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Sadighi M, Mai L, Xu Y, Boillot M, Targa G, Mottarlini F, Brambilla P, Gass P, Caffino L, Fumagalli F, Homberg JR. Chronic exposure to imipramine induces a switch from depression-like to mania-like behavior in female serotonin transporter knockout rats: Role of BDNF signaling in the infralimbic cortex. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:128-142. [PMID: 38280571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly burdensome psychiatric disorder characterized by alternating states of mania and depression. A major challenge in the clinic is the switch from depression to mania, which is often observed in female BD patients during antidepressant treatment such as imipramine. However, the underlying neural basis is unclear. METHODS To investigate the potential neuronal pathways, serotonin transporter knockout (SERT KO) rats, an experimental model of female BD patients, were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests under chronic treatment of the antidepressant imipramine. In addition, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its downstream signaling was examined in the prefrontal cortex. RESULTS Chronic exposure to imipramine reduced anxiety and sociability and problem-solving capacity, and increased thigmotaxis and day/night activity in all animals, but specifically in female SERT KO rats, compared to female wild-type (WT) rats. Further, we found an activation of BDNF-TrkB-Akt pathway signaling in the infralimbic, but not prelimbic, cortex after chronic imipramine treatment in SERT KO, but not WT, rats. LIMITATIONS Repeated testing behaviors could potentially affect the results. Additionally, the imipramine induced changes in behavior and in the BDNF system were measured in separate animals. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that female SERT KO rats, which mirror the female BD patients with the 5-HTTLPR s-allele, are at higher risk of a switch to mania-like behaviors under imipramine treatment. Activation of the BDNF-TrkB-Akt pathway in the infralimbic cortex might contribute to this phenotype, but causal evidence remains to be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Sadighi
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Lingling Mai
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Morgane Boillot
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Giorgia Targa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Liu R, Zhang T, Bai C, Chen J, Zhang X, Liu G, Shen S, Yuan J, Lu Z. Microbial bionic nano-aromatic drugs for prevention of depression induced by chronic stress. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:173. [PMID: 38609944 PMCID: PMC11015588 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02382-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression is a mood disorder mainly clinically characterized by significant and persistent low spirits. Chronic stress is the leading cause of depression. However, traditional medicine has severe side effects in treating depression, ineffective treatment, and easy recurrence. Therefore, it is of great significance to prevent depression in the environment of chronic stress. In this study, aromatherapy was used for the prevention of depression. To solve the defects of intense volatility and inconvenience in using essential oils, we designed bionic nano-aromatic drugs and adhered them to the wallpaper. Inspired by the moldy wallpaper, we successively prepared the morphology-bionic nano-aromatic drugs, the function-bionic nano-aromatic drugs, and the bionic plus nano-aromatic drugs by referring to the morphology of microorganisms and substances in bacterial biofilms. Bionic nano-aromatic drugs remarkably promoted their adhesion on wallpaper. Molecular dynamics simulation explored its molecular mechanism. The essential oils, which were slowly released from the bionic nano-aromatic drugs, showed excellent biosecurity and depression prevention. These sustainedly released essential oils could significantly increase monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain under a chronic stress environment and had excellent neuroprotection. Besides, the bionic nano-aromatic drugs with simple preparation process and low cost had excellent application potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyuan Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Heze University, Heze, 274015, PR China
| | - Tianlu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
| | - Chaobo Bai
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, PR China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
| | - Guiying Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, 100029, PR China.
| | - Songjie Shen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China.
| | - Junliang Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, PR China.
| | - Zhiguo Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
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Farias CP, Leite AKO, Schmidt BE, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Wyse ATS. The 5-HT2A, 5-HT5A, and 5-HT6 serotonergic receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex behave differently in extinction learning: Does social support play a role? Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114922. [PMID: 38408524 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Studies on the social modulation of fear have revealed that in social species, individuals in a distressed state show better recovery from aversive experiences when accompanied - referred to as social buffering. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown, hindering the understanding of such an approach. Our previous data showed that the presence of a conspecific during the extinction task inhibited the retrieval of fear memory without affecting the extinction memory in the retention test. Here, we investigate the role of serotonergic receptors (5-HTRs), specifically 5-HT2A, 5-HT5A, and 5-HT6 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), In the retention of extinction after the extinction task, in the absence or presence of social support. Extinction training was conducted on 60-day-old male Wistar rats either alone or with a conspecific (a familiar cagemate, non-fearful). The antagonists for these receptors were administered directly into the mPFC immediately after the extinction training. The results indicate that blocking 5-HT5A (SB-699551-10 μg/side) and 5-HT6 (SB-271046A - 10 μg/side) receptors in the mPFC impairs the consolidation of CFC in the social support group. Interestingly, blocking 5-HT2A receptors (R65777 - 4 μg/side) in the mPFC led to impaired CFC specifically in the group undergoing extinction training alone. These findings contribute to a better understanding of brain mechanisms and neuromodulation associated with social support during an extinction protocol. They are consistent with previously published research, suggesting that the extinction of contextual fear conditioning with social support involves distinct neuromodulatory processes compared to when extinction training is conducted alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Penha Farias
- Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience, PGNET, National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse´s Lab), Brazil
| | - Ana Karla Oliveira Leite
- Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience, PGNET, National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse´s Lab), Brazil
| | - Bianca Estefani Schmidt
- Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience, PGNET, National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse´s Lab), Brazil
| | - Jociane de Carvalho Myskiw
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil
| | - Angela T S Wyse
- Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience, PGNET, National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Neuroprotection and Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory (Wyse´s Lab), Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Sun M, Brivio P, Shan L, Docq S, Heltzel LCMW, Smits CAJ, Middelman A, Vrooman R, Spoelder M, Verheij MMM, Buitelaar JK, Boillot M, Calabrese F, Homberg JR, Hanswijk SI. Offspring's own serotonin transporter genotype, independently from the maternal one, increases anxiety- and depression-like behavior and alters neuroplasticity markers in rats. J Affect Disord 2024; 350:89-101. [PMID: 38220097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Developmental changes due to early life variations in the serotonin system affect stress-related behavior and neuroplasticity in adulthood. These outcomes can be caused both by offspring's own and maternal serotonergic genotype. We aimed to dissociate the contribution of the own genotype from the influences of mother genotype. METHODS Sixty-six male homozygous (5-HTT-/-) and heterozygous (5-HTT+/-) serotonin transporter knockout and wild-type rats from constant 5-HTT genotype mothers crossed with varying 5-HTT genotype fathers were subjected to tests assessing anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Additionally, we measured plasma corticosterone levels and mRNA levels of BDNF, GABA system and HPA-axis components in the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex. Finally, we assessed the effect of paternal 5-HTT genotype on these measurements in 5-HTT+/- offspring receiving their knockout allele from their mother or father. RESULTS 5-HTT-/- offspring exhibited increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and sucrose preference test. Furthermore, Bdnf isoform VI expression was reduced in the prelimbic cortex. Bdnf isoform IV and GABA related gene expression was also altered but did not survive false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Finally, 5-HTT+/- offspring from 5-HTT-/- fathers displayed higher levels of anxiety- and depression-like behavior and changes in GABA, BDNF and HPA-axis related gene expression not surviving FDR correction. LIMITATIONS Only male offspring was tested. CONCLUSIONS Offspring's own 5-HTT genotype influences stress-related behaviors and Bdnf isoform VI expression, independently of maternal 5-HTT genotype. Paternal 5-HTT genotype separately influenced these outcomes. These findings advance our understanding of the 5-HTT genotype dependent susceptibility to stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghan Sun
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ling Shan
- Department Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Docq
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa C M W Heltzel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Celine A J Smits
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Anthonieke Middelman
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Vrooman
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Marcia Spoelder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands; Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Michel M M Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Morgane Boillot
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands.
