title: Testing the Critical Window Hypothesis of Timing and Duration of Estradiol Treatment on Hypothalamic Gene Networks in Reproductively Mature and Aging Female Rats.
abstract: At menopause, the dramatic loss of ovarian estradiol (E2) necessitates the adaptation of estrogen-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus to an estrogen-depleted environment. We developed a rat model to test the "critical window" hypothesis of the effects of timing and duration of E2 treatment after deprivation on the hypothalamic neuronal gene network in the arcuate nucleus and the medial preoptic area. Rats at 2 ages (reproductively mature or aging) were ovariectomized and given E2 or vehicle replacement regimes of differing timing and duration. Using a 48-gene quantitative low-density PCR array and weighted gene coexpression network analysis, we identified gene modules differentially regulated by age, timing, and duration of E2 treatment. Of particular interest, E2 status differentially affected suites of genes in the hypothalamus involved in energy balance, circadian rhythms, and reproduction. In fact, E2 status was the dominant factor in determining gene modules and hormone levels; age, timing, and duration had more subtle effects. Our results highlight the plasticity of hypothalamic neuroendocrine systems during reproductive aging and its surprising ability to adapt to diverse E2 replacement regimes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Weiling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Alexandra N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Nguyen-Vy
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Jingya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Hans A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology (W.Y., B.P., N.-V.D., J.L., A.C.G.), Departments of Integrative Biology (S.M.M., H.A.H.) and Psychology (A.N.G., A.C.G.), and Institute for Neuroscience (H.A.H., A.C.G.), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (A.W.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000187:drug effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol