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Superoxide dismutase deficiency impairs olfactory sexual signaling and alters bioenergetic function in mice.

ABSTRACT: Oxidative stress (an overproduction of reactive oxygen species in relation to defense mechanisms) may restrict investment in life history traits, such as growth, reproduction, lifespan, and the production of sexual signals to attract mates. The constraint on sexual signaling by oxidative stress is of particular interest because it has been proposed as a mechanism ensuring that only good-quality males produce the most attractive sexual signals. Despite these predictions, evidence supporting this theory is, at best, equivocal. We used a superoxide dismutase knockout mouse to demonstrate that oxidative stress directly impairs investment in morphological (preputial glands) and molecular (major urinary proteins) components of olfactory signaling essential for mate attraction. By maintaining males in a much more competitive environment than usual for mouse laboratory experiments, we also revealed a range of phenotypes of superoxide dismutase deficiency not observed in previous studies of this mouse model. This range included impaired bioenergetic function, which was undetectable in the control environment of this study. We urge further examination of model organisms in seminatural conditions and more competitive laboratory environments, as important phenotypes can be exposed under these more demanding conditions.

SUBMITTER: Garratt M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4050573 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Superoxide dismutase deficiency impairs olfactory sexual signaling and alters bioenergetic function in mice.

Garratt Michael M Pichaud Nicolas N Glaros Elias N EN Kee Anthony John AJ Brooks Robert C RC

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20140519 22

Oxidative stress (an overproduction of reactive oxygen species in relation to defense mechanisms) may restrict investment in life history traits, such as growth, reproduction, lifespan, and the production of sexual signals to attract mates. The constraint on sexual signaling by oxidative stress is of particular interest because it has been proposed as a mechanism ensuring that only good-quality males produce the most attractive sexual signals. Despite these predictions, evidence supporting this ...[more]

PMID: 24843175

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Project description:AimsIn mammals, central chemoreception plays a crucial role in the regulation of breathing function in both health and disease conditions. Recently, a correlation between high levels of superoxide anion (O2.-) in the Retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a main brain chemoreceptor area, and enhanced central chemoreception has been found in rodents. Interestingly, deficiency in superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression, a pivotal antioxidant enzyme, has been linked to the development/progression of several diseases. Despite, the contribution of SOD2 on O2.- regulation on central chemoreceptor function is unknown. Accordingly, we sought to determine the impact of partial deletion of SOD2 expression on i) O2.-accumulation in the RTN, ii) central ventilatory chemoreflex function, and iii) disordered-breathing. Finally, we study cellular localization of SOD2 in the RTN of healthy mice.MethodsCentral chemoreflex drive and breathing function were assessed in freely moving heterozygous SOD2 knockout mice (SOD2+/- mice) and age-matched control wild type (WT) mice by whole-body plethysmography. O2.- levels were determined in RTN brainstem sections and brain isolated mitochondria, while SOD2 protein expression and tissue localization were determined by immunoblot, RNAseq and immunofluorescent staining, respectively.ResultsOur results showed that SOD2+/- mice displayed reductions in SOD2 levels and high O2.- formation and mitochondrial dysfunction within the RTN compared to WT. Additionally, SOD2+/- mice displayed a heightened ventilatory response to hypercapnia and exhibited overt signs of altered breathing patterns. Both, RNAseq analysis and immunofluorescence co-localization studies showed that SOD2 expression was confined to RTN astrocytes but not to RTN chemoreceptor neurons. Finally, we found that SOD2+/- mice displayed alterations in RTN astrocyte morphology compared to RTN astrocytes from WT mice.Innovation & conclusionThese findings provide first evidence of the role of SOD2 in the regulation of O2.- levels in the RTN and its potential contribution on the regulation of central chemoreflex function. Our results suggest that reductions in the expression of SOD2 in the brain may contribute to increase O2.- levels in the RTN being the outcome a chronic surge in central chemoreflex drive and the development/maintenance of altered breathing patterns. Overall, dysregulation of SOD2 and the resulting increase in O2.- levels in brainstem respiratory areas can disrupt normal respiratory control mechanisms and contribute to breathing dysfunction seen in certain disease conditions characterized by high oxidative stress.

Dataset Information

Superoxide dismutase deficiency impairs olfactory sexual signaling and alters bioenergetic function in mice.

Publications

Superoxide dismutase deficiency impairs olfactory sexual signaling and alters bioenergetic function in mice.

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