The aging ovary impairs acute stroke outcomes.

In experimental stroke, ovariectomized (OVX) adult rats have larger infarct volumes and greater sensory-motor impairment as compared to ovary-intact females and is usually interpreted to indicate that ovarian hormones are neuroprotective for stroke. Previous work from our lab shows that middle-aged, acyclic reproductively senescent (RS) females have worse stroke outcomes as compared to adult (normally cycling) females. We hypothesized that if loss of ovarian estrogen is the critical determinant of stroke outcomes, then ovary-intact middle-aged acyclic females, who have reduced levels of estradiol, should have similar stroke outcomes as age-matched OVX. Instead, the data demonstrated that OVX RS animals showed better sensory-motor function after stroke and reduced infarct volume as compared to ovary-intact females. Inflammatory cytokines were decreased in the aging ovary after stroke as compared to non-stroke shams, which led to the hypothesis that immune cells may be extravasated from the ovaries post-stroke. Flow cytometry indicated reduced overall T cell populations in the aging ovary after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), with a paradoxical increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2-like macrophages. Moreover, in the brain, OVX RS animals showed increased Tregs, increased M2-like macrophages, and increased MHC II + cells as compared to intact RS animals, which have all been shown to be correlated with better prognosis after stroke. Depletion of ovary-resident immune cells after stroke suggests that there may be an exaggerated response to ischemia and possible increased burden of the inflammatory response via extravasation of these cells into circulation. Increased anti-inflammatory cells in the brain of OVX RS animals further supports this hypothesis. These data suggest that stroke severity in aging females may be exacerbated by the aging ovary and underscore the need to assess immunological changes in this organ after stroke.

Intestinal epithelial stem cell transplants as a novel therapy for cerebrovascular stroke.

Almost 2/3rds of stroke survivors exhibit vascular cognitive impairment and a third of stroke patients will develop dementia 1-3 years after stroke. These dire consequences underscore the need for effective stroke therapies. In addition to its damaging effects on the brain, stroke rapidly dysregulates the intestinal epithelium, resulting in elevated blood levels of inflammatory cytokines and toxic gut metabolites due to a 'leaky' gut. We tested whether repairing the gut via intestinal epithelial stem cell (IESC) transplants would also improve stroke recovery. Organoids containing IESCs derived from young rats transplanted into older rats after stroke were incorporated into the gut, restored stroke-induced gut dysmorphology and decreased gut permeability, and reduced circulating levels of endotoxin LPS and the inflammatory cytokine IL-17A. Remarkably, IESC transplants also improved stroke-induced acute (4d) sensory-motor disability and chronic (30d) cognitive-affective function. Moreover, IESCs from older animals displayed senescent features and were not therapeutic for stroke. These data underscore the gut as a critical therapeutic target for stroke and demonstrate the effectiveness of gut stem cell therapy.

Impact of intestinal disorders on central and peripheral nervous system diseases.

Brain injuries and neurological diseases have a significant impact on the gut microbiome and the gut barrier. Reciprocally, gut disorders, such as Inflammatory Bowel Syndromes (IBS), can affect the development and pathology of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, although this aspect is less well studied and is the focus of this review. Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder afflicting an estimated 9-23% of the world's population. A hallmark of this disease is leaky gut, a pathology in which the integrity of the gut blood barrier is compromised, causing gut contents such as immune cells and microbiota to enter the bloodstream leading to low-grade systemic inflammation. The increased levels of inflammation associated cytokines in circulation has the potential to affect all organs, including the brain. Although the brain is protected by the blood brain barrier, inflammation associated cytokines can damage the junctions in this barrier and allow brain infiltration of peripheral immune cells. Central inflammation in the brain is associated with various neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuropsychiatric disorders, namely, depression, and anxiety. Neurodegenerative diseases are of particular concern due to the anticipated rise in the population of the elderly and consequently, the prevalence of these diseases. Additionally, depression and anxiety are the most common mental illnesses affecting roughly 18% of the American population. In this review, we will explore the mechanisms by which IBS can influence the risk and severity of neurological disease.

