Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression

Abstract Osteocalcin (OCN) is an endocrine hormone that signals in the periphery, regulating male fertility, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. It can also cross the blood-brain-barrier and act on the brain via receptors GPR37 and GPR158. In the brain, OCN influences neurotransmitter synthe...

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Main Authors: Natalia K. Freus, Isabel Wank, Maximilian Häfele, Liubov S. Kalinichenko, Christian P. Müller, Sandra Strobelt, Andreas Ludwig, Andreas Hess, Silke Kreitz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95000-2
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author Natalia K. Freus
Isabel Wank
Maximilian Häfele
Liubov S. Kalinichenko
Christian P. Müller
Sandra Strobelt
Andreas Ludwig
Andreas Hess
Silke Kreitz
author_facet Natalia K. Freus
Isabel Wank
Maximilian Häfele
Liubov S. Kalinichenko
Christian P. Müller
Sandra Strobelt
Andreas Ludwig
Andreas Hess
Silke Kreitz
author_sort Natalia K. Freus
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Osteocalcin (OCN) is an endocrine hormone that signals in the periphery, regulating male fertility, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. It can also cross the blood-brain-barrier and act on the brain via receptors GPR37 and GPR158. In the brain, OCN influences neurotransmitter synthesis of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. OCN’s function is related to cognitive and memory performance and lack of OCN is associated with anxiety and depression-like behavior in mice. We used multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including pharmacological MRI and resting state functional MRI, along with gene expression data for Gpr37 and Gpr158 to investigate the physiological effects of intravenously administered OCN on the wild type mouse brain. We found four core brain regions (brainstem, limbic output, association cortex, and basal ganglia) that are highly relevant in all three analytical modalities (i.e. pharmacological, resting state MRI and gene expression) and play therefore a major role in mediating OCN’s effect in the brain. This study provides the first imaging data of the physiological impact of OCN on the mouse brain, suggesting its potential role in modulating brain function and its relevance as a candidate for further investigation in anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments.
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spelling doaj-art-17d050635a034e23a04427f07d0297552025-08-20T02:49:32ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-95000-2Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expressionNatalia K. Freus0Isabel Wank1Maximilian Häfele2Liubov S. Kalinichenko3Christian P. Müller4Sandra Strobelt5Andreas Ludwig6Andreas Hess7Silke Kreitz8Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-NurembergAbstract Osteocalcin (OCN) is an endocrine hormone that signals in the periphery, regulating male fertility, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. It can also cross the blood-brain-barrier and act on the brain via receptors GPR37 and GPR158. In the brain, OCN influences neurotransmitter synthesis of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. OCN’s function is related to cognitive and memory performance and lack of OCN is associated with anxiety and depression-like behavior in mice. We used multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including pharmacological MRI and resting state functional MRI, along with gene expression data for Gpr37 and Gpr158 to investigate the physiological effects of intravenously administered OCN on the wild type mouse brain. We found four core brain regions (brainstem, limbic output, association cortex, and basal ganglia) that are highly relevant in all three analytical modalities (i.e. pharmacological, resting state MRI and gene expression) and play therefore a major role in mediating OCN’s effect in the brain. This study provides the first imaging data of the physiological impact of OCN on the mouse brain, suggesting its potential role in modulating brain function and its relevance as a candidate for further investigation in anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95000-2OsteocalcinMouse fMRIFunctional connectivityrCBVDepressionAllen brain atlas
spellingShingle Natalia K. Freus
Isabel Wank
Maximilian Häfele
Liubov S. Kalinichenko
Christian P. Müller
Sandra Strobelt
Andreas Ludwig
Andreas Hess
Silke Kreitz
Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
Scientific Reports
Osteocalcin
Mouse fMRI
Functional connectivity
rCBV
Depression
Allen brain atlas
title Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
title_full Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
title_fullStr Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
title_short Pharmacological and resting state fMRI reveal Osteocalcin’s effects on mouse brain regions with high Gpr37 and Gpr158 expression
title_sort pharmacological and resting state fmri reveal osteocalcin s effects on mouse brain regions with high gpr37 and gpr158 expression
topic Osteocalcin
Mouse fMRI
Functional connectivity
rCBV
Depression
Allen brain atlas
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95000-2
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