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Ren X, Zhao X, Li J, Liu Y, Ren Y, Pruessner JC, Yang J. The Hippocampal-Ventral Medial Prefrontal Cortex Neurocircuitry Involvement in the Association of Daily Life Stress With Acute Perceived Stress and Cortisol Responses. Psychosom Med 2022; 84:276-287. [PMID: 35149637 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Daily life stressors include everyday irritants, hassles, and inconveniences, such as problems in traffic and unexpected work deadlines. A growing body of research has suggested higher daily stress is associated with blunted cortisol response to acute psychosocial stressors. However, so far, the neural mechanism underlying this association has not been elucidated. The current study aimed to examine the role of stress neurocircuitry between the hippocampus and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex in this relationship. METHODS To this end, as an index of daily stress in 44 young healthy individuals (23 females; mean [standard deviation] age = 19.07 [1.11] years), the total stressful rating score of daily life stress events that occurred in a 24-hour period was quantified. Individuals were then administered a modified version of the Montreal Imaging Stress Task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, and their saliva samples were collected for assessment of the stress hormone cortisol. RESULTS Results revealed that a higher level of daily stress was associated with lower salivary cortisol secretion (r = -0.39, p = .008) and lower activation of the left hippocampus (tpeak = -5.51) in response to the Montreal Imaging Stress Task. Furthermore, a higher level of daily stress was associated with stronger functional connectivity between the left hippocampus and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex/subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (tpeak = 4.91, R2= 0.365). CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the current study suggested a possible neurocircuitry of the hippocampus and ventral medial prefrontal cortex in the relationship between daily life stress and acute psychosocial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Ren
- From the Faculty of Psychology (X. Ren, Zhao, Li, liu, Y. Ren, Yang), Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Department of Psychology (Pruessner), University of Constance, Constance, Germany
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52
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Howland JG, Ito R, Lapish CC, Villaruel FR. The rodent medial prefrontal cortex and associated circuits in orchestrating adaptive behavior under variable demands. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104569. [PMID: 35131398 PMCID: PMC9248379 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence implicates rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in tasks requiring adaptation of behavior to changing information from external and internal sources. However, the computations within mPFC and subsequent outputs that determine behavior are incompletely understood. We review the involvement of mPFC subregions, and their projections to the striatum and amygdala in two broad types of tasks in rodents: 1) appetitive and aversive Pavlovian and operant conditioning tasks that engage mPFC-striatum and mPFC-amygdala circuits, and 2) foraging-based tasks that require decision making to optimize reward. We find support for region-specific function of the mPFC, with dorsal mPFC and its projections to the dorsomedial striatum supporting action control with higher cognitive demands, and ventral mPFC engagement in translating affective signals into behavior via discrete projections to the ventral striatum and amygdala. However, we also propose that defined mPFC subdivisions operate as a functional continuum rather than segregated functional units, with crosstalk that allows distinct subregion-specific inputs (e.g., internal, affective) to influence adaptive behavior supported by other subregions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| | - Rutsuko Ito
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto-Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Christopher C Lapish
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Franz R Villaruel
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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53
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Niu M, Kasai A, Tanuma M, Seiriki K, Igarashi H, Kuwaki T, Nagayasu K, Miyaji K, Ueno H, Tanabe W, Seo K, Yokoyama R, Ohkubo J, Ago Y, Hayashida M, Inoue KI, Takada M, Yamaguchi S, Nakazawa T, Kaneko S, Okuno H, Yamanaka A, Hashimoto H. Claustrum mediates bidirectional and reversible control of stress-induced anxiety responses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabi6375. [PMID: 35302853 PMCID: PMC8932664 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The processing of stress responses involves brain-wide communication among cortical and subcortical regions; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that the claustrum (CLA) is crucial for the control of stress-induced anxiety-related behaviors. A combined approach using brain activation mapping and machine learning showed that the CLA activation serves as a reliable marker of exposure to acute stressors. In TRAP2 mice, which allow activity-dependent genetic labeling, chemogenetic activation of the CLA neuronal ensemble tagged by acute social defeat stress (DS) elicited anxiety-related behaviors, whereas silencing of the CLA ensemble attenuated DS-induced anxiety-related behaviors. Moreover, the CLA received strong input from DS-activated basolateral amygdala neurons, and its circuit-selective optogenetic photostimulation temporarily elicited anxiety-related behaviors. Last, silencing of the CLA ensemble during stress exposure increased resistance to chronic DS. The CLA thus bidirectionally controls stress-induced emotional responses, and its inactivation can serve as a preventative strategy to increase stress resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misaki Niu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kasai
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masato Tanuma
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kaoru Seiriki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Institute for Transdisciplinary Graduate Degree Programs, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisato Igarashi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kuwaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Nagayasu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keita Miyaji
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ueno
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Wataru Tanabe
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kei Seo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rei Yokoyama
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jin Ohkubo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukio Ago
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Misuzu Hayashida
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Aichi, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shun Yamaguchi
- Department of Morphological Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Center for Highly Advanced Integration of Nano and Life Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takanobu Nakazawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Kaneko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okuno
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Molecular Research Center for Children’s Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Osaka Japan
- Division of Bioscience, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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54
