Sexually dimorphic effects of gestational endocrine-disrupting chemicals on microRNA expression in the developing rat hypothalamus

Viktoria Y. Topper, Deena M. Walker, Andrea C. Gore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined developmental changes and sexual dimorphisms in hypothalamic microRNAs, and whether gestational exposures to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) altered their expression patterns. Pregnant rat dams were treated on gestational days 16 and 18 with vehicle, estradiol benzoate, or a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls. Male and female offspring were euthanized on postnatal days (P) 15, 30, 45, or 90, and microRNA and mRNA targets were quantified in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus. MicroRNAs showed robust developmental changes in both regions, and were sexually dimorphic in the MPN, but not VMN. Importantly, microRNAs in females were up-regulated by EDCs at P30, and down-regulated in males at P90. Few changes in mRNAs were found. Thus, hypothalamic microRNAs are sensitive to prenatal EDC treatment in a sex-, developmental age-, and brain region-specific manner.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)42-52
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume414
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 5 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
  • Hypothalamus
  • Medial preoptic nucleus (MPN)
  • MicroRNA
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • Ventromedial nucleus (VMN)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sexually dimorphic effects of gestational endocrine-disrupting chemicals on microRNA expression in the developing rat hypothalamus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this