| | - Sabrina I Hanswijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, the Netherlands
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Bremshey S, Groß J, Renken K, Masseck OA. The role of serotonin in depression-A historical roundup and future directions. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38477031 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide, affecting approximately 280 million people, with probably much higher unrecorded cases. Depression is associated with symptoms such as anhedonia, feelings of hopelessness, sleep disturbances, and even suicidal thoughts. Tragically, more than 700 000 people commit suicide each year. Although depression has been studied for many decades, the exact mechanisms that lead to depression are still unknown, and available treatments only help a fraction of patients. In the late 1960s, the serotonin hypothesis was published, suggesting that serotonin is the key player in depressive disorders. However, this hypothesis is being increasingly doubted as there is evidence for the influence of other neurotransmitters, such as noradrenaline, glutamate, and dopamine, as well as larger systemic causes such as altered activity in the limbic network or inflammatory processes. In this narrative review, we aim to contribute to the ongoing debate on the involvement of serotonin in depression. We will review the evolution of antidepressant treatments, systemic research on depression over the years, and future research applications that will help to bridge the gap between systemic research and neurotransmitter dynamics using biosensors. These new tools in combination with systemic applications, will in the future provide a deeper understanding of the serotonergic dynamics in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Bremshey
- Synthetic Biology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Neuropharmacology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Juliana Groß
- Synthetic Biology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Kim Renken
- Synthetic Biology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Bright Y, Maas DA, Verheij MM, Paladini MS, Amatdjais-Groenen HI, Molteni R, Riva MA, Martens GJ, Homberg JR. The Natural Protoalkaloid Methyl-2-Amino-3-Methoxybenzoate (MAM) Alleviates Positive as well as Cognitive Symptoms in Rat and Mouse Schizophrenia Models. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:323-338. [PMID: 37475559 PMCID: PMC10788887 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230720122354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new antipsychotics with pro-cognitive properties and less side effects represents a priority in schizophrenia drug research. In this study, we present for the first time a preclinical exploration of the effects of the promising natural atypical antipsychotic Methyl-2-Amino-3- Methoxybenzoate (MAM), a brain-penetrable protoalkaloid from the seed of the plant Nigella damascena. Using animal models related to hyperdopaminergic activity, namely the pharmacogenetic apomorphine (D2/D1 receptor agonist)-susceptible (APO-SUS) rat model and pharmacologically induced mouse and rat models of schizophrenia, we found that MAM reduced gnawing stereotypy and climbing behaviours induced by dopaminergic agents. This predicts antipsychotic activity. In line, MAM antagonized apomorphine-induced c-Fos and NPAS4 mRNA levels in post-mortem brain nucleus accumbens and dorsolateral striatum of APO-SUS rats. Furthermore, phencyclidine (PCP, an NMDA receptor antagonist) and 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, a 5HT2A/2C receptor agonist) induced prepulse inhibition deficits, reflecting the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, which were rescued by treatment with MAM and atypical antipsychotics alike. Post-mortem brain immunostaining revealed that MAM blocked the strong activation of both PCP- and DOI-induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in a number of cortical areas. Finally, during a 28-day subchronic treatment regime, MAM did not induce weight gain, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia or hepato- and nephrotoxic effects, side effects known to be induced by atypical antipsychotics. MAM also did not show any cataleptic effects. In conclusion, its brain penetrability, the apparent absence of preclinical side effects, and its ability to antagonize positive and cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia make MAM an exciting new antipsychotic drug that deserves clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yami Bright
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dorien A. Maas
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Faculty of Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel M.M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria S. Paladini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Altos Labs Bay Area Institute of Science, Altos Labs, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA
| | | | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A. Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gerard J.M. Martens
- Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Faculty of Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Frasier RM, De Oliveira Sergio T, Starski PA, Grippo AJ, Hopf FW. Heart rate variability measures indicating sex differences in autonomic regulation during anxiety-like behavior in rats. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1244389. [PMID: 38025424 PMCID: PMC10644002 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mental health conditions remain a substantial and costly challenge to society, especially in women since they have nearly twice the prevalence of anxiety disorders. However, critical mechanisms underlying sex differences remain incompletely understood. Measures of cardiac function, including heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), reflect balance between sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) systems and are potential biomarkers for pathological states. Methods To better understand sex differences in anxiety-related autonomic mechanisms, we examined HR/HRV telemetry in food-restricted adult rats during novelty suppression of feeding (NSF), with conflict between food under bright light in the arena center. To assess HRV, we calculated the SDNN (reflective of both SNS and PNS contribution) and rMSSD (reflective of PNS contribution) and compared these metrics to behaviors within the anxiety task. Results Females had greater HR and lower SNS indicators at baseline, as in humans. Further, females (but not males) with higher basal HR carried this state into NSF, delaying first approach to center. In contrast, males with lower SNS measures approached and spent more time in the brightly-lit center. Further, females with lower SNS indicators consumed significantly more food. In males, a high-SNS subpopulation consumed no food. Among consumers, males with greater SNS ate more food. Discussion Together, these are congruent with human findings suggesting women engage PNS more, and men SNS more. Our previous behavior-only work also observed female differences from males during initial movement and food intake. Thus, high basal SNS in females reduced behavior early in NSF, while subsequent reduced SNS allowed greater food intake. In males, lower SNS increased engagement with arena center, but greater SNS predicted higher consumption. Our findings show novel and likely clinically relevant sex differences in HRV-behavior relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | | | - Phillip A. Starski
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States
| | - F. Woodward Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. Anxiety and ethanol consumption in socially defeated mice; effect of hippocampal serotonin transporter knockdown. Behav Brain Res 2023; 451:114508. [PMID: 37244437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The comorbidity of generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) with alcohol use disorders (AUD) is common and there is an association between the serotonin transporter (SERT) genetic variation and the comorbid conditions of GAD and AUD. However, few mechanistic studies have systematically explored the role of direct SERT manipulation in stress-elicited mood disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether reductions in SERT expression in the hippocampus were sufficient to ameliorate anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in socially defeated mice. Following stress exposure, and using stereotaxic surgery, SERT was knocked down using specific shRNA-expressing lentiviral vectors and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by open-field, elevated plus maze, and marbles burying test. The two-bottle choice (TBC) drinking paradigm was used to assess stress-induced voluntary ethanol intake and preference. Results showed that hippocampal SERT loss-of-function prevented stress-elicited anxiogenic-like effects with no differences in spontaneous locomotor activity. Moreover, in the TBC paradigm, SERT shRNA-injected mice consistently showed a significantly decreased consumption and preference for ethanol when compared to Mock-injected controls. In contrast to ethanol, SERT shRNA-injected mice exhibited similar consumption and preference for saccharin and quinine. Interestingly, we confirmed that SERT hippocampal mRNA expression correlated with measures of anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors by Pearson correlation analysis. Our findings show that social defeat recruits hippocampal serotoninergic system and that these neuroadaptations mediate the heightened anxiety-like behavior and voluntary alcohol intake observed following stress exposure, suggesting that this system represents a major brain stress element responsible for the negative reinforcement associated with the "dark side" of alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE; Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Jean-Luc Dreyer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Shi Q, Yang H, Chen Y, Zheng N, Li X, Wang X, Ding W, Zhang B. Developmental Neurotoxicity of Trichlorfon in Zebrafish Larvae. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11099. [PMID: 37446277 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichlorfon is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in aquaculture and has potential neurotoxicity, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to trichlorfon at concentrations (0, 0.1, 2 and 5 mg/L) used in aquaculture from 2 to 144 h post fertilization. Trichlorfon exposure reduced the survival rate, hatching rate, heartbeat and body length and increased the malformation rate of zebrafish larvae. The locomotor activity of larvae was significantly reduced. The results of molecular docking revealed that trichlorfon could bind to acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Furthermore, trichlorfon significantly inhibited AChE activity, accompanied by decreased acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin content in larvae. The transcription patterns of genes related to acetylcholine (e.g., ache, chrna7, chata, hact and vacht), dopamine (e.g., drd4a and drd4b) and serotonin systems (e.g., tph1, tph2, tphr, serta, sertb, htrlaa and htrlab) were consistent with the changes in acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin content and AChE activity. The genes related to the central nervous system (CNS) (e.g., a1-tubulin, mbp, syn2a, shha and gap-43) were downregulated. Our results indicate that the developmental neurotoxicity of trichlorfon might be attributed to disorders of cholinergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling and the development of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Shi
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Huaran Yang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Yangli Chen
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Na Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xianfeng Wang
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Weikai Ding
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Bangjun Zhang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology and Health Protection, College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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10
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Shoji H, Ikeda K, Miyakawa T. Behavioral phenotype, intestinal microbiome, and brain neuronal activity of male serotonin transporter knockout mice. Mol Brain 2023; 16:32. [PMID: 36991468 PMCID: PMC10061809 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. Mice genetically deficient in 5-HTT expression have been used to study the physiological functions of 5-HTT in the brain and have been proposed as a potential animal model for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between the gut-brain axis and mood disorders. However, the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on gut microbiota, brain function, and behavior remain to be fully characterized. Here we investigated the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on different types of behavior, the gut microbiome, and brain c-Fos expression as a marker of neuronal activation in response to the forced swim test for assessing depression-related behavior in male 5-HTT knockout mice. Behavioral analysis using a battery of 16 different tests showed that 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited markedly reduced locomotor activity, decreased pain sensitivity, reduced motor function, increased anxiety-like and depression-related behavior, altered social behavior in novel and familiar environments, normal working memory, enhanced spatial reference memory, and impaired fear memory compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. 5-HTT+/- mice showed slightly reduced locomotor activity and impaired social behavior compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that 5-HTT-/- mice had altered gut microbiota abundances, such as a decrease in Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Turicibacter, compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. This study also showed that after exposure to the forced swim test, the number of c-Fos-positive cells was higher in the paraventricular thalamus and lateral hypothalamus and was lower in the prefrontal cortical regions, nucleus accumbens shell, dorsolateral septal nucleus, hippocampal regions, and ventromedial hypothalamus in 5-HTT-/- mice than in 5-HTT+/+ mice. These phenotypes of 5-HTT-/- mice partially recapitulate clinical observations in humans with major depressive disorder. The present findings indicate that 5-HTT-deficient mice serve as a good and valid animal model to study anxiety and depression with altered gut microbial composition and abnormal neuronal activity in the brain, highlighting the importance of 5-HTT in brain function and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Shoji
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan.
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11
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Zhang Y, Huang CC, Zhao J, Liu Y, Xia M, Wang X, Wei D, Chen Y, Liu B, Zheng Y, Wu Y, Chen T, Cheng Y, Xu X, Gong Q, Si T, Qiu S, Cheng J, Tang Y, Wang F, Qiu J, Xie P, Li L, He Y, Lin CP, Zac Lo CY. Resting-state functional connectivity of the raphe nuclei in major depressive Disorder: A Multi-site study. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103359. [PMID: 36878150 PMCID: PMC9999207 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence showed that major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by a dysfunction of serotonin neurotransmission. Raphe nuclei are the sources of most serotonergic neurons that project throughout the brain. Incorporating measurements of activity within the raphe nuclei into the analysis of connectivity characteristics may contribute to understanding how neurotransmitter synthesized centers are involved in thepathogenesisof MDD. Here, we analyzed the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) dataset from 1,148 MDD patients and 1,079 healthy individuals recruited across nine centers. A seed-based analysis with the dorsal raphe and median raphe nuclei was performed to explore the functional connectivity (FC) alterations. Compared to controls, for dorsal raphe, the significantly decreased FC linking with the right precuneus and median cingulate cortex were found; for median raphe, the increased FC linking with right superior cerebellum (lobules V/VI) was found in MDD patients. In further exploratory analyzes, MDD-related connectivity alterations in dorsal and median raphe nuclei in different clinical factors remained highly similar to the main findings, indicating these abnormal connectivities are a disease-related alteration. Our study highlights a functional dysconnection pattern of raphe nuclei in MDD with multi-site big data. These findings help improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and provide evidence of the theoretical foundation for the development of novel pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jiajia Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bangshan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanting Zheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yankun Wu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Taolin Chen
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiufeng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Tianmei Si
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shijun Qiu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanqing Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingjiang Li
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | | | - Chun-Yi Zac Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan.