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Mayo LM, Rabinak CA, Hill MN, Heilig M. Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Promising Case of Preclinical-Clinical Translation? Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:262-272. [PMID: 34598785 PMCID: PMC11097652 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is one the most ubiquitous signaling systems of the brain and offers a rich pharmacology including multiple druggable targets. Preclinical research shows that eCB activity influences functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala and thereby influences an organism's ability to cope with threats and stressful experiences. Animal studies show that CB1 receptor activation within the amygdala is essential for extinction of fear memories. Failure to extinguish traumatic memories is a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder, suggesting that potentiating eCB signaling may have a therapeutic potential in this condition. However, it has been unknown whether animal findings in this domain translate to humans. Data to inform this critical question are now emerging and are the focus of this review. We first briefly summarize the biology of the eCB system and the animal studies that support its role in fear extinction and stress responding. We then discuss the pharmacological eCB-targeting strategies that may be exploited for therapeutic purposes: direct CB1 receptor activation, using Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or its synthetic analogs; or indirect potentiation, through inhibition of eCB-degrading enzymes, the anandamide-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase; or the 2-AG (2-arachidonoyl glycerol)-degrading enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase. We then review recent human data on direct CB1 receptor activation via Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and anandamide potentiation through fatty acid amide hydrolase blockade. The available human data consistently support a translation of animal findings on fear memories and stress reactivity and suggest a potential therapeutic utility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Christine A Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Translational Neuroscience Program, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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55
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PV network plasticity mediated by neuregulin1-ErbB4 signalling controls fear extinction. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:896-906. [PMID: 34697452 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential for fear extinction, the process of which forms the basis of the general therapeutic process used to treat human fear disorders. However, the underlying molecules and local circuit elements controlling neuronal activity and concomitant induction of plasticity remain unclear. Here we show that sustained plasticity of the parvalbumin (PV) neuronal network in the infralimbic (IL) mPFC is required for fear extinction in adult male mice and identify the involvement of neuregulin 1-ErbB4 signalling in PV network plasticity-mediated fear extinction. Moreover, regulation of fear extinction by basal medial amygdala (BMA)-projecting IL neurons is dependent on PV network configuration. Together, these results uncover the local molecular circuit mechanisms underlying mPFC-mediated top-down control of fear extinction, suggesting alterative therapeutic approaches to treat fear disorders.
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56
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Yan Y, Aierken A, Wang C, Jin W, Quan Z, Wang Z, Qing H, Ni J, Zhao J. Neuronal Circuits Associated with Fear Memory: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Neuroscientist 2022; 29:332-351. [PMID: 35057666 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211069977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is associated with long-lasting memories of traumatic experiences. Extinction and discrimination of fear memory have become therapeutic targets for PTSD. Newly developed optogenetics and advanced in vivo imaging techniques have provided unprecedented spatiotemporal tools to characterize the activity, connectivity, and functionality of specific cell types in complicated neuronal circuits. The use of such tools has offered mechanistic insights into the exquisite organization of the circuitry underlying the extinction and discrimination of fear memory. This review focuses on the acquisition of more detailed, comprehensive, and integrated neural circuits to understand how the brain regulates the extinction and discrimination of fear memory. A future challenge is to translate these researches into effective therapeutic treatment for PTSD from the perspective of precise regulation of the neural circuits associated with the extinction and discrimination of fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ailikemu Aierken
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Chunjian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- Aerospace Medical Center, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
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57
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Canto-de-Souza L, Demetrovich PG, Plas S, Souza RR, Epperson J, Wahlstrom KL, Nunes-de-Souza RL, LaLumiere RT, Planeta CS, McIntyre CK. Daily Optogenetic Stimulation of the Left Infralimbic Cortex Reverses Extinction Impairments in Male Rats Exposed to Single Prolonged Stress. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:780326. [PMID: 34987362 PMCID: PMC8721142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.780326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. PTSD-like pathophysiology and behaviors have been observed in rodents exposed to a single prolonged stress (SPS) procedure. When animals are left alone for 7 days after SPS treatment, they show increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired extinction of conditioned fear, and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex. Here, we tested the hypothesis that daily optogenetic stimulation of the infralimbic region (IL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the 7 days after SPS would reverse SPS effects on anxiety and fear extinction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent SPS and then received daily optogenetic stimulation (20 Hz, 2 s trains, every 10 s for 15 min/day) of glutamatergic neurons of the left or right IL for seven days. After this incubation period, rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Twenty-four hours after the EPM test, rats underwent auditory fear conditioning (AFC), extinction training and a retention test. SPS increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM task and produced a profound impairment in extinction of AFC. Optogenetic stimulation of the left IL, but not right, during the 7-day incubation period reversed the extinction impairment. Optogenetic stimulation did not reverse the increased anxiety-like behavior, suggesting that the extinction effects are not due to a treatment-induced reduction in anxiety. Results indicate that increased activity of the left IL after traumatic experiences can prevent development of extinction impairments. These findings suggest that non-invasive brain stimulation may be a useful tool for preventing maladaptive responses to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Canto-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Peyton G Demetrovich
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Samantha Plas
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Rimenez R Souza
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Joseph Epperson
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Krista L Wahlstrom
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Ricardo Luiz Nunes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Cleopatra Silva Planeta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.,Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Christa K McIntyre
- School of Behavior and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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58
