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Aged rats with different performances at environmental enrichment onset display different modulation of habituation and aversive memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 161:83-91. [PMID: 30951838 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A wide agreement exists that environmental enrichment (EE) is most beneficial if introduced early in life, but numerous studies reported that also aged animals remain responsive. As age-related memory and cognition impairments are not uniform, an open question is whether EE might exert different effects in animals with different age-related deficits. A 12-week EE protocol was applied to late adult rats pretested for habituation and aversive memory. Animals were classified as low (LP) and high (HP) performers according to percent exploration change in Open Field test (OF) and as impaired (I) and not impaired (NI) according to latency in Step-through Passive Avoidance test (PA). Standard housing (SH) animals pretested by OF and PA, and naïve (non-pretested) EE and SH rats were used as controls. In comparison to pretest, after the housing protocol, EE LP ameliorated while EE HP and both SH HP and LP worsened their habituation pattern. The positive influence of EE on LP was probably due to the more active interaction with and the faster adaptation to surroundings promoted by continuous, multiple stimuli provided during the enriched housing. Regarding HP, EE did not boost the basal behavior, which likely represented the maximum achievable for that age, and the post housing exploration change dropped, as in SH animals, because of the retesting. After EE, a significant percentage of NI animals became I and a significant percentage of I animals became NI. The changes evidenced in the NI group likely depended on EE-related reduction of anxiety and the consequent more efficient coping with fearful situations. This hypothesis was strengthened by the observation that naïve EE animals were almost all I. Pretested EE I rats were not influenced by the rearing condition: their behavior was comparable to SH animals' behavior and determined by retesting. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that, when applied to aging rats, EE produces different effects based on pre-housing cognitive performances. The issue needs further analyses, but the observation that not all animals are able to take advantage of EE to the same extent suggests the opportunity to design individually tailored approaches to optimize their efficacy and minimize possible unwanted consequences.
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52
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Clemenson GD, Henningfield CM, Stark CEL. Improving Hippocampal Memory Through the Experience of a Rich Minecraft Environment. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:57. [PMID: 30949036 PMCID: PMC6437107 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the brain changes in response to the surrounding environment. The hippocampus has been shown to be particularly susceptible to environmental enrichment, with effects ranging from the generation of new hippocampal neurons and synapses to an increased expression of neurotrophic factors. While many of these changes in the hippocampus are well documented in animals, our understanding of how environmental enrichment can apply to humans is more ambiguous. In animals, spatial exploration has been shown to be a clear way to elicit the effects of environmental enrichment and considering the role of the hippocampus in spatial navigation, which has been shown in both animal models and humans, it suggests a viable avenue for translation of environmental enrichment to humans. Here, we test the hypothesis that the spatial exploration of a virtual video game environment, can impact the hippocampus and lead to an improvement in hippocampal-dependent memory. Using the video game Minecraft, we tested four groups of participants, each playing on custom servers and focusing on different aspects of Minecraft to test the effects of both building and exploration over the course of 2 weeks. We found an improvement in hippocampus-associated memory from pre-test to post-test and that the degree of improvement was tied to both the amount of exploration of the Minecraft world and the complexity of the structures built within Minecraft. Thus, the number of enrichment participants engaged in while playing Minecraft was directly correlated with improvements in hippocampal-dependent memory outside of the game.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory D Clemenson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Caden M Henningfield
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Craig E L Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Leibowitz JA, Natarajan G, Zhou J, Carney PR, Ormerod BK. Sustained somatostatin gene expression reverses kindling-induced increases in the number of dividing Type-1 neural stem cells in the hippocampi of behaviorally responsive rats. Epilepsy Res 2019; 150:78-94. [PMID: 30735971 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis persists throughout life in the hippocampi of all mammals, including humans. In the healthy hippocampus, relatively quiescent Type-1 neural stem cells (NSCs) can give rise to more proliferative Type-2a neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which generate neuronal-committed Type-2b NPCs that mature into Type-3 neuroblasts. Many Type-3 neuroblasts survive and mature into functionally integrated granule neurons over several weeks. In kindling models of epilepsy, neurogenesis is drastically upregulated and many new neurons form aberrant connections that could support epileptogenesis and/or seizures. We have shown that sustained vector-mediated hippocampal somatostatin (SST) expression can both block epileptogenesis and reverse seizure susceptibility in fully kindled rats. Here we test whether adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated sustained SST expression modulates hippocampal neurogenesis and microglial activation in fully kindled rats. We found significantly more dividing Type-1 NSCs and a corresponding increased number of surviving new neurons in the hippocampi of kindled versus sham-kindled rats. Increased numbers of activated microglia were found in the granule cell layer and hilus of kindled rats at both time points. After intrahippocampal injection with either eGFP or SST-eGFP vector, we found similar numbers of dividing Type-1 NSCs and -2 NPCs and surviving BrdU+ neurons and glia in the hippocampi of kindled rats. Upon observed variability in responses to SST-eGFP (2/4 rats exhibited Grade 0 seizures in the test session), we conducted an additional experiment. We found significantly fewer dividing Type-1 NSCs in the hippocampi of SST-eGFP vector-treated responder rats (5/13 rats) relative to SST-eGFP vector-treated non-responders and eGFP vector-treated controls that exhibited high-grade seizures on the test session. The number of activated microglia was upregulated in the GCL and hilus of kindled rats, regardless of vector treatment. These data support the hypothesis that sustained SST expression exerts antiepileptic effects potentially through normalization of neurogenesis and suggests that abnormally high proliferating Type-1 NSC numbers may be a cellular mechanism of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gowri Natarajan
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, USA; Neuroscience Program, USA
| | - Junli Zhou
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, USA; Neuroscience Program, USA
| | - Paul R Carney
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, USA; Neuroscience Program, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Brandi K Ormerod
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, USA; Department of Neuroscience, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, USA.
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54
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Burke SN, Foster TC. Animal models of cognitive aging and circuit-specific vulnerability. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2019; 167:19-36. [PMID: 31753133 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-804766-8.00002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Medial temporal lobe and prefrontal cortical structures are particularly vulnerable to dysfunction in advanced age and neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on cognitive aging studies in animals to illustrate the important aspects of the animal model paradigm for investigation of age-related memory and executive function loss. Particular attention is paid to the discussion of the face, construct, and predictive validity of animal models for determining the possible mechanisms of regional vulnerability in aging and for identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Aging is associated with a host of regionally specific neurobiologic alterations. Thus, targeted interventions that restore normal activity in one brain region may exacerbate aberrant activity in another, hindering the restoration of function at the behavioral level. As such, interventions that target the optimization of "cognitive networks" rather than discrete brain regions may be more effective for improving functional outcomes in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara N Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, William L. and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, William L. and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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55
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Wang X, Meng Z, Wang J, Zhou H, Wu Y, Wu J. Enriched environment improves working memory impairment of mice with traumatic brain injury by enhancing histone acetylation in the prefrontal cortex. PeerJ 2018; 6:e6113. [PMID: 30568864 PMCID: PMC6287579 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Working memory impairment is a common cognitive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which severely affects the quality of life of patients. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which is closely related to cognitive functions. In addition, epigenetic modifications are also related to cognitive functions. A neurorehabilitation strategy, enriched environment (EE) intervention, has been widely used to improve cognitive impairment. However, studies of the mechanism of EE on cholinergic system and epigenetic modifications in mouse with TBI have not been reported yet. In this paper, a mouse model with traumatic frontal lobe injury was established, and the mechanism on EE for the mice with TBI was explored. It was found that EE could improve Y-maze performance of mice with TBI, the function of cholinergic system, and the imbalance of acetylation homeostasis in the prefrontal cortex of contralateral side of TBI. In addition, EE also could increase the level of CREB binding protein and histones H3 acetylation at ChAT gene promoter region in the prefrontal cortex of contralateral side of TBI. These indicate that EE has an important effect on the improvement of working memory impairment and the underlying mechanism may involve in histones H3 acetylation at ChAT gene promoter regions in the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhaoxiang Meng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jibing Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yi Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Junfa Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
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56
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Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: A Coming-of-Age Story. J Neurosci 2018; 38:10401-10410. [PMID: 30381404 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2144-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
What has become standard textbook knowledge over the last decade was a hotly debated matter a decade earlier: the proposition that new neurons are generated in the adult mammalian CNS. The early discovery by Altman and colleagues in the 1960s was vulnerable to criticism due to the lack of technical strategies for unequivocal demonstration, quantification, and physiological analysis of newly generated neurons in adult brain tissue. After several technological advancements had been made in the field, we published a paper in 1996 describing the generation of new neurons in the adult rat brain and the decline of hippocampal neurogenesis during aging. The paper coincided with the publication of several other studies that together established neurogenesis as a cellular mechanism in the adult mammalian brain. In this Progressions article, which is by no means a comprehensive review, we recount our personal view of the initial setting that led to our study and we discuss some of its implications and developments that followed. We also address questions that remain regarding the regulation and function of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain, in particular the existence of neurogenesis in the adult human brain.