Prenatal alcohol exposure exacerbates acute sensorimotor deficits and impedes long-term behavioral recovery from the effects of an adult-onset cerebrovascular ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a significant risk factor for developmental disability, although its health consequences across the lifespan are poorly understood. Here, we hypothesized that latent brain and systemic consequences of PAE influence resiliency to adult-onset neurological disease, specifically, cerebrovascular ischemic stroke. METHODS: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed episodically to ethanol during the fetal neurogenic period. Adult (5 months) male and female PAE and control offspring were subjected to endothelin-1-induced unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion. In the acute injury phase outcomes including stroke volume and neurological, endocrine, and gut permeability markers were assessed. Because the effects of stroke in human populations evolve over months to years, we also assessed hippocampal- and amygdala-dependent memory function and social interaction preference up to 6 months following a stroke, in middle-aged offspring. RESULTS: Prenatal alcohol exposure did not alter infarct volume, but significantly increased neurological deficits in both sexes, and impaired interhemispheric sensorimotor integration in PAE females. The IGF-1/IGFBP3 ratio, a measure of bioavailable IGF-1, was significantly reduced, while circulating levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, an inflammagen, were significantly increased in PAE males. In PAE females, the circulating IGF-1/IGFBP3 ratio was significantly increased and estradiol-17b levels were significantly reduced. The intestinal fatty acid binding protein, a surrogate marker of gut permeability was also significantly increased in PAE females. Longer-term deficits in hippocampal-associated memory and social interactions were observed in PAE males, while deficits in amygdala-dependent memory were observed in PAE females. CONCLUSIONS: PAE contributes to adverse effects on brain health and decreased resiliency in response to a common adult-onset neurovascular disease, cerebrovascular ischemic stroke.

Gonadal hormones and stroke risk: PCOS as a case study.

It is well known that stroke incidence and outcome is sex-dependent and influenced by age and gonadal hormones. In post-menopausal and/or aged females, declining estrogen levels increases stroke risk. However, women who experience early menopause also have an increase in stroke risk. This suggests that, regardless of age, gonadal hormones regulate stroke risk and severity. This review discusses prolonged gonadal hormone dysfunction in a common female endocrine disorder known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, and the associated increased risk of stroke due to resulting hyperandrogenism and metabolic comorbidities.

The promises and pitfalls of sex difference research.

Funding agencies in North America and Europe are recognizing the importance of the integration of sex differences into basic and clinical research. Although these mandates are in place to improve our knowledge of health for both men and women, there have been a number of implementation issues that require vigilance on the part of funders and the research community. Here we discuss issues on simple inclusion of both sexes in studies to specialisation of sex differences with attention paid to statistics and the need for sex-specific treatments. We suggest differing mandates need to be considered regarding simple integration versus the need for studies in the specialisation of sex differences and/or the need for research that recognises the importance of male-specific or female-specific factors that influence subsequent health such as menstruation, menopause or pregnancy.

Prenatal alcohol-induced sex differences in immune, metabolic and neurobehavioral outcomes in adult rats.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in neurobehavioral anomalies, that may be exacerbated by co-occurring metabolic and immune system deficits. To test the hypothesis that the peripheral inflammation in adult PAE offspring is linked to poor glucose metabolism and neurocognitive deficits, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ethanol vapor or ambient air during the latter half of gestation. We assessed, in adult offspring of both sexes, performance on a battery of neurocognitive behaviors, glucose tolerance, circulating and splenic immune cells by flow-cytometry, and circulating and tissue (liver, mesenteric adipose, and spleen) cytokines by multiplexed assays. PAE reduced both the ratio of spleen to body weight and splenic regulatory T-cell (Treg) numbers. PAE males, but not females exhibited an increase in circulating monocytes. Overall, PAE males exhibited a suppression of cytokine levels, while PAE females exhibited elevated cytokines in mesenteric adipose tissue (IL-6 and IL1α) and liver (IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-13, IL-18, IL-12p70, and MCP-1), along with increased glucose intolerance. Behavioral analysis also showed sex-dependent PAE effects. PAE-males exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior while PAE-females showed decreased social interaction. PAE offspring of both sexes exhibited impaired recognition of novel objects. Multilinear regression modeling to predict the association between peripheral immune status, glucose intolerance and behavioral outcomes, showed that in PAE offspring, higher levels of adipose leptin and liver TNF- α predicted higher circulating glucose levels. Lower liver IL-1 α and higher plasma fractalkine predicted more time spent in the center of an open-field with sex being an additional predictor. Higher circulating and splenic Tregs predicted better social interaction in the PAE-offspring. Collectively, our data show that peripheral immune status is a persistent, sex-dependent predictor of glucose intolerance and neurobehavioral function in adult PAE offspring.