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Anderson MC, Floresco SB. Prefrontal-hippocampal interactions supporting the extinction of emotional memories: the retrieval stopping model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:180-195. [PMID: 34446831 PMCID: PMC8616908 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01131-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroimaging has revealed robust interactions between the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus when people stop memory retrieval. Efforts to stop retrieval can arise when people encounter reminders to unpleasant thoughts they prefer not to think about. Retrieval stopping suppresses hippocampal and amygdala activity, especially when cues elicit aversive memory intrusions, via a broad inhibitory control capacity enabling prepotent response suppression. Repeated retrieval stopping reduces intrusions of unpleasant memories and diminishes their affective tone, outcomes resembling those achieved by the extinction of conditioned emotional responses. Despite this resemblance, the role of inhibitory fronto-hippocampal interactions and retrieval stopping broadly in extinction has received little attention. Here we integrate human and animal research on extinction and retrieval stopping. We argue that reconceptualising extinction to integrate mnemonic inhibitory control with learning would yield a greater understanding of extinction's relevance to mental health. We hypothesize that fear extinction spontaneously engages retrieval stopping across species, and that controlled suppression of hippocampal and amygdala activity by the prefrontal cortex reduces fearful thoughts. Moreover, we argue that retrieval stopping recruits extinction circuitry to achieve affect regulation, linking extinction to how humans cope with intrusive thoughts. We discuss novel hypotheses derived from this theoretical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Anderson
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology, and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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59
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Leuchter MK, Rosenberg BM, Schapira G, Wong NR, Leuchter AF, McGlade AL, Krantz DE, Ginder ND, Lee JC, Wilke SA, Tadayonnejad R, Levitt J, Marder KG, Craske MG, Iacoboni M. Treatment of Spider Phobia Using Repeated Exposures and Adjunctive Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:823158. [PMID: 35370840 PMCID: PMC8965447 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.823158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific phobias represent the largest category of anxiety disorders. Previous work demonstrated that stimulating the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) with repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) may improve response to exposure therapy for acrophobia. OBJECTIVE To examine feasibility of accelerating extinction learning in subjects with spider phobia using intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) rTMS of vmPFC. METHODS In total, 17 subjects with spider phobia determined by spider phobia questionnaires [Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ) and Fear of Spiders questionnaire (FSQ)] underwent ratings of fear of spiders as well as behavioral and skin conductance data during a behavioral avoidance test (BAT). Subjects then received a sequential protocol of in vivo spider exposure followed by iTBS for three sessions administered to either active or control treatment sites (vmPFC [n = 8] or vertex [n = 9], respectively), followed 1 week later by repetition of questionnaires and BAT. RESULTS All subjects improved significantly regardless of group across both questionnaires (FSQ η2 = 0.43, p = 0.004; SPQ η2 = 0.39, p = 0.008) and skin conductance levels during BAT (Wald χ2 = 30.9, p < 0.001). Subjects in the vmPFC group tolerated lower treatment intensity than in the control group, and there was a significant correlation between treatment intensity, BAT subjective distress improvement, and physiologic measures (all ρ > 0.5). CONCLUSION This proof-of-concept study provides preliminary evidence that a sequential exposure and iTBS over vmPFC is feasible and may have rTMS intensity-dependent effects on treatment outcomes, providing evidence for future areas of study in the use of rTMS for phobias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Leuchter
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin M Rosenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Giuditta Schapira
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicole R Wong
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Andrew F Leuchter
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anastasia L McGlade
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David E Krantz
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nathaniel D Ginder
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan C Lee
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Scott A Wilke
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Reza Tadayonnejad
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer Levitt
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Katharine G Marder
- TMS Clinical and Research Program, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marco Iacoboni
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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60
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Watanabe M, Uematsu A, Johansen JP. Enhanced synchronization between prelimbic and infralimbic cortices during fear extinction learning. Mol Brain 2021; 14:175. [PMID: 34895283 PMCID: PMC8666018 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00884-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to extinguish aversive memories when they are no longer associated with danger is critical for balancing survival with competing adaptive demands. Previous studies demonstrated that the infralimbic cortex (IL) is essential for extinction of learned fear, while neural activity in the prelimbic cortex (PL) facilitates fear responding and is negatively correlated with the strength of extinction memories. Though these adjacent regions in the prefrontal cortex maintain mutual synaptic connectivity, it has been unclear whether PL and IL interact functionally with each other during fear extinction learning. Here we addressed this question by recording local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously from PL and IL of awake behaving rats during extinction of auditory fear memories. We found that LFP power in the fast gamma frequency (100-200 Hz) in both PL and IL regions increased during extinction learning. In addition, coherency analysis showed that synchronization between PL and IL in the fast gamma frequency was enhanced over the course of extinction. These findings support the hypothesis that interregional interactions between PL and IL increase as animals extinguish aversive memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Watanabe
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Uematsu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Joshua P Johansen
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan. .,Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. .,RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Laboratory for Neural Circuitry of Learning and Memory, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
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61
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Meyer HC, Sangha S, Radley JJ, LaLumiere RT, Baratta MV. Environmental certainty influences the neural systems regulating responses to threat and stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:1037-1055. [PMID: 34673111 PMCID: PMC8642312 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Flexible calibration of threat responding in accordance with the environment is an adaptive process that allows an animal to avoid harm while also maintaining engagement of other goal-directed actions. This calibration process, referred to as threat response regulation, requires an animal to calculate the probability that a given encounter will result in a threat so they can respond accordingly. Here we review the neural correlates of two highly studied forms of threat response suppression: extinction and safety conditioning. We focus on how relative levels of certainty or uncertainty in the surrounding environment alter the acquisition and application of these processes. We also discuss evidence indicating altered threat response regulation following stress exposure, including enhanced fear conditioning, and disrupted extinction and safety conditioning. To conclude, we discuss research using an animal model of coping that examines the impact of stressor controllability on threat responding, highlighting the potential for previous experiences with control, or other forms of coping, to protect against the effects of future adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi C Meyer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Susan Sangha
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Jason J Radley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
| | - Michael V Baratta
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA.