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57
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Leijser LM, Siddiqi A, Miller SP. Imaging Evidence of the Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Brain Structure and Development. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2018; 27:26-34. [PMID: 30293587 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown an association between children's socio-economic status (SES) and disparities in neurocognitive development, achievements, and function later in life. Research focus has recently shifted to imaging of the brain's response to the child's environment. This review summarizes the emerging studies on the influences of early-life SES on brain structure and development, and addresses the relation between brain development and enriched environments. The studies provide evidence of significant associations between SES and brain structure, growth and maturation, not only in healthy infants and children but also in infants with medical conditions. This suggests that the relation between SES and later-life function and achievements operates through alterations in brain maturation. Although the brain changes seem to persist without intervention, animal models of environmental enrichment show the potential of SES-related brain changes to be reversible and dynamic. This review underscores the critical need for reducing the impact of socio-economic disparities and early targeted and prolonged interventions, and highlights the potential of these interventions leading to optimal opportunities for our youngest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Maria Leijser
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children and The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Arjumand Siddiqi
- Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Steven Paul Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children and The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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58
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Balthazar J, Schöwe NM, Cipolli GC, Buck HS, Viel TA. Enriched Environment Significantly Reduced Senile Plaques in a Transgenic Mice Model of Alzheimer's Disease, Improving Memory. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:288. [PMID: 30319394 PMCID: PMC6168651 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00288] [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: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a progressive dementia, and there is good evidence that it is more pronounced in individuals that have fewer stimuli during their lives. Environmental stimulation promotes morphological and functional changes in the brain, leading to amplification of cognitive functions, and has been described in humans and animals. In this study, we evaluated the effects of enriched environment (EE) stimulation on spatial memory and senile plaque formation in transgenic mice PDGFB-APPSwInd (TG) that overexpress the human amyloid precursor protein, normally resulting in an increased density of senile plaques. We compared this group of EE stimulated transgenic mice (TG-EE) with an EE stimulated control group of age-matched C57Bl/6 wild type animals (WT-EE). Both groups were exposed to EE stimulation between the ages of 8 and 12 months. As controls of the experiment, there were a group of TG mice not exposed to EE (TG-Ctrl) and a group of WT mice not exposed to EE (WT-Ctrl). The TG-EE group presented improved spatial memory when compared to the TG-Ctrl animals. In addition, the TG-EE group showed a 69.2% reduction in the total density of senile plaques in the hippocampus when compared to the TG-Ctrl group. In this group, the concentration of senile plaques was greater in the dorsal part of the hippocampus, which is linked to spatial localization, and the reduction of this density after the submission to EE was as high as 85.1%. EE stimulation had no effect on the density of amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers. However, amyloid scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-B1) density was significantly decreased in the TG-Ctrl mice, but not in the TG-EE mice, suggesting that cognitive stimulation had an effect on the formation of a cognitive reserve that could prevent the accumulation of senile plaques. It is suggested that the stimulation of old mice by EE for 4 months led to the formation of brain resilience that protected the brain from the deposition of senile plaques, one of the hallmarks of AD, leading to improvement in spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Balthazar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Mendes Schöwe
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Hudson Sousa Buck
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tania Araujo Viel
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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59
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Impact of 1-day and 4-day MWM training techniques on oxidative and neurochemical profile in rat brain: A comparative study on learning and memory functions. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:390-402. [PMID: 30195048 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Among multiple behavioral tasks used to assess memory performance, Morris water maze (MWM) is a well-known and reliable conventional behavioral task to monitor spatial memory performance in rodents. Although multiple procedures are employed by researchers for spatial learning training in MWM, but less is known about impact of these training protocol variations on oxidative and neurochemical systems. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether variations in training protocol will influence spatial memory performance and induce changes in oxidative status and cholinergic and aminergic neurotransmission in rat brain. For this, rats were assigned to four groups; control (unexposed), 1-trial (exposed to single training trial), 1-day (exposed to four training trials for a single day) and 4-day (exposed to four training trials for four days). After conducting training, spatial reference memory performance was determined by performing retention and consolidation probe trials. Rats were then decapitated and their brain and plasma samples were collected for biochemical, oxidative and neurochemical analysis. It was found that spatial reference memory was improved following both 1-day and 4-day training protocols, however, corticosterone levels were raised extensively following 4-day training exposure compared to 1-day training protocol. Similarly, a significant improvement in redox profile and cholinergic and aminergic neurotransmitters was also observed following 1-day training procedure. Thus, 1-day training procedure can be suggested as a better procedure for assessing the spatial memory performance in rats as it has a profound impact on antioxidant status and cholinergic and aminergic neurotransmission in brain. Moreover, use of single-day training procedure can provide a rapid and effective tool for assessing spatial memory in rats compared to prolonged and complicated 4-day training protocol.
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60
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Umemori J, Winkel F, Didio G, Llach Pou M, Castrén E. iPlasticity: Induced juvenile-like plasticity in the adult brain as a mechanism of antidepressants. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:633-653. [PMID: 29802758 PMCID: PMC6174980 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The network hypothesis of depression proposes that mood disorders reflect problems in information processing within particular neural networks. Antidepressants (AD), including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), function by gradually improving information processing within these networks. AD have been shown to induce a state of juvenile-like plasticity comparable to that observed during developmental critical periods: Such critical-period-like plasticity allows brain networks to better adapt to extrinsic and intrinsic signals. We have coined this drug-induced state of juvenile-like plasticity 'iPlasticity.' A combination of iPlasticity induced by chronic SSRI treatment together with training, rehabilitation, or psychotherapy improves symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders and issues underlying the developmentally or genetically malfunctioning networks. We have proposed that iPlasticity might be a critical component of AD action. We have demonstrated that iPlasticity occurs in the visual cortex, fear erasure network, extinction of aggression caused by social isolation, and spatial reversal memory in rodent models. Chronic SSRI treatment is known to promote neurogenesis and to cause dematuration of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and of interneurons, especially parvalbumin interneurons enwrapped by perineuronal nets in the prefrontal cortex, visual cortex, and amygdala. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), via its receptor tropomyosin kinase receptor B, is involved in the processes of synaptic plasticity, including neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, weight of synapses, and gene regulation of synaptic formation. BDNF can be activated by both chronic SSRI treatment and neuronal activity. Accordingly, the BDNF/tropomyosin kinase receptor B pathway is critical for iPlasticity, but further analyses will be needed to provide mechanical insight into the processes of iPlasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juzoh Umemori
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Frederike Winkel
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Giuliano Didio
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Maria Llach Pou
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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61
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Smith BM, Yao X, Chen KS, Kirby ED. A Larger Social Network Enhances Novel Object Location Memory and Reduces Hippocampal Microgliosis in Aged Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:142. [PMID: 29904345 PMCID: PMC5990613 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian hippocampus shows marked decline in function with aging across many species, including humans and laboratory rodent models. This decline frequently manifests in memory impairments that occur even in the absence of dementia pathology. In humans, a number of factors correlate with preserved hippocampal memory in aging, such as exercise, cognitive stimulation and number of social ties. While interventional studies and animal models clearly indicate that exercise and cognitive stimulation lead to hippocampal preservation, there is relatively little research on whether a decline in social ties leads to cognitive decline or vice versa. Even in animal studies of environmental enrichment in aging, the focus typically falls on physical enrichment such as a rotating cast of toys, rather than the role of social interactions. The present studies investigated the hypothesis that a greater number of social ties in aging mice would lead to improved hippocampal function. Aged, female C57/Bl6 mice were housed for 3 months in pairs or large groups (7 mice per cage). Group-housed mice showed greater novel object location memory and stronger preference for a spatial navigation strategy in the Barnes maze, though no difference in escape latency, compared to pair-housed mice. Group-housed mice did not differ from pair-housed mice in basal corticosterone levels or adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Group-housed mice did, however, show reduced numbers of Iba1/CD68+ microglia in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that group housing led to better memory function and reduced markers of neuroinflammation in aged mice. More broadly, they support a causative link between social ties and hippocampal function, suggesting that merely having a larger social network can positively influence the aging brain. Future research should address the molecular mechanisms by which a greater number of social ties alters hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryon M Smith
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Xinyue Yao
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kelly S Chen
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth D Kirby
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Center for Chronic Brain Injury, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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62
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Ohline SM, Abraham WC. Environmental enrichment effects on synaptic and cellular physiology of hippocampal neurons. Neuropharmacology 2018; 145:3-12. [PMID: 29634984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure of rodents to an enriched environment (EE) has been shown to reliably increase performance on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory tasks, compared to conspecifics living in standard housing conditions. Here we review the EE-related functional changes in synaptic and cellular properties for neurons in the dentate gyrus and area CA1, as assessed through in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological approaches. There is a growing consensus of findings regarding the pattern of effects seen. Most prominently, there are changes in cellular excitability and synaptic plasticity in CA1, particularly with short-term and/or periodic exposure to EE. Such changes are much less evident after longer term continuous exposure to EE. In the dentate gyrus, increases in synaptic transmission as well as cell excitability become evident after short-term EE exposure, while the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate is remarkably insensitive, even though it is reliably enhanced by voluntary running. Recent evidence has added a new dimension to the understanding of EE effects on hippocampal electrophysiology by revealing an increased sparsity of place cell representations after long periods of EE treatment. It is possible that such connectivity change is one of the key factors contributing to the enhancement of hippocampus-dependent spatial learning over the long-term, even if there are no obvious changes in other markers such as LTP. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Neurobiology of Environmental Enrichment".
