesis in the developing brain. Cell 127, 185–197 (2006).
Veiga-Lopez, A., Beckett, E. M., Abi Salloum, B., Ye, W. & Padmanabhan, V. Developmental programming: prenatal BPA treatment disrupts timing of LH surge and ovarian follicular wave dynamics in adult sheep. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 279, 119–128 (2014).
Rasier, G. et al. Mechanisms of interaction of endocrine-disrupting chemicals with glutamate-evoked secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Toxicol. Sci. 102, 33–41 (2008).
Muncke, J. et al. Impacts of food contact chemicals on human health: a consensus statement. Environ. Health 19, 25 (2020).
O’Brien, E., Dolinoy, D. C. & Mancuso, P. Perinatal bisphenol A exposures increase production of pro-inflammatory mediators in bone marrow-derived mast cells of adult mice. J. Immunotoxicol. 11, 205–212 (2014).
Lamartiniere, C. A., Jenkins, S., Betancourt, A. M., Wang, J. & Russo, J. Exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A alters susceptibility for mammary cancer. Horm. Mol. Biol. Clin. Investig. 5, 45–52 (2011).
Burrows, R. C., Wancio, D., Levitt, P. & Lillien, L. Response diversity and the timing of progenitor cell maturation are regulated by developmental changes in EGFR expression in the cortex. Neuron 19, 251–267 (1997).
Gensburger, C., Labourdette, G. & Sensenbrenner, M. Brain basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates the proliferation of rat neuronal precursor cells in vitro. FEBS Lett. 217, 1–5 (1987).
Fujioka, H. et al. Generation of transgenic rats expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. J. Reprod. Dev. 49, 523–529 (2003).
Paxinos, G. &; Watson, C. The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates (Academic Press New York, 1982).
Ojeda, S. R. & Ramirez, V. D. Automatic control of LH and FSH secretion by short feedback circuits in immature rats. Endocrinology 84, 786–797 (1969).
Golde, W. T., Gollobin, P. & Rodriguez, L. L. A rapid, simple, and humane method for submandibular bleeding of mice using a lancet. Lab Anim. 34, 39–43 (2005).
Altwegg-Boussac, T., Chavez, M., Mahon, S. & Charpier, S. Excitability and responsiveness of rat barrel cortex neurons in the presence and absence of spontaneous synaptic activity in vivo. J. Physiol. 592, 3577–3595 (2014).
Salvi, R. et al. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-expressing neurons immortalized conditionally are activated by insulin: implication of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Endocrinology 147, 816–826 (2006).
Swanson, L. W. Structure of the Rat Brain (Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 2004).
Lee, W. S., Smith, M. S. & Hoffman, G. E. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons express Fos protein during the proestrous surge of luteinizing hormone. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 87, 5163–5167 (1990).
Abercrombie, M. Estimation of nuclear population from microtome sections. Anat. Rec. 94, 239–247 (1946).
Tata, B. et al. Elevated prenatal anti-Mullerian hormone reprograms the fetus and induces polycystic ovary syndrome in adulthood. Nat. Med. 24, 834–846 (2018).
Schmittgen, T. D. & Livak, K. J. Analyzing real-time PCR data by the comparative C T method. Nat. Protoc. 3, 1101–1108 (2008).
Smyth, G. K. Limma: linear models for microarray data. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Solutions Using R and Bioconductor (eds. Gentleman, R. et al.) 397–420 (Springer, New York, 2005).
Storey, J. D. & Tibshirani, R. Statistical significance for genomewide studies. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 9440–9445 (2003).
Vanacker, C. et al. Neuropilin-1 expression in GnRH neurons regulates prepubertal weight gain and sexual attraction. EMBO J. 39, e104633 (2020).