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62
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Nett KE, LaLumiere RT. Infralimbic cortex functioning across motivated behaviors: Can the differences be reconciled? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:704-721. [PMID: 34624366 PMCID: PMC8642304 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The rodent infralimbic cortex (IL) is implicated in higher order executive functions such as reward seeking and flexible decision making. However, the precise nature of its role in these processes is unclear. Early evidence indicated that the IL promotes the extinction and ongoing inhibition of fear conditioning and cocaine seeking. However, evidence spanning other behavioral domains, such as natural reward seeking and habit-based learning, suggests a more nuanced understanding of IL function. As techniques have advanced and more studies have examined IL function, identifying a unifying explanation for its behavioral function has become increasingly difficult. Here, we discuss evidence of IL function across motivated behaviors, including associative learning, drug seeking, natural reward seeking, and goal-directed versus habit-based behaviors, and emphasize how context-specific encoding and heterogeneous IL neuronal populations may underlie seemingly conflicting findings in the literature. Together, the evidence suggests that a major IL function is to facilitate the encoding and updating of contingencies between cues and behaviors to guide subsequent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelle E Nett
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
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63
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Baldi E, Costa A, Rani B, Passani MB, Blandina P, Romano A, Provensi G. Oxytocin and Fear Memory Extinction: Possible Implications for the Therapy of Fear Disorders? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10000. [PMID: 34576161 PMCID: PMC8467761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several psychiatric conditions such as phobias, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by pathological fear and anxiety. The main therapeutic approach used in the management of these disorders is exposure-based therapy, which is conceptually based upon fear extinction with the formation of a new safe memory association, allowing the reduction in behavioral conditioned fear responses. Nevertheless, this approach is only partially resolutive, since many patients have difficulty following the demanding and long process, and relapses are frequently observed over time. One strategy to improve the efficacy of the cognitive therapy is the combination with pharmacological agents. Therefore, the identification of compounds able to strengthen the formation and persistence of the inhibitory associations is a key goal. Recently, growing interest has been aroused by the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), which has been shown to have anxiolytic effects. Furthermore, OXT receptors and binding sites have been found in the critical brain structures involved in fear extinction. In this review, the recent literature addressing the complex effects of OXT on fear extinction at preclinical and clinical levels is discussed. These studies suggest that the OXT roles in fear behavior are due to its local effects in several brain regions, most notably, distinct amygdaloid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Baldi
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Alessia Costa
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Barbara Rani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Passani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Patrizio Blandina
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology ‘V. Erspamer’, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
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64
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Murkar A, De Koninck J, Merali Z. Cannabinoids: Revealing their complexity and role in central networks of fear and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:30-46. [PMID: 34487746 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The first aim of the present review is to provide an in-depth description of the cannabinoids and their known effects at various neuronal receptors. It reveals that cannabinoids are highly diverse, and recent work has highlighted that their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) are surprisingly more complex than previously recognized. Cannabinoid-sensitive receptors are widely distributed throughout the CNS where they act as primary modulators of neurotransmission. Secondly, we examine the role of cannabinoid receptors at key brain sites in the control of fear and anxiety. While our understanding of how cannabinoids specifically modulate these networks is mired by their complex interactions and diversity, a plausible framework(s) for their effects is proposed. Finally, we highlight some important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the mechanism(s) responsible for their effects on fear and anxiety in animal models and their use as therapeutic targets in humans. This is particularly important for our understanding of the phytocannabinoids used as novel clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Murkar
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Joseph De Koninck
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Zul Merali
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya; Carleton University, Neuroscience Department, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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65
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Shallcross J, Wu L, Wilkinson CS, Knackstedt LA, Schwendt M. Increased mGlu5 mRNA expression in BLA glutamate neurons facilitates resilience to the long-term effects of a single predator scent stress exposure. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2279-2293. [PMID: 34175993 PMCID: PMC10416208 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02326-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in a subset of individuals exposed to a trauma with core features being increased anxiety and impaired fear extinction. To model the heterogeneity of PTSD behavioral responses, we exposed male Sprague-Dawley rats to predator scent stress once for 10 min and then assessed anxiety-like behavior 7 days later using the elevated plus maze and acoustic startle response. Rats displaying anxiety-like behavior in both tasks were classified as stress Susceptible, and rats exhibiting behavior no different from un-exposed Controls were classified as stress Resilient. In Resilient rats, we previously found increased mRNA expression of mGlu5 in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC) and CB1 in the amygdala. Here, we performed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine the subregion and cell-type-specific expression of these genes in Resilient rats 3 weeks after TMT exposure. Resilient rats displayed increased mGlu5 mRNA expression in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the infralimbic and prelimbic regions of the PFC and increased BLA CB1 mRNA. These increases were limited to glutamatergic cells. To test the necessity of mGlu5 for attenuating TMT-conditioned contextual fear 3 weeks after TMT conditioning, intra-BLA infusions of the mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator MTEP were administered prior to context re-exposure. In TMT-exposed Resilient rats, but not Controls, MTEP increased freezing on the day of administration, which extinguished over two additional un-drugged sessions. These results suggest that increased mGlu5 expression in BLA glutamate neurons contributes to the behavioral flexibility observed in stress-Resilient animals by facilitating a capacity for extinguishing contextual fear associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Shallcross
- Psychology Department, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, 114 Psychology Building, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA
| | - Lizhen Wu
- Psychology Department, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, 114 Psychology Building, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA
| | - Courtney S Wilkinson
- Psychology Department, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, 114 Psychology Building, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA
- Center for Addiction Research and Education (CARE), University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - Lori A Knackstedt
- Psychology Department, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, 114 Psychology Building, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA
- Center for Addiction Research and Education (CARE), University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - Marek Schwendt
- Psychology Department, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, University of Florida, 114 Psychology Building, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA.