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Ohline
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - W C Abraham
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, New Zealand.
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63
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Pfeffer A, Munder T, Schreyer S, Klein C, Rasińska J, Winter Y, Steiner B. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and impaired cognition reflect unsuccessful neuronal compensation in the pre-plaque stage and serve as early markers for Alzheimer's disease in the APP23 mouse model. Behav Brain Res 2018; 347:300-313. [PMID: 29572105 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) focuses on processes prior to amyloid-beta plaque deposition accounting for the progress of the disease. However, early mechanisms of AD are still poorly understood and predictors of the disease in the pre-plaque stage essential for initiating an early therapy are lacking. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and potentially impaired cognition may serve as predictors and early clinical diagnostic markers for AD. To investigate potential BPSD and cognitive impairments in association with neuronal cell development as such markers for AD in the pre-plaque stage, female APP23 mice at eight, 19 and 31 weeks of age and corresponding control animals were tested for BPSD (elevated zero maze; sucrose preference test), motor coordination (rotarod), spatial memory and reversal learning (Morris water maze) and hippocampal neurogenesis as a neuronal correlate for hippocampus-dependent behavior. To evaluate a potential therapeutic effect of physical, cognitive and social stimulation, animals were exposed to environmental enrichment (EE) for one, twelve or 24 weeks from five weeks of age. In APP23, decreased anxiety accompanied increased agitation from eight weeks of age. Impairment of spatial memory and learning flexibility prior to plaque deposition involved an insufficient use of spatial search strategies associated with an unsuccessful compensatory increase of neurogenesis. EE had an overall beneficial effect on behavior and neurogenesis and thus constitutes a therapeutic tool to slow disease progression. BPSD, cognition and associated impaired neurogenesis complement clinical diagnostic markers for pre-plaque AD and contribute to an early detection essential to halt disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pfeffer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tonia Munder
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schreyer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Charlotte Klein
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Justyna Rasińska
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - York Winter
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Steiner
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Neurology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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Sampedro-Piquero P, Álvarez-Suárez P, Begega A. Coping with Stress During Aging: The Importance of a Resilient Brain. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:284-296. [PMID: 28925881 PMCID: PMC5843980 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170915141610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/01/1970] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resilience is the ability to achieve a positive outcome when we are in the face of adversity. It supposes an active resistance to adversity by coping mechanisms in which genetic, molecular, neural and environmental factors are involved. Resilience has been usually studied in early ages and few is known about it during aging. METHODS In this review, we will address the age-related changes in the brain mechanisms involved in regulating the stress response. Furthermore, using the EE paradigm, we analyse the resilient potential of this intervention and its neurobiological basis. In this case, we will focus on identifying the characteristics of a resilient brain (modifications in HPA structure and function, neurogenesis, specific neuron types, glia, neurotrophic factors, nitric oxide synthase or microRNAs, among others). RESULTS The evidence suggests that a healthy lifestyle has a crucial role to promote a resilient brain during aging. Along with the behavioral changes described, a better regulation of HPA axis, enhanced levels of postmitotic type-3 cells or changes in GABAergic neurotransmission are some of the brain mechanisms involved in resilience. CONCLUSION Future research should identify different biomarkers that increase the resistance to develop mood disorders and based on this knowledge, develop new potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Sampedro-Piquero
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las CC, Facultad de Psicología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga, Spain
| | - P. Álvarez-Suárez
- Institute of Neuroscience of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain
| | - A. Begega
- Institute of Neuroscience of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain
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Sampedro-Piquero P, Begega A. Environmental Enrichment as a Positive Behavioral Intervention Across the Lifespan. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 15:459-470. [PMID: 27012955 PMCID: PMC5543669 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x14666160325115909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent decades, the interest in behavioral interventions has been growing due to the higher prevalence of age-related cognitive impairments. Hence, behavioral interventions, such as cognitive stimulation and physical activity, and along with these, our lifestyle (education level, work position, frequency of cognitive and social activities) have shown important benefits during the cognitive impairment, dementia and even recovery after brain injury. This is due to the fact that this type of intervention and activities promote the formation of a cognitive and brain reserve that allows tolerating brain damage during a long period of time without the appearance of cognitive symptoms. With regard to this, animal models have proved very useful in providing information about the brain mechanisms involved in the development of these cognitive and brain reserves and how they interact with each other. METHODS We summarize several studies showing the positive effects of Environmental Enrichment (EE), understood as a housing condition in which animals benefit from the sensory, physical, cognitive and social stimulation provided, on brain and cognitive functions usually impaired during aging. RESULTS Most of studies have shown that EE is a successful protocol to improve cognitive functions and reduce anxiety-related behaviors across the lifespan, as well as in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. CONCLUSION Therefore, EE is a laboratory condition in which some aspects of an active lifestyle are reproduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sampedro-Piquero
- Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Begega
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Department, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n 33003 Oviedo, INEUROPA, Spain
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Cortese GP, Olin A, O'Riordan K, Hullinger R, Burger C. Environmental enrichment improves hippocampal function in aged rats by enhancing learning and memory, LTP, and mGluR5-Homer1c activity. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 63:1-11. [PMID: 29207276 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that environmental enrichment (EE) in young rats results in improved learning ability and enhanced metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (mGluR-dependent LTP) resulting from sustained activation of p70S6 kinase. Here, we investigated whether 1-month EE is sufficient to improve hippocampus-dependent learning and memory and enhance hippocampal LTP in 23-24 month-old Fischer 344 male rats. Aged rats were housed in environmentally enriched, socially enriched, or standard housing conditions. We find that aged rats exposed to 1-month of EE demonstrate enhanced learning and memory relative to standard housed controls when tested in the Morris water maze and novel object recognition behavioral tasks. Furthermore, we find that environmentally enriched rats perform significantly better than socially enriched or standard housed rats in the radial-arm water maze and display enhanced mGluR5-dependent hippocampal LTP. Enhanced hippocampal function results from activity-dependent increases in the levels of mGluR5, Homer1c, and phospho-p70S6 kinase. These findings demonstrate that a short exposure of EE to aged rats can have significant effects on hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe P Cortese
- Department of Neurology, Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrew Olin
- College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kenneth O'Riordan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rikki Hullinger
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Corinna Burger
- Department of Neurology, Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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Ahmadalipour A, Sadeghzadeh J, Samaei SA, Rashidy-Pour A. Protective Effects of Enriched Environment Against Transient Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Impairment of Passive Avoidance Memory and Long-Term Potentiation in Rats. Basic Clin Neurosci 2017; 8:443-452. [PMID: 29942428 PMCID: PMC6010655 DOI: 10.29252/nirp.bcn.8.6.443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enriched Environment (EE), a complex novel environment, has been demonstrated to improve synaptic plasticity in both injured and intact animals. The present study investigated the capacity of an early environmental intervention to normalize the impairment of passive avoidance memory and Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) induced by transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2-vessel occlusion, 2VO) in rats. Methods After weaning, young Wistar rats (22 days old) were housed in EE or Standard Environment (SE) for 40 days. Transient (30-min) incomplete forebrain ischemia was induced 4 days before the passive avoidance memory test and LTP induction. Results The transient forebrain ischemia led to impairment of passive avoidance memory and LTP induction in the Perforant Path-Dentate Gyrus (PP-DG) synapses. Interestingly, housing and growing in EE prior to 2VO was found to significantly reverse 2VO-induced cognitive and LTP impairments. Conclusion Our results suggest that early housing and growing in EE exhibits therapeutic potential to normalize cognitive and LTP abnormalities induced by 2VO ischemic model in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ahmadalipour
- Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Students Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Jafar Sadeghzadeh
- Students Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Seyed Afshin Samaei
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Ali Rashidy-Pour