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12
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Hussain S, Lesscher HMD, Day DJ, Ellenbroek BA. Genetics and epigenetics: paternal adolescent ethanol consumption in serotonin transporter knock-out rats and offspring sensitivity to ethanol. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3145-3159. [PMID: 35939082 PMCID: PMC9481507 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is shown to have an overall heritability of around 50%. One of the genes associated with AUD is SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6 member A4) which codes for the serotonin transporter (SERT). The study looked at serotonin dysfunction on ethanol consumption in adolescents and the subsequent intergenerational effects of drinking by using a rat model: SERT+/+ (regular functioning), SERT+/- (50% transporter reduction) and SERT-/- (complete reduction). OBJECTIVES We investigated sex and genotype differences in ethanol consumption in SERT knock-out Wistar rats (F0) followed by studying behaviour in the offspring (F1) of the male drinkers to assess effects of paternal alcohol consumption. METHODS An intermittent access two-bottle choice paradigm (IA2BC) was used to yield ethanol drinking behaviour in F0 adolescent Wistar rats. The highest drinking males were mated to alcohol-naive females and their offspring were compared with controls. Drinking behaviour (IA2BC) and ethanol-induced motor coordination effects (via rotarod) were measured in the F1s. RESULTS F0 drinking saw no SERT genotype differences in males. However, females consumed higher volumes of ethanol compared to males, with SERT-/- females showing the highest intake. A clearer genotype effect was seen in the F1 animals, with reduction in SERT activity leading to enhanced ethanol intake in both sexes. Importantly, paternal exposure to ethanol significantly reduced the ethanol induced motor side effects in offspring, independent of sex and genotype. CONCLUSIONS These indicate a difference in the way genetic factors may act across sexes and suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the intergenerational effects of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahir Hussain
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Heidi M D Lesscher
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Darren J Day
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, 6104, Wellington, New Zealand.
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13
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Abraham M, Mundorf A, Brodmann K, Freund N. Unraveling the mystery of white matter in depression: A translational perspective on recent advances. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2629. [PMID: 35652161 PMCID: PMC9304855 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous cortical and subcortical structures have been studied extensively concerning alterations of their integrity as well as their neurotransmitters in depression. However, connections between these structures have received considerably less attention. OBJECTIVE This systematic review presents results from recent neuroimaging as well as neuropathologic studies conducted on humans and other mammals. It aims to provide evidence for impaired white matter integrity in individuals expressing a depressive phenotype. METHODS A systematic database search in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to identify imaging and postmortem studies conducted on humans with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, as well as on rodents and primates subjected to an animal model of depression. RESULTS Alterations are especially apparent in frontal gyri, as well as in structures establishing interhemispheric connectivity between frontal regions. Translational neuropathological findings point to alterations in oligodendrocyte density and morphology, as well as to alterations in the expression of genes related to myelin synthesis. An important role of early life adversities in the development of depressive symptoms and white matter alterations across species is thereby revealed. Data indicating that stress can interfere with physiological myelination patterns is presented. Altered myelination is most notably present in regions that are subject to maturation during the developmental stage of exposure to adversities. CONCLUSION Translational studies point to replicable alterations in white matter integrity in subjects suffering from depression across multiple species. Impaired white matter integrity is apparent in imaging as well as neuropathological studies. Future studies should focus on determining to what extent influencing white matter integrity is able to improve symptoms of depression in animals as well as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mate Abraham
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Annakarina Mundorf
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Institute for Systems Medicine and Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katja Brodmann
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nadja Freund
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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14
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Bosch K, Sbrini G, Burattini I, Nieuwenhuis D, Calabrese F, Schubert D, Henckens MJAG, Homberg JR. Repeated testing modulates chronic unpredictable mild stress effects in male rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 432:113960. [PMID: 35697177 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a highly prevalent, debilitating mental disorder. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) is the most widely applied model to study this affliction in rodents. While studies incorporating CUMS prior to an intervention often require long-lasting stress effects that persist after exposure is ceased, the longevity of these effects is rarely studied. Additionally, it is unclear whether behavioural assessments can be performed before and after interventions without repeated testing effects. In rats, we investigated CUMS effects on components of depressive-like behaviour both acutely after stress cessation and after a recovery period, as well as effects of repeated testing. We observed acute disruptions of the circadian locomotor rhythm and a reduced sucrose preference immediately after CUMS exposure. While circadian locomotor rhythm effects persisted up until four weeks after stress cessation, independently of repeated testing, sucrose preference effects did not. Interestingly, CUMS animals tested once after a recovery period of four weeks showed reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the open field and elevated plus maze compared to their control group and repeatedly-tested CUMS animals. These findings suggest that distinct CUMS-induced components of depressive-like behaviour are affected differentially by recovery time and repeated testing; these aspects should be considered carefully in future study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Bosch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Burattini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Desirée Nieuwenhuis
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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15
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Bralet MC, Mitelman SA, Goodman CR, Lincoln S, Hazlett EA, Buchsbaum MS. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans in patients with alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:994-1010. [PMID: 35451074 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diminished uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been observed in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) but little statistical contrast of the regional brain deficits has been undertaken. This study examined prefrontal cortex inter-regional Brodmann area differences to delineate patterns associated with behavioral, neurotransmitter, and general toxicity hypotheses of cerebral involvement in AUD. METHODS We obtained data from FDG positron emission tomography (PET) and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for 87 patients with AUD and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Patients were alcohol dependent and had negative breathalyzer tests at the time of imaging. They were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, Alcohol Urge Questionnaire, Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Scale, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and the Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC). PET images were co-registered to MRI and both voxel × voxel statistical mapping and stereotaxic regions of interest were obtained. RESULTS Compared with healthy volunteers, patients with AUD had lower relative metabolic rates in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, localizable most prominently to the dorsolateral and nearly all orbital prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule. In contrast, metabolic rates in the medial orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, and the subcortical structures (thalamus, cerebellum, ventral striatum, and the dorsal raphe nucleus) in patients were significantly greater. The severity of alcohol-related consequences as assessed by the DrInC scale was most highly associated with lower metabolism in the caudate, dorsolateral prefrontal, frontopolar, and anteroposterior cingulate cortex. CONCLUSIONS Despite widespread metabolic abnormalities, decreases in AUD were most marked in frontal executive areas, consistent with diminished impulse control, and increases were most prominent in the striatum and cingulate areas, consistent with a suppressed reward system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Cécile Bralet
- Crisalid Unit (FJ5), CHI Clermont de l'Oise, Clermont, France.,Inserm Unit U669, Maison de Solenn, Universities Paris, Paris, France.,GDR 3557 Recherche Psychiatrie, Paris, France
| | - Serge A Mitelman
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Elmhurst, New York, USA
| | - Chelain R Goodman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha Lincoln
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Erin A Hazlett
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 2), James J. Peters VAMC, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Monte S Buchsbaum
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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16
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Pitzer C, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A. Sex Differences in Depression-Like Behaviors in Adult Mice Depend on Endophenotype and Strain. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:838122. [PMID: 35368297 PMCID: PMC8969904 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.838122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression affects women nearly twice as frequently as men. In contrast, rodent models of depression have shown inconsistent results regarding sex bias, often reporting more depression-like behaviors in males. This sex discrepancy in rodents modeling depression may rely on differences in the baseline activity of males and females in depression-related behavioral tests. We previously showed that the baseline despair and anhedonia behaviors, major endophenotypes of depression, are not sex biased in young adolescent wild-type mice of C57BL/6N, DBA/2, and FVB/N strains. Since the prevalence of depression in women peaks in their reproductive years, we here investigated sex differences of the baseline depression-like behaviors in adult mice using these three strains. Similar to the results in young mice, no difference was found between adult male and female mice in behavioral tests measuring despair in both tail suspension and forced swim tests, and anhedonia in the sucrose preference test. We then extended our study and tested apathy, another endophenotype of depression, using the splash test. Adult male and female mice showed significantly different results in the baseline apathy-like behaviors depending on the investigated strain. This study dissects the complex sex effects of different depression endophenotypes, stresses the importance of considering strain, and puts forward a hypothesis of the inconsistency of results between different laboratories investigating rodent models of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Claudia Pitzer,
| | - Barbara Kurpiers
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Eltokhi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Ahmed Eltokhi,
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17
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Quadir SG, Arleth GM, Jahad JV, Echeveste Sanchez M, Effinger DP, Herman MA. Sex differences in affective states and association with voluntary ethanol intake in Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:589-604. [PMID: 35044485 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are a major problem across the USA. While AUD remains a complex human condition, it is difficult to isolate the directionality of anxiety and ethanol (EtOH) drinking from outside influences. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between affective states and EtOH intake using male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Using complementary tests of anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, we found sex- and test-specific differences in basal affective behavior such that females displayed enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the splash test and males displayed enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the novelty-suppressed feeding test. Although, there were no sex differences in EtOH intake and no correlation between baseline anxiety-like behavior and subsequent EtOH intake, we did find that depressive-like behavior predicted future EtOH intake in female rats only. In addition, we observed an increase in depressive-like behavior is male rats in both the water and EtOH drinking groups (compared to baseline levels). Furthermore, post-drinking anxiety-like behavior, but not depressive-like behavior predicted subsequent EtOH intake in female rats. Lastly, we found a history of EtOH intake decreased pain thresholds in male and female rats, but increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior was associated with decreased thermal sensitivity only in EtOH-drinking males. Together, these experiments provide important information on the complex interaction between negative affect and EtOH intake and how these two contexts reciprocally do, or do not, influence each other in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Quadir
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - G M Arleth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - J V Jahad
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - M Echeveste Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - D P Effinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - M A Herman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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18
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Thorne BN, Ellenbroek BA, Day DJ. The serotonin reuptake transporter modulates mitochondrial copy number and mitochondrial respiratory complex gene expression in the frontal cortex and cerebellum in a sexually dimorphic manner. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:869-879. [PMID: 35043462 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex conditions attributed to both genetic and environmental factors. There is a growing body of evidence showing that serotonergic signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the pathophysiology of these disorders and are linked as signaling through specific serotonin (5-HT) receptors drives mitochondrial biogenesis. The serotonin transporter (SERT) is important in these disorders as it regulates synaptic serotonin and therapeutically is the target of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors which are a major class of anti-depressant drug. Human allelic variants of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) such as the S/S variant, are associated with reduced SERT expression and increased susceptibility for developing neuropsychiatric disorders. Using a rat model that is haploinsufficient for SERT and displays reduced SERT expression similar to the human S/S variant, we demonstrate that reduced SERT expression modulates mitochondrial copy number and expression of respiratory chain electron transfer components in the brain. In the frontal cortex, genotype-related trends were opposing for males and females, such that reduced SERT expression led to increased expression of the Complex I subunit mt-Nd1 in males but reduced expression in females. Our findings suggest that SERT expression and serotonergic signaling have a role in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the brain. We speculate that the sexual dimorphism in mitochondrial abundance and gene expression contributes to the sex bias found in the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as MDD and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryony N Thorne
