51
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Lan A, Kalimian M, Amram B, Kofman O. Prenatal chlorpyrifos leads to autism-like deficits in C57Bl6/J mice. Environ Health 2017; 16:43. [PMID: 28464876 PMCID: PMC5414283 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0251-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are at daily risk for exposure to organophosphate insecticides, of which the most common is chlorpyrifos (CPF). Exposure of pregnant women to CPF was linked to decreased birth weight, abnormal reflexes, reduction in IQ, as well as increased maternal reports of signs of pervasive developmental disorder. The aim of current study was to examine the long term effects of prenatal exposure to CPF in C57BL/6 J (B6) mice with specific focus on social and repetitive behavior. METHODS B6 female mice were treated with vehicle, 2.5 mg/kg CPF or 5 mg/kg of CPF on gestational days 12-15 by oral gavage. On postnatal days (PND's) 6-12 early development and neuromotor ability were assessed by measuring 3 neonatal reflexes in the offspring. In adulthood, PND 90, social behavior was investigated using the social preference, social novelty and social conditioned place preference tasks. Object recognition and restricted interest, measured by the repetitive novel object contact task (RNOC), were also assessed on PN D 90. In order to rule out the possibility that CPF administration induced alterations in maternal care, the dams' behavior was evaluated via the maternal retrieval task. RESULTS CPF treatment resulted in delayed development of neonatal reflexes on PND's 6-12. On PND 90, mice treated prenatally with the 5.0 mg/kg dose exhibited reduced preference towards an unfamiliar conspecific in the social preference test and reduced social conditioned place preference. In the RNOC task, mice exposed prenatally to 2.5 mg/kg dose of CPF showed enhanced restricted interest. CPF administration did not impair dams' behavior and did not cause memory or recognition deficit as was observed in the object recognition task. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that gestational exposure to CPF has long-term deleterious effects on social behavior and limits exploration of novel objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Lan
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
- Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michal Kalimian
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
| | - Benjamin Amram
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
| | - Ora Kofman
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
- Zlotowski Centre for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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52
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Buhusi M, Bartlett MJ, Buhusi CV. Sex differences in interval timing and attention to time in C57Bl/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2017; 324:96-99. [PMID: 28212945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Interval timing is crucial for decision-making and motor control and is impaired in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies examined timing in various strains or genetically-altered mice, but not in parallel in male and female mice in the same experimental setting. We investigated timing and attention to time in male and female C57Bl/6J mice, when presented with gaps in the timed stimulus, novel auditory distracters presented during the un-interrupted timed stimulus, and gap+distracter combinations. No sex differences were found in regard to timing accuracy and precision. However, presentation of the gap+distracter combination over-reset timing in males but had a much smaller effect in females. The over-reset strategy was reported previously with emotional distracters (e.g., previously paired with footshock) but not with neutral distracters. These results reveal sex differences in attentional gating/switching or working memory for time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Buhusi
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States.
| | - Mitchell J Bartlett
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Catalin V Buhusi
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
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53
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social communication and by repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behaviors, with no pharmacological treatments available to treat these core symptoms. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that powerfully regulates mammalian social behavior and has been shown to exert pro-social effects when administered intranasally to healthy human subjects. In the last decade, there has been a significant interest in using oxytocin to treat social behavior deficits in ASD. However, little attention has been paid to whether the oxytocin system is perturbed in subgroups of individuals with ASD and whether these individuals are likely to benefit more from an oxytocin treatment. This oversight may in part be due to the enormous heterogeneity of ASD and the lack of methods to carefully probe the OXT system in human subjects. Animal models for ASD are valuable tools to clarify the implication of the oxytocin system in ASD and can help determine whether perturbation in this system should be considered in future clinical studies as stratifying biomarkers to inform targeted treatments in subgroups of individuals with ASD. In this chapter, we review the literature on genetic- and environmental-based animal models for ASD, in which perturbations in the oxytocin system and/or the effect of oxytocin administration on the ASD-associated phenotype have been investigated.
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54
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Zhang JB, Chen L, Lv ZM, Niu XY, Shao CC, Zhang C, Pruski M, Huang Y, Qi CC, Song NN, Lang B, Ding YQ. Oxytocin is implicated in social memory deficits induced by early sensory deprivation in mice. Mol Brain 2016; 9:98. [PMID: 27964753 PMCID: PMC5155398 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-016-0278-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life sensory input plays a crucial role in brain development. Although deprivation of orofacial sensory input at perinatal stages disrupts the establishment of the barrel cortex and relevant callosal connections, its long-term effect on adult behavior remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the behavioral phenotypes in adult mice with unilateral transection of the infraorbital nerve (ION) at postnatal day 3 (P3). Although ION-transected mice had normal locomotor activity, motor coordination, olfaction, anxiety-like behaviors, novel object memory, preference for social novelty and sociability, they presented deficits in social memory and spatial memory compared with control mice. In addition, the social memory deficit was associated with reduced oxytocin (OXT) levels in the hypothalamus and could be partially restored by intranasal administration of OXT. Thus, early sensory deprivation does result in behavioral alterations in mice, some of which may be associated with the disruption of oxytocin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Bao Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhu-Man Lv
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Yuan Niu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Can-Can Shao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Chan Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Michal Pruski
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Ying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong-Cong Qi
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning-Ning Song
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Lang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.,School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Neuroscience, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
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Caldwell HK, Aulino EA, Freeman AR, Miller TV, Witchey SK. Oxytocin and behavior: Lessons from knockout mice. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 77:190-201. [PMID: 27513442 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that the nonapeptide oxytocin (Oxt) is important for the neural modulation of behaviors in many mammalian species. Since its discovery in 1906 and synthesis in the early 1950s, elegant pharmacological work has helped identify specific neural substrates on which Oxt exerts its effects. More recently, mice with targeted genetic disruptions of the Oxt system-i.e., both the peptide and its receptor (the Oxtr)-have further defined Oxt's actions and laid some important scientific groundwork for studies in other species. In this article, we highlight the scientific contributions that various mouse knockouts of the Oxt system have made to our understanding of Oxt's modulation of behavior. We specifically focus on how the use of these mice has shed light on our understanding of social recognition memory, maternal behavior, aggression, and several nonsocial behaviors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 190-201, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather K Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242
| | - Elizabeth A Aulino
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242
| | - Angela R Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242
| | - Travis V Miller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242
| | - Shannah K Witchey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242
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56
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Licht-Murava A, Paz R, Vaks L, Avrahami L, Plotkin B, Eisenstein M, Eldar-Finkelman H. A unique type of GSK-3 inhibitor brings new opportunities to the clinic. Sci Signal 2016; 9. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aah7102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Abstract
A substrate peptide that the kinase GSK-3 converts into its own inhibitor improves symptoms and cognitive function in an Alzheimer’s disease model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avital Licht-Murava
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Rom Paz
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Lilach Vaks
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Limor Avrahami
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Batya Plotkin
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Miriam Eisenstein
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Hagit Eldar-Finkelman
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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57
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MDMA (‘Ecstasy’), oxytocin and vasopressin modulate social preference in rats: A role for handling and oxytocin receptors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 150-151:115-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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58
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Goodell DJ, Ahern MA, Baynard J, Wall VL, Bland ST. A novel escapable social interaction test reveals that social behavior and mPFC activation during an escapable social encounter are altered by post-weaning social isolation and are dependent on the aggressiveness of the stimulus rat. Behav Brain Res 2016; 317:1-15. [PMID: 27633556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Post-weaning social isolation (PSI) has been shown to increase aggressive behavior and alter medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) function in social species such as rats. Here we developed a novel escapable social interaction test (ESIT) allowing for the quantification of escape and social behaviors in addition to mPFC activation in response to an aggressive or nonaggressive stimulus rat. Male rats were exposed to 3 weeks of PSI (ISO) or group (GRP) housing, and exposed to 3 trials, with either no trial, all trials, or the last trial only with a stimulus rat. Analysis of social behaviors indicated that ISO rats spent less time in the escape chamber and more time engaged in social interaction, aggressive grooming, and boxing than did GRP rats. Interestingly, during the third trial all rats engaged in more of the quantified social behaviors and spent less time escaping in response to aggressive but not nonaggressive stimulus rats. Rats exposed to nonaggressive stimulus rats on the third trial had greater c-fos and ARC immunoreactivity in the mPFC than those exposed to an aggressive stimulus rat. Conversely, a social encounter produced an increase in large PSD-95 punctae in the mPFC independently of trial number, but only in ISO rats exposed to an aggressive stimulus rat. The results presented here demonstrate that PSI increases interaction time and aggressive behaviors during escapable social interaction, and that the aggressiveness of the stimulus rat in a social encounter is an important component of behavioral and neural outcomes for both isolation and group-reared rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayton J Goodell
- Department of Pharmacology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Megan A Ahern
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jessica Baynard
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Vanessa L Wall
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Sondra T Bland
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States.