- Laboratory of Learning and Memory, Physiology Research Center, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
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Mathews KJ, Allen KM, Boerrigter D, Ball H, Shannon Weickert C, Double KL. Evidence for reduced neurogenesis in the aging human hippocampus despite stable stem cell markers. Aging Cell 2017; 16:1195-1199. [PMID: 28766905 PMCID: PMC5595679 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced neurogenesis in the aging mammalian hippocampus has been linked to cognitive deficits and increased risk of dementia. We utilized postmortem human hippocampal tissue from 26 subjects aged 18–88 years to investigate changes in expression of six genes representing different stages of neurogenesis across the healthy adult lifespan. Progressive and significant decreases in mRNA levels of the proliferation marker Ki67 (MKI67) and the immature neuronal marker doublecortin (DCX) were found in the healthy human hippocampus over the lifespan. In contrast, expression of genes for the stem cell marker glial fibrillary acidic protein delta and the neuronal progenitor marker eomesodermin was unchanged with age. These data are consistent with a persistence of the hippocampal stem cell population with age. Age‐associated expression of the proliferation and immature neuron markers MKI67 and DCX, respectively, was unrelated, suggesting that neurogenesis‐associated processes are independently altered at these points in the development from stem cell to neuron. These data are the first to demonstrate normal age‐related decreases at specific stages of adult human hippocampal neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J. Mathews
- Discipline of Biomedical Science and Brain and Mind Centre; Sydney Medical School; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Katherine M. Allen
- Neuroscience Research Australia; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
- Schizophrenia Research Institute; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Danny Boerrigter
- Neuroscience Research Australia; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
- Schizophrenia Research Institute; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Helen Ball
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Facility; Bosch Institute; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
- Schizophrenia Research Institute; Randwick NSW 2031 Australia
- School of Psychiatry; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Kay L. Double
- Discipline of Biomedical Science and Brain and Mind Centre; Sydney Medical School; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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Twelve-Week Exercise Influences Memory Complaint but not Memory Performance in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Aging Phys Act 2017; 25:612-620. [PMID: 28290764 DOI: 10.1123/japa.2016-0249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types of exercise on memory performance and memory complaint after a 12-week intervention. Eighty community-dwelling volunteers, aged 66.96 ± 11.73 years, were randomly divided into four groups: resistance, cardiovascular, postural, and control groups (20 participants for each group). All participants were tested for their cognitive functions before and after their respective 12-week intervention using Rey memory words test, Prose memory test, and Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Statistical analysis showed that the three experimental groups significantly improved MAC-Q scores in comparison with the control group (p < .05). The variation of MAC-Q scores and the variations of Rey and Prose memory tests scores were not correlated. These results indicate that the 12-week interventions exclusively influenced memory complaint but not memory performance. Further investigations are needed to understand the relation between memory complaint and memory performance, and the factors that can influence this relationship.
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McGuiness JA, Scheinert RB, Asokan A, Stadler VC, Lee CS, Rani A, Kumar A, Foster TC, Ormerod BK. Indomethacin Increases Neurogenesis across Age Groups and Improves Delayed Probe Trial Difference Scores in Middle-Aged Rats. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:280. [PMID: 28928652 PMCID: PMC5591789 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
We tested whether indomethacin or rosiglitazone treatment could rejuvenate spatial ability and hippocampal neurogenesis in aging rats. Young (4 mo; n = 30), middle-aged (12 mo; n = 31), and aged (18 mo; n = 31) male Fischer 344 rats were trained and then tested in a rapid acquisition water maze task and then fed vehicle (500 μl strawberry milk), indomethacin (2.0 mg/ml), or rosiglitazone (8.0 mg/ml) twice daily for the remainder of the experiment. A week after drug treatment commenced, the rats were given 3 daily BrdU (50 mg/kg) injections to test whether age-related declines in neurogenesis were reversed. One week after the final BrdU injection (~2.5 weeks after the 1st water maze session), the rats were trained to a find novel hidden water maze platform location, tested on 15 min and 24 h probe trials and then killed 24 h later. During the first water maze session, young rats outperformed aged rats but all rats learned information about the hidden platform location. Middle-aged and aged rats exhibited better memory probe trial performances than young rats in the 2nd water maze session and indomethacin improved memory probe trial performances on the 2nd vs. 1st water maze session in middle-aged rats. Middle-aged rats with more new neurons had fewer phagocytic microglia and exhibited better hidden platform training trial performances on the 2nd water maze session. Regardless of age, indomethacin increased new hippocampal neuron numbers and both rosiglitazone and indomethacin increased subependymal neuroblasts/neuron densities. Taken together, our results suggest the feasibility of studying the effects of longer-term immunomodulation on age-related declines in cognition and neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. McGuiness
- Department of Neuroscience, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Rachel B. Scheinert
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Aditya Asokan
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Vivien-Charlott Stadler
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Christian S. Lee
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Asha Rani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Thomas C. Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brandi K. Ormerod
- Department of Neuroscience, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, United States
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Acevedo-Triana CA, Rojas MJ, Cardenas FP. Running wheel training does not change neurogenesis levels or alter working memory tasks in adult rats. PeerJ 2017; 5:e2976. [PMID: 28503368 PMCID: PMC5426350 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exercise can change cellular structure and connectivity (neurogenesis or synaptogenesis), causing alterations in both behavior and working memory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise on working memory and hippocampal neurogenesis in adult male Wistar rats using a T-maze test. METHODS An experimental design with two groups was developed: the experimental group (n = 12) was subject to a forced exercise program for five days, whereas the control group (n = 9) stayed in the home cage. Six to eight weeks after training, the rats' working memory was evaluated in a T-maze test and four choice days were analyzed, taking into account alternation as a working memory indicator. Hippocampal neurogenesis was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry of BrdU positive cells. RESULTS No differences between groups were found in the behavioral variables (alternation, preference index, time of response, time of trial or feeding), or in the levels of BrdU positive cells. DISCUSSION Results suggest that although exercise may have effects on brain structure, a construct such as working memory may require more complex changes in networks or connections to demonstrate a change at behavioral level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuel J. Rojas
- Animal Health Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
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Blasi V, Baglio G, Baglio F, Canevini MP, Zanette M. Movement cognition and narration of the emotions treatment versus standard speech therapy in the treatment of children with borderline intellectual functioning: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17:146. [PMID: 28427388 PMCID: PMC5397820 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-017-1309-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) is defined as a "health meta-condition… characterized by various cognitive dysfunctions associated with an intellectual quotient (IQ) between 71 and 85 which determines a deficit in the individual's functioning both in the restriction of activities and in the limitation of social participation". It can be caused by many factors, including a disadvantaged background and prematurity. BIF affects 7-12% of primary school children that show academic difficulties due to poor executive functioning. In many children with BIF, language, movement and social abilities are also affected, making it difficult to take part in daily activities. Dropping out of school and psychological afflictions such as anxiety and depression are common in children with BIF. This study investigates whether an intensive rehabilitation program that involves all of the areas affected in children with BIF (Movement, Cognition and Narration of emotions, MCNT) is more effective than Standard Speech Therapy (SST). METHODS This is a multicenter interventional single blind randomized controlled study. Children aged between 6 to 11 years who attend a mainstream primary school and have multiple learning difficulties, behavioral problems and an IQ ranging between 85 to 70 have been enrolled. Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. The first group receives individual treatment with SST for 45 min, twice a week for 9 months. The second group receives the experimental treatment MCNT for 3 h per day, 5 days/ week for 9 months and children work in small groups. The third group consists of children on a waiting list for the SST for nine months. DISCUSSION BIF is a very frequent condition with no ad hoc treatment. Over the long term, there is a high risk to develop psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Due to its high social impact, we consider it very important to intervene during childhood so as to intercept the remarkable plasticity of the developing brain. TRIAL REGISTRATION "Study Let them grow: A new intensive and multimodal Treatment for children with borderline intellectual functioning based on Movement, Cognition and Narration of emotions", retrospectively registered in ISRCTN Register with ISRCTN81710297 at 2017-01-09.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Blasi
- IRCCS, Fondazione don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.