- Center for Addiction Research and Education (CARE), University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
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66
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Chen YH, Wu JL, Hu NY, Zhuang JP, Li WP, Zhang SR, Li XW, Yang JM, Gao TM. Distinct projections from the infralimbic cortex exert opposing effects in modulating anxiety and fear. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e145692. [PMID: 34263737 DOI: 10.1172/jci145692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety-related disorders can be treated by cognitive therapies and transcranial magnetic stimulation, which involve the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Subregions of the mPFC have been implicated in mediating different and even opposite roles in anxiety-related behaviors. However, precise causal targets of these top-down connections among diverse possibilities have not been established. Here, we show that the lateral septum (LS) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) represent 2 direct targets of the infralimbic cortex (IL), a subregion of the mPFC that modulates anxiety and fear. Two projections were unexpectedly found to exert opposite effects on the anxious state and learned freezing: the IL-LS projection promoted anxiety-related behaviors and fear-related freezing, whereas the IL-CeA projection exerted anxiolytic and fear-releasing effects for the same features. Furthermore, selective inhibition of corresponding circuit elements showed opposing behavioral effects compared with excitation. Notably, the IL-CeA projection implemented top-down control of the stress-induced high-anxiety state. These results suggest that distinct IL outputs exert opposite effects in modulating anxiety and fear and that modulating the excitability of these projections with distinct strategies may be beneficial for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
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67
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Fear extinction learning modulates large-scale brain connectivity. Neuroimage 2021; 238:118261. [PMID: 34126211 PMCID: PMC8436785 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring the neural circuits of the extinction of conditioned fear is critical to advance our understanding of fear- and anxiety-related disorders. The field has focused on examining the role of various regions of the medial prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala in conditioned fear and its extinction. The contribution of this 'fear network' to the conscious awareness of fear has recently been questioned. And as such, there is a need to examine higher/multiple cortical systems that might contribute to the conscious feeling of fear and anxiety. Herein, we studied functional connectivity patterns across the entire brain to examine the contribution of multiple networks to the acquisition of fear extinction learning and its retrieval. We conducted trial-by-trial analyses on data from 137 healthy participants who underwent a two-day fear conditioning and extinction paradigm in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. We found that functional connectivity across a broad range of brain regions, many of which are part of the default mode, frontoparietal, and ventral attention networks, increased from early to late extinction learning only to a conditioned cue. The increased connectivity during extinction learning predicted the magnitude of extinction memory tested 24 h later. Together, these findings provide evidence supporting recent studies implicating distributed brain regions in learning, consolidation and expression of fear extinction memory in the human brain.