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59
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Lin D, Liu J, Kramberg L, Ruggiero A, Cottrell J, Kass IS. Early-life single-episode sevoflurane exposure impairs social behavior and cognition later in life. Brain Behav 2016; 6:e00514. [PMID: 27688943 PMCID: PMC5036436 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-episode anesthetic exposure is the most prevalent surgery-related incidence among young children in the United States. Although numerous studies have used animals to model the effects of neonatal anesthetics on behavioral changes later on in life, our understanding of the functional consequences to the developing brain in a comprehensive and clinically relevant manner is unclear. METHODS The volatile anesthetic, sevoflurane (sevo) was administered to C57BL6 postnatal day 7 (P7) mice in a 40% oxygen and 60% nitrogen gas mixture. In order to examine the effects of sevo alone on the developing brain in a clinically relevant manner, mice were exposed to an average of 2.38 ± 0.11% sevo for 2 h. No sevo (control) mice were treated in an identical manner without sevo exposure. Mice were examined for cognition and neuropsychiatric-like behavioral changes at 1-5 months of age. RESULTS Using the active place avoidance (APA) test and the novel object recognition (NOR) test, we demonstrated that P7 sevo-treated mice showed a deficit in learning and memory both during periadolescence and adulthood. We then employed a battery of neuropsychiatric-like behavioral tests to examine social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. Interestingly, compared to the no-sevo-treated group, sevo-treated mice showed significant reductions in the time interacting with a novel mouse (push-crawl and following), time and interaction in a chamber with a novel mouse, and time sniffing a novel social odor. CONCLUSIONS Our study established that single-episode, 2-h sevo treatment during early life impairs cognition later on in life. With this approach, we also observed neuropsychiatric-like behavior changes such as social interaction deficits in the sevo-treated mice. This study elucidated the effects of a clinically relevant single-episode sevo application, given during the neonatal period, on neurodevelopmental behavioral changes later on in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Lin
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology SUNY Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203
| | - Jinyang Liu
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203
| | - Lea Kramberg
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203
| | - Andrea Ruggiero
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203
| | - James Cottrell
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203
| | - Ira S Kass
- Anesthesiology Department SUNY Downstate Medical Center Box 6, 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology SUNY Downstate Medical Center 450 Clarkson Ave Brooklyn New York 11203; The Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural and Behavioral Sciences Brooklyn New York 11203
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60
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Hicks KD, Sullivan AW, Cao J, Sluzas E, Rebuli M, Patisaul HB. Interaction of bisphenol A (BPA) and soy phytoestrogens on sexually dimorphic sociosexual behaviors in male and female rats. Horm Behav 2016; 84:121-6. [PMID: 27373758 PMCID: PMC4996731 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) to alter brain development and behavior. Developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous EDC, has been linked to altered sociosexual and mood-related behaviors in various animal models and children but effects are inconsistent across laboratories and animal models creating confusion about potential risk in humans. Exposure to endocrine active diets, such as soy, which is rich in phytoestrogens, may contribute to this variability. Here, we tested the individual and combined effects of low dose oral BPA and soy diet or the individual isoflavone genistein (GEN; administered as the aglycone genistin (GIN)) on rat sociosexual behaviors with the hypothesis that soy would obfuscate any BPA-related effects. Social and activity levels were unchanged by developmental exposure to BPA but soy diet had sex specific effects including suppressed novelty preference, and open field exploration in females. The data presented here reinforce that environmental factors, including anthropogenic chemical exposure and hormone active diets, can shape complex behaviors and even reverse expected sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimani D Hicks
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Alana W Sullivan
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jinyan Cao
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Emily Sluzas
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Meghan Rebuli
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Chen Y, Page DT. Autism-relevant behaviors are minimally impacted by conditional deletion of Pten in oxytocinergic neurons. Autism Res 2016; 9:1248-1262. [PMID: 27220363 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Germline heterozygous mutations in Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog) are associated with macrocephaly and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Pten germline heterozygous (Pten+/- ) mice approximate these mutations, and both sexes show widespread brain overgrowth and impaired social behavior. Strikingly similar behavior phenotypes have been reported in oxytocin (Oxt) and/or oxytocin receptor (OxtR) knockout mice. Thus, we hypothesized that the behavioral phenotypes of germline Pten+/- mice may be caused by reduced Pten function in Oxt-expressing cells. To investigate this, we tested mice in which Pten was conditionally deleted using oxytocin-Cre (Oxt-Cre+ ; PtenloxP/+ , Oxt-Cre+ ; PtenloxP/loxP ) on a battery including assays of social, repetitive, depression-like, and anxiety-like behaviors. Minimal behavioral abnormalities were found; decreased anxiety-like behavior in the open field test in Oxt-Cre+ ; PtenloxP/loxP males was the only result that phenocopied germline Pten+/- mice. However, Oxt cell size was dramatically increased in Oxt-Cre+ ; PtenloxP/loxP mice in adulthood. Thus, conditional deletion of Pten using Oxt-Cre has a profound effect on Oxt cell structure, but not on ASD-relevant behavior. We interpret these results as inconsistent with our starting hypothesis that reduced Pten function in Oxt-expressing cells causes the behavioral deficits observed in germline Pten+/- mice. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1248-1262. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Youjun Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
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62
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Oxytocin and Memory of Emotional Stimuli: Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 79:203-12. [PMID: 26300273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
An ever-growing body of evidence suggests that the hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin plays a central role in the regulation of mammalian social behavior and relationships. Yet, mammalian social interactions are extremely complex, involving both approach and avoidance behaviors toward specific individuals. While in the past oxytocin was conceived merely as a prosocial molecule that nonselectively facilitated affiliative emotions and behavior, it is now recognized that oxytocin plays a role in a wide range of social relationships, some of which involve negative emotions such as fear, aggression, and envy and lead to avoidance behavior. However, the way by which a single molecule such as oxytocin contributes to contrasting emotions and opposite behaviors is yet to be discovered. Here, we discuss the role of oxytocin in the modulation of emotional memories in rodents, focusing on two paradigms: social recognition and fear conditioning, representing approach and avoidance behaviors, respectively. We review recent pioneering studies that address the complex effects of oxytocin in a mechanistic approach, using genetic animal models and brain region-specific manipulations of oxytocin activity. These studies suggest that the multiple roles of oxytocin in social and fear behavior are due to its local effects in various brain areas, most notably distinct regions of the amygdala. Finally, we propose a model explaining some of the contradictory effects of oxytocin as products of the balance between two networks in the amygdala that are controlled by the medial prefrontal cortex.