| | - G Baglio
- 0000 0001 1090 9021grid.418563.dIRCCS, Fondazione don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - F Baglio
- 0000 0001 1090 9021grid.418563.dIRCCS, Fondazione don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - MP Canevini
- 0000 0004 1757 2822grid.4708.bDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; ASST S. Paolo and S. Carlo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - M Zanette
- 0000 0001 1090 9021grid.418563.dIRCCS, Fondazione don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy
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Dehydroepiandrosterone increases the number and dendrite maturation of doublecortin cells in the dentate gyrus of middle age male Wistar rats exposed to chronic mild stress. Behav Brain Res 2017; 321:137-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Xiong M, Jones OD, Peppercorn K, Ohline SM, Tate WP, Abraham WC. Secreted amyloid precursor protein-alpha can restore novel object location memory and hippocampal LTP in aged rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 138:291-299. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Di Benedetto S, Müller L, Wenger E, Düzel S, Pawelec G. Contribution of neuroinflammation and immunity to brain aging and the mitigating effects of physical and cognitive interventions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 75:114-128. [PMID: 28161508 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the brain and the immune system continuously interact during normal as well as pathological functioning. Human aging is commonly accompanied by low-grade inflammation in both the immune and central nervous systems, thought to contribute to many age-related diseases. This review of the current literature focuses first on the normal neuroimmune interactions occurring in the brain, which promote learning, memory and neuroplasticity. Further, we discuss the protective and dynamic role of barriers to neuroimmune interactions, which have become clearer with the recent discovery of the meningeal lymphatic system. Next, we consider age-related changes of the immune system and possible deleterious influences of immunosenescence and low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) on neurodegenerative processes in the normally aging brain. We survey the major immunomodulators and neuroregulators in the aging brain and their highly tuned dynamic and reciprocal interactions. Finally, we consider our current understanding of how physical activity, as well as a combination of physical and cognitive interventions, may mediate anti-inflammatory effects and thus positively impact brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Di Benedetto
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany; Center for Medical Research, Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tübingen, Waldhörnlestr. 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ludmila Müller
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Wenger
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Düzel
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Graham Pawelec
- Center for Medical Research, Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tübingen, Waldhörnlestr. 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
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Wang X, Chen A, Wu H, Ye M, Cheng H, Jiang X, Wang X, Zhang X, Wu D, Gu X, Shen F, Shan C, Yu D. Enriched environment improves post-stroke cognitive impairment in mice by potential regulation of acetylation homeostasis in cholinergic circuits. Brain Res 2016; 1650:232-242. [PMID: 27637156 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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77
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Diniz DG, de Oliveira MA, de Lima CM, Fôro CAR, Sosthenes MCK, Bento-Torres J, da Costa Vasconcelos PF, Anthony DC, Diniz CWP. Age, environment, object recognition and morphological diversity of GFAP-immunolabeled astrocytes. Behav Brain Funct 2016; 12:28. [PMID: 27719674 PMCID: PMC5056502 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-016-0111-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Few studies have explored the glial response to a standard environment and how the response may be associated with age-related cognitive decline in learning and memory. Here we investigated aging and environmental influences on hippocampal-dependent tasks and on the morphology of an unbiased selected population of astrocytes from the molecular layer of dentate gyrus, which is the main target of perforant pathway. Results Six and twenty-month-old female, albino Swiss mice were housed, from weaning, in a standard or enriched environment, including running wheels for exercise and tested for object recognition and contextual memories. Young adult and aged subjects, independent of environment, were able to distinguish familiar from novel objects. All experimental groups, except aged mice from standard environment, distinguish stationary from displaced objects. Young adult but not aged mice, independent of environment, were able to distinguish older from recent objects. Only young mice from an enriched environment were able to distinguish novel from familiar contexts. Unbiased selected astrocytes from the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus were reconstructed in three-dimensions and classified using hierarchical cluster analysis of bimodal or multimodal morphological features. We found two morphological phenotypes of astrocytes and we designated type I the astrocytes that exhibited significantly higher values of morphological complexity as compared with type II. Complexity = [Sum of the terminal orders + Number of terminals] × [Total branch length/Number of primary branches]. On average, type I morphological complexity seems to be much more sensitive to age and environmental influences than that of type II. Indeed, aging and environmental impoverishment interact and reduce the morphological complexity of type I astrocytes at a point that they could not be distinguished anymore from type II. Conclusions We suggest these two types of astrocytes may have different physiological roles and that the detrimental effects of aging on memory in mice from a standard environment may be associated with a reduction of astrocytes morphological diversity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12993-016-0111-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Guerreiro Diniz
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil.,Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
| | - Marcus Augusto de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil
| | - Camila Mendes de Lima
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil
| | - César Augusto Raiol Fôro
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil
| | - Marcia Consentino Kronka Sosthenes
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil
| | - João Bento-Torres
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Clive Anthony
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK
| | - Cristovam Wanderley Picanço Diniz
- Laboratório de Investigações Em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Rua dos Mundurucus 4487, Guamá, Belém, Pará, CEP 66073-000, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK.
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Lee Y, Jeon SJ, Lee HE, Jung IH, Jo YW, Lee S, Cheong JH, Jang DS, Ryu JH. Spinosin, a C-glycoside flavonoid, enhances cognitive performance and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 145:9-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Foster TC, Kyritsopoulos C, Kumar A. Central role for NMDA receptors in redox mediated impairment of synaptic function during aging and Alzheimer's disease. Behav Brain Res 2016; 322:223-232. [PMID: 27180169 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Increased human longevity has magnified the negative impact that aging can have on cognitive integrity of older individuals experiencing some decline in cognitive function. Approximately 30% of the elderly will have cognitive problems that influence their independence. Impaired executive function and memory performance are observed in normal aging and yet can be an early sign of a progressive cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Brain regions that are vulnerable to aging exhibit the earliest pathology of AD. Senescent synaptic function is observed as a shift in Ca2+-dependent synaptic plasticity and similar mechanisms are thought to contribute to the early cognitive deficits associated with AD. In the case of aging, intracellular redox state mediates a shift in Ca2+ regulation including N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction and increased Ca2+ release from intracellular stores to alter synaptic plasticity. AD can interact with these aging processes such that molecules linked to AD, β-amyloid (Aβ) and mutated presenilin 1 (PS1), can also degrade NMDA receptor function, promote Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, and may increase oxidative stress. Thus, age is one of the most important predictors of AD and brain aging likely contributes to the onset of AD. The focus of this review article is to provide an update on mechanisms that contribute to the senescent synapse and possible interactions with AD-related molecules, with special emphasis on regulation of NMDA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America.
| | - C Kyritsopoulos
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - A Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America.