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Science, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Darren J Day
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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19
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Sato A, Kotajima-Murakami H, Tanaka M, Katoh Y, Ikeda K. Influence of Prenatal Drug Exposure, Maternal Inflammation, and Parental Aging on the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:821455. [PMID: 35222122 PMCID: PMC8863673 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.821455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects reciprocal social interaction and produces abnormal repetitive, restrictive behaviors and interests. The diverse causes of ASD are divided into genetic alterations and environmental risks. The prevalence of ASD has been rising for several decades, which might be related to environmental risks as it is difficult to consider that the prevalence of genetic disorders related to ASD would increase suddenly. The latter includes (1) exposure to medications, such as valproic acid (VPA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (2), maternal complications during pregnancy, including infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and (3) high parental age. Epidemiological studies have indicated a pathogenetic role of prenatal exposure to VPA and maternal inflammation in the development of ASD. VPA is considered to exert its deleterious effects on the fetal brain through several distinct mechanisms, such as alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid signaling, the inhibition of histone deacetylase, the disruption of folic acid metabolism, and the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin. Maternal inflammation that is caused by different stimuli converges on a higher load of proinflammatory cytokines in the fetal brain. Rodent models of maternal exposure to SSRIs generate ASD-like behavior in offspring, but clinical correlations with these preclinical findings are inconclusive. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and advanced parental age increase the risk of ASD in humans, but the mechanisms have been poorly investigated in animal models. Evidence of the mechanisms by which environmental factors are related to ASD is discussed, which may contribute to the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Miho Tanaka
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Katoh
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Oyadeyi A, Ajao F, Babalola T, Mustapha Y. Effects of Ruzu, a Polyherbal Mixture, on Neurobehaviour and Expression of Serotonin and Dopamine Transporters in Rats. Niger J Physiol Sci 2021; 36:173-180. [PMID: 35947744 DOI: 10.54548/njps.v36i2.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There is increased possibility that combined herbal constituents may interact to increase toxicity and lower efficacy. Ruzu herbal bitters (RHB) is a blend of extracts from Curculigo pilosa, Uvaria chamae, and Citrullus colocynthis, each of which has been shown to possess important bio-effects. There is anecdotal evidence for efficacy of RHB in neurological disorders; however, there are no data on possible neurotoxic effects of RHB. Using behavioural, biochemical and molecular indices as surrogates of neurotoxicity, this study therefore evaluated the nervous system effects of RHB. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups - a control group and RHB group (n=10). RHB (0.5ml/kg) was administered to the RHB group twice daily while control group took water (0.5ml/kg). Treatments lasted 6 weeks after which behavioural tests were carried out. Animals were subsequently sacrificed and the expression of serotonin transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) was determined in the striatum by immunofluorescence while specific activities of catalase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase were determined. In the elevated plus maze and light and dark box tests which are models of anxiety, animals treated with RHB showed significant anxiety compared to control. They also showed impaired locomotor activity in the open field and wire hang tests. The activity of catalase was significantly increased in the brain of the RHB treated rats while an increase in the expression of both DAT and SERT was observed in the striatum.
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21
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Beaver JN, Gilman TL. Salt as a non-caloric behavioral modifier: A review of evidence from pre-clinical studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 135:104385. [PMID: 34634356 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Though excess salt intake is well-accepted as a dietary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, relatively little has been explored about how it impacts behavior, despite the ubiquity of salt in modern diets. Given the challenges of manipulating salt intake in humans, non-human animals provide a more tractable means for evaluating behavioral sequelae of high salt. By describing what is known about the impact of elevated salt on behavior, this review highlights how underexplored salt's behavioral effects are. Increased salt consumption in adulthood does not affect spontaneous anxiety-related behaviors or locomotor activity, nor acquisition of maze or fear tasks, but does impede expression of spatial/navigational and fear memory. Nest building is reduced by heightened salt in adults, and stress responsivity is augmented. When excess salt exposure occurs during development, and/or to parents, offspring locomotion is increased, and both spatial memory expression and social investigation are attenuated. The largely consistent findings reviewed here indicate expanded study of salt's effects will likely uncover broader behavioral implications, particularly in the scarcely studied female sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin N Beaver
- Department of Psychological Sciences & Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - T Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences & Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
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22
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De Oliveira Sergio T, Wetherill L, Kwok C, Khoyloo F, Hopf FW. Sex differences in specific aspects of two animal tests of anxiety-like behavior. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2775-2787. [PMID: 34120205 PMCID: PMC11071636 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05893-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Anxiety, a negative state of high arousal and vigilance, is especially prevalent in women, making identification of underlying mechanisms critical for developing effective therapies. With the challenge of disentangling biological and social factors in humans, animal tests can provide valuable insights, although such tests, developed in males, have unclear validity for females. OBJECTIVE To better understand patterns of sex differences across multiple measures within two classical rodent anxiety tests. METHODS We examined female and male adult Wistar rats (n = 15-18/group) that were single-housed in the novelty suppression of feeding test (NSFT) that involves food under a bright light in food-restricted animals, and light-dark test (LDT), which reflects innate aversion to bright light. To further validate these tests in females, we also examined the impact of 1 mg/kg diazepam. RESULTS NSFT measures of the most direct interaction with food, latency to grab food and food consumed, indicated increased anxiety-like behavior in females versus males, with diazepam altering these behaviors in females but not males. Most other measures showed more similar effects of diazepam across the sexes, with some evidence of reduced anxiety-like behavior in LDT for females. Principal component analyses indicated limited relationships across behavioral factors, underscoring previous suggestions of the importance of assessing multiple measures to maximize information and ethological relevance. CONCLUSIONS Combining our findings and previous studies, we speculate that increased anxiety-like behavior in females manifests especially when there is a specific, life-relevant condition (e.g., food in the NSFT). Our findings also validate NSFT and LDT use in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thatiane De Oliveira Sergio
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, NB 300E, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Claudina Kwok
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Farrah Khoyloo
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Frederic W Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, NB 300E, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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23
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Bi Z, Zhang S, Meng Y, Feng Y, Wang Y, Wang E, Pan X, Zhu R, Fan H, Pang S, Zhu L, Yuan J. Female serotonin transporter-knockout rat: A potential model of irritable bowel syndrome. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21701. [PMID: 34143529 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202000007rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disease. Although visceral hypersensitivity (VH) and disturbed gastrointestinal motility are typical pathophysiological features of IBS, the pathological mechanisms underlying this disease remain unclear. Serotonin system abnormalities are considered to play an important role in the pathomechanisms of IBS. Here, we hypothesize that similar alterations, including VH and colonic motility, induced by serotonin transporter (SERT) knockout result from altered serotonin signaling. We sought to determine the molecular mechanism underlying VH and colonic dysmotility induced by SERT knockout. We found that female SERT (slc6a4)-knockout (KO; ie, slc6a4-/- ) rats exhibited lower pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) than wild-type (WT; ie, slc6a4+/+ ) rats in response to colorectal distension (CRD). Significantly increased fecal pellet output and reduced concentration of serum tryptophan were observed in the female SERT KO rats. The concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and serum in SERT KO rats were lower than those in WT rats, but the numbers of enterochromaffin cells (ECs) and the concentrations of 5-HT in colon of SERT KO rats were higher than those of WT rats. Finally, increased expression levels of 5-HT1B receptors, 5-HT2C receptors, 5-HT3A receptors, 5-HT3B receptors, 5-HT6 receptors, 5-HT7 receptors, and glycosylated dopamine transporters (DATs) were found in the female SERT KO rats. We concluded that alterations in the serotonin system induced by the knockout of slc6a4 might result in VH and accelerated gastrointestinal motility in female SERT KO rats, which can be used as an animal model of IBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijuan Bi
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shisheng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,School of AMME, Faculty of Engineering & IT, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yangyang Meng
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Feng
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinshu Wang
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Enkang Wang
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangxue Pan
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruixin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiting Fan
- Laboratory Animal Center, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuhua Pang
- Clinical Lab, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lixin Zhu
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianye Yuan
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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24
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Willadsen M, Uengoer M, Sługocka A, Schwarting RK, Homberg JR, Wöhr M. Fear Extinction and Predictive Trait-Like Inter-Individual Differences in Rats Lacking the Serotonin Transporter. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137088. [PMID: 34209318 PMCID: PMC8268876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are associated with a failure to sufficiently extinguish fear memories. The serotonergic system (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) with the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT, SERT) is strongly implicated in the regulation of anxiety and fear. In the present study, we examined the effects of SERT deficiency on fear extinction in a differential fear conditioning paradigm in male and female rats. Fear-related behavior displayed during acquisition, extinction, and recovery, was measured through quantification of immobility and alarm 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Trait-like inter-individual differences in novelty-seeking, anxiety-related behavior, habituation learning, cognitive performance, and pain sensitivity were examined for their predictive value in forecasting fear extinction. Our results show that SERT deficiency strongly affected the emission of 22-kHz USV during differential fear conditioning. During acquisition, extinction, and recovery, SERT deficiency consistently led to a reduction in 22-kHz USV emission. While SERT deficiency did not affect immobility during acquisition, genotype differences started to emerge during extinction, and during recovery rats lacking SERT showed higher levels of immobility than wildtype littermate controls. Recovery was reflected in increased levels of immobility but not 22-kHz USV emission. Prominent sex differences were evident. Among several measures for trait-like inter-individual differences, anxiety-related behavior had the best predictive quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Willadsen
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
| | - Metin Uengoer
- Associative Learning, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Anna Sługocka
- Department for Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 4, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Rainer K.W. Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
- KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32–16–19–45–57
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25
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Knockout of the Serotonin Transporter in the Rat Mildly Modulates Decisional Anhedonia. Neuroscience 2021; 469:31-45. [PMID: 34182055 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin transporter gene variance has long been considered an essential factor contributing to depression. However, meta-analyses yielded inconsistent findings recently, asking for further understanding of the link between the gene and depression-related symptoms. One key feature of depression is anhedonia. While data exist on the effect of serotonin transporter gene knockout (5-HTT-/-) in rodents on consummatory and anticipatory anhedonia, with mixed outcomes, the effect on decisional anhedonia has not been investigated thus far. Here, we tested whether 5-HTT-/- contributes to decisional anhedonia. To this end, we established a novel touchscreen-based go/go task of visual decision-making. During the learning of stimulus discrimination, 5-HTT+/+ rats performed more optimal decision-making compared to 5-HTT-/- rats at the beginning, but this difference did not persist throughout the learning period. During stimulus generalization, the generalization curves were similar between both genotypes and did not alter as the learning progress. Interestingly, the response time in 5-HTT+/+ rats increased as the session increased in general, while 5-HTT-/- rats tended to decrease. The response time difference might indicate that 5-HTT-/- rats altered willingness to exert cognitive effort to the categorization of generalization stimuli. These results suggest that the effect of 5-HTT ablation on decisional anhedonia is mild and interacts with learning, explaining the discrepant findings on the link between 5-HTT gene and depression.