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63
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Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been revealed as a profound anxiolytic and antistress factor of the brain, besides its many prosocial and reproductive effects. Therefore, there is substantial scientific and medical interest in its potential therapeutic use for the treatment of psychopathologies associated with anxiety, fear, and social dysfunctions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder, as well as autism and schizophrenia, among others. Focusing on preclinical studies, we review the existing evidence for the regulatory capacity of OXT to fine-tune general and social anxiety-related behaviors, as well as cued and social fear conditioning from a translational perspective. The available evidence from animal and human studies substantiates the hypothesis of an imbalance of the endogenous brain OXT system in the etiology of anxiety disorders, particularly those with a social component such as social anxiety disorder. In addition, such an imbalance of the OXT system is also likely to be the consequence of chronic OXT treatment resulting in a dose-dependent reduction in OXT receptor availability and increased anxiety.
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64
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Feifel D, Shilling PD, MacDonald K. A Review of Oxytocin's Effects on the Positive, Negative, and Cognitive Domains of Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 79:222-33. [PMID: 26410353 PMCID: PMC5673255 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a disabling, heterogeneous disorder with clinical features that can be parsed into three domains: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Current antipsychotic drugs produce fairly robust clinical benefit against positive symptoms but typically have minimal therapeutic effects on negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Oxytocin (OT) is a nonapeptide that, in addition to its role as a hormone regulating peripheral reproductive-relevant functions, acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Several lines of preclinical and clinical research suggest that the OT system may play a role in regulating the expression of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and that targeting the central OT system may yield novel treatments to address these symptoms. In this review, we summarize the extant preclinical and clinical evidence relevant to the role of OT in schizophrenia with particular emphasis on its putative therapeutic effects on each of the three above-mentioned clinical domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Feifel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
| | - Paul D Shilling
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kai MacDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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Win-Shwe TT, Kyi-Tha-Thu C, Moe Y, Fujitani Y, Tsukahara S, Hirano S. Exposure of BALB/c Mice to Diesel Engine Exhaust Origin Secondary Organic Aerosol (DE-SOA) during the Developmental Stages Impairs the Social Behavior in Adult Life of the Males. Front Neurosci 2016; 9:524. [PMID: 26834549 PMCID: PMC4724727 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a component of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and formed in the atmosphere by oxidation of volatile organic compounds. Recently, we have reported that inhalation exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DE) originated SOA (DE-SOA) affect novel object recognition ability and impair maternal behavior in adult mice. However, it is not clear whether early life exposure to SOA during the developmental stages affect social behavior in adult life or not. In the present study, to investigate the effects of early life exposure to DE-SOA during the gestational and lactation stages on the social behavior in the adult life, BALB/c mice were exposed to clean air (control), DE, DE-SOA and gas without any PM in the inhalation chambers from gestational day 14 to postnatal day 21 for 5 h a day and 5 days per week. Then adult mice were examined for changes in their social behavior at the age of 13 week by a sociability and social novelty preference, social interaction with a juvenile mouse and light-dark transition test, hypothalamic mRNA expression levels of social behavior-related genes, estrogen receptor-alpha and oxytocin receptor as well as of the oxidative stress marker gene, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by real-time RT-PCR method. In addition, hypothalamic level of neuronal excitatory marker, glutamate was determined by ELISA method. We observed that sociability and social novelty preference as well as social interaction were remarkably impaired, expression levels of estrogen receptor-alpha, oxytocin receptor mRNAs were significantly decreased, expression levels of HO-1 mRNAs and glutamate levels were significantly increased in adult male mice exposed to DE-SOA compared to the control ones. Findings of this study indicate early life exposure of BALB/c mice to DE-SOA may affect their late-onset hypothalamic expression of social behavior related genes, trigger neurotoxicity and impair social behavior in the males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin-Tin Win-Shwe
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Chaw Kyi-Tha-Thu
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Saitama City, Japan
| | - Yadanar Moe
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Saitama City, Japan
| | - Yuji Fujitani
- Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Saitama City, Japan
| | - Seishiro Hirano
- Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba, Japan
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66
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Caldwell HK, Albers HE. Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and the Motivational Forces that Drive Social Behaviors. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2016; 27:51-103. [PMID: 26472550 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The motivation to engage in social behaviors is influenced by past experience and internal state, but also depends on the behavior of other animals. Across species, the oxytocin (Oxt) and vasopressin (Avp) systems have consistently been linked to the modulation of motivated social behaviors. However, how they interact with other systems, such as the mesolimbic dopamine system, remains understudied. Further, while the neurobiological mechanisms that regulate prosocial/cooperative behaviors have been extensively examined, far less is understood about competitive behaviors, particularly in females. In this chapter, we highlight the specific contributions of Oxt and Avp to several cooperative and competitive behaviors and discuss their relevance to the concept of social motivation across species, including humans. Further, we discuss the implications for neuropsychiatric diseases and suggest future areas of investigation.