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68
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Hagihara KM, Bukalo O, Zeller M, Aksoy-Aksel A, Karalis N, Limoges A, Rigg T, Campbell T, Mendez A, Weinholtz C, Mahn M, Zweifel LS, Palmiter RD, Ehrlich I, Lüthi A, Holmes A. Intercalated amygdala clusters orchestrate a switch in fear state. Nature 2021; 594:403-407. [PMID: 34040259 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03593-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adaptive behaviour necessitates the formation of memories for fearful events, but also that these memories can be extinguished. Effective extinction prevents excessive and persistent reactions to perceived threat, as can occur in anxiety and 'trauma- and stressor-related' disorders1. However, although there is evidence that fear learning and extinction are mediated by distinct neural circuits, the nature of the interaction between these circuits remains poorly understood2-6. Here, through a combination of in vivo calcium imaging, functional manipulations, and slice physiology, we show that distinct inhibitory clusters of intercalated neurons (ITCs) in the mouse amygdala exert diametrically opposed roles during the acquisition and retrieval of fear extinction memory. Furthermore, we find that the ITC clusters antagonize one another through mutual synaptic inhibition and differentially access functionally distinct cortical- and midbrain-projecting amygdala output pathways. Our findings show that the balance of activity between ITC clusters represents a unique regulatory motif that orchestrates a distributed neural circuitry, which in turn regulates the switch between high- and low-fear states. These findings suggest that the ITCs have a broader role in a range of amygdala functions and associated brain states that underpins the capacity to adapt to salient environmental demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta M Hagihara
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olena Bukalo
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Martin Zeller
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ayla Aksoy-Aksel
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Karalis
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aaron Limoges
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tanner Rigg
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tiffany Campbell
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Adriana Mendez
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chase Weinholtz
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mathias Mahn
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Larry S Zweifel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Richard D Palmiter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ingrid Ehrlich
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas Lüthi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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69
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Zhang WH, Zhang JY, Holmes A, Pan BX. Amygdala Circuit Substrates for Stress Adaptation and Adversity. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:847-856. [PMID: 33691931 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Brain systems that promote maintenance of homeostasis in the face of stress have significant adaptive value. A growing body of work across species demonstrates a critical role for the amygdala in promoting homeostasis by regulating physiological and behavioral responses to stress. This review focuses on an emerging body of evidence that has begun to delineate the contribution of specific long-range amygdala circuits in mediating the effects of stress. After summarizing the major anatomical features of the amygdala and its connectivity to other limbic structures, we discuss recent findings from rodents showing how stress causes structural and functional remodeling of amygdala neuronal outputs to defined cortical and subcortical target regions. We also consider some of the environmental and genetic factors that have been found to moderate how the amygdala responds to stress and relate the emerging preclinical literature to the current understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Future effort to translate these findings to clinics may help to develop valuable tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun-Yu Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institues of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
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70
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Le Merre P, Ährlund-Richter S, Carlén M. The mouse prefrontal cortex: Unity in diversity. Neuron 2021; 109:1925-1944. [PMID: 33894133 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to constitute the highest stage of neural integration and to be devoted to representation and production of actions. Studies in primates have laid the foundation for theories regarding the principles of prefrontal function and provided mechanistic insights. The recent surge of studies of the PFC in mice holds promise for evolvement of present theories and development of novel concepts, particularly regarding principles shared across mammals. Here we review recent empirical work on the mouse PFC capitalizing on the experimental toolbox currently privileged to studies in this species. We conclude that this line of research has revealed cellular and structural distinctions of the PFC and neuronal activity with direct relevance to theories regarding the functions of the PFC. We foresee that data-rich mouse studies will be key to shed light on the general prefrontal architecture and mechanisms underlying cognitive aspects of organized actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Le Merre
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Marie Carlén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
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71
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Nonaka M, Taylor WW, Bukalo O, Tucker LB, Fu AH, Kim Y, McCabe JT, Holmes A. Behavioral and Myelin-Related Abnormalities after Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:1551-1571. [PMID: 33605175 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In civilian and military settings, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common consequence of impacts to the head, sudden blows to the body, and exposure to high-energy atmospheric shockwaves from blast. In some cases, mTBI from blast exposure results in long-term emotional and cognitive deficits and an elevated risk for certain neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we tested the effects of mTBI on various forms of auditory-cued fear learning and other measures of cognition in male C57BL/6J mice after single or repeated blast exposure (blast TBI; bTBI). bTBI produced an abnormality in the temporal organization of cue-induced freezing behavior in a conditioned trace fear test. Spatial working memory, evaluated by the Y-maze task performance, was also deleteriously affected by bTBI. Reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis for glial markers indicated an alteration in the expression of myelin-related genes in the hippocampus and corpus callosum 1-8 weeks after bTBI. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses detected bTBI-related myelin and axonal damage in the hippocampus and corpus callosum. Together, these data suggest a possible link between blast-induced mTBI, myelin/axonal injury, and cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mio Nonaka
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - William W Taylor
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Olena Bukalo
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura B Tucker
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Preclinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Amanda H Fu
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Preclinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yeonho Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Preclinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph T McCabe
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Preclinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland, USA
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72