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26
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Willadsen M, Uengoer M, Schwarting RKW, Homberg JR, Wöhr M. Reduced emission of alarm 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations during fear conditioning in rats lacking the serotonin transporter. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110072. [PMID: 32800867 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rats display a rich social behavioral repertoire. An important component of this repertoire is the emission of whistle-like calls in the ultrasonic range, so-called ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Long low-frequency 22-kHz USV occur in aversive situations, including aggressive interactions, predator exposure, and electric shocks during fear conditioning. They are believed to reflect a negative affective state akin to anxiety and fear. A prominent theory suggests that 22-kHz USV function as alarm calls to warn conspecifics. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is strongly implicated in the regulation of affective states, particularly anxiety and fear. A key component of the system is the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT, also known as SERT), regulating 5-HT availability in the synaptic cleft. In the present experiment, we studied the effects of SERT deficiency on overt fear-related behavior and alarm 22-kHz USV during fear conditioning in male and female rats. While overt fear-related behavior was not affected by SERT deficiency and sex, the emission of alarm 22-kHz USV was clearly reduced in homozygous SERT-/- but not heterozygous SERT+/- mutants, as compared to their wildtype SERT+/+ littermate controls. Genotype effects were particularly prominent in females. Females in general emitted fewer alarm 22-kHz USV than males. This supports the view that 22-kHz USV are, at least partly, independently regulated from anxiety or fear and as socially mediated alarm calls do not simply express a negative affective state. Reduced 22-kHz USV emission in rats lacking SERT might be due to social deficits in the use of 22-kHz USV as a socio-affective signal to warn conspecifics about threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Willadsen
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Metin Uengoer
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; Laboratory for Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
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27
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BDNF Overexpression in the Ventral Hippocampus Promotes Antidepressant- and Anxiolytic-Like Activity in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095040. [PMID: 34068707 PMCID: PMC8126235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BDNF plays a pivotal role in neuroplasticity events, vulnerability and resilience to stress-related disorders, being decreased in depressive patients and increased after antidepressant treatment. BDNF was found to be reduced in patients carrying the human polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTLPR). The serotonin knockout rat (SERT-/-) is one of the animal models used to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of depression in humans. They present decreased BDNF levels, and anxiety- and depression-like behavior. To investigate whether upregulating BDNF would ameliorate the phenotype of SERT-/- rats, we overexpressed BDNF locally into the ventral hippocampus and submitted the animals to behavioral testing. The results showed that BDNF overexpression in the vHIP of SERT-/- rats promoted higher sucrose preference and sucrose intake; on the first day of the sucrose consumption test it decreased immobility time in the forced swim test and increased the time spent in the center of a novel environment. Furthermore, BDNF overexpression altered social behavior in SERT-/- rats, which presented increased passive contact with test partner and decreased solitary behavior. Finally, it promoted decrease in plasma corticosterone levels 60 min after restraint stress. In conclusion, modulation of BDNF IV levels in the vHIP of SERT-/- rats led to a positive behavioral outcome placing BDNF upregulation in the vHIP as a potential target to new therapeutic approaches to improve depressive symptoms.
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28
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Ali SB, Mahmood K, Saeed R, Salman T, Choudhary MI, Haleem DJ. Elevated anxiety, hypoactivity, memory deficits, decreases of brain serotonin and 5-HT-1A receptors expression in rats treated with omeprazole. Toxicol Res 2021; 37:237-248. [PMID: 33868980 DOI: 10.1007/s43188-020-00060-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Omeprazole (OM) is one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide for the treatment of hyperacidity and gastric reflux. However, concerns regarding its safety have emerged recently, and the drug is reported to enhance the risk for anxiety and cognitive deficits, particularly in elderly patients. The present study investigated these adverse effects, if any, in adult male rats. Associated changes in brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and dopamine metabolism and the expression of 5-HT-1A receptors in the raphe and hippocampus were also determined. The drug was injected i.p. in doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg for 15 days. Both doses of OM decreased motor activity in an open field and impaired learning and memory in the Morris water maze test. Anxiety monitored in an elevated plus maze test was enhanced in rats treated with 20 mg/kg OM only. The levels of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and of homovanillic acid, a metabolite of dopamine, determined by HPLC-EC, were decreased in the brain of OM treated rats. The expression of 5-HT-1A receptor, determined by qRT-PCR, was reduced markedly in the hippocampus and moderately in the raphe. Our results provide evidence that OM use can reduce raphe hippocampal serotonin neurotransmission to lead to anxiety/depression and cognitive impairment. There is a need for increased awareness and prescription guidelines for therapeutic use of OM and possibly also other proton pump inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Basharat Ali
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Khalid Mahmood
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Raheel Saeed
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Tabinda Salman
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem
- Present Address: Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
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29
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Payet JM, Wilson KE, Russo AM, Angiolino A, Kavanagh-Ryan W, Kent S, Lowry CA, Hale MW. Involvement of dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic systems in social approach-avoidance behaviour and in the response to fluoxetine treatment in peri-adolescent female BALB/c mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113268. [PMID: 33811952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Serotonergic systems are involved in the development and regulation of social behaviour, and drugs that target serotonin neurotransmission, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), also alter aspects of social approach-avoidance. The midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), which is a major serotonergic nucleus and main source of serotonergic innervation of the forebrain, has been proposed as an important target for SSRIs, although evidence in females is lacking. In this study, we examined the involvement of the DR serotonergic systems in social behaviour and in response to SSRI treatment, using peri-adolescent female BALB/c mice. Mice were exposed to the SSRI fluoxetine either chronically (18 mg/kg/day, in drinking water, for 12 days) or acutely (18 mg/kg, i.p.), or to vehicle control condition (0.9 % saline, i.p.), prior to being exposed to the three-chambered sociability test. Activation of serotonergic neurons across subregions of the DR were subsequently measured, using dual-label immunohistochemistry for TPH2 and c-Fos. Acute fluoxetine administration increased generalised and social avoidance, while mice exposed to chronic fluoxetine treatment showed levels of social approach behaviour that were comparable to controls. Serotonergic populations across the DR showed reduced activity following acute fluoxetine treatment. Further, activation of serotonergic neurons in the ventral DR correlated with social approach behaviour in vehicle-treated control mice. These data provide some support for the involvement of discrete populations of DR serotonergic neurons in the regulation of social approach-avoidance, although more research is needed to understand the effects and mechanisms of chronic SSRI treatment in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennyfer M Payet
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Kira-Elise Wilson
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Adrian M Russo
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Anthony Angiolino
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - William Kavanagh-Ryan
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Stephen Kent
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Matthew W Hale
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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30
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Guo CCG, He T, Grandjean J, Homberg J. Knockout serotonin transporter in rats moderates outcome and stimulus generalization. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:25. [PMID: 33414390 PMCID: PMC7791109 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01162-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the common dimension of mental disorders (such as anxiety, depression, and drug addiction) might contribute to the construction of biological frameworks (Research Domain Criteria, RDoC) for novel ways of treatment. One common dimension at the behavioral level observed across these disorders is a generalization. Testing generalization in serotonin transporter (5-HTT) knockout (KO) rats, an animal model showing depression/anxiety-like behaviors and drug addiction-like behaviors, could therefore provide more insights into this framework. We tested the outcome and stimulus generalization in wild-type (WT) and 5-HTT KO rats. Using a newly established touchscreen-based task, subjects directly responded to visual stimuli (Gabor patch images). We measured the response time and outcome in a precise manner. We found that 5-HTT KO rats processed visual information faster than WT rats during outcome generalization. Interestingly, during stimulus generalization, WT rats gradually responded faster to the stimuli as the sessions progressed, while 5-HTT KO rats responded faster than WT in the initial sessions and did not change significantly as the sessions progressed. This observation suggests that KO rats, compared to WT rats, may be less able to update changes in information. Taken together, KO 5-HTT modulates information processing when the environment changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ciu-Gwok Guo
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tao He
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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31
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Chaji D, Venkatesh VS, Shirao T, Day DJ, Ellenbroek BA. Genetic Knockout of the Serotonin Reuptake Transporter Results in the Reduction of Dendritic Spines in In vitro Rat Cortical Neuronal Culture. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2210-2218. [PMID: 33403594 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01764-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the serotonergic system has been reported to have a significant role in several neurological disorders including depression, autism and substance abuse disorders. Changes in the expression of the serotonin transporter (SERT) through polymorphisms in the regulatory regions of the SERT gene have been associated, but not yet been conclusively linked to, neuropsychiatric disorders. In turn, dendritic spine structure and function are critical for neuronal function and the disruption of dendritic spine formation at glutamatergic synapses is a hallmark of several neuropsychiatric disorders. To understand the effect of SERT depletion on dendritic spine formation, neuronal cultures were established from the cortex of postnatal day 0-1 SERT knockout (KO) rats. Cortical neurons were subsequently allowed to mature to 21 days in vitro, and dendritic spine density was assessed using immunocytochemical co-labelling of drebrin and microtubule associated protein 2. Genetic knockout of the SERT had a gene-dose effect on dendritic spine densities of cortical neurons. The results of this paper implicate SERT function with the formation of dendritic spines at glutamatergic synapses, thereby offering insight into the aetiology of several neuropathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chaji
- School of Psychology, Behavioural Neurogenetics Group, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Varun S Venkatesh
- School of Psychology, Behavioural Neurogenetics Group, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.,Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Tomoaki Shirao
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Darren J Day
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Behavioural Neurogenetics Group, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand.