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67
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Smith CJW, Wilkins KB, Mogavero JN, Veenema AH. Social Novelty Investigation in the Juvenile Rat: Modulation by the μ-Opioid System. J Neuroendocrinol 2015. [PMID: 26212131 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The drive to approach and explore novel conspecifics is inherent to social animals and may promote optimal social functioning. Juvenile animals seek out interactions with novel peers more frequently and find these interactions to be more rewarding than their adult counterparts. In the present study, we aimed to establish a behavioural paradigm to measure social novelty-seeking in juvenile rats and to determine the involvement of the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin systems in this behaviour. To this end, we developed the social novelty preference test to assess the preference of a juvenile rat to investigate a novel over a familiar (cage mate) conspecific. We show that across the juvenile period both male and female rats spend more time investigating a novel conspecific than a cage mate, independent of subject sex or repeated exposure to the test. We hypothesised that brain systems subserving social information processing and social motivation/reward (i.e. the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin systems) might support social novelty preference. To test this, receptor antagonists of each of these systems were administered i.c.v. prior to exposure to the social novelty preference test and, subsequently, to the social preference test, to examine the specificity of these effects. We find that μ-opioid receptor antagonism reduces novel social investigation in both the social novelty preference and social preference tests while leaving the investigation of a cage mate (social novelty preference test) or an object (social preference test) unaffected. In contrast, central blockade of dopamine D2 receptors (with eticlopride), oxytocin receptors (with des-Gly-NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT) or vasopressin V1a receptors [with (CH2)5Tyr(Me2)AVP] failed to alter social novelty preference or social preference. Overall, we have established a new behavioural test to study social novelty-seeking behaviour in the juvenile rat and show that the μ-opioid system facilitates this behaviour, possibly by reducing risk avoidance and enhancing the hedonic and/or motivational value of social novelty.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J W Smith
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - K B Wilkins
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - J N Mogavero
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - A H Veenema
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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68
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Tonacci A, Billeci L, Tartarisco G, Ruta L, Muratori F, Pioggia G, Gangemi S. [Formula: see text]Olfaction in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Child Neuropsychol 2015; 23:1-25. [PMID: 26340690 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1081678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory function is a well-known early biomarker for neurodegeneration and neural functioning in the adult population, being supported by a number of brain structures that could be dysfunctioning in neurodegenerative processes. Evidence has suggested that atypical sensory and, particularly, olfactory processing is present in several neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In this paper, we present data obtained by a systematic literature review, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, regarding the possible association between olfaction and ASDs, and analyze them critically in order to evaluate the occurrence of olfactory impairment in ASDs, as well as the possible usefulness of olfactory evaluation in such conditions. The results obtained in this analysis suggested a possible involvement of olfactory impairment in ASDs, underlining the importance of olfactory evaluation in the clinical assessment of ASDs. This assessment could be potentially included as a complementary evaluation in the diagnostic protocol of the condition. Methods for study selection and inclusion criteria were specified in advance and documented in PROSPERO protocol #CRD42014013939.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tonacci
- a National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Pisa Unit , Pisa , Italy
| | - Lucia Billeci
- a National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Pisa Unit , Pisa , Italy
| | - Gennaro Tartarisco
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy
| | - Liliana Ruta
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy.,c Department of Developmental Neuroscience , Stella Maris Scientific Institute , Calambrone, Pisa , Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- c Department of Developmental Neuroscience , Stella Maris Scientific Institute , Calambrone, Pisa , Italy
| | - Giovanni Pioggia
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- d Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , University Hospital "G. Martino" , Messina , Italy
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69
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Mesic I, Guzman YF, Guedea AL, Jovasevic V, Corcoran KA, Leaderbrand K, Nishimori K, Contractor A, Radulovic J. Double Dissociation of the Roles of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Oxytocin Receptor in Discrete Social Behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:2337-46. [PMID: 25824423 PMCID: PMC4538348 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions in vertebrates are complex phenomena based on affective and cognitive processes. Multiple brain regions and neurotransmitter systems are involved in the expression of social behaviors, but their individual roles in specific aspects of social interactions are not well understood. Here we investigated how Gq-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) affect social affiliation and social memory. We used conditional genetic approaches in which the genes coding for these receptors were knocked out in the lateral septum by infusion of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors containing Cre recombinase (AAV-Cre). Social behavior was assessed 2 weeks later using a three-chamber paradigm for sociability and preference for social novelty. Septal deletion of mGluR5 abolished sociability while leaving preference for social novelty intact. In contrast, deletion of Oxtr did not affect sociability but significantly impaired preference for social novelty. Nonsocial behaviors or memories, including novel object recognition or fear conditioning, were not affected by these genetic manipulations. Immunohistochemical analyses of the distribution of mGluR5 and Oxtr revealed non-overlapping localization of these receptors within the lateral septum, suggesting that not only different neurotransmitters but also different neuronal types contribute to sociability versus preference for social novelty. Our findings identify highly specialized roles of lateral septal mGluR5 and Oxtr in the the regulation of discrete social behaviors, and suggest that deficits in social interactions, which accompany many mental illnesses, would benefit from comprehensive treatments targeting different components of social functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Mesic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yomayra F Guzman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anita L Guedea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vladimir Jovasevic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin A Corcoran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katherine Leaderbrand
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Anis Contractor
- Department of Physiology and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jelena Radulovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 13-130, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Tel: +1 312 503 4627, Fax: +1 312 503 0466, E-mail:
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70
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GABAB Receptor Agonist R-Baclofen Reverses Social Deficits and Reduces Repetitive Behavior in Two Mouse Models of Autism. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:2228-39. [PMID: 25754761 PMCID: PMC4613612 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed by two core behavioral criteria, unusual reciprocal social interactions and communication, and stereotyped, repetitive behaviors with restricted interests. Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance is a prominent hypothesis for the etiology of autism. The selective GABAB receptor agonist R-baclofen previously reversed social deficits and reduced repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, and Arbaclofen improved some clinical symptoms in some Fragile X and ASD patients. To evaluate R-baclofen in a broader range of mouse models of ASD, we tested both the R-baclofen enantiomer and the less potent S-baclofen enantiomer in two inbred strains of mice that display low sociability and/or high repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. R-baclofen treatment reversed social approach deficits in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR), reduced repetitive self-grooming and high marble burying scores in BTBR, and reduced stereotyped jumping in C58/J (C58), at nonsedating doses. S-baclofen produced minimal effects at the same doses. These findings encourage investigations of R-baclofen in other preclinical model systems. Additional clinical studies may be warranted to further evaluate the hypothesis that the GABAB receptor represents a promising pharmacological target for treating appropriately stratified subsets of individuals with ASD.
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Abstract
In order to understand the consequences of the mutation on behavioral and biological phenotypes relevant to autism, mutations in many of the risk genes for autism spectrum disorder have been experimentally generated in mice. Here, we summarize behavioral outcomes and neuroanatomical abnormalities, with a focus on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of postmortem mouse brains. Results are described from multiple mouse models of autism spectrum disorder and comorbid syndromes, including the 15q11-13, 16p11.2, 22q11.2, Cntnap2, Engrailed2, Fragile X, Integrinβ3, MET, Neurexin1a, Neuroligin3, Reelin, Rett, Shank3, Slc6a4, tuberous sclerosis, and Williams syndrome models, and inbred strains with strong autism-relevant behavioral phenotypes, including BTBR and BALB. Concomitant behavioral and neuroanatomical abnormalities can strengthen the interpretation of results from a mouse model, and may elevate the usefulness of the model system for therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Ellegood
- />Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7 Canada
| | - Jacqueline N. Crawley
- />MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817 USA