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Bouton ME, Maren S, McNally GP. BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF PAVLOVIAN AND INSTRUMENTAL EXTINCTION LEARNING. Physiol Rev 2021; 101:611-681. [PMID: 32970967 PMCID: PMC8428921 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00016.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the behavioral neuroscience of extinction, the phenomenon in which a behavior that has been acquired through Pavlovian or instrumental (operant) learning decreases in strength when the outcome that reinforced it is removed. Behavioral research indicates that neither Pavlovian nor operant extinction depends substantially on erasure of the original learning but instead depends on new inhibitory learning that is primarily expressed in the context in which it is learned, as exemplified by the renewal effect. Although the nature of the inhibition may differ in Pavlovian and operant extinction, in either case the decline in responding may depend on both generalization decrement and the correction of prediction error. At the neural level, Pavlovian extinction requires a tripartite neural circuit involving the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Synaptic plasticity in the amygdala is essential for extinction learning, and prefrontal cortical inhibition of amygdala neurons encoding fear memories is involved in extinction retrieval. Hippocampal-prefrontal circuits mediate fear relapse phenomena, including renewal. Instrumental extinction involves distinct ensembles in corticostriatal, striatopallidal, and striatohypothalamic circuits as well as their thalamic returns for inhibitory (extinction) and excitatory (renewal and other relapse phenomena) control over operant responding. The field has made significant progress in recent decades, although a fully integrated biobehavioral understanding still awaits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Bouton
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Gavan P McNally
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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73
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Taylor WW, Imhoff BR, Sathi ZS, Liu WY, Garza KM, Dias BG. Contributions of glucocorticoid receptors in cortical astrocytes to memory recall. Learn Mem 2021; 28:126-133. [PMID: 33723032 PMCID: PMC7970741 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053041.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctions in memory recall lead to pathological fear; a hallmark of trauma-related disorders, like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both, heightened recall of an association between a cue and trauma, as well as impoverished recall that a previously trauma-related cue is no longer a threat, result in a debilitating fear toward the cue. Glucocorticoid-mediated action via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) influences memory recall. This literature has primarily focused on GRs expressed in neurons or ignored cell-type specific contributions. To ask how GR action in nonneuronal cells influences memory recall, we combined auditory fear conditioning in mice and the knockout of GRs in astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in memory recall. We found that knocking out GRs in astrocytes of the PFC disrupted memory recall. Specifically, we found that knocking out GRs in astrocytes in the PFC (AstroGRKO) after fear conditioning resulted in higher levels of freezing to the CS+ tone when compared with controls (AstroGRintact). While we did not find any differences in extinction of fear toward the CS+ between these groups, AstroGRKO female but not male mice showed impaired recall of extinction training. These results suggest that GRs in cortical astrocytes contribute to memory recall. These data demonstrate the need to examine GR action in cortical astrocytes to elucidate the basic neurobiology underlying memory recall and potential mechanisms that underlie female-specific biases in the incidence of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Taylor
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA
- Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, Division of Research on Children, Youth, and Families, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
| | - Barry R Imhoff
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Zakia Sultana Sathi
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Wei Y Liu
- Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, Division of Research on Children, Youth, and Families, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
| | - Kristie M Garza
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Brian G Dias
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA
- Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, Division of Research on Children, Youth, and Families, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
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74
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Gunduz-Cinar O. The endocannabinoid system in the amygdala and modulation of fear. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110116. [PMID: 32976951 PMCID: PMC7511205 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a persistent, trauma induced psychiatric condition characterized by lifelong complex cognitive, emotional and behavioral phenotype. Although many individuals that experience trauma are able to gradually diminish their emotional responding to trauma-related stimuli over time, known as extinction learning, individuals suffering from PTSD are impaired in this capacity. An inability to decline this initially normal and adaptive fear response, can be confronted with exposure-based therapies, often in combination with pharmacological treatments. Due to the complexity of PTSD, currently available pharmacotherapeutics are inadequate in treating the deficient extinction observed in many PTSD patients. To develop novel therapeutics, researchers have exploited the conserved nature of fear and stress-associated behavioral responses and neurocircuits across species in an attempt to translate knowledge gained from preclinical studies into the clinic. There is growing evidence on the endocannabinoid modulation of fear and stress due to their 'on demand' synthesis and degradation. Involvement of the endocannabinoids in fear extinction makes the endocannabinoid system very attractive for finding effective therapeutics for trauma and stress related disorders. In this review, a brief introduction on neuroanatomy and circuitry of fear extinction will be provided as a model to study PTSD. Then, the endocannabinoid system will be discussed as an important component of extinction modulation. In this regard, anandamide degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) will be exemplified as a target identified and validated strongly from preclinical to clinical translational studies of enhancing extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Gunduz-Cinar
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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75
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Glover LR, McFadden KM, Bjorni M, Smith SR, Rovero NG, Oreizi-Esfahani S, Yoshida T, Postle AF, Nonaka M, Halladay LR, Holmes A. A prefrontal-bed nucleus of the stria terminalis circuit limits fear to uncertain threat. eLife 2020; 9:60812. [PMID: 33319747 PMCID: PMC7899651 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In many cases of trauma, the same environmental stimuli that become associated with aversive events are experienced on other occasions without adverse consequence. We examined neural circuits underlying partially reinforced fear (PRF), whereby mice received tone-shock pairings on half of conditioning trials. Tone-elicited freezing was lower after PRF conditioning than fully reinforced fear (FRF) conditioning, despite an equivalent number of tone-shock pairings. PRF preferentially activated medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Chemogenetic inhibition of BNST-projecting mPFC neurons increased PRF, not FRF, freezing. Multiplexing chemogenetics with in vivo neuronal recordings showed elevated infralimbic cortex (IL) neuronal activity during CS onset and freezing cessation; these neural correlates were abolished by chemogenetic mPFC→BNST inhibition. These data suggest that mPFC→BNST neurons limit fear to threats with a history of partial association with an aversive stimulus, with potential implications for understanding the neural basis of trauma-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R Glover
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Kerry M McFadden
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Max Bjorni
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, United States
| | - Sawyer R Smith
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Natalie G Rovero
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, United States
| | - Sarvar Oreizi-Esfahani
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Takayuki Yoshida
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Abagail F Postle
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Mio Nonaka
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Lindsay R Halladay
- Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, United States
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, United States
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76
