Effects of estradiol in adult neurogenesis and brain repair in zebrafish.

The brain of the adult teleost fish exhibits intense neurogenic activity and an outstanding capability for brain repair. Remarkably, the brain estrogen-synthesizing enzyme, aromatase B, is strongly expressed, particularly in adult fishes, in radial glial cells, which act as progenitors. Using zebrafish, we tested the hypothesis that estrogens affect adult neurogenesis and brain regeneration by modulating the neurogenic activity of radial glial cells. To investigate this, the estrogenic environment was modified through inhibition of aromatase activity, blockade of nuclear estrogen receptors, or estrogenic treatments. Estrogens significantly decreased cell proliferation and migration at the olfactory bulbs/telencephalon junction and in the mediobasal hypothalamus. It also appears that cell survival is reduced at the olfactory bulbs/telencephalon junction. We also developed a model of telencephalic lesion to assess the role of aromatase and estrogens in brain repair. Proliferation increased rapidly immediately after the lesion in the parenchyma of the injured telencephalon, while proliferation at the ventricular surface appeared after 48 h and peaked at 7 days. At this time, most proliferative cells express Sox2, however, none of these Sox2 positive cells correspond to aromatase B-positive radial glial cells. Interestingly, aromatase B expression was significantly reduced 48 h and 7 days after the injury, but surprisingly, at 72 h after lesion, aromatase B expression appeared de novo expressed in parenchyma cells, suggesting a role for this ectopic expression of aromatase in brain repair mechanisms. Altogether these data suggest that estrogens modulate adult, but not reparative neurogenesis, in zebrafish.

Prevention of risks associated with inappropriate use/unnecessary consumption of medicines.

In the code of public health, misuse is defined as intentional and inappropriate use of a medicine or product, which is not in accordance with the terms of the marketing authorisation or the registration as well as with good practice recommendations. Very often this involves an individual or the interaction of several individuals including the patient, his/her carers, prescriber(s) and/or dispensers. Misuse is common; it is the source of medicinal adverse effects for which a significant part is avoidable. Medicines initially prescribed or dispensed in the context of their marketing authorization (MA) can also be the subject of primary dependency and misappropriation. Companies which develop medicines nationally make declarations to the ANSM (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) and implement measures to limit non-compliant use of their products. Recently, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the influence and societal impact of drug misuse. The finding of the existence of systemic misuse, the impossibility of proposing simple solutions leads us to propose two main areas for improved information and the training of users and health professionals in medicines in the context of multi-faceted interventions: prevention of misuse on the one hand and its identification and treatment on the other hand.

Aromatase in the brain of teleost fish: expression, regulation and putative functions.

Unlike that of mammals, the brain of teleost fish exhibits an intense aromatase activity due to the strong expression of one of two aromatase genes (aromatase A or cyp19a1a and aromatase B or cyp19a1b) that arose from a gene duplication event. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and expression of GFP (green fluorescent protein) in transgenic tg(cyp19a1b-GFP) fish demonstrate that aromatase B is only expressed in radial glial cells (RGC) of adult fish. These cells persist throughout life and act as progenitors in the brain of both developing and adult fish. Although aromatase B-positive radial glial cells are most abundant in the preoptic area and the hypothalamus, they are observed throughout the entire central nervous system and spinal cord. In agreement with the fact that brain aromatase activity is correlated to sex steroid levels, the high expression of cyp19a1b is due to an auto-regulatory loop through which estrogens and aromatizable androgens up-regulate aromatase expression. This mechanism involves estrogen receptor binding on an estrogen response element located on the cyp19a1b promoter. Cell specificity is achieved by a mandatory cooperation between estrogen receptors and unidentified glial factors. Given the emerging roles of estrogens in neurogenesis, the unique feature of the adult fish brain suggests that, in addition to classical functions on brain sexual differentiation and sexual behaviour, aromatase expression in radial glial cells could be part of the mechanisms authorizing the maintenance of a high proliferative activity in the brain of fish.

Activity and expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the brain of adult zebrafish.