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80
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Murphy CFB, Rabelo CM, Silagi ML, Mansur LL, Schochat E. Impact of Educational Level on Performance on Auditory Processing Tests. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:97. [PMID: 27013958 PMCID: PMC4785234 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Research has demonstrated that a higher level of education is associated with better performance on cognitive tests among middle-aged and elderly people. However, the effects of education on auditory processing skills have not yet been evaluated. Previous demonstrations of sensory-cognitive interactions in the aging process indicate the potential importance of this topic. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of middle-aged and elderly people with different levels of formal education on auditory processing tests. A total of 177 adults with no evidence of cognitive, psychological or neurological conditions took part in the research. The participants completed a series of auditory assessments, including dichotic digit, frequency pattern and speech-in-noise tests. A working memory test was also performed to investigate the extent to which auditory processing and cognitive performance were associated. The results demonstrated positive but weak correlations between years of schooling and performance on all of the tests applied. The factor “years of schooling” was also one of the best predictors of frequency pattern and speech-in-noise test performance. Additionally, performance on the working memory, frequency pattern and dichotic digit tests was also correlated, suggesting that the influence of educational level on auditory processing performance might be associated with the cognitive demand of the auditory processing tests rather than auditory sensory aspects itself. Longitudinal research is required to investigate the causal relationship between educational level and auditory processing skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina F B Murphy
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila M Rabelo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcela L Silagi
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia L Mansur
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliane Schochat
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
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81
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Vega-Rivera NM, Ortiz-López L, Gómez-Sánchez A, Oikawa-Sala J, Estrada-Camarena EM, Ramírez-Rodríguez GB. The neurogenic effects of an enriched environment and its protection against the behavioral consequences of chronic mild stress persistent after enrichment cessation in six-month-old female Balb/C mice. Behav Brain Res 2015; 301:72-83. [PMID: 26721469 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Because stress may underlie the presence of depressive episodes, strategies to produce protection against or to reverse the effects of stress on neuroplasticity and behavior are relevant. Preclinical studies showed that exposure to stimuli, such as physical activity and environmental enrichment (ENR), produce beneficial effects against stress causing antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Additionally, ENR induces positive effects on neuroplasticity, neurochemistry and behavior at any age of rodents tested. Here, we analyzed whether ENR exposure prevents the development of depressive-like behavior produced by unpredictable, chronic mild stress (CMS) exposure as well as changes in hippocampal neurogenesis in a six-month-old female Balb/C mice, strain that shows low baseline levels of hippocampal neurogenesis. Mice were assigned to one of four groups: (1) normal housing-normal housing (NH-NH), (2) NH-CMS, (3) ENR-NH, or (4) ENR-CMS. The animals were exposed over 46 days to ENR or NH and subsequently to NH or CMS for 4 weeks. ENR induces long-term effects protecting against CMS induction of anhedonia and hopelessness behaviors. Independent of housing conditions, ENR increased the number of proliferative cells (Ki67), and CMS decreased the number of proliferative cells. ENR increased the newborn cells (BrdU) and mature phenotypes of neurons; these effects were not changed by CMS exposure. Similarly, the number of doublecortin-positive cells was not affected by CMS in ENR mice, which showed more cells with complex dendrite arborizations. Our study suggests that ENR induces protection against the effects of CMS on behavior and neuroplasticity in six-month-old Balb/C mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Maritza Vega-Rivera
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Neurosciences, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - Leonardo Ortiz-López
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Division of Clinical Investigations, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - Ariadna Gómez-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Division of Clinical Investigations, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - Julian Oikawa-Sala
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Division of Clinical Investigations, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - Erika Monserrat Estrada-Camarena
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Neurosciences, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico.
| | - Gerardo Bernabé Ramírez-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Division of Clinical Investigations, National Institute of Psychiatry "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico.
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82
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Scheinert RB, Asokan A, Rani A, Kumar A, Foster TC, Ormerod BK. Some hormone, cytokine and chemokine levels that change across lifespan vary by cognitive status in male Fischer 344 rats. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 49:216-32. [PMID: 26093306 PMCID: PMC4567443 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We trained and tested young (6-8months; n=13), middle-aged (12-14months; n=41), and aged (22-24months; n=24) male Fischer 344 rats in a rapid acquisition water maze task and then quantified 27 stress hormones, cytokines and chemokines in their serum, hippocampi and frontal cortices using bead assay kits and xMAP technology. Middle-aged and aged rats learned the location of the hidden platform over training trials more slowly than their young counterparts. After training, young rats outperformed middle-aged and aged rats on both immediate and 24h retention probe trials and about half of the middle-aged and aged (aging) rats exhibited impaired performances when tested on the retention probe trial 24h later. The concentrations of many serum, hippocampal and cortical analytes changed with age often in networks that may represent age-sensitive signaling pathways and the concentrations of some of these analytes correlated with water maze learning and/or memory scores. Serum GRO/KC and RANTES levels, hippocampal GM-CSF levels and cortical IL-9 and RANTES levels were significantly higher in rats categorized as memory-impaired versus elite agers based upon their 24h probe trial performances. Our data add to the emerging picture of how age-related changes in immune and neuroimmune system signaling impacts cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel B Scheinert
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Aditya Asokan
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Asha Rani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Brandi K Ormerod
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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83
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Brenes JC, Lackinger M, Höglinger GU, Schratt G, Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M. Differential effects of social and physical environmental enrichment on brain plasticity, cognition, and ultrasonic communication in rats. J Comp Neurol 2015; 524:1586-607. [PMID: 26132842 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) exerts beneficial effects on brain plasticity, cognition, and anxiety/depression, leading to a brain that can counteract deficits underlying various brain disorders. Because the complexity of the EE commonly used makes it difficult to identify causal aspects, we examined possible factors using a 2 × 2 design with social EE (two vs. six rats) and physical EE (physically enriched vs. nonenriched). For the first time, we demonstrate that social and physical EE have differential effects on brain plasticity, cognition, and ultrasonic communication. Expectedly, physical EE promoted neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation, but not in the subventricular zone, and, as a novel finding, affected microRNA expression levels, with the activity-dependent miR-124 and miR-132 being upregulated. Concomitant improvements in cognition were observed, yet social deficits were seen in the emission of prosocial 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) paralleled by a lack of social approach in response to them, consistent with the intense world syndrome/theory of autism. In contrast, social EE had only minor effects on brain plasticity and cognition, but led to increased prosocial 50-kHz USV emission rates and enhanced social approach behavior. Importantly, social deficits following physical EE were prevented by additional social EE. The finding that social EE has positive whereas physical EE has negative effects on social behavior indicates that preclinical studies focusing on EE as a potential treatment in models for neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits, such as autism, should include social EE in addition to physical EE, because its lack might worsen social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Brenes
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany.,Institute for Psychological Research, University of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Facio Campus, 2060, San Pedro, Costa Rica.,Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Facio Campus, 2060, San Pedro, Costa Rica
| | - Martin Lackinger
- Biochemical and Pharmacological Center, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Technical University München & German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) München Department for Translational Neurodegeneration, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schratt
- Biochemical and Pharmacological Center, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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84
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85
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Stamps JA. Individual differences in behavioural plasticities. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 91:534-67. [PMID: 25865135 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Interest in individual differences in animal behavioural plasticities has surged in recent years, but research in this area has been hampered by semantic confusion as different investigators use the same terms (e.g. plasticity, flexibility, responsiveness) to refer to different phenomena. The first goal of this review is to suggest a framework for categorizing the many different types of behavioural plasticities, describe examples of each, and indicate why using reversibility as a criterion for categorizing behavioural plasticities is problematic. This framework is then used to address a number of timely questions about individual differences in behavioural plasticities. One set of questions concerns the experimental designs that can be used to study individual differences in various types of behavioural plasticities. Although within-individual designs are the default option for empirical studies of many types of behavioural plasticities, in some situations (e.g. when experience at an early age affects the behaviour expressed at subsequent ages), 'replicate individual' designs can provide useful insights into individual differences in behavioural plasticities. To date, researchers using within-individual and replicate individual designs have documented individual differences in all of the major categories of behavioural plasticities described herein. Another important question is whether and how different types of behavioural plasticities are related to one another. Currently there is empirical evidence that many behavioural plasticities [e.g. contextual plasticity, learning rates, IIV (intra-individual variability), endogenous plasticities, ontogenetic plasticities) can themselves vary as a function of experiences earlier in life, that is, many types of behavioural plasticity are themselves developmentally plastic. These findings support the assumption that differences among individuals in prior experiences may contribute to individual differences in behavioural plasticities observed at a given age. Several authors have predicted correlations across individuals between different types of behavioural plasticities, i.e. that some individuals will be generally more plastic than others. However, empirical support for most of these predictions, including indirect evidence from studies of relationships between personality traits and plasticities, is currently sparse and equivocal. The final section of this review suggests how an appreciation of the similarities and differences between different types of behavioural plasticities may help theoreticians formulate testable models to explain the evolution of individual differences in behavioural plasticities and the evolutionary and ecological consequences of individual differences in behavioural plasticities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy A Stamps
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A
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86
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Ben-Sadoun G, Petit PD, Colson S, König A, Robert P. Activité aérobie et environnement enrichi : perspectives pour le patient Alzheimer. Sci Sports 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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87
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Resveratrol prevents age-related memory and mood dysfunction with increased hippocampal neurogenesis and microvasculature, and reduced glial activation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8075. [PMID: 25627672 PMCID: PMC4894403 DOI: 10.1038/srep08075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Greatly waned neurogenesis, diminished microvasculature, astrocyte hypertrophy and activated microglia are among the most conspicuous structural changes in the aged hippocampus. Because these alterations can contribute to age-related memory and mood impairments, strategies efficacious for mitigating these changes may preserve cognitive and mood function in old age. Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found in the skin of red grapes having angiogenic and antiinflammatory properties, appears ideal for easing these age-related changes. Hence, we examined the efficacy of resveratrol for counteracting age-related memory and mood impairments and the associated detrimental changes in the hippocampus. Two groups of male F344 rats in late middle-age having similar learning and memory abilities were chosen and treated with resveratrol or vehicle for four weeks. Analyses at ~25 months of age uncovered improved learning, memory and mood function in resveratrol-treated animals but impairments in vehicle-treated animals. Resveratrol-treated animals also displayed increased net neurogenesis and microvasculature, and diminished astrocyte hypertrophy and microglial activation in the hippocampus. These results provide novel evidence that resveratrol treatment in late middle age is efficacious for improving memory and mood function in old age. Modulation of the hippocampus plasticity and suppression of chronic low-level inflammation appear to underlie the functional benefits mediated by resveratrol.