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72
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Dölen G. Oxytocin: parallel processing in the social brain? J Neuroendocrinol 2015; 27:516-35. [PMID: 25912257 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Early studies attempting to disentangle the network complexity of the brain exploited the accessibility of sensory receptive fields to reveal circuits made up of synapses connected both in series and in parallel. More recently, extension of this organisational principle beyond the sensory systems has been made possible by the advent of modern molecular, viral and optogenetic approaches. Here, evidence supporting parallel processing of social behaviours mediated by oxytocin is reviewed. Understanding oxytocinergic signalling from this perspective has significant implications for the design of oxytocin-based therapeutic interventions aimed at disorders such as autism, where disrupted social function is a core clinical feature. Moreover, identification of opportunities for novel technology development will require a better appreciation of the complexity of the circuit-level organisation of the social brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gül Dölen
- Department of Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Wendy Klag Center for Developmental Disabilities and Autism, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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73
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Štefánik P, Olexová L, Kršková L. Increased sociability and gene expression of oxytocin and its receptor in the brains of rats affected prenatally by valproic acid. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2015; 131:42-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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74
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Kazim SF, Cardenas-Aguayo MDC, Arif M, Blanchard J, Fayyaz F, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K. Sera from children with autism induce autistic features which can be rescued with a CNTF small peptide mimetic in rats. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118627. [PMID: 25769033 PMCID: PMC4359103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized clinically by impairments in social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication skills as well as restricted interests and repetitive behavior. It has been hypothesized that altered brain environment including an imbalance in neurotrophic support during early development contributes to the pathophysiology of autism. Here we report that sera from children with autism which exhibited abnormal levels of various neurotrophic factors induced cell death and oxidative stress in mouse primary cultured cortical neurons. The effects of sera from autistic children were rescued by pre-treatment with a ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) small peptide mimetic, Peptide 6 (P6), which was previously shown to exert its neuroprotective effect by modulating CNTF/JAK/STAT pathway and LIF signaling and by enhancing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Similar neurotoxic effects and neuroinflammation were observed in young Wistar rats injected intracerebroventricularly with autism sera within hours after birth. The autism sera injected rats demonstrated developmental delay and deficits in social communication, interaction, and novelty. Both the neurobiological changes and the behavioral autistic phenotype were ameliorated by P6 treatment. These findings implicate the involvement of neurotrophic imbalance during early brain development in the pathophysiology of autism and a proof of principle of P6 as a potential therapeutic strategy for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Faraz Kazim
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- Neural and Behavioral Science Graduate Program, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Downstate/NYSIBR Center for Developmental Neuroscience (CDN), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria del Carmen Cardenas-Aguayo
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Arif
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Julie Blanchard
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Fatima Fayyaz
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Inge Grundke-Iqbal
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Downstate/NYSIBR Center for Developmental Neuroscience (CDN), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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75
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Kim SW, Seo M, Kim DS, Kang M, Kim YS, Koh HY, Shin HS. Knockdown of phospholipase C-β1 in the medial prefrontal cortex of male mice impairs working memory among multiple schizophrenia endophenotypes. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2015; 40:78-88. [PMID: 25268789 PMCID: PMC4354821 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.130285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decreased expression of phospholipase C-β1 (PLC-β1) has been observed in the brains of patients with schizophrenia, but, to our knowledge, no studies have shown a possible association between this altered PLC-β1 expression and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Although PLC-β1-null (PLC-β1(-/-)) mice exhibit multiple endophenotypes of schizophrenia, it remains unclear how regional decreases in PLC-β1 expression in the brain contribute to specific behavioural defects. METHODS We selectively knocked down PLC-β1 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using a small hairpin RNA strategy in mice. RESULTS Silencing PLC-β1 in the mPFC resulted in working memory deficits, as assayed using the delayed non-match-to-sample T-maze task. Notably, however, other schizophrenia-related behaviours observed in PLC-β1-/- mice, including phenotypes related to locomotor activity, sociability and sensorimotor gating, were normal in PLC-β1 knockdown mice. LIMITATIONS Phenotypes of PLC-β1 knockdown mice, such as locomotion, anxiety and sensorimotor gating, have already been published in our previous studies. Further, the neural mechanisms underlying the working memory deficit in mice may be different from those in human schizophrenia. CONCLUSION These results indicate that PLC-β1 signalling in the mPFC is required for working memory. Importantly, these results support the notion that the decrease in PLC-β1 expression in the brains of patients with schizophrenia is a pathogenically relevant molecular marker of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hee-Sup Shin
- Correspondence to: H.-S. Shin, Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), 70 Yuseong-daero 1689-gil, Yusung-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea;
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76
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Arginine vasotocin reduces levels of cooperative behaviour in a cleaner fish. Physiol Behav 2015; 139:314-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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77
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Alsina-Llanes M, De Brun V, Olazábal DE. Development and expression of maternal behavior in naïve female C57BL/6 mice. Dev Psychobiol 2015; 57:189-200. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Alsina-Llanes
- Departamento de Fisiología; Facultad de Medicina; UdelaR. Gral Flores 2125 Montevideo 18000 Uruguay
| | - Victoria De Brun
- Departamento de Fisiología; Facultad de Medicina; UdelaR. Gral Flores 2125 Montevideo 18000 Uruguay
| | - Daniel E. Olazábal
- Departamento de Fisiología; Facultad de Medicina; UdelaR. Gral Flores 2125 Montevideo 18000 Uruguay
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78
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Ankrd11 is a chromatin regulator involved in autism that is essential for neural development. Dev Cell 2014; 32:31-42. [PMID: 25556659 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ankrd11 is a potential chromatin regulator implicated in neural development and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with no known function in the brain. Here, we show that knockdown of Ankrd11 in developing murine or human cortical neural precursors caused decreased proliferation, reduced neurogenesis, and aberrant neuronal positioning. Similar cellular phenotypes and aberrant ASD-like behaviors were observed in Yoda mice carrying a point mutation in the Ankrd11 HDAC-binding domain. Consistent with a role for Ankrd11 in histone acetylation, Ankrd11 was associated with chromatin and colocalized with HDAC3, and expression and histone acetylation of Ankrd11 target genes were altered in Yoda neural precursors. Moreover, the Ankrd11 knockdown-mediated decrease in precursor proliferation was rescued by inhibiting histone acetyltransferase activity or expressing HDAC3. Thus, Ankrd11 is a crucial chromatin regulator that controls histone acetylation and gene expression during neural development, thereby providing a likely explanation for its association with cognitive dysfunction and ASD.
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79
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Molosh AI, Johnson PL, Spence JP, Arendt D, Federici LM, Bernabe C, Janasik SP, Segu ZM, Khanna R, Goswami C, Zhu W, Park SJ, Li L, Mechref YS, Clapp DW, Shekhar A. Social learning and amygdala disruptions in Nf1 mice are rescued by blocking p21-activated kinase. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:1583-90. [PMID: 25242307 PMCID: PMC4213300 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are increasingly recognized as having a high prevalence of social difficulties and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We demonstrated a selective social learning deficit in mice with deletion of a single Nf1 allele (Nf1(+/-)), along with greater activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in neurons from the amygdala and frontal cortex, structures that are relevant to social behaviors. The Nf1(+/-) mice showed aberrant amygdala glutamate and GABA neurotransmission, deficits in long-term potentiation and specific disruptions in the expression of two proteins that are associated with glutamate and GABA neurotransmission: a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 22 (Adam22) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), respectively. All of these amygdala disruptions were normalized by the additional deletion of the p21 protein-activated kinase (Pak1) gene. We also rescued the social behavior deficits in Nf1(+/-) mice with pharmacological blockade of Pak1 directly in the amygdala. These findings provide insights and therapeutic targets for patients with NF1 and ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei I. Molosh
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Philip L. Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - John P. Spence
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Program in Medical Neurosciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - David Arendt