The brain of adult teleost fish exhibits several unique and interesting features, notably an intense neurogenic activity linked to persistence of radial glial cells acting as neural progenitors, and a high aromatase activity supported by strong expression of the cyp19a1b gene. Strikingly, cyp19a1b expression is restricted to radial glial cells, suggesting that estrogens are able to modulate their activity. This raises the question of the origin, central or peripheral, of C19 androgens available for aromatization. This study aimed to investigate the activity and expression of other main steroidogenic enzymes in the brain of adult zebrafish. We demonstrate by high-performance liquid chromatography that the zebrafish brain has the ability to convert [³H]-pregnenolone into a variety of radiolabeled steroids such as 17OH-pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydro-testosterone, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, and dihydro- and tetrahydro-progesterone. Next, we show by in situ hybridization that messengers for key steroidogenic enzymes, such as Cyp11a1 (P450(SCC)), 3ß-Hsd, Cyp17 and Cyp19a1b, are widely expressed in the forebrain where they exhibit an overall similar pattern. By combining aromatase B immunohistochemistry with in situ hybridization, we show that cyp11a1, 3ß-hsd and cyp17 messengers are found in part in aromatase B-positive radial processes, suggesting mRNA export. This set of results provides the first demonstration that the brain of fish can produce true neurosteroids, possibly in radial glial cells. Given that radial glial cells are brain stem cells during the entire lifespan of fish, it is suggested that at least some of these neurosteroids are implicated in the persisting neurogenic process.

Sexual dimorphism in the brain aromatase expression and activity, and in the central expression of other steroidogenic enzymes during the period of sex differentiation in monosex rainbow trout populations.

Using genetic monosex male and female rainbow trout populations, the potential sex differences in the central expression of estrogen receptors (esr1, esr2a, esr2b), brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) and some other steroidogenic enzymes was studied over the period of sex differentiation (from 35 to 63 dpf: days post-fertilization) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). In addition, aromatase activity was evaluated during this period. The results indicated that brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) expression and activity showed a clear and significant sexually dimorphic pattern with higher levels in male brain between 35 and 53 dpf before the time of gonad morphological differentiation. At that time the expression of a key enzyme involved in the conversion of cholesterol into steroids, the cyp11a1 (p450scc), as well as the estrogen receptors were also sexually dimorphic. The dimorphism was lost from 56 dpf onwards. Transcription factors such as nr5a1b (sf1) and nr0b1 (dax1), but not foxl2a were also higher in males than in females. These results demonstrate that, before or during the early period of morphological gonad differentiation, the brain exhibits a clear sexual dimorphism with respect to the expression and activity of aromatase as well as of certain enzymes and factors involved in steroid synthesis as p450scc and sf1. The results suggest a higher potentiality to produce estrogens by male brains during sex differentiation time.

Aromatase, brain sexualization and plasticity: the fish paradigm.

In contrast to mammals, teleost fish have a very labile genetic sex determination. Sex differentiation is influenced by a combination of hormonal, social and environmental factors and teleost fishes exhibit many examples of hermaphroditism. This means that the brain of fish is not irreversibly sexualized early in life. This review aims at highlighting some unique features of fish that may explain their brain sexual plasticity. Unlike mammals, in which brain aromatase activity decreases after birth, adult teleosts exhibit an intense aromatase activity due to strong expression of one of two aromatase genes (aromatase A or cyp19a1a and aromatase B or cyp19a1b) that arose from a gene duplication event. Interestingly, aromatase B is only expressed in radial glial cells (RGC) of adult fish. These cells persist throughout life and act as progenitors in the brain of both developing and adult fish. In agreement with the fact that brain aromatase activity is correlated with sex steroid levels, the high expression of cyp19a1b is due to an autoregulatory loop through which estrogens and aromatizable androgens upregulate aromatase expression. Given the well-established roles of estrogens and aromatase on brain sexualization, these features suggest that the brain of fish conserves properties of embryonic mammalian brain throughout life - high neurogenic activity and high aromatase expression in progenitor cells correlated with sex steroid levels. The permanent dialogue between the brain and the gonad would permit sex changes and thus the emergence of a variety of reproductive strategies. Other hypotheses are also discussed.

