Our long term goal is to understand how sex steroids regulate G protein-coupled receptor mediated neurotransmission that underlies hormonal activation of behavior. We have demonstrated that membrane-initiated estradiol signaling (MIES) activates a circuit regulating lordosis behavior, a measure of sexual receptivity. Estradiol sequentially activates estrogen receptor-a (ERa), releasing NPY onto NPY-Y1 receptors in the ARH, which stimulates ?-endorphin release into the medial preoptic nucleus activating ?-opioid receptors (MORs). The present proposal builds on our discovery that MIES requires the metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR1a, to initiate cell signaling and that estradiol modulates membrane levels of ERa. We propose to test the hypothesis that MIES, which allows for hormonal-neural integration, regulates ERa trafficking to and from the membrane, and spinogenesis needed for sexual receptivity.
Three Specific Aims are proposed: 1) MIES modulates ERa-mGluR1a levels in the membrane which will be tested through a series of pharmacological studies that systematically block or activate MIES and intracellular pathways. 2) Lordosis behavior depends on MIES-induced trafficking of ERa-mGluR1a to the membrane. Manipulations that alter ERa-mGluR1a trafficking in the ARH will be tested on MOR internalization, a measure of circuit activation, and lordosis behavior. 3) MIES integrates hormonal and neuronal signals inducing morphological reorganization of the ARH underlying sexual receptivity. We will determine how estradiol, by activating different intracellular signaling pathways, induces dendritic spine formation and maturation needed for lordosis behavior. These experiments have salience for understanding not only reproductive behavior, but estradiol cell signaling throughout the nervous system through their interaction with mGluRs.

Public Health Relevance

Membrane-initiated estradiol signaling (MIES) has been directly implicated neural events underlying drug addiction, neuroprotection, cognition and reproductive physiology. Regulation of estrogen action in the brain requires an understanding of mechanisms that modulate MIES by altering levels of membrane estrogen receptors that transactivate metabotropic glutamate receptors initiating cell signaling.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DA013185-11A1
Application #
8235680
Study Section
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms and Sleep Study Section (NNRS)
Program Officer
Pilotte, Nancy S
Project Start
2001-03-01
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$334,950
Indirect Cost
$117,450
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Micevych, Paul E; Sinchak, Kevin (2018) Extranuclear signaling by ovarian steroids in the regulation of sexual receptivity. Horm Behav :
Micevych, Paul E; Mermelstein, Paul G; Sinchak, Kevin (2017) Estradiol Membrane-Initiated Signaling in the Brain Mediates Reproduction. Trends Neurosci 40:654-666
Micevych, Paul E; Meisel, Robert L (2017) Integrating Neural Circuits Controlling Female Sexual Behavior. Front Syst Neurosci 11:42
Rudolph, L M; Bentley, G E; Calandra, R S et al. (2016) Peripheral and Central Mechanisms Involved in the Hormonal Control of Male and Female Reproduction. J Neuroendocrinol 28:
Rudolph, Lauren M; Cornil, Charlotte A; Mittelman-Smith, Melinda A et al. (2016) Actions of Steroids: New Neurotransmitters. J Neurosci 36:11449-11458
Xu, Ji; Bernstein, Alexander M; Wong, Angela et al. (2016) P2X4 Receptor Reporter Mice: Sparse Brain Expression and Feeding-Related Presynaptic Facilitation in the Arcuate Nucleus. J Neurosci 36:8902-20
Wong, Angela M; Abrams, Matthew C; Micevych, Paul E (2015) ?-arrestin regulates estradiol membrane-initiated signaling in hypothalamic neurons. PLoS One 10:e0120530
Christensen, Amy; Dewing, Phoebe; Micevych, Pavel (2015) Immediate early gene activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein regulates estradiol-induced lordosis behavior in female rats. J Neurosci Res 93:67-74
Micevych, Paul E; Wong, Angela May; Mittelman-Smith, Melinda Anne (2015) Estradiol Membrane-Initiated Signaling and Female Reproduction. Compr Physiol 5:1211-22
Sinchak, Kevin; Dewing, Phoebe; Ponce, Laura et al. (2013) Modulation of the arcuate nucleus-medial preoptic nucleus lordosis regulating circuit: a role for GABAB receptors. Horm Behav 64:136-43

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