Prolactin Reduces Hippocampal Parvalbumin and GABAA Receptor Expression in Female Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Parvalbumin (PV)-positive cells are strategic elements of neuronal networks capable of influencing memory and learning processes. However, it is not known whether pituitary hormones may be related to PV expression in the hippocampus - a part of the limbic system with important functions in learning and memory. OBJECTIVE: Since previous studies indicate that prolactin (PRL) plays a significant role in hippocampal-dependent learning and synaptic plasticity, we hypothesized that a rise in PRL levels can modify PV expression in the hippocampus. METHODS: We employed biochemical, immunohistochemistry, and densitometry techniques - as well as a behavioural assay - in a hyperprolactinemia model using subcutaneous osmotic pumps in female mice. RESULTS: PRL treatment via osmotic pump induced an increase in PRL receptor (PRLR) expression in most regions of the hippocampus analysed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry methods. Fluorescent densitometry analysis revealed that PV expression decreases in the same layers in the hippocampus following PRL treatment, while double labelling immunostaining indicated close localization of PV and PRLR in PV-positive interneurons. In addition, we found that PRL induced a reduction in the ß2/3 subunit of GABAA receptor (GABAAR) expression that was linearly correlated with the reduction in PV expression. This reduction in the ß2/3 subunit of GABAAR expression was maintained in trained animals in which PRL treatment improved the learning of a spatial memory task. CONCLUSIONS: These data show, for the first time, that an increase in PRL level is associated with changes in key constituent elements of inhibitory circuits in the hippocampus and may be of relevance for the alterations in cognitive function reported in hyperprolactinemia.

Increase in serum prolactin levels in females improves the performance of spatial learning by promoting changes in the circuital dynamics of the hippocampus.

Beyond the direct physiological functions associated with motherhood in mammals, previous studies have suggested the potential role of prolactin (Prl) in distinct brain processes such as neuroprotection, neurogenesis, and stress responses. However, the cognitive influence of Prl remains unclear, particularly regarding the mechanisms of acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of information in the brain. Using chronic implanted electrodes in freely moving female mice combined with behavioral tests, we investigated the rhythmic activity changes induced by Prl in a model of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Our results show that Prl improves the learning of a spatial memory task in the acquisition stage. The main variations at the circuitry level were in the theta frequency band (4-8 Hz and 8-12 Hz), marked by a faster change in oscillatory activity with no modifications to higher frequencies. These results show that Prl plays a significant role in the acquisition of information during learning of a spatial memory task, suggesting that an increase in Prl levels may induce changes in circuital network plasticity.

Conocimientos sobre violencia de género de la población que consulta en Atención Primaria / Knowledge of gender-based violence in the population seen in Primary Care

Objetivo: Determinar conocimientos y actitudes hacia la violencia de género de la población consultante en Atención Primaria y su relación con factores sociodemográficos y experiencias personales.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo transversal.EmplazamientoCentros de Salud urbanos.ParticipantesPacientes ≥ 18 años que acuden a consulta de Atención Primaria.Mediciones principalesSe utilizó un cuestionario que incluía preguntas relativas a conocimientos, actitudes y experiencias vividas en relación con la violencia de género y en el ámbito doméstico, y que también recogía edad, sexo, nivel de estudios, estado civil y detección de experiencias personales de violencia de género mediante la versión corta del Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST).ResultadosRespondieron 673 personas, de 18-86 años, con un 68% de mujeres. Solo un 18,2% tenía un adecuado conocimiento sobre quién se considera que ejerce la violencia de género. La mitad de los participantes consideraban que la violencia de género incluía lesiones físicas, psicológicas, cohibición de libertad y violación. A través de un análisis de regresión logística se encontró una asociación independiente con el conocimiento de la respuesta correcta sobre qué es la violencia de género del estado civil, siendo menos probable en los casados con respecto a los viudos (OR: 0,28; IC 95%: 0,11-0,72) considerar que la violencia de género implica lesión física (OR: 2,55; IC 95%: 1,28-5,08), pero no lesiones psicológicas (OR: 0,52; IC 95%: 0,28-0,96), y no dar la respuesta correcta sobre qué es la violencia doméstica (OR: 0,06; IC 95%: 0,03-0,12).ConclusionesExiste una gran dispersión en las respuestas con relación a qué consideran los pacientes que es la violencia de género y qué aspectos abarca(AU)

Objective: To determine the knowledge and attitudes towards gender-based violence in the Primary Care patient population and their relationship with sociodemographic factors and personal experience.DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional study.SettingUrban Health Centres.ParticipantsPatients ≥18 years-old who were seen in a Primary Care clinic.Materials and methodA questionnaire was used that included questions associated with knowledge, attitudes and experience of gender-based violence in the domestic environment. Variables such as, age, sex, education level, marital state were recorded, as well as the detection of personal experiences of Gender-Based Violence using the short Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST).ResultsA total of 673 people, from 18- 86 years, responded, of which 68% were women. Only 18.2% had sufficient knowledge on who is considered to exercise gender-based violence. Half of the participants believed that gender-based violence included physical and psychological injuries, inhibition of freedom and rape. In the logistic regression analysis an independent relationship was found with the knowledge of the correct response on what is gender-based violence by marital state, being less likely in married people as regards widowers (OR: 0.28; CI 95%: 0.11-0.72), to consider that gender-based violence involves physical injury (OR: 2.55; CI 95%: 1.28-5.08), but not psychological injury (OR: 0.52; CI 95%: 0.28-0.96), and not giving the correct response on what is domestic violence (OR:0.06; CI 95%: 0.03-0.12).ConclusionsThere is a wide variation in the results as regards what patients believe gender-based violence is and what aspects it covers(AU)