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Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices hold the promise of enhancing brain function, not only of those suffering from neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative illnesses, but also of healthy individuals. However, a number of lifestyle interventions are proven cognitive enhancers, improving attention, problem solving, reasoning, learning and memory or even mood. Several of these interventions, such as physical exercise, cognitive, mental and social stimulation, may be described as environmental enrichments of varying types. Use of these non-pharmacological cognitive enhancers circumvents some of the ethical considerations associated with pharmaceutical or technological cognitive enhancement, being low in cost, available to the general population and presenting low risk to health and well-being. In this chapter, there will be particular focus on the effects of exercise and enrichment on learning and memory and the evidence supporting their efficacy in humans and in animal models will be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Áine M Kelly
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Level 2, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland,
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89
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Abstract
Glia are starting to be accepted as the equal of neurons. Their impact on intelligence, environmental enrichment, and cerebral dominance forms the basis for understanding the role of glia in stress. Along with neurons, astrocytes, microglia, NG2 cells, and oligodendrocytes all contribute. Glia can even be protective against drug abuse. Glial effects on depression, mood disorders and schizophrenia are reviewed.
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90
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Mora-Gallegos A, Rojas-Carvajal M, Salas S, Saborío-Arce A, Fornaguera-Trías J, Brenes JC. Age-dependent effects of environmental enrichment on spatial memory and neurochemistry. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2014; 118:96-104. [PMID: 25434818 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although aging and environmental stimulation are well-known to affect cognitive abilities, the question of whether aging effects can be distinguished in already-mature adult rats has not been fully addressed. In the present study, therefore, young and mature adult rats were housed in either enriched or standard conditions (EE or SC) for three months. Open-field (OFT) and radial-maze (RM) behavior, and ex-vivo contents of GABA and glutamate in hippocampus, and of dopamine and DOPAC in ventral striatum (VS) were analyzed and compared between the four groups. In OFT, young rats were more active than mature adults irrespective of the housing condition. Surprisingly, in the RM test, mature adults outperformed young counterparts except for the young-enriched rats, which showed a progressive improvement in RM performance. At the neurochemical level, young EE rats showed higher hippocampal glutamate and GABA concentrations, and DA turnover in VS, which correlated with RM performance. Altogether, the behavioral and cognitive strategies underlying habituation learning and spatial memory seem to be qualitatively different between the two ages analyzed. These results challenge the assumption that mature adult animals are always worse in learning and memory tasks. However, young rats benefited more from the social and physical stimulation provided by the enrichment than mature adult counterparts. The latter effect was evident not just on behavior, but also on brain neurochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sofía Salas
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
| | | | - Jaime Fornaguera-Trías
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica; Biochemistry Department, Medicine Faculty, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
| | - Juan C Brenes
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica; Institute for Pyschological Research, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
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91
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Tomaszczyk JC, Green NL, Frasca D, Colella B, Turner GR, Christensen BK, Green REA. Negative neuroplasticity in chronic traumatic brain injury and implications for neurorehabilitation. Neuropsychol Rev 2014; 24:409-27. [PMID: 25421811 PMCID: PMC4250564 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-014-9273-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Based on growing findings of brain volume loss and deleterious white matter alterations during the chronic stages of injury, researchers posit that moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may act to “age” the brain by reducing reserve capacity and inducing neurodegeneration. Evidence that these changes correlate with poorer cognitive and functional outcomes corroborates this progressive characterization of chronic TBI. Borrowing from a framework developed to explain cognitive aging (Mahncke et al., Progress in Brain Research, 157, 81–109, 2006a; Mahncke et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(33), 12523–12528, 2006b), we suggest here that environmental factors (specifically environmental impoverishment and cognitive disuse) contribute to a downward spiral of negative neuroplastic change that may modulate the brain changes described above. In this context, we review new literature supporting the original aging framework, and its extrapolation to chronic TBI. We conclude that negative neuroplasticity may be one of the mechanisms underlying cognitive and neural decline in chronic TBI, but that there are a number of points of intervention that would permit mitigation of this decline and better long-term clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Tomaszczyk
- Research Department, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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92
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Pharmacological blockage and P2X7 deletion hinder aversive memories: Reversion in an enriched environment. Neuroscience 2014; 280:220-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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93
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Behavioral testing-related changes in the expression of Synapsin I and glucocorticoid receptors in standard and enriched aged Wistar rats. Exp Gerontol 2014; 58:292-302. [PMID: 25218493 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Our aim was to assess the changes in the Synapsin I and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression induced by behavioral testing in the dorsal and ventral hippocampi of standard and enriched aged Wistar rats. The environmental enrichment (EE) was carried out 3h/day over a period of two months and then, the rats were tested in the elevated zero-maze (EZM) and radial-arm water maze (RAWM). Behavioral results showed that, even at an advanced age, EE was able to reduce anxiety-related behaviors and improve the performance in the RAWM. Regarding the neurobiological data, Synapsin I expression in the dorsal CA3, but not in the ventral, was enhanced both in enriched and standard rats when they performed the behavioral testing. Interestingly, the EE exposure was enough to increase Synapsin I in the ventral CA3. The analysis of GR in the dorsal hippocampus showed an increase of this receptor in the dDG both in enriched and standard rats when they performed the behavioral testing, whereas in the dCA1 and dCA3, the effect of the testing depended on the previous housing condition. In the ventral region, we found that the effects of EE were higher because on the one hand, the GR expression induced by the behavioral testing was enhanced in the dSUB, vCA1 and vCA3 when the rats were previously enriched and on the other hand, EE, regardless of the behavioral testing, increased the GR expression in the vDG and vSUB. Therefore, our results suggest that the effect of the behavioral testing on the neurobiological mechanisms studied is different depending on the previous housing condition of aged rats.
