Metabolic and Inflammatory Stimuli Impact Vascular Circulation and Cell Proliferation Processes in the Amygdala

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• The amygdala processes stimuli and coordinates responses, exhibiting sex-specific molecular and functional characteristics.
• Understanding sex-based differences in amygdala response to environmental factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the molecular responses of the female and male pig amygdala to distinct environmental stimuli.
• To identify sex-specific gene expression patterns and regulatory elements influenced by stimuli.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing was employed to profile amygdala gene expression in pigs under control, immunostimulation, and fasting conditions.
• Differential gene expression analysis and network analysis were performed to identify affected genes and regulatory elements.

Main Results:

• 958 genes were modulated by stimuli, and 504 genes showed sex-specific expression differences.
• Key pathways affected included synaptic vesicle cycle, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and apoptosis.
• Hub genes (Stx1a, Cplx1, Clam3, Myh11) and regulatory elements (SUZ12, RELA, IRF1) were identified, with sex-specific associations.

Conclusions:

• Environmental stimuli significantly impact amygdala molecular mechanisms in a sex-dependent manner.
• Genomic data provides a foundation for developing interventions to manage stimulus-induced effects on amygdala function.