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Lauren M. Federici
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Program in Medical Neurosciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Cristian Bernabe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Steven P. Janasik
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Zaneer M. Segu
- Department of Chemistry, METACyt Biochemical Analysis Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Chirayu Goswami
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Weiguo Zhu
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Su-Jung Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Lang Li
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Yehia S. Mechref
- Department of Chemistry, METACyt Biochemical Analysis Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - D. Wade Clapp
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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80
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Francis SM, Sagar A, Levin-Decanini T, Liu W, Carter CS, Jacob S. Oxytocin and vasopressin systems in genetic syndromes and neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain Res 2014; 1580:199-218. [PMID: 24462936 PMCID: PMC4305432 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are two small, related neuropeptide hormones found in many mammalian species, including humans. Dysregulation of these neuropeptides have been associated with changes in behavior, especially social interactions. We review how the OT and AVP systems have been investigated in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), Williams Syndrome (WS) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS). All of these neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are marked by social deficits. While PWS, WS and FXS have identified genetic mutations, ASD stems from multiple genes with complex interactions. Animal models of NDD are invaluable for studying the role and relatedness of OT and AVP in the developing brain. We present data from a FXS mouse model affecting the fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) gene, resulting in decreased OT and AVP staining cells in some brain regions. Reviewing the research about OT and AVP in these NDD suggests that altered OT pathways may be downstream from different etiological factors and perturbations in development. This has implications for ongoing studies of the therapeutic application of OT in NDD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Francis
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - A Sagar
- University of California at Irvine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, USA
| | - T Levin-Decanini
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - W Liu
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - C S Carter
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - S Jacob
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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81
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Bonito-Oliva A, Masini D, Fisone G. A mouse model of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: focus on pharmacological interventions targeting affective dysfunctions. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:290. [PMID: 25221486 PMCID: PMC4145811 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-motor symptoms, including psychiatric disorders, are increasingly recognized as a major challenge in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). These ailments, which often appear in the early stage of the disease, affect a large number of patients and are only partly resolved by conventional antiparkinsonian medications, such as L-DOPA. Here, we investigated non-motor symptoms of PD in a mouse model based on bilateral injection of the toxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the dorsal striatum. This model presented only subtle gait modifications, which did not affect horizontal motor activity in the open-field test. Bilateral 6-OHDA lesion also impaired olfactory discrimination, in line with the anosmia typically observed in early stage parkinsonism. The effect of 6-OHDA was then examined for mood-related dysfunctions. Lesioned mice showed increased immobility in the forced swim test and tail suspension test, two behavioral paradigms of depression. Moreover, the lesion exerted anxiogenic effects, as shown by reduced time spent in the open arms, in the elevated plus maze test, and by increased thigmotaxis in the open-field test. L-DOPA did not modify depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, which were instead counteracted by the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist, pramipexole. Reboxetine, a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, was also able to revert the depressive and anxiogenic effects produced by the lesion with 6-OHDA. Interestingly, pre-treatment with desipramine prior to injection of 6-OHDA, which is commonly used to preserve noradrenaline neurons, did not modify the effect of the lesion on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Thus, in the present model, mood-related conditions are independent of the reduction of noradrenaline caused by 6-OHDA. Based on these findings we propose that the anti-depressive and anxiolytic action of reboxetine is mediated by promoting dopamine transmission through blockade of dopamine uptake from residual noradrenergic terminals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Débora Masini
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gilberto Fisone
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden
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82
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Lieberwirth C, Wang Z. Social bonding: regulation by neuropeptides. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:171. [PMID: 25009457 PMCID: PMC4067905 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Affiliative social relationships (e.g., among spouses, family members, and friends) play an essential role in human society. These relationships affect psychological, physiological, and behavioral functions. As positive and enduring bonds are critical for the overall well-being of humans, it is not surprising that considerable effort has been made to study the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie social bonding behaviors. The present review details the involvement of the nonapeptides, oxytocin (OT), and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in the regulation of social bonding in mammals including humans. In particular, we will discuss the role of OT and AVP in the formation of social bonds between partners of a mating pair as well as between parents and their offspring. Furthermore, the role of OT and AVP in the formation of interpersonal bonding involving trust is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL, USA
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83
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Effects of neonatal oxytocin manipulation on development of social behaviors in mice. Physiol Behav 2014; 133:68-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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84
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Role of oxytocin receptors in modulation of fear by social memory. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:2097-105. [PMID: 24287604 PMCID: PMC4004649 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Oxytocin receptors (Oxtr) are important mediators of social learning and emotion, with bidirectional effects on fear and anxiety. Contrary to the anxiolytic actions of Oxtr in the amygdala, we recently showed that Oxtr in the lateral septum mediate the enhancement of fear conditioning by social defeat in mice. OBJECTIVES Using positive social interactions, which impair fear conditioning, here we attempted to delineate whether the role of septal Oxtr in fear regulation depends on the valence of the social memory. METHODS Pharmacological and genetic manipulations of lateral septal Oxtr were combined with the social buffering of fear paradigm, in which pre-exposure to nonfearful conspecifics reduces subsequent contextual fear conditioning, as revealed by decreased freezing behavior. RESULTS Antagonism and down-regulation of Oxtr in the lateral septum abolished, while oxytocin (Oxt) administration before pre-exposure to nonfearful conspecifics facilitated the decrease of freezing behavior. CONCLUSIONS The septal oxytocin system enhances memory of social interactions regardless of their valence, reducing fear after positive and enhancing fear after negative social encounters. These findings explain, at least in part, the seemingly bidirectional role of Oxt in fear regulation.
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85
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Lukas M, Neumann ID. Social preference and maternal defeat-induced social avoidance in virgin female rats: sex differences in involvement of brain oxytocin and vasopressin. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 234:101-7. [PMID: 24709115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research concerning non-reproductive sociability in rodents is mainly restricted to assessing the effects of oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in male rats and mice. Comparable studies on natural social preference and social avoidance in females are substantially lacking. NEW METHOD Here, we adapted a behavioral paradigm for monitoring social preference of female rats consisting of two consecutive exposures to either non-social or social stimuli. Further, to induce stimulus-specific social avoidance, female rats were exposed to a single 10-min maternal defeat by a lactating dam. RESULTS Social preference towards same-sex conspecifics in female rats was shown to be independent of the estrous cycle and even more pronounced than in male rats. Intracerebroventricular (icv) application of OXT, AVP, or their selective receptor antagonists or agonists, did not alter naturally-occurring social preference in female rats. Stimulus-specific social avoidance could be induced by prior exposure to a lactating rat: an effect that could not be reversed/overcome by icv OXT. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) The female social preference paradigm for rats established in this study detected subtle sex differences in social preference behavior of rats. Further, stimulus-specific social deficits could be induced in female rats using an acute exposure to social defeat - as previously observed in male rodents. CONCLUSIONS Female rats show strong social preference behavior, which can be prevented by social defeat, but does not seem to be regulated by the OXT or AVP systems. Accordingly, icv application of synthetic OXT does not reverse maternal defeat-induced social avoidance in female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lukas
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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86