Characterization and expression of the nuclear progestin receptor in zebrafish gonads and brain.

The zebrafish nuclear progestin receptor (nPR; official symbol PGR) was identified and characterized to better understand its role in regulating reproduction in this well-established teleost model. A full-length cDNA was identified that encoded a 617-amino acid residue protein with high homology to PGRs in other vertebrates, and contained five domains characteristic of nuclear steroid receptors. In contrast to the multiplicity of steroid receptors often found in euteleosts and attributed to probable genome duplication, only a single locus encoding the full-length zebrafish pgr was identified. Cytosolic proteins from pgr-transfected cells showed a high affinity (K(d) = 2 nM), saturable, single-binding site specific for a native progestin in euteleosts, 4-pregnen-17,20 beta-diol-3-one (17,20 beta-DHP). Both 17,20 beta-DHP and progesterone were potent inducers of transcriptional activity in cells transiently transfected with pgr in a dual luciferase reporter assay, whereas androgens and estrogens had little potency. The pgr transcript and protein were abundant in the ovaries, testis, and brain and were scarce or undetectable in the intestine, muscle, and gills. Further analyses indicate that Pgr was expressed robustly in the preoptic region of the hypothalamus in the brain; proliferating spermatogonia and early spermatocytes in the testis; and in follicular cells and early-stage oocytes (stages I and II), with very low levels within maturationally competent late-stage oocytes (IV) in the ovary. The localization of Pgr suggests that it mediates progestin regulation of reproductive signaling in the brain, early germ cell proliferation in testis, and ovarian follicular functions, but not final oocyte or sperm maturation.

Identification of aromatase-positive radial glial cells as progenitor cells in the ventricular layer of the forebrain in zebrafish.

Compared with other vertebrates, the brain of adult teleost fish exhibits two unique features: it exhibits unusually high neurogenic activity and strongly expresses aromatase, a key enzyme that converts aromatizable androgens into estrogens. Until now, these two features, high neurogenic and aromatase activities, have never been related to each other. Recently, it was shown that aromatase is expressed in radial glial cells of the forebrain and not in neurons. Here, we further document that Aromatase B is never detected in cells expressing the markers of postmitotic neurons, Hu and acetylated tubulin. By using a combination of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment and immunohistochemical techniques, we demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge that aromatase-positive radial cells actively divide to generate newborn cells in many forebrain regions. Such newborn cells can further divide, as shown by BrdU-proliferating cell nuclear antigen double staining. We also demonstrate that, over time, newborn cells move away from the ventricles, most likely by migrating along the radial processes. Finally, by using antisera to Hu and acetylated tubulin, we further document that some of the newborn cells derived from radial glia differentiate into neurons. These data provide new evidence for the mechanism of neurogenesis in the brain of adult fish. In addition, given that estrogens are well-known neurotrophic and neuroprotective factors affecting proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and differentiation, the expression of aromatase in the neural stem cells of the adult strongly demonstrates that the fish brain is an outstanding model for studying the effects of estrogens on adult neurogenesis and brain repair.

Expression and estrogen-dependent regulation of the zebrafish brain aromatase gene.

Compared with adult mammals, the brain of teleost fish is characterized by an extremely high capacity to aromatize androgens into estrogens, and this metabolic activity results from the expression of a specific brain aromatase (AroB) generated by the cyp19b gene. In this study, we first generated antibodies to zebrafish AroB and used them to map AroB-positive structures in the brain of adult zebrafish. We show that AroB is exclusively expressed in radial glial cells, mainly in the olfactory bulbs, telencephalon, preoptic area, and hypothalamus. Second, we investigated in vivo and in vitro the mechanisms involved in the estradiol (E2) regulation of the cyp19b gene. By means of whole-mount hybridization and immunohistochemistry on zebrafish embryos and larvae, we confirmed the E2-dependent upregulation of the cyp19b gene, and we show that E2 triggers AroB expression in radial glial cells mainly in the preoptic area and mediobasal hypothalamus of 48 hpf (hours post fertilization) and 108 hpf larvae. In addition, an in vitro analysis of 0.5 kb of the promoter region of the cyp19b gene demonstrated that this E2-dependent regulation involves a direct transcriptional action of estrogen receptors requiring estrogen-responsive elements. However, the data obtained on different cell lines demonstrate that a glial cell context is necessary for full E2 induction. The correlation between our in vivo and in vitro data suggests that the E2-dependent upregulation of AroB is favored by a glial cell context.