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32
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Li Z, Li Z, Lv X, Li Z, Xiong L, Hu X, Qin D. Intracerebroventricular Administration of Interferon-Alpha Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Neurotransmitter Changes in Rhesus Monkeys. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:585604. [PMID: 33328856 PMCID: PMC7710898 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.585604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a cytokine widely used in the treatment of brain cancers and virus infections with side effects including causing depression. Monoamine neurotransmitter systems have been found playing important roles in peripheral IFN-α-induced depression, but how peripheral IFN-α accesses the central nervous system and contributes to the development of depression is poorly known. This study aimed to develop a non-human primate model using long-term intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of IFN-α (5 days/week for 6 weeks), to observe the induced depressive-like behaviors and to explore the contributions of monoamine neurotransmitter systems in the development of depression. In monkeys receiving i.c.v. IFN-α administration, anhedonia was observed as decreases of sucrose consumption, along with depressive-like symptoms including increased huddling behavior, decreases of spontaneous and reactive locomotion in home cage, as well as reduced exploration and increased motionless in the open field. Chronic central IFN-α infusion significantly increased the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), but not 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). These CSF monoamine metabolites showed associations with some specific depression-related behaviors. In conclusion, central IFN-α administration induced anhedonia and depression-related behaviors comparable to the results with peripheral administration, and the development of depression was associated with the dysfunction of monoamine neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaoxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xiaoman Lv
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaofu Li
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Lei Xiong
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Xintian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongdong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
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33
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Sbrini G, Brivio P, Bosch K, Homberg JR, Calabrese F. Enrichment Environment Positively Influences Depression- and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats through the Modulation of Neuroplasticity, Spine, and GABAergic Markers. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111248. [PMID: 33114023 PMCID: PMC7690660 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT in humans, SERT in rodents) is the main regulator of serotonergic transmission in the brain. The short allelic variant of the 5-HTT gene is in humans associated with psychopathologies and may enhance the vulnerability to develop depression after exposure to stressful events. Interestingly, the short allele also increases the sensitivity to a positive environment, which may buffer the vulnerability to depression. Since this polymorphism does not exist in rodents, male SERT knockout (SERT−/−) rats were tested to explore the molecular mechanisms based on this increased predisposition. This article investigates the influences of a positive manipulation, namely, enriched environment (EE), on the depressive-like behavior observed in SERT−/− rats. We found that one month of EE exposure normalized the anhedonic and anxious-like phenotype characteristics of this animal model. Moreover, we observed that EE exposure also restored the molecular alterations in the prefrontal cortex by positively modulating the expression of the neurotrophin Bdnf, and of spines and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic markers. Overall, our data confirm the depression-like phenotype of SERT−/− rats and highlight the ability of EE to restore behavioral and molecular alterations, thus promoting the opportunity to use EE as a supporting non-pharmacological approach to treat mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Sbrini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (P.B.)
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (P.B.)
| | - Kari Bosch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (K.B.); (J.R.H.)
| | - Judith Regina Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (K.B.); (J.R.H.)
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +02-50318277
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34
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Hanswijk SI, Spoelder M, Shan L, Verheij MMM, Muilwijk OG, Li W, Liu C, Kolk SM, Homberg JR. Gestational Factors throughout Fetal Neurodevelopment: The Serotonin Link. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5850. [PMID: 32824000 PMCID: PMC7461571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical player in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Fetal 5-HT levels can be influenced by several gestational factors, such as maternal genotype, diet, stress, medication, and immune activation. In this review, addressing both human and animal studies, we discuss how these gestational factors affect placental and fetal brain 5-HT levels, leading to changes in brain structure and function and behavior. We conclude that gestational factors are able to interact and thereby amplify or counteract each other's impact on the fetal 5-HT-ergic system. We, therefore, argue that beyond the understanding of how single gestational factors affect 5-HT-ergic brain development and behavior in offspring, it is critical to elucidate the consequences of interacting factors. Moreover, we describe how each gestational factor is able to alter the 5-HT-ergic influence on the thalamocortical- and prefrontal-limbic circuitry and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical-axis. These alterations have been associated with risks to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and/or anxiety. Consequently, the manipulation of gestational factors may be used to combat pregnancy-related risks for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina I. Hanswijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Marcia Spoelder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Ling Shan
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Otto G. Muilwijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Weizhuo Li
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Chunqing Liu
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Sharon M. Kolk
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
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35
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Roversi K, Buizza C, Brivio P, Calabrese F, Verheij MMM, Antoniazzi CTD, Burger ME, Riva MA, Homberg JR. Neonatal Tactile Stimulation Alters Behaviors in Heterozygous Serotonin Transporter Male Rats: Role of the Amygdala. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:142. [PMID: 32903627 PMCID: PMC7438747 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (SERT) gene, especially the short allele of the human serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), has been associated with the development of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. In line, exposure to early life stress in SERT knockout animals contributes to anxiety- and depression-like behavior. However, there is a lack of investigation of how early-life exposure to beneficial stimuli, such as tactile stimulation (TS), affects later life behavior in these animals. In this study, we investigated the effect of TS on social, anxiety, and anhedonic behavior in heterozygous SERT knockouts rats and wild-type controls and its impact on gene expression in the basolateral amygdala. Heterozygous SERT+/– rats were submitted to TS during postnatal days 8–14, for 10 min per day. In adulthood, rats were assessed for social and affective behavior. Besides, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene expression and its isoforms, components of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems as well as glucocorticoid-responsive genes were measured in the basolateral amygdala. We found that exposure to neonatal TS improved social and affective behavior in SERT+/– animals compared to naïve SERT+/– animals and was normalized to the level of naïve SERT+/+ animals. At the molecular level, we observed that TS per se affected Bdnf, the glucocorticoid-responsive genes Nr4a1, Gadd45β, the co-chaperone Fkbp5 as well as glutamatergic and GABAergic gene expression markers including the enzyme Gad67, the vesicular GABA transporter, and the vesicular glutamate transporter genes. Our results suggest that exposure of SERT+/– rats to neonatal TS can normalize their phenotype in adulthood and that TS per se alters the expression of plasticity and stress-related genes in the basolateral amygdala. These findings demonstrate the potential effect of a supportive stimulus in SERT rodents, which are more susceptible to develop psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Roversi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Carolina Buizza
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michel M M Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Caren T D Antoniazzi
- International Centre for Neurotherapeutics, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marilise E Burger
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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36
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Szpirer C. Rat models of human diseases and related phenotypes: a systematic inventory of the causative genes. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:84. [PMID: 32741357 PMCID: PMC7395987 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The laboratory rat has been used for a long time as the model of choice in several biomedical disciplines. Numerous inbred strains have been isolated, displaying a wide range of phenotypes and providing many models of human traits and diseases. Rat genome mapping and genomics was considerably developed in the last decades. The availability of these resources has stimulated numerous studies aimed at discovering causal disease genes by positional identification. Numerous rat genes have now been identified that underlie monogenic or complex diseases and remarkably, these results have been translated to the human in a significant proportion of cases, leading to the identification of novel human disease susceptibility genes, helping in studying the mechanisms underlying the pathological abnormalities and also suggesting new therapeutic approaches. In addition, reverse genetic tools have been developed. Several genome-editing methods were introduced to generate targeted mutations in genes the function of which could be clarified in this manner [generally these are knockout mutations]. Furthermore, even when the human gene causing a disease had been identified without resorting to a rat model, mutated rat strains (in particular KO strains) were created to analyze the gene function and the disease pathogenesis. Today, over 350 rat genes have been identified as underlying diseases or playing a key role in critical biological processes that are altered in diseases, thereby providing a rich resource of disease models. This article is an update of the progress made in this research and provides the reader with an inventory of these disease genes, a significant number of which have similar effects in rat and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Szpirer
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
- , Waterloo, Belgium.