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94
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Yan Y, Ma T, Gong K, Ao Q, Zhang X, Gong Y. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation promotes adult neurogenesis in the brains of Alzheimer's disease mice. Neural Regen Res 2014; 9:798-805. [PMID: 25206892 PMCID: PMC4146257 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.131596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we transplanted adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the hippocampi of APP/PS1 transgenic Alzheimer's disease model mice. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the number of newly generated (BrdU(+)) cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus was significantly higher in Alzheimer's disease mice after adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, and there was also a significant increase in the number of BrdU(+)/DCX(+) neuroblasts in these animals. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation enhanced neurogenic activity in the subventricular zone as well. Furthermore, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation reduced oxidative stress and alleviated cognitive impairment in the mice. Based on these findings, we propose that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation enhances endogenous neurogenesis in both the subgranular and subventricular zones in APP/PS1 transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice, thereby facilitating functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Tuo Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Ao
- Institute of Neurological Disorders, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiufang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yandao Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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95
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Fertonani A, Brambilla M, Cotelli M, Miniussi C. The timing of cognitive plasticity in physiological aging: a tDCS study of naming. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:131. [PMID: 25009493 PMCID: PMC4068214 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on physiologically aging adults performing a naming task. tDCS is a method that modulates human cortical excitability. Neuroplasticity is considered to have its foundation in cortical excitability as a property that adjusts the connection strength between neurons in the brain. Language efficiency, as all functions, relies on integration of information (i.e., effectiveness of connectivity) through neurons in the brain. So the use of tDCS, to modulate cortical excitability, can help to define the state of cognitive plasticity in the aging brain. Based on Hebb's rule, an increase in synaptic efficacy does not rely only on the increase of excitability but also on the timing of activation. Therefore, a key issue in this study is the timing of tDCS application in relation to a task: When to deliver tDCS to induce modulatory effects on task execution to facilitate naming. Anodal tDCS was applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of older and young adults before and during a naming task. In older adults, tDCS improved naming performance and decreased the verbal reaction times only if it was applied during the task execution, whereas in young subjects both stimulation conditions improved naming performance. These findings highlight that in healthy aging adults, the cerebral network dedicated to lexical retrieval processing may be facilitated only if stimulation is applied to an "active" neural network. We hypothesize that this change is due to the neuronal synaptic changes, in the aging brain, which reduce the window of when cortical excitability can facilitate synaptic efficacy and therefore plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fertonani
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Brambilla
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Cotelli
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Miniussi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy ; Neuroscience Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia Brescia, Italy
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96
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Asokan A, Ball AR, Laird CD, Hermer L, Ormerod BK. Desvenlafaxine may accelerate neuronal maturation in the dentate gyri of adult male rats. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98530. [PMID: 24896246 PMCID: PMC4045676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis has been linked to the effects of anti-depressant drugs on behavior in rodent models of depression. To explore this link further, we tested whether the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine impacted adult hippocampal neurogenesis differently than its primary active SNRI metabolite desvenlafaxine. Adult male Long Evans rats (n = 5-6 per group) were fed vehicle, venlafaxine (0.5 or 5 mg) or desvenlafaxine (0.5 or 5 mg) twice daily for 16 days. Beginning the third day of drug treatment, the rats were given a daily bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU; 50 mg/kg) injection for 5 days to label dividing cells and then perfused 2 weeks after the first BrdU injection to confirm total new hippocampal cell numbers and their phenotypes. The high desvenlafaxine dose increased total new BrdU+ cell number and appeared to accelerate neuronal maturation because fewer BrdU+ cells expressed maturing neuronal phenotypes and more expressed mature neuronal phenotypes in the dentate gyri of these versus vehicle-treated rats. While net neurogenesis was not increased in the dentate gyri of rats treated with the high desvenlafaxine dose, significantly more mature neurons were detected. Our data expand the body of literature showing that antidepressants impact adult neurogenesis by stimulating NPC proliferation and perhaps the survival of neuronal progeny and by showing that a high dose of the SNRI antidepressant desvenlafaxine, but neither a high nor low venlafaxine dose, may also accelerate neuronal maturation in the adult rat hippocampus. These data support the hypothesis that hippocampal neurogenesis may indeed serve as a biomarker of depression and the effects of antidepressant treatment, and may be informative for developing novel fast-acting antidepressant strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Asokan
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering and Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alan R. Ball
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering and Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christina D. Laird
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering and Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Linda Hermer
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Brandi K. Ormerod
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering and Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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97
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Tipyasang R, Kunwittaya S, Mukda S, Kotchabhakdi NJ, Kotchabhakdi N. Enriched environment attenuates changes in water-maze performance and BDNF level caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. EXCLI JOURNAL 2014; 13:536-47. [PMID: 26417281 PMCID: PMC4463426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), characterized by significant changes in the physiology, structural plasticity of hippocampal function, including long-term deficits in learning and memory. Environmental enrichment has long been known to improve motor and cognitive function levels, causes several neurochemical and morphological alterations in the brain. Therefore, the effects of environmental enrichment on the neurobehavioral and neurotrophic changes in mice exposed prenatally to alcohol were investigated in this study. The pregnant dams were given 25 % ethanol (w/v) or isocaloric sucrose by liquid diet from gestation day 7 to 20. After weaning on postnatal day 28, offspring were exposed to standard cage (CC, CFAS) or enriched living conditions (CE, EFAS) for 8 weeks. Neurobehavioral studies both on hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and place and cue learning strategy, a striatum-dependent test, were measured by the Morris water maze task. Moreover, the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was also used in order to study the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in both the hippocampus and striatum of mice. Neurobehavioral studies show that animals exposed prenatally to alcohol were impaired as shown in both hippocampal-dependent spatial/place and striatal-dependent response/cue learning tests. Moreover, the levels of BDNF expression both in the hippocampus and striatum of mice were also decreased. Interestingly, environmental enrichment can ameliorate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure both on the neurobehavioral and neurotrophic levels. These observations indicated that enriched environment attenuated memory impairment of prenatal alcohol exposure both in hippocampal and striatal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rungpiyada Tipyasang
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand,*To whom correspondence should be addressed: Naiphinich Kotchabhakdi, Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand, Tel: 6681-483-6066, Fax: 662-889-2155, E-mail:
| | - Sarun Kunwittaya
- National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand
| | - Sujira Mukda
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand
| | - Nittaya J. Kotchabhakdi
- National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok,Thailand
| | - Naiphinich Kotchabhakdi
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand,*To whom correspondence should be addressed: Naiphinich Kotchabhakdi, Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand, Tel: 6681-483-6066, Fax: 662-889-2155, E-mail:
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98
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Sampedro-Piquero P, De Bartolo P, Petrosini L, Zancada-Menendez C, Arias JL, Begega A. Astrocytic plasticity as a possible mediator of the cognitive improvements after environmental enrichment in aged rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2014; 114:16-25. [PMID: 24727294 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Currently, little is known about the effect of environmental enrichment (EE) on astrocytic plasticity, especially during aging. Given the newly discovered role of the astrocytes in regulating the synaptic transmission and thereby, the cognitive functions, we aimed to study the impact of EE on the performance in a spatial memory task and on the number and morphology of GFAP immunopositive cells in the dorsal hippocampus. After two months of EE (3 h/per day), the animals were tested in the Radial-Arm Water Maze (RAWM) for four days, with six daily trials. Next, we analyzed the changes in the GFAP immunopositive cells in CA1, CA3 and Dentate Gyrus (DG). Behavioral results showed that, even in advanced ages, EE improved the performance in a spatial memory task. Also, we found that aged rats submitted to EE had more GFAP immunopositive cells in the DG and more complex astrocytes, revealed by Sholl analysis, in all hippocampal subfields with respect to the other experimental conditions. Interestingly, the learning of a spatial memory task produced more morphological complexity and higher levels of GFAP immunopositive cells with regard to a standard control group, but not at the same level of the enriched groups. Thus, it is possible that the plastic changes found in the hippocampal astrocytes after EE are involved in a brain reserve to cope with age-related cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sampedro-Piquero
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, INEUROPA, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza", via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS S. Lucia Foundation, via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza", via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS S. Lucia Foundation, via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - C Zancada-Menendez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, INEUROPA, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - J L Arias
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, INEUROPA, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - A Begega
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, INEUROPA, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
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99
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Increase of glucocorticoid receptor expression after environmental enrichment: Relations to spatial memory, exploration and anxiety-related behaviors. Physiol Behav 2014; 129:118-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 01/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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100
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Cai L, Chan JSY, Yan JH, Peng K. Brain plasticity and motor practice in cognitive aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:31. [PMID: 24653695 PMCID: PMC3947993 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than two decades, there have been extensive studies of experience-based neural plasticity exploring effective applications of brain plasticity for cognitive and motor development. Research suggests that human brains continuously undergo structural reorganization and functional changes in response to stimulations or training. From a developmental point of view, the assumption of lifespan brain plasticity has been extended to older adults in terms of the benefits of cognitive training and physical therapy. To summarize recent developments, first, we introduce the concept of neural plasticity from a developmental perspective. Secondly, we note that motor learning often refers to deliberate practice and the resulting performance enhancement and adaptability. We discuss the close interplay between neural plasticity, motor learning and cognitive aging. Thirdly, we review research on motor skill acquisition in older adults with, and without, impairments relative to aging-related cognitive decline. Finally, to enhance future research and application, we highlight the implications of neural plasticity in skills learning and cognitive rehabilitation for the aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuyang Cai
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University Beijing, China
| | - John S Y Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin H Yan
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University Beijing, China ; Institute of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Shenzhen University Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaiping Peng
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University Beijing, China
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