Mir363-3p attenuates post-stroke depressive-like behaviors in middle-aged female rats.

Women are more likely to develop Post Stroke Depression (PSD) than men and generally do not respond well to anti-depressants with age. This study investigated the effect of microRNA mir363-3p treatment on PSD using a physiologically-relevant animal model. Our previous work showed that mir363-3p treatment, delivered post-stroke, effectively reduces infarct volume in the acute phase of stroke in middle-aged females but not males. Middle-aged female Sprague Dawley rats were tested for baseline sensory motor function and depressive-like behaviors, and then subjected to ischemic stroke via middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) or sham surgery. Animals received either control oligos (MCAo+scrambled, Sham+scrambled) or mir363-3p (MCAo+mir363-3p, Sham+mir363-3p) treatment 4 h later. Sensory motor function and depressive-like behaviors were reassessed up to 100 d after stroke, and circulating levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) were quantified at regular intervals. Prior to termination, Fluorogold was injected into the striatum to assess meso-striatal projections. MCAo+scrambled animals had impaired sensorimotor performance in the acute phase (5 days) of stroke and developed anhedonia, decreased sociability and increased helplessness in the chronic phase. MCAo+mir363-3p animals showed significantly less sensory motor impairment and fewer depressive-like behaviors. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were elevated transiently at 4 weeks after MCAo in both groups. BDNF levels decreased progressively after stroke in the MCAo+scrambled group, and this was attenuated in the mir363-3p group. The number of retrogradely-labeled SNc and VTA cells was reduced in the ischemic hemisphere of the MCAo+scrambled group. In contrast, there was no interhemispheric difference in the number of retrogradely-labeled SNc and VTA cells of MCAo+mir363-3p treated animals. Our results support a therapeutic role for mir363-3p for long-term stroke disability.

Morphine increases macrophages at the lesion site following spinal cord injury: Protective effects of minocycline.

Opioids are among the most effective and widely prescribed medications for the treatment of pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinally-injured patients receive opioids within hours of arrival at the emergency room, and prolonged opioid regimens are often employed for the management of post-SCI chronic pain. However, previous studies in our laboratory suggest that the effects of opioids such as morphine may be altered in the pathophysiological context of neurotrauma. Specifically, we have shown that morphine administration in a rodent model of SCI increases mortality and tissue loss at the injury site, and decreases recovery of motor and sensory function, and overall health, even weeks after treatment. The literature suggests that opioids may produce these adverse effects by acting as endotoxins and increasing glial activation and inflammation. To better understand the effects of morphine following SCI, in this study we used flow cytometry to assess immune-competent cells at the lesion site. We observed a morphine-induced increase in the overall number of CD11b+ cells, with marked effects on microglia, in SCI subjects. Next, to investigate whether this increase in the inflammatory profile is necessary to produce morphine's effects, we challenged morphine treatment with minocycline. We found that pre-treatment with minocycline reduced the morphine-induced increase in microglia at the lesion site. More importantly, minocycline also blocked the adverse effects of morphine on recovery of function without disrupting the analgesic efficacy of this opioid. Together, our findings suggest that following SCI, morphine may exacerbate the inflammatory response, increasing cell death at the lesion site and negatively affecting functional recovery.

Sex hormones and stroke: Beyond estrogens.

Stroke risk and poor stroke outcomes in postmenopausal women have usually beeen attributed to decreased levels of estrogen. However, two lines of evidence suggest that this hormone may not be solely responsible for elevated stroke risk in this population. First, the increased risk for CVD and stroke occurs much earlier than menopause at a time when estrogen levels are not yet reduced. Second, estrogen therapy has not successfully reduced stroke risk in all studies. Other sex hormones may therefore also contribute to stroke risk. Prior to menopause, levels of the gonadotrophin Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are elevated while levels of the gonadal peptide inhibin are lowered, indicating an overall decrease in ovarian reserve. Similarly, reduced estrogen levels at menopause significantly increase the ratio of androgens to estrogens. In view of the evidence that androgens may be unfavorable for CVD and stroke, this elevated ratio of testosterone to estrogen may also contribute to the postmenopause-associated stroke risk. This review synthesizes evidence from different clinical populations including natural menopause, surgical menopause, women on chemotherapy, and preclinical stroke models to dissect the role of ovarian hormones and stroke risk and outcomes.