Biology subjects

Bimonte-Nelson, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Bimonte-Nelson, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Differential sex-dependent responses of circulating steroid hormones and cortical gene expression in a preclinical traumatic brain injury model

Accumulating evidence supports sex differences in traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes, however the underlying processes that lead to sex differences are not well understood. TBI results in the initiation of molecular and cellular responses that facilitate the progression of neurodegeneration. Importantly, little is known about how the circulating hormone profile is altered in response to TBI, and whether sex differences in endocrine responses might shape secondary injury pathologies. Using intact male and female mice in a preclinical TBI model, we assessed changes in plasma hormone concentrations and cortical gene expression at 24 and 72 hours after TBI. We demonstrate that males and females exhibit sex-specific alterations in circulating levels of progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in response to TBI. We also identified sex differences in the expression of genes that are involved in immune responses and tissue remodeling after injury. Moreover, we report divergent circulating hormone and gene expression correlations between sexes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Estrogen Receptor Beta Localized on Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Regulates Nicotine Self-Administration Acquisition in Ovary-Intact Female Rats

Women exhibit greater nicotine use vulnerability than men. High estradiol (E2) exacerbates nicotine use outcomes in women, effects which have been modeled in preclinical nicotine self-administration (SA) studies. Nicotine SA is maintained by dopamine (DA) release from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NA). E2 exerts its effects by binding to estrogen receptors (ER), including ER, ER{beta}, and G-protein coupled ER-1 (GPER-1)s. E2 action at ERs specifically has been shown to potentiate DA neuronal excitability within the VTA. Further, we have shown that ovariectomy decreases both nicotine use during SA and VTA ER{beta} protein. Despite clear evidence of mechanistic relationships between E2, ERs, DA, and nicotine, no studies to date have functionally evaluated the specific role of ER{beta} located on VTA DA cells in driving nicotine consumption during SA in females. There are currently no tools that allow for evaluations of relationships between nicotine neurobiology and ERs with cell-type specificity, as ER{beta} is also localized on other (non-DA) cell types within the VTA. As such, the goals of the present studies were (1) to build and validate a novel adeno-associated viral construct that produces long-term knockdown of ER{beta} specifically on VTA DA neurons, and (2) to determine if VTA DA ER{beta} viral knockdown reduces nicotine SA in ovary-intact female rats. Here we show that ER{beta} regulates VTA DA neuron excitability, and that ER{beta} knockdown in VTA DA neurons reduces DA neuron firing frequency. We also show that VTA ER{beta} knockdown in DA neurons reduces nicotine SA acquisition in ovary-intact female rats. Together, our results demonstrate a critical role of ER{beta} in driving nicotine use in females, underscoring the need for future studies to evaluate neurobehavioral mechanisms of smoking through the lens of sex differences.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

17β-estradiol status alters NMDAR function and antipsychotic-like activity in female rats

Low 17{beta}-estradiol (E2) in females of reproductive age, and marked E2 decline with menopause, contributes to heightened symptom severity in schizophrenia (i.e. cognitive dysfunction) and diminished response to antipsychotic medications. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, yet impact of E2 depletion on NMDAR function is not well characterized. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), specifically gamma power, is a well-established functional readout of cortical activity that is elevated in patients with schizophrenia and is sensitive to alterations in NMDAR function. Using qEEG and touchscreen cognitive assessments, present studies investigated the effects of E2 on NMDAR function by administering MK-801 (NMDAR antagonist) to ovariectomized rats with or without E2 implants (Ovx+E and Ovx, respectively). Ovx rats were more sensitive to MK-801-induced elevations in gamma power and attentional impairments compared to Ovx+E rats. Further investigation revealed these effects were mediated by reduced synaptic GluN2A expression. Consistent with clinical reports, olanzapine (second-generation antipsychotic) was less effective in mitigating MK-801-induced elevations in gamma power in Ovx rats. Lastly, we examined antipsychotic-like activity of a Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu2/3) positive allosteric modulator (PAM), SBI-0646535, as a novel therapeutic in E2-deprived conditions. SBI-0646535 reversed MK-801-induced elevations in gamma power equally regardless of E2 status. Collectively, these studies established a relationship between E2 deprivation and NMDAR function that is in part GluN2A-dependent, supporting the notion that E2 deprivation increases susceptibility to NMDAR hypofunction. This highlights the need to examine age/hormone-specific factors when considering antipsychotic response and designing novel pharmacotherapies.

animal behavior and cognition↗