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Terzian ALB, Micale V, Wotjak CT. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 receptors on GABAergic vs. glutamatergic neurons differentially gate sex-dependent social interest in mice. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 40:2293-8. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luisa B. Terzian
- Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Research Group ‘Neural Plasticity’; Kraepelinstraße, 2-10 80804 Munich Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences; Ludwig-Maximilians Universität; Munich Germany
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Research Group ‘Neural Plasticity’; Kraepelinstraße, 2-10 80804 Munich Germany
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC); Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Carsten T. Wotjak
- Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Research Group ‘Neural Plasticity’; Kraepelinstraße, 2-10 80804 Munich Germany
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87
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Page DT. Pten haploinsufficient mice show broad brain overgrowth but selective impairments in autism-relevant behavioral tests. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:3490-505. [PMID: 24497577 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Accelerated head and brain growth (macrocephaly) during development is a replicated biological finding in a subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relationship between brain overgrowth and the behavioral and cognitive symptoms of ASD is poorly understood. The PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway regulates cellular growth; several genes encoding negative regulators of this pathway are ASD risk factors, including PTEN. Mutations in PTEN have been reported in individuals with ASD and macrocephaly. We report that brain overgrowth is widespread in Pten germline haploinsufficient (Pten(+/-)) mice, reflecting Pten mRNA expression in the developing brain. We then ask if broad brain overgrowth translates into general or specific effects on the development of behavior and cognition by testing Pten(+/-) mice using assays relevant to ASD and comorbidities. Deficits in social behavior were observed in both sexes. Males also showed abnormalities related to repetitive behavior and mood/anxiety. Females exhibited circadian activity and emotional learning phenotypes. Widespread brain overgrowth together with selective behavioral impairments in Pten(+/-) mice raises the possibility that most brain areas and constituent cell types adapt to an altered trajectory of growth with minimal impact on the behaviors tested in our battery; however, select areas/cell types relevant to social behavior are more vulnerable or less adaptable, thus resulting in social deficits. Probing dopaminergic neurons as a candidate vulnerable cell type, we found social behavioral impairments in mice with Pten conditionally inactivated in dopaminergic neurons that are consistent with the possibility that desynchronized growth in key cell types may contribute to ASD endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Clipperton-Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter 33458, FL, USA
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter 33458, FL, USA
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88
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Bilkei-Gorzo A, Mauer D, Michel K, Zimmer A. Dynorphins regulate the strength of social memory. Neuropharmacology 2014; 77:406-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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89
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Ebitz RB, Platt ML. An evolutionary perspective on the behavioral consequences of exogenous oxytocin application. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 7:225. [PMID: 24478646 PMCID: PMC3894461 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is released in response to social signals, particularly positive ones like eye contact, social touch, sexual behavior, and affiliative vocalizations. Conversely, exogenous delivery of OT has diverse behavioral effects, sometimes promoting affiliative and prosocial behaviors, but sometimes suppressing them. Here, we argue that one unifying interpretation of these diverse effects is to view OT as an evolutionarily conserved physiological signal indicating affiliative interactions and predicting their behavioral consequences. In this model, OT regulates the way information about the social environment accesses the neural circuitry responsible for social behavior, thereby shaping it in sometimes counter intuitive but adaptive ways. Notably, prosociality is not always the most adaptive response to an affiliative signal from another individual. In many circumstances, an asocial or even antisocial response may confer greater fitness benefits. We argue that the behavioral effects of exogenous OT delivery not only parallel the behavioral effects of affiliative interactions, but are themselves adaptive responses to affiliative interactions. In support of this idea, we review recent evidence that OT does not unilaterally enhance social attention, as previously thought, but rather can reduce the typical prioritization of social information at the expense of other information or goals. Such diminished social vigilance may be an adaptive response to affiliative social interactions because it frees attentional resources for the pursuit of other goals. Finally, we predict that OT may mediate other behavioral consequences of social interactions, such as reduced predator vigilance, and argue that this is a rich avenue for future behavioral and neurobiological study.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Becket Ebitz
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA, USA ; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC, USA ; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
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90
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Moldrich RX, Leanage G, She D, Dolan-Evans E, Nelson M, Reza N, Reutens DC. Inhibition of histone deacetylase in utero causes sociability deficits in postnatal mice. Behav Brain Res 2013; 257:253-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.09.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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91
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Calcagnoli F, de Boer SF, Althaus M, den Boer JA, Koolhaas JM. Antiaggressive activity of central oxytocin in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 229:639-51. [PMID: 23624810 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3124-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE A substantial body of research suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin promotes social affiliative behaviors in a wide range of animals including humans. However, its antiaggressive action has not been unequivocally demonstrated in male laboratory rodents. OBJECTIVE Our primary goal was to examine the putative serenic effect of oxytocin in a feral strain (wild type Groningen, WTG) of rats that generally show a much broader variation and higher levels of intermale aggression than commonly used laboratory strains of rats. METHODS Resident animals were intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered with different doses of synthetic oxytocin and oxytocin receptor antagonist, alone and in combination, in order to manipulate brain oxytocin functioning and to assess their behavioral response to an intruder. RESULTS Our data clearly demonstrate that acute icv administered oxytocin produces dose-dependent and receptor-selective changes in social behavior, reducing aggression and potentiating social exploration. These antiaggressive effects are stronger in the more offensive rats. On the other hand, administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist tends to increase (nonsignificantly) aggression only in low-medium aggressive animals. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that transiently enhancing brain oxytocin function has potent antiaggressive effects, whereas its attenuation tends to enhance aggressiveness. In addition, a possible inverse relationship between trait aggression and endogenous oxytocinergic signaling is revealed. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of brain oxytocinergic signaling for regulating intermale offensive aggression. This study supports the suggestion that oxytocin receptor agonists could clinically be useful for curbing heightened aggression seen in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders like antisocial personality disorder, autism, and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Calcagnoli
- Department of Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands,
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92
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Millan MJ, Bales KL. Towards improved animal models for evaluating social cognition and its disruption in schizophrenia: the CNTRICS initiative. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:2166-80. [PMID: 24090822 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Social cognition refers to processes used to monitor and interpret social signals from others, to decipher their state of mind, emotional status and intentions, and select appropriate social behaviour. Social cognition is sophisticated in humans, being embedded with verbal language and enacted in a complex cultural environment. Its disruption characterises the entire course of schizophrenia and is correlated with poor functional outcome. Further, deficits in social cognition are related to impairment in other cognitive domains, positive symptoms (paranoia and delusions) and negative symptoms (social withdrawal and reduced motivation). In light of the significance and inadequate management of social cognition deficits, there is a need for translatable experimental procedures for their study, and identification of effective pharmacotherapy. No single paradigm captures the multi-dimensional nature of social cognition, and procedures for assessing ability to infer mental states are not well-developed for experimental therapeutic settings. Accordingly, a recent CNTRICS meeting prioritised procedures for measuring a specific construct: "acquisition and recognition of affective (emotional) states", coupled to individual recognition. Two complementary paradigms for refinement were identified: social recognition/preference in rodents, and visual tracking of social scenes in non-human primates (NHPs). Social recognition is disrupted in genetic, developmental or pharmacological disease models for schizophrenia, and performance in both procedures is improved by the neuropeptide oxytocin. The present article surveys a broad range of procedures for studying social cognition in rodents and NHPs, discusses advantages and drawbacks, and focuses on development of social recognition/preference and gaze-following paradigms for improved study of social cognition deficits in schizophrenia and their potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Unit for Research and Discovery in Neuroscience, IDR Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France.