Distribution of dopamine D2 receptor mRNAs in the brain and the pituitary of female rainbow trout: an in situ hybridization study.

The distribution of D(2)R (dopamine D(2) receptor) mRNAs was studied in the forebrain of maturing female rainbow trout by means of in situ hybridization using a (35)S-labeled riboprobe (810 bp) spanning the third intracytoplasmic loop. A hybridization signal was consistently obtained in the olfactory epithelium, the internal cell layer of the olfactory bulbs, the ventral and dorsal subdivisions of the ventral telencephalon, and most preoptic subdivisions, with the notable exception of the magnocellular preoptic nucleus, and the periventricular regions of the mediobasal hypothalamus, including the posterior tuberculum. In the pituitary, the signal was higher in the pars intermedia than in the proximal and the rostral pars distalis, but no obvious correspondence with a given cell type could be assigned. Labeled cells were also located in the thalamic region, some pretectal nuclei, the optic tectum, and the torus semicircularis. These results provide a morphologic basis for a better understanding on the functions and evolution of the dopaminergic systems in lower vertebrates.

Distribution of aromatase mRNA and protein in the brain and pituitary of female rainbow trout: Comparison with estrogen receptor alpha.

Recent data indicate that estrogens locally produced in the brain by aromatization of androgens could be important for neurogenesis and brain repair. In this respect, fish are interesting because of the extremely high aromatase activity of their brain. In this study, the rainbow trout brain aromatase was cloned and riboprobes were used to map the distribution of cells expressing the corresponding mRNAs. A very strong hybridization signal was detected in the pituitary and in cells bordering the ventricles in the telencephalon and ventral diencephalon, with the highest expression in the preoptic area and hypothalamus. A weaker signal was detected in the ependymal layer bordering the torus semicircularis and optic tectum. This localization was fully confirmed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against a teleost aromatase. In addition, this antibody showed that aromatase expression in fact corresponds to radial glial cells because immunoreactive cells had long cytoplasmic processes extending toward the pial surface. Because brain aromatase was shown to be upregulated by estradiol in fish, the distribution of aromatase mRNAs was compared with that of rainbow trout estrogen receptor alpha (rtERalpha) on adjacent sections. Although the highest aromatase expression was found in regions expressing rtERalpha, no obvious coexpression was found, as rtERalpha was never observed in radial cells. However, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments performed on brain cell cultures enriched in glial cells suggest that a weak expression of rtERalpha in glial cells cannot be excluded. The possible role of the high brain aromatase content in fish could be related to the continuous growth of their central nervous system during adulthood.

Nuclear progesterone receptors are up-regulated by estrogens in neurons and radial glial progenitors in the brain of zebrafish.

In rodents, there is increasing evidence that nuclear progesterone receptors are transiently expressed in many regions of the developing brain, notably outside the hypothalamus. This suggests that progesterone and/or its metabolites could be involved in functions not related to reproduction, particularly in neurodevelopment. In this context, the adult fish brain is of particular interest, as it exhibits constant growth and high neurogenic activity that is supported by radial glia progenitors. However, although synthesis of neuroprogestagens has been documented recently in the brain of zebrafish, information on the presence of progesterone receptors is very limited. In zebrafish, a single nuclear progesterone receptor (pgr) has been cloned and characterized. Here, we demonstrate that this pgr is widely distributed in all regions of the zebrafish brain. Interestingly, we show that Pgr is strongly expressed in radial glial cells and more weakly in neurons. Finally, we present evidence, based on quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, that nuclear progesterone receptor mRNA and proteins are upregulated by estrogens in the brain of adult zebrafish. These data document for the first time the finding that radial glial cells are preferential targets for peripheral progestagens and/or neuroprogestagens. Given the crucial roles of radial glial cells in adult neurogenesis, the potential effects of progestagens on their activity and the fate of daughter cells require thorough investigation.

