title: Peripubertal ovariectomy influences thymic adrenergic network plasticity in adult rats.
abstract: The study investigated the influence of peripubertal ovariectomy on the thymic noradrenaline (NA) concentration, and the thymocyte NA content and β2- and α1-adrenoceptor (AR) expression in adult 2- and 11-month-old rats. In control rats, the thymic NA concentration increased with age. This increase reflected rise in the density of catecholamine (CA)-containing fluorescent nerve fibers and cells and their CA content. Additionally, the average β2- and α1-AR thymocyte surface density changed in the opposite direction with age; the density of β2-AR decreased, whereas that of α1-AR increased. Ovariectomy diminished the thymic NA concentration in 2-month-old rats. This reflected the decrease in the density of fluorescent nerve fibers, and CA content in fluorescent nerve fibers and non-lymphoid cells, since the thymocyte NA content was increased in ovariectomized (Ox) rats. Estrogen supplementation prevented the ovariectomy-induced changes. In Ox rats, the density of CA-synthesizing nerve fibers and non-lymphoid cells diminished with age. To the contrary, NA content in thymocytes increased with age, but it did not exceed that in 11-month-old controls. Additionally, ovariectomy diminished the average thymocyte surface density of β2-ARs, but it increased that of α1-ARs in 2-month-old-rats (due to estrogen, and estrogen and progesterone deficiency, respectively). These changes, despite of the rise in circulating estrogen level post-ovariectomy, remained stable with age. This most likely reflected a decreased sensitivity to estrogen action, as a consequence of the hormone misprinting in peripubertal age. The analysis of thymocyte proliferation in culture suggested that age- and ovariectomy-induced alterations in thymocyte NA synthesis and AR expression altered NA autocrine/paracrine action on thymocytes. In conclusion, the study indicates that the ovarian hormone deficiency in peripubertal age affects ovarian steroid-dependent remodeling of thymic adrenergic regulatory network in adult rats.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pilipović
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vujnović
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nevena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arsenović-Ranin
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimitrijević
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Duško
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kosec
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stojić-Vukanić
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: Gordana.Leposavic@pharmacy.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leposavić
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D054770:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D054770:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3; C517851:Grk3 protein, rat; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: Noradrenaline; Peripubertal ovariectomy; Thymus; α(1)-Adrenoceptors; β(2)-Adrenoceptors