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37
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Attenuation of auditory mismatch negativity in serotonin transporter knockout mice with anxiety-related behaviors. Behav Brain Res 2020; 379:112387. [PMID: 31783087 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
As the first-line antidepressant drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have efficacy in controlling the symptoms of depression. However, adverse events such as anxiety and hearing disorders were usually observed in patients and even healthy volunteers during the initial phase of SSRI administration. Hearing disorders, including auditory hallucination and tinnitus, are not only highly comorbid with mental disorders but also acknowledged factors that induce psychiatric disorders. The pharmacological and neural mechanisms underlying SSRI-induced anxiety and hearing disorders are not clear. In particularly, the methods evaluating hearing disorders are not well established in animal models, limiting the pre-clinical research on its mechanism. In the present study, we examined the mismatch negativity (MMN), a cognitive component of auditory event-related potential (ERP), to evaluate the hearing process of auditory cortex in mice. Under the acute administration of citalopram, a widely used SSRI, the anxiety-related behaviors and reduced MMN were observed in mice. Serotonin transporter (SERT) is a potential target of SSRIs. The anxiety-related behaviors and reduced MMN were also observed in SERT knockout mice, implying the role of SERT in anxiety and hearing disorders induced by SSRIs. Meanwhile, the auditory brainstem response and initial components of auditory ERP were kept intact in SERT knockout mice, suggesting that hearing neural pathway is less affected by serotonergic system. Our study suggests that the SERT deficient mice might represent a useful animal model in the investigation of the anxiety and hearing disorders during the SSRI treatment.
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38
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Cicvaric A, Sachernegg HM, Stojanovic T, Symmank D, Smani T, Moeslinger T, Uhrin P, Monje FJ. Podoplanin Gene Disruption in Mice Promotes in vivo Neural Progenitor Cells Proliferation, Selectively Impairs Dentate Gyrus Synaptic Depression and Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 13:561. [PMID: 32009902 PMCID: PMC6974453 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Podoplanin (Pdpn), a brain-tumor-related glycoprotein identified in humans and animals, is endogenously expressed in several organs critical for life support such as kidney, lung, heart and brain. In the brain, Pdpn has been identified in proliferative nestin-positive adult neural progenitor cells and in neurons of the neurogenic hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), a structure associated to anxiety, critical for learning and memory functions and severely damaged in people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The in vivo role of Pdpn in adult neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior remained however unexplored. Using mice with disrupted Pdpn gene as a model organism and applying combined behavioral, molecular biological and electrophysiological assays, we here show that the absence of Pdpn selectively impairs long-term synaptic depression in the neurogenic DG without affecting the CA3-Schaffer's collateral-CA1 synapses. Pdpn deletion also enhanced the proliferative capacity of DG neural progenitor cells and diminished survival of differentiated neuronal cells in vitro. In addition, mice with podoplanin gene disruption showed increased anxiety-like behaviors in experimentally validated behavioral tests as compared to wild type littermate controls. Together, these findings broaden our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms influencing hippocampal synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis in vivo and reveal Pdpn as a novel molecular target for future studies addressing general anxiety disorder and synaptic depression-related memory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cicvaric
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah M. Sachernegg
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dörte Symmank
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tarik Smani
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/University of Seville/CIBERCV, Seville, Spain
| | - Thomas Moeslinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pavel Uhrin
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Translational Studies in the Complex Role of Neurotransmitter Systems in Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1191:121-140. [PMID: 32002926 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of innovative anxiolytics is severely hampering. Existing anxiolytics are developed decades ago and are still the therapeutics of choice. Moreover, lack of new drug targets forecasts a severe jeopardy in the future treatment of the huge population of CNS-diseased patients. We simply lack the knowledge on what is wrong in brains of anxious people (normal and diseased). Translational research, based on interacting clinical and preclinical research, is extremely urgent. In this endeavor, genetic and genomic approaches are part of the spectrum of contributing factors. We focus on three druggable targets: serotonin transporter, 5-HT1A, and GABAA receptors. It is still uncertain whether and how these targets are involved in normal and diseased anxiety processes. For serotonergic anxiolytics, the slow onset of action points to indirect effects leading to plasticity changes in brain systems leading to reduced anxiety. For GABAA benzodiazepine drugs, acute anxiolytic effects are found indicating primary mechanisms directly influencing anxiety processes. Close translational collaboration between fundamental academic and discovery research will lead to badly needed breakthroughs in the search for new anxiolytics.
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40
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Serotonin transporter deficiency alters socioemotional ultrasonic communication in rats. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20283. [PMID: 31889084 PMCID: PMC6937290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56629-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been widely established that serotonin plays important role in the regulation of emotional and social behaviour. Rodents with a genetic deletion of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) are used as a model to study lifelong consequences of increased extracellular 5‐HT levels due to its impaired reuptake. SERT knock-out (SERT-KO) mice and rats consistently showed anxiety-like symptoms and social deficits. Nevertheless, the impact of SERT deletion on socioemotional ultrasonic communication has not been addressed. Here we investigated the impact of lifelong serotonin abundance on ultrasonic vocalisation accompanying social interactions and open field exploration in rats. SERT-KO rats displayed reduced overall duration of social contacts, but increased time spent on following the conspecific. The altered pattern of social behaviour in SERT-KO rats was accompanied by the structural changes in ultrasonic vocalisations, as they differed from their controls in distribution of call categories. Moreover, SERT deletion resulted in anxiety-like behaviours assessed in the open field test. Their anxious phenotype resulted in a lower tendency to emit appetitive 50-kHz calls during novelty exploration. The present study demonstrates that genetic deletion of SERT not only leads to the deficits in social interaction and increased anxiety but also affects ultrasonic communication.
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Caffino L, Verheij MM, Que L, Guo C, Homberg JR, Fumagalli F. Increased cocaine self-administration in rats lacking the serotonin transporter: a role for glutamatergic signaling in the habenula. Addict Biol 2019; 24:1167-1178. [PMID: 30144237 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) and the habenula (Hb) contribute to motivational and emotional states such as depression and drug abuse. The dorsal raphe nucleus, where 5-HT neurons originate, and the Hb are anatomically and reciprocally interconnected. Evidence exists that 5-HT influences Hb glutamatergic transmission. Using serotonin transporter knockout (SERT-/- ) rats, which show depression-like behavior and increased cocaine intake, we investigated the effect of SERT reduction on expression of genes involved in glutamate neurotransmission under both baseline conditions as well as after short-access or long-access cocaine (ShA and LgA, respectively) intake. In cocaine-naïve animals, SERT removal led to reduced baseline Hb mRNA levels of critical determinants of glutamate transmission, such as SLC1A2, the main glutamate transporter and N-methyl-D-aspartate (Grin1, Grin2A and Grin2B) as well as α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (Gria1 and Gria2) receptor subunits, with no changes in the scaffolding protein Dlg4. In response to ShA and LgA cocaine intake, SLC1A2 and Grin1 mRNA levels decreased in SERT+/+ rats to levels equal of those of SERT-/- rats. Our data reveal that increased extracellular levels of 5-HT modulate glutamate neurotransmission in the Hb, serving as critical neurobiological substrate for vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular SciencesUniversità degli Studi di Milano Italy
| | - Michel M.M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, division of Molecular Neurogenetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Lin Que
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, division of Molecular Neurogenetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre The Netherlands
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, division of Molecular Neurogenetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre The Netherlands
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, division of Molecular Neurogenetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre The Netherlands
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular SciencesUniversità degli Studi di Milano Italy
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42
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Comasco E, Schijven D, de Maeyer H, Vrettou M, Nylander I, Sundström-Poromaa I, Olivier JDA. Constitutive Serotonin Transporter Reduction Resembles Maternal Separation with Regard to Stress-Related Gene Expression. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3132-3142. [PMID: 30614673 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactive effects between allelic variants of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and stressors on depression symptoms have been documented, as well as questioned, by meta-analyses. Translational models of constitutive 5-htt reduction and experimentally controlled stressors often led to inconsistent behavioral and molecular findings and often did not include females. The present study sought to investigate the effect of 5-htt genotype, maternal separation, and sex on the expression of stress-related candidate genes in the rat hippocampus and frontal cortex. The mRNA expression levels of Avp, Pomc, Crh, Crhbp, Crhr1, Bdnf, Ntrk2, Maoa, Maob, and Comt were assessed in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of 5-htt ± and 5-htt +/+ male and female adult rats exposed, or not, to daily maternal separation for 180 min during the first 2 postnatal weeks. Gene- and brain region-dependent, but sex-independent, interactions between 5-htt genotype and maternal separation were found. Gene expression levels were higher in 5-htt +/+ rats not exposed to maternal separation compared with the other experimental groups. Maternal separation and 5-htt +/- genotype did not yield additive effects on gene expression. Correlative relationships, mainly positive, were observed within, but not across, brain regions in all groups except in non-maternally separated 5-htt +/+ rats. Gene expression patterns in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats exposed to maternal separation resembled the ones observed in rats with reduced 5-htt expression regardless of sex. These results suggest that floor effects of 5-htt reduction and maternal separation might explain inconsistent findings in humans and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jocelien D. A. Olivier
- Department Neurobiology, Unit Behavioural Neuroscience, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 9712 CP, The Netherlands
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Schipper P, Brivio P, de Leest D, Madder L, Asrar B, Rebuglio F, Verheij MMM, Kozicz T, Riva MA, Calabrese F, Henckens MJAG, Homberg JR. Impaired Fear Extinction Recall in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats Is Transiently Alleviated during Adolescence. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9050118. [PMID: 31121975 PMCID: PMC6562656 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9050118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is a developmental phase characterized by emotional turmoil and coincides with the emergence of affective disorders. Inherited serotonin transporter (5-HTT) downregulation in humans increases sensitivity to these disorders. To reveal whether and how 5-HTT gene variance affects fear-driven behavior in adolescence, we tested wildtype and serotonin transporter knockout (5-HTT-/-) rats of preadolescent, adolescent, and adult age for cued fear extinction and extinction recall. To analyze neural circuit function, we quantified inhibitory synaptic contacts and, through RT-PCR, the expression of c-Fos, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and NDMA receptor subunits, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala. Remarkably, the impaired recall of conditioned fear that characterizes preadolescent and adult 5-HTT-/- rats was transiently normalized during adolescence. This did not relate to altered inhibitory neurotransmission, since mPFC inhibitory immunoreactivity was reduced in 5-HTT-/- rats across all ages and unaffected in the amygdala. Rather, since mPFC (but not amygdala) c-Fos expression and NMDA receptor subunit 1 expression were reduced in 5-HTT-/- rats during adolescence, and since PFC c-Fos correlated negatively with fear extinction recall, the temporary normalization of fear extinction during adolescence could relate to altered plasticity in the developing mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Schipper