The brain of teleost fish, a source, and a target of sexual steroids.

Neurosteroids are defined as steroids de novo synthesized in the central nervous system. While the production of neurosteroids is well documented in mammals and amphibians, there is less information about teleosts, the largest group of fish. Teleosts have long been known for their high brain aromatase and 5α-reductase activities, but recent data now document the capacity of the fish brain to produce a large variety of sex steroids. This article aims at reviewing the available information regarding expression and/or activity of the main steroidogenic enzymes in the brain of fish. In addition, the distribution of estrogen, androgen, and progesterone nuclear receptors is documented in relation with the potential sites of production of neurosteroids. Interestingly, radial glial cells acting as neuronal progenitors, appear to be a potential source of neurosteroids, but also a target for centrally and/or peripherally produced steroids.

Cxcr4 and Cxcl12 expression in radial glial cells of the brain of adult zebrafish.

Unlike that of mammals, the brain of adult teleost fish exhibits an intense and widespread neurogenic activity as a result of the persistence of radial glial cells acting as neural progenitors throughout life. Because chemokines, notably CXCL12, and their receptors, such as CXCR4, play key roles in mammalian embryonic neurogenesis, we investigated Cxcr4 and Cxcl12 expressions in the brain of adult zebrafish and their potential relationships with cell proliferation. Cxcr4 expression was found to be restricted to radial glial cells in the adult zebrafish, where it is co-expressed with established radial glial cell markers, such as brain lipid-binding protein (Blbp) or the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme aromatase B (Cyp19a1b). Double stainings combining proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cxcr4 immunolabelling indicated that there is no obvious association between Cxcr4 expression and radial glial cell proliferation. Interestingly, cxcl12a messengers were detected in ventricular regions, in cells corresponding to aromatase B-immunoreactive radial glial cells. Altogether, our data demonstrate Cxcl12 and Cxcr4 expression in radial glial cells of the brain of adult zebrafish, supporting important roles for the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 pair in brain development and functioning.

[Oestrogens and neurogenesis: new functions for an old hormone. Lessons from the zebrafish]. / Oestrogènes et neurogenèse : de nouvelles fonctions pour une vieille hormone. Leçons tirées du poisson zèbre.

In contrast to other vertebrates, in which the adult brain shows limited adult neurogenesis, teleost fish exhibit an unparalleled capacity to generate new neurons as adults, suggesting that their brains present a highly permissive environment for the maintenance and proliferation of adult progenitors. Here, we examine the hypothesis that one of the factors permitting establishment of this favourable environment is estradiol. Indeed, recent data showed that radial glial cells strongly expressed one of two aromatase duplicated genes. Aromatase is the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme and this observation is of great interest, given that radial glial cells are progenitor cells capable of generating new neurons. Given the well documented roles of estrogens on cell fate, and notably on cell proliferation, these data suggest that estradiol could be involved in maintaining and/or activating these progenitors. Examination of recent data in birds and mammals suggests that the situation in fish could well be an exaggeration of a more general mechanism implicating estrogens in neurogenesis. Indeed, there is accumulating evidence that estrogens are involved in embryonic, adult or reparative neurogenesis in other vertebrates, notably in mammals.

Relationships between aromatase and estrogen receptors in the brain of teleost fish.

