Serotonin-related gene expression in female monkeys with individual sensitivity to stress.

Female cynomolgus monkeys exhibit different degrees of reproductive dysfunction with moderate metabolic and psychosocial stress. In this study, the expression of four genes pivotal to serotonin neural function was assessed in monkeys previously categorized as highly stress resistant (n=3; normal menstrual cyclicity through two stress cycles), medium stress resistant (n=5; ovulatory in the first stress cycle but anovulatory in the second stress cycle), or low stress resistant (i.e.

Soy and social stress affect serotonin neurotransmission in primates.

Stress and sex steroidal milieu can each influence mood in women. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of long-term conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), soy phytoestrogen (SPE), and social subordination stress on dorsal raphe serotonin neurotransmission of ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) protein content were determined, and the in vitro degradation of macaque SERT protein was examined in the presence and absence of protease inhibitors, serotonin (5-HT), and citalopram.

Effects of oral estrogen, raloxifene and arzoxifene on gene expression in serotonin neurons of macaques.

The serotonin neural system contributes to cognition and affect, both of which exhibit pathologies with gender bias. We previously showed that estrogen (E) treatment of female macaques via Silastic implant alters gene expression for tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) and the 5HT1A autoreceptor. In addition, we have found that serotonin neurons of macaques express ER beta (ER beta).

Estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) mRNA and protein in serotonin neurons of macaques.

This study used double in situ hybridization (ISH) to examine the colocalization of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) mRNA in serotonin neurons of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). In addition, immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to examine the expression and regulation of ERbeta protein in raphe neurons of the macaque midbrain. For double ISH, monkey specific riboprobes for ERbeta incorporating radiolabeled-UTP and a riboprobe for the human serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) incorporating digoxigenin were applied to midbrain sections from spayed rhesus macaques.

Oestrogen, progesterone and serotonin converge on GABAergic neurones in the monkey hypothalamus.

There are dense populations of inhibitory GABA neurones in regions of the primate hypothalamus that have been implicated in the neuroendocrine control of prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. A subpopulation of GABA neurones that express nuclear oestrogen and progestin receptors reside in the arcuate and infundibular nuclei. We questioned whether oestrogen or progesterone regulate the expression of GAD67, the rate limiting enzyme in GABA synthesis, in these regions.