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - David de Leest
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Leonie Madder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Beenish Asrar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Federica Rebuglio
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Michel M M Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayp Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Lonstein JS. The dynamic serotonin system of the maternal brain. Arch Womens Ment Health 2019; 22:237-243. [PMID: 30032323 PMCID: PMC7001094 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-018-0887-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many pregnant and postpartum women worldwide suffer from high anxiety and/or depression, which can have detrimental effects on maternal and infant well-being. The first-line pharmacotherapies for prepartum and postpartum affective disorders continue to be the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), despite the lack of large well-controlled studies demonstrating their efficacy in reproducing women and the potential for fetal/neonatal exposure to the drugs. Prepartum or postpartum use of SSRIs or other drugs that modulate the brain's serotonin system is also troubling because very little is known about the typical, let alone the atypical, changes that occur in the female central serotonin system across reproduction. We do know from a handful of studies of women and female laboratory rodents that numerous aspects of the central serotonin system are naturally dynamic across reproduction and are also affected by pregnancy stress (a major predisposing factor for maternal psychopathology). Thus, it should not be assumed that the maternal central serotonin system being targeted by SSRIs is identical to non-parous females or males. More information about the normative and stress-derailed changes in the maternal central serotonin system is essential for understanding how serotonin is involved in the etiology of, and the best use of SSRIs for potentially treating, affective disorders in the pregnant and postpartum populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. Lonstein
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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45
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Kroes MCW, Henckens MJAG, Homberg JR. How serotonin transporter gene variance affects defensive behaviours along the threat imminence continuum. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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46
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Assessment of fear and anxiety associated behaviors, physiology and neural circuits in rats with reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) levels. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:33. [PMID: 30670681 PMCID: PMC6343029 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in serotonin transporter (SERT) that reduces transcriptional efficiency is associated with higher anxiety and fear traits and a greater incidence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although previous studies have shown that rats with no expression of SERT (SERT-/-) have increased baseline anxiety behaviors, SERT+/- rats with low SERT expression (and more relevant to the clinical condition with low SERT expression) do not. Yet, no systematic studies of fear acquisition/extinction or their underlying neural mechanisms have been conducted in this preclinical genetic SERT+/- model. Here we sought to determine if SERT+/- or SERT-/-, compared to wildtype, rats would show exacerbated panic responses and/or persistent conditioned fear responses that may be associated with PTSD or phobia vulnerability. Results: Only SERT-/- rats showed increased baseline anxiety-like behaviors with heightened panic respiratory responses. However SERT+/- (also SERT-/-) rats showed enhanced acquisition of fear and delayed extinction of fear that was associated with changes in serotonergic-related genes (e.g., reduced 5-HT1A receptor) and disrupted inhibition within the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Furthermore, the disrupted fear responses in SERT+/- rats were normalized with 5HT1A antagonist infusions into the BLA. Enhanced acquisition and failure to extinguish fear memories displayed by both SERT-/- and SERT+/- rats are cardinal symptoms of disabling anxiety disorders such as phobias and PTSD. The data here support the hypothesis that reduced SERT function is a genetic risk that disrupts select gene expression and network properties in the amygdala that could result in vulnerability to these syndromes.
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47
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Mouihate A, Kalakh S, AlMutairi R, Alashqar A. Prenatal Inflammation Dampens Neurogenesis and Enhances Serotonin Transporter Expression in the Hippocampus of Adult Female Rats. Med Princ Pract 2019; 28:352-360. [PMID: 30884483 PMCID: PMC6639577 DOI: 10.1159/000499658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dampens hippocampal neurogenesis. This effect is associated with increased anxiety-like behavior in adult offspring. Furthermore, blocking serotonin transporters (SERT) promotes adult neurogenesis. Previous studies were performed largely in males. Therefore, we explored the impact of prenatal LPS on neurogenesis, SERT expression in the hippocampus, and anxiety-like behavior in female rats during prepubertal and adulthood stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS Timed pregnant rats were injected with either saline or LPS (100 µg/kg, i.p.) on gestational days 15, 17, and 19. Newly born neurons were monitored by immunohistochemistry, and anxiety-like behavior was monitored using the elevated plus maze and open-field test. SERT expression in the hippocampus was assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. RESULTS Prenatal LPS led to reduced hippocampal neurogenesis in adult but not in prepubertal female offspring. This reduced neurogenesis was associated with enhanced hippocampal expression of SERT protein. However, there was no significant impact of prenatal LPS on anxiety-like behavior. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal LPS-induced reduction in neurogenesis was dissociated from anxiety-like behavior in adult female rats. Furthermore, the long-lasting impact of prenatal LPS on neurogenesis in female offspring was age-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdeslam Mouihate
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait,
| | - Samah Kalakh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Rawan AlMutairi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Abdelrahman Alashqar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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48
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Brivio P, Sbrini G, Peeva P, Todiras M, Bader M, Alenina N, Calabrese F. TPH2 Deficiency Influences Neuroplastic Mechanisms and Alters the Response to an Acute Stress in a Sex Specific Manner. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:389. [PMID: 30425618 PMCID: PMC6218558 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulations of the central serotoninergic system have been implicated in several psychopathologies, characterized by different susceptibility between males and females. We took advantage of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) deficient rats, lacking serotonin specifically in the brain, to investigate whether a vulnerable genotype can be associated with alterations of neuronal plasticity from the early stage of maturation of the brain until adulthood. We found a significant increase, in both gene and protein expression, of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult TPH2-deficient (TPH2−/−) male and female rats in comparison to wild type (TPH2+/+) counterparts. Interestingly, a development-specific pattern was observed during early postnatal life: whereas the increase in Bdnf expression, mainly driven by the modulation of Bdnf isoform IV was clearly visible after weaning at postnatal day (pnd) 30 in both sexes of TPH2−/− in comparison to TPH2+/+ rats, at early stages (pnd1 and pnd10) Bdnf expression levels did not differ between the genotypes, or even were downregulated in male TPH2−/− animals at pnd10. Moreover, to establish if hyposerotonergia may influence the response to a challenging situation, we exposed adult rats to an acute stress. Although the pattern of corticosterone release was similar between the genotypes, neuronal activation in response to stress, quantified by the expression of the immediate early genes activity regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc) and Fos Proto-Oncogene (cFos), was blunted in both sexes of animals lacking brain serotonin. Interestingly, although upregulation of Bdnf mRNA levels after stress was observed in both genotypes, it was less pronounced in TPH2−/− in comparison to TPH2+/+ rats. In summary, our results demonstrated that serotonin deficiency affects neuroplastic mechanisms following a specific temporal pattern and influences the response to an acute stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Polina Peeva
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Mihail Todiras
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Bader
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany.,Charite-University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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49
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Korte-Bouws GAH, van Heesch F, Westphal KGC, Ankersmit LMJ, van Oosten EM, Güntürkün O, Korte SM. Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Increases Serotonin Metabolism in Both Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens in Male Wild Type Rats, but Not in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11030066. [PMID: 29976854 PMCID: PMC6160917 DOI: 10.3390/ph11030066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) both increases proinflammatory cytokines and produces sickness behavior, including fatigue and anhedonia (i.e., the inability to experience pleasure). Previously, we have shown that intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered LPS increased extracellular monoamine metabolite levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which was completely, or at least partly, prevented by pretreatment with a triple reuptake inhibitor that also blocks the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT). This suggests indirectly, that LPS may enhance SERT transporter activity, and consequently, increase removal of 5-HT from the synaptic cleft, and increase metabolism of 5-HT. In the present study, we focus more specifically on the role of SERT in this increased metabolism by using rats, that differ in SERT expression. Therefore, the effects of an intraperitoneal LPS injection on extracellular concentrations of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were investigated by in vivo microdialysis in the NAc and mPFC of wild type (SERT+/+), heterozygous (SERT+/−) and knockout (SERT−/−) rats. Here, we show that LPS-induced 5-HIAA formation in male rats, is significantly increased in SERT+/+ rats in both the NAc and mPFC, whereas this increase is partly or totally abolished in SERT+/− and SERT−/− rats, respectively. Thus, the present study supports the hypothesis that systemic LPS in male rats increases SERT function and consequently enhances 5-HT uptake and metabolism in both the NAc and mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerdien A H Korte-Bouws
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Floor van Heesch
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Koen G C Westphal
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Lisa M J Ankersmit
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Edwin M van Oosten
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
| | - S Mechiel Korte
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
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50
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A genetic reduction in the serotonin transporter differentially influences MDMA and heroin induced behaviours. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:1907-1914. [PMID: 29560525 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4880-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite ongoing study and research to better understand drug addiction, it continues to be a heavy burden. Only a small percentage of individuals who take drugs of abuse go on to develop addiction. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that a reduction in the serotonin transporter may play an important role for those that transition to compulsive drug taking. Studies have demonstrated that reduced serotonin transporter function potentiates self-administration of psychostimulant drugs ("ecstasy," MDMA; cocaine); however, additional research revealed no differences between genotypes when the opioid heroin was self-administered. These results suggest that a reduction in the serotonin transporter may confer susceptibility to the development of addiction to some classes of drugs but not others. Importantly, the mechanism underlying facilitated psychostimulant self-administration is currently unknown. METHODS Therefore, to continue investigating the relationship between compromised serotonergic function and different classes of drugs, a series of experiments was conducted investigating locomotor activity (LMA) and conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in the serotonin transporter knockout (SERT KO) rat model. RESULTS MDMA-induced hyperactivity was reduced, while MDMA-induced CTA was enhanced, in SERT KO rats. However, there were no genotype differences in heroin-induced behaviours. CONCLUSIONS These results reinforce the idea that a reduction in the serotonin transporter drives differential effects between disparate classes of drugs of abuse.
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