[Knowledge of gender-based violence in the population seen in primary care]. / Conocimientos sobre violencia de género de la población que consulta en Atención Primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and attitudes towards gender-based violence in the Primary Care patient population and their relationship with sociodemographic factors and personal experience. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Urban Health Centres. PARTICIPANTS: Patients ≥18 years-old who were seen in a Primary Care clinic. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A questionnaire was used that included questions associated with knowledge, attitudes and experience of gender-based violence in the domestic environment. Variables such as, age, sex, education level, marital state were recorded, as well as the detection of personal experiences of Gender-Based Violence using the short Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). RESULTS: A total of 673 people, from 18-86 years, responded, of which 68% were women. Only 18.2% had sufficient knowledge on who is considered to exercise gender-based violence. Half of the participants believed that gender-based violence included physical and psychological injuries, inhibition of freedom and rape. In the logistic regression analysis an independent relationship was found with the knowledge of the correct response on what is gender-based violence by marital state, being less likely in married people as regards widowers (OR: 0.28; CI 95%: 0.11-0.72), to consider that gender-based violence involves physical injury (OR: 2.55; CI 95%: 1.28-5.08), but not psychological injury (OR: 0.52; CI 95%: 0.28-0.96), and not giving the correct response on what is domestic violence (OR:0.06; CI 95%: 0.03-0.12). CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in the results as regards what patients believe gender-based violence is and what aspects it covers.

Experiencias en relación con la Violencia de Género de la población que consulta en Atención Primaria / Experience in gender violence in the general population within the Primary Care setting

Objetivo. Conocer la prevalencia de violencia de género padecida por la población consultante en Atención Primaria y su relación con factores sociodemográficos y otras experiencias personales. Diseño. Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal. Emplazamiento. Centros de Salud urbanos. Participantes. Pacientes de 18 o más años que acuden a consulta de Atención Primaria. Mediciones principales. Se utilizó un cuestionario diseñado ad hoc, que incluía preguntas relativas a las experiencias vividas en relación con la violencia de género y en el ámbito doméstico, junto a la versión corta del Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). También recogía edad, sexo, nivel de estudios y estado civil, así como conocimientos y actitudes con respecto a este tema. Resultados. Respondieron al cuestionario 673 personas. De las 662 personas que respondieron a la pregunta sobre si ha sufrido algún tipo de violencia en sus relaciones sentimentales, 76 dieron una respuesta afirmativa (11,48%; IC 95%: 8,98-13,98%). Esta respuesta era más probable encontrarla en viudos y separados (p<0,00001), mientras que entre los más jóvenes predominaba el no haber sufrido violencia (p=0,01), sin diferencias para otras variables sociodemográficas. Mediante regresión logística, la edad fue la única variable asociada independiente con haber sufrido violencia de género (OR: 1,02; IC95%: 1,005-1,036). Para el test WAST se obtuvieron 560 respuestas, de las que un 12,0 % (IC95%: 9,2-14,7%) fueron positivas. La concordancia entre la respuesta a la pregunta sobre si ha sufrido algún tipo de violencia en sus relaciones sentimentales y el resultado del WAST fue muy baja (Kappa: 0,153; IC 95%: 0,038-0,243). A la pregunta “¿qué ha hecho?” (en caso de violencia en alguna relación sentimental), la respuesta más frecuente es alejarse del agresor. Hasta un 42,1% de los participantes decía conocer a alguna persona que hubiera padecido violencia de género. Conclusiones. Existe un contacto frecuente de las personas que acuden a consulta de atención primaria con la violencia de género, siendo considerable el número de personas que afirman haber sufrido maltrato (AU)

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of gender violence in the general population in the primary care setting and its association with sociodemographic factors and other personal experience. Design. Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Setting. Urban primary care centres. Participants. Patients aged 18 years or over who attended the Primary Care centre. Main measurements. An ad hoc designed questionnaire that included questions on experience of domestic violence and the short version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), were used. Sociodemographic variables and knowledge and attitudes towards gender violence were also collected. Results: A total of 673 persons responded to the questionnaires. Of the 662 subjects who answered the question on whether they had suffered any type of abuse by their partner, 75 answered affirmatively (11.48%; 95% CI: 8.98-13.98%). This response was more probable in widowed or separated subjects (p<0.00001). Amongst young people there was a predominance of not having suffered abuse (p=0.01). There were no differences regarding the other sociodemographic variables. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age was the only variable that demonstrated an independent association with having suffered gender violence (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.005 – 1.036). A total of 560 responses were obtained in the WAST questionnaire and 12.0% were positive (95% CI; 9.2 – 14.7%). Its concordance with the question on history of domestic violence was very low (Kappa: 0.153; 95% CI: 0.038-0.243). In the case of previous abuse, in answer to the question “What did you do? the most frequent response was to get away from the aggressor. Up to 42.1% said they knew someone who was a victim of gender violence. Conclusions. In the primary care setting there is frequent contact with persons suffering gender violence. There are a considerable number of persons who admit to being abused (AU)