Teleost fish are known for exhibiting a high aromatase activity mainly due to the expression of the cyp19b gene, encoding aromatase B (AroB). Recent studies based on both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry have demonstrated in three different species that this activity is restricted to radial glial cells. In agreement with measurements of aromatase activity, such aromatase-expressing cells are more abundant in the telencephalon, preoptic area, and mediobasal hypothalamus, although positive cells are also found in the midbrain and hindbrain. Comparative distribution of AroB and estrogen receptor (ERalpha, ERbeta1, and ERbeta2) expression indicates that the preoptic region and hypothalamus are major target for locally produced estradiol (E2) which is likely involved in controlling expression of genes implicated in neuroendocrine regulations. However, AroB and ER have never been reported to be co-expressed in the same cells which is intriguing given that, at least in some species, AroB is strongly up-regulated by E2 itself in agreement with the presence of an estrogen-responsive element (ERE) in the proximal promoter of the cyp19b gene. In vivo data in zebrafish have shown that E2 up-regulates AroB only in radial glial cells. This is in agreement with in vitro transfection experiments indicating that this ERE is functional, but not sufficient, as the E2 regulation of AroB only occurs in glial cell contexts, suggesting a cooperation between ER and so far unidentified glial-specific factors. These data also suggest that radial glial cells may express low amounts of ER that escaped detection until now. The expression of AroB in radial cells, well known for their roles in neurogenesis and now considered as progenitor cells, suggests that local E2 production within these cells could influence the well-documented capacity of the brain of teleosts to grow during adulthood.

Molecular characterization of three estrogen receptor forms in zebrafish: binding characteristics, transactivation properties, and tissue distributions.

There are two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes in fish, ERalpha and ERbeta, and increasing evidence that the ERbeta subtype has more than one form. However, there is little information on the characteristics and functional significance of these ERs in adults and during development. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of three functional ER forms, zfERalpha, zfERbeta1, and zfERbeta2, in the zebrafish. The percentages of identity between these receptors suggest the existence of three distinct genes. Each cDNA encoded a protein that specifically bound estradiol with a dissociation constant ranging from 0.4 nM (zfERbeta2) to 0.75 nM (zfERalpha and zfERbeta1). In transiently transfected cells, all three forms were able to induce, in a dose-dependent manner, the expression of a reporter gene driven by a consensus estrogen responsive element; zfERbeta2 was slightly more sensitive than zfERalpha and zfERbeta1. Tissue distribution pattern, analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, showed that the three zfER mRNAs largely overlap and are predominantly expressed in brain, pituitary, liver, and gonads. In situ hybridization was performed to study in more detail the distribution of the three zfER mRNAs in the brain of adult females. The zfER mRNAs exhibit distinct but partially overlapping patterns of expression in two neuroendocrine regions, the preoptic area and the mediobasal hypothalamus. The characterization of these zfERs provides a new perspective for understanding the mechanisms underlying estradiol actions in a vertebrate species commonly used for developmental studies.

Molecular cloning, characterisation, and tissue distribution of oestrogen receptor alpha in eelpout (Zoarces viviparus).

A cDNA encoding the eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) oestrogen receptor alpha (eERalpha) has been isolated from eelpout liver, cloned and sequenced. The cDNA contains a complete open reading frame encoding 570 amino acid residues (mw: 63.0 kDa). The amino acid sequence of eERalpha showed a high degree of identity to ERalpha of other teleost species. The tissue distribution of eERalpha mRNA was examined using Northern blotting, RT-PCR and in situ hybridisation (ISH). All three methods identified a pronounced expression of eERalpha in liver, pituitary, testis and ovary. In the brain ISH experiments showed that ERalpha mRNA was highly expressed in distinct regions of the preoptic area and the mediobasal hypothalamus. We have provided evidence that the receptor is auto-regulated by 17beta-oestradiol (E(2)) not only in liver but also in the testis, indicating an important role for E(2) during spermatogenesis in male eelpout. RT-PCR analysis showed a broader expression pattern including significant expression in the brain, kidney, heart, and gut of adult eelpout. In eelpout embryos eERalpha expression has also been identified, indicating a possible role for the receptor in early development. This study contributes to the accumulating evidence that in fish E(2) is not only involved in the regulation of liver specific proteins, but has a much broader range of targets.