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93
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Yen YC, Anderzhanova E, Bunck M, Schuller J, Landgraf R, Wotjak CT. Co-segregation of hyperactivity, active coping styles, and cognitive dysfunction in mice selectively bred for low levels of anxiety. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:103. [PMID: 23966915 PMCID: PMC3744008 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We established mouse models of extremes in trait anxiety, which are based on selective breeding for low vs. normal vs. high open-arm exploration on the elevated plus-maze. Genetically selected low anxiety-related behavior (LAB) coincided with hyperactivity in the home cage. Given the fact that several psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mania, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share hyperactivity symptom, we systematically examined LAB mice with respect to unique and overlapping endophenotypes of the three diseases. To this end Venn diagrams were used as an instrument for discrimination of possible models. We arranged the endophenotypes in Venn diagrams and translated them into different behavioral tests. LAB mice showed elevated levels of locomotion in the open field (OF) test with deficits in habituation, compared to mice bred for normal (NAB) and high anxiety-related behavior (HAB). Cross-breeding of hypoactive HAB and hyperactive LAB mice resulted in offspring showing a low level of locomotion comparable to HAB mice, indicating that the HAB alleles are dominant over LAB alleles in determining the level of locomotion. In a holeboard test, LAB mice spent less time in hole exploration, as shown in patients with schizophrenia and ADHD; however, LAB mice displayed no impairments in social interaction and prepulse inhibition (PPI), implying a unlikelihood of LAB as an animal model of schizophrenia. Although LAB mice displayed hyperarousal, active coping styles, and cognitive deficits, symptoms shared by mania and ADHD, they failed to reveal the classic manic endophenotypes, such as increased hedonia and object interaction. The neuroleptic haloperidol reduced locomotor activity in all mouse lines. The mood stabilizer lithium and the psychostimulant amphetamine, in contrast, selectively reduced hyperactivity in LAB mice. Based on the behavioral and pharmacological profiles, LAB mice are suggested as a novel rodent model of ADHD-like symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chun Yen
- Department of Neuronal Plasticity, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry Munich, Germany
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94
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Won H, Mah W, Kim E. Autism spectrum disorder causes, mechanisms, and treatments: focus on neuronal synapses. Front Mol Neurosci 2013; 6:19. [PMID: 23935565 PMCID: PMC3733014 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2013.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors. Advances in human genomics have identified a large number of genetic variations associated with ASD. These associations are being rapidly verified by a growing number of studies using a variety of approaches, including mouse genetics. These studies have also identified key mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ASD, many of which involve synaptic dysfunctions, and have investigated novel, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. This review will try to integrate these three key aspects of ASD research: human genetics, animal models, and potential treatments. Continued efforts in this direction should ultimately reveal core mechanisms that account for a larger fraction of ASD cases and identify neural mechanisms associated with specific ASD symptoms, providing important clues to efficient ASD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejung Won
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Won Mah
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic ScienceDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic ScienceDaejeon, South Korea
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95
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Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose diagnosis is based on three behavioral criteria: unusual reciprocal social interactions, deficits in communication, and stereotyped repetitive behaviors with restricted interests. A large number of de novo single gene mutations and chromosomal deletions are associated with autism spectrum disorders. Based on the strong genetic evidence, mice with targeted mutations in homologous genes have been generated as translational research tools. Mouse models of autism have revealed behavioral and biological outcomes of mutations in risk genes. The field is now poised to employ the most robust phenotypes in the most replicable mouse models for preclinical screening of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline N Crawley
- Robert Chason Chair in Translational Research, M.I.N.D. Institute Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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96
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Lopatina O, Inzhutova A, Salmina AB, Higashida H. The roles of oxytocin and CD38 in social or parental behaviors. Front Neurosci 2013; 6:182. [PMID: 23335873 PMCID: PMC3542479 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2012.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nine amino acid peptide oxytocin (OXT) has been directly associated with different types of behavioral reactions. The formation and maintenance of social relationships in youth and middle age are important components of human mental health. A deficit in healthy behavioral formation leads to social isolation and limitation of well-being. Mice are social animals and are therefore useful for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive process control, including the development of social relationships and social skills. Studies in mice may broaden our understanding of the human condition. The multifunctional protein CD38/ADP-ribosyl cyclase is highly expressed in the brain, plays an important role in central OXT release, and regulates social memory. In this review article, we discuss the mechanisms of social behavior affected by the dysregulation of brain OXT function as a consequence of a lack of CD38. OXT bound to OXT receptors initiates autoregulatory positive feedback of OXT release in the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary. OXT bio-behavioral positive feedback is usually implicated in female reproductive systems, but can also be observed in social behavior. Exogenous stimuli (OXT treatment in vitro, OXT intravenous or intraventricular administration, and nasal OXT delivery) initiate activation of OXT neurons via PKC-CD38/ADP-ribosyl cyclase cascades and result in the modulation of social behavior in humans and mice. Based on these findings, we reviewed the functions of OXT and its properties with respect to the development of therapies for human social behavior impairments in psychological diseases. In addition, preliminary studies of continuous nasal OXT administration on subjects with autism spectrum disorders are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Lopatina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Buhusi M, Scripa I, Williams CL, Buhusi CV. Impaired interval timing and spatial-temporal integration in mice deficient in CHL1, a gene associated with schizophrenia. TIMING & TIME PERCEPTION 2013; 1:21-38. [PMID: 28890867 DOI: 10.1163/22134468-00002003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Interval timing is crucial for decision-making and motor control and is impaired in many neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia - a neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component. Several gene mutations, polymorphisms or rare copy number variants have been associated with schizophrenia. L1 cell adhesion molecules (L1CAMs) are involved in neurodevelopmental processes, and in synaptic function and plasticity in the adult brain. Mice deficient in the Close Homolog to L1 (CHL1) adhesion molecule show alterations of hippocampal and thalamo-cortical neuroanatomy as well as deficits in sensorimotor gating and exploratory behavior. We analyzed interval timing and attentional control of temporal and spatial information in male CHL1 deficient (KO) mice and wild type (WT) controls. In a 20-s peak-interval timing procedure (standard and reversed), KO mice showed a maintained leftward shift of the response function relative to WT, indicative of a deficit in memory encoding/decoding. In trials with 2, 5, or 10-s gaps, KO mice shifted their peak times less than WT controls at longer gap durations, suggesting a decreased (attentional) effect of interruptions. In the spatial-temporal task, KO mice made more working and reference memory errors than controls, suggestive of impaired use of spatial and/or temporal information. When the duration spent on the central platform of the maze was manipulated, WT mice showed fewer spatial errors at the trained duration than at shorter or longer durations, indicative of discrimination based upon spatial-temporal integration. In contrast, performance was similar at all tested durations in KO mice, indicative of control by spatial cues, but not by temporal cues. These results suggest that CHL1 KO mice selectively attend to the more relevant cues of the task, and fail to integrate more complex spatial-temporal information, possibly as a result of reduced memory capacity related to hippocampal impairment, and altered temporal-integration mechanisms possibly due to thalamo-cortical anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Buhusi
- USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan UT
| | - Ioana Scripa
- USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan UT
| | | | - Catalin V Buhusi
- USTAR BioInnovations Center, Dept. Psychology, Utah State University, Logan UT
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Fairless AH, Katz JM, Vijayvargiya N, Dow HC, Kreibich AS, Berrettini WH, Abel T, Brodkin ES. Development of home cage social behaviors in BALB/cJ vs. C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2012; 237:338-47. [PMID: 22982070 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Revised: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J inbred mouse strains have been proposed as useful models of low and high levels of sociability (tendency to seek social interaction), respectively, based primarily on behaviors of ∼30-day-old mice in the Social Approach Test (SAT). In the SAT, approach and sniffing behaviors of a test mouse toward an unfamiliar stimulus mouse are measured in a novel environment. However, it is unclear whether such results generalize to a familiar environment with a familiar social partner, such as with a littermate in a home cage environment. We hypothesized that C57BL/6J mice would show higher levels of social behaviors than BALB/cJ mice in the home cage environment, particularly at 30 days-of-age. We measured active and passive social behaviors in home cages by pairs of BALB/cJ or C57BL/6J littermates at ages 30, 41, and 69 days. The strains did not differ robustly in their active social behaviors. C57BL/6J mice were more passively social than BALB/cJ mice at 30 days, and C57BL/6J levels of passive social behaviors declined to BALB/cJ levels by 69 days. The differences in passive social behaviors at 30 days-of-age were primarily attributable to differences in huddling. These results indicate that different test conditions (SAT conditions vs. home cage conditions) elicit strain differences in distinct types of behaviors (approach/sniffing vs. huddling behaviors, respectively). Assessment of the more naturalistic social interactions in the familiar home cage environment with a familiar littermate will provide a useful component of a comprehensive assessment of social behaviors in mouse models relevant to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H Fairless
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31st Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
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van der Kooij MA, Sandi C. Social memories in rodents: Methods, mechanisms and modulation by stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2012; 36:1763-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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100
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Abstract
Advances in genetics and genomics have improved our understanding of autism spectrum disorders. As many genes have been implicated, we look to points of convergence among these genes across biological systems to better understand and treat these disorders.
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