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Saha R, Kriebel M, Anunu R, Volkmer H, Richter-Levin G. Intra-amygdala metaplasticity modulation of fear extinction learning. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 55:2455-2463. [PMID: 33305403 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala is a key brain region involved in emotional memory formation. It is also responsible for memory modulation in other brain areas. Under extreme conditions, amygdala modulation may lead to the generation of abnormal plasticity and trauma-related psychopathologies. However, the amygdala itself is a dynamic brain region, which is amenable to long-term plasticity and is affected by emotional experiences. These alterations may modify the way the amygdala modulates activity and plasticity in other related brain regions, which in turn may alter the animal's response to subsequent challenges in what could be termed as "Behavioral metaplasticity."Because of the reciprocal interactions between the amygdala and other emotion processing regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) or the hippocampus, experience-induced intra-amygdala metaplasticity could lead to alterations in mPFC-dependent or hippocampus-dependent behaviors. While initiated by alterations within the basolateral amygdala (BLA), such alterations in other brain regions may come to be independent of BLA modulation, thus establishing what may be termed "Trans-regional metaplasticity." In this article, we review evidence supporting the notions of intra-BLA metaplasticity and how this may develop into "Trans-regional metaplasticity." Future research is needed to understand how such dynamic metaplastic alterations contribute to developing psychopathologies, and how this knowledge may be translated into promoting novel interventions in psychopathologies associated with fear, stress, and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinki Saha
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Martin Kriebel
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rachel Anunu
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hansjuergen Volkmer
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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77
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Liu J, Likhtik E, Shereen AD, Dennis-Tiwary TA, Casaccia P. White Matter Plasticity in Anxiety: Disruption of Neural Network Synchronization During Threat-Safety Discrimination. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:587053. [PMID: 33250713 PMCID: PMC7674975 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.587053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence highlighted the importance of white matter tracts in typical and atypical behaviors. White matter dynamically changes in response to learning, stress, and social experiences. Several lines of evidence have reported white matter dysfunction in psychiatric conditions, including depression, stress- and anxiety-related disorders. The mechanistic underpinnings of these associations, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we outline an integrative perspective positing a link between aberrant myelin plasticity and anxiety. Drawing on extant literature and emerging new findings, we suggest that in anxiety, unique changes may occur in response to threat and to safety learning and the ability to discriminate between both types of stimuli. We propose that altered myelin plasticity in the neural circuits underlying these two forms of learning relates to the emergence of anxiety-related disorders, by compromising mechanisms of neural network synchronization. The clinical and translational implications of this model for anxiety-related disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Liu
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, Neuroscience Initiative, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ekaterina Likhtik
- Department of Biology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate Program in Biology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - A. Duke Shereen
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, Neuroscience Initiative, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate Program in Psychology and Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Patrizia Casaccia
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, Neuroscience Initiative, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate Program in Biology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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78
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George I, Alawa J, Akpulu P, Alawa C. Comparative neuroanatomical study of the amygdala and fear conditioning in Nigerian breeds of Artiodactyla: Sheep (Uda) and goats (Red Sokoto). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:692-703. [PMID: 33022136 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate fear condition responses in sheep and goat and to relate this to the neuroarchitecture of their amygdala. Forty adult sheep (Uda breed) and 40 adult goats (Red Sokoto breed) were fear-conditioned by associating the sound of a car horn (neutral stimuli) with water spray (aversive stimuli) and the fear response was determined by direct observation of the behavior of the sheep and goats and measuring their flight distances and escape time. Eight groups were studied, each comprising of 10 animals (five sheep and five goats). Goats and sheep were tested alternately in the morning of every day of the week for three consecutive weeks, in which 4 days was used for habituation and 3 days for testing. Histologically, neurons in the central and basolateral complex of the amygdala were studied and analyzed using Nissl and golgi staines. Behaviorally, goats elicited an active avoidance response expressed as flight with concomitant intense flight distances (p < .001) compared to sheep. Although, sheep had larger brain parameters, it showed attenuated basolateral amygdala cytoarchitecture consistent with reduced fear perception and response. Goats had significantly more densely distributed pyramidal and spiny stellate neurons in the basolateral amygdala while sheep showed more non-pyramidal and aspiny neurons. These results provide interesting practical perspectives on how adaptions in the amygdala coincides with alterations in fear conditioning in domestic animals and may be the basis for the higher incidence of the sheep in automobile accidents than goats in developing countries especially Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itoro George
- Anatomy, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Nigeria.,Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Judith Alawa
- Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.,Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicicne, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Peter Akpulu
- Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Clement Alawa
- Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
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79
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Revaluing the Role of vmPFC in the Acquisition of Pavlovian Threat Conditioning in Humans. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8491-8500. [PMID: 33020217 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0304-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in human pavlovian threat conditioning has been relegated largely to the extinction or reversal of previously acquired stimulus-outcome associations. However, recent neuroimaging evidence questions this view by also showing activity in the vmPFC during threat acquisition. Here we investigate the casual role of vmPFC in the acquisition of pavlovian threat conditioning by assessing skin conductance response (SCR) and declarative memory of stimulus-outcome contingencies during a differential pavlovian threat-conditioning paradigm in eight patients with a bilateral vmPFC lesion, 10 with a lesion outside PFC and 10 healthy participants (each group included both females and males). Results showed that patients with vmPFC lesion failed to produce a conditioned SCR during threat acquisition, despite no evidence of compromised SCR to unconditioned stimulus or compromised declarative memory for stimulus-outcome contingencies. These results suggest that the vmPFC plays a causal role in the acquisition of new learning and not just in the extinction or reversal of previously acquired learning, as previously thought. Given the role of the vmPFC in schema-related processing and latent structure learning, the vmPFC may be required to construct a detailed representation of the task, which is needed to produce a sustained conditioned physiological response in anticipation of the unconditioned stimulus during threat acquisition.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Pavlovian threat conditioning is an adaptive mechanism through which organisms learn to avoid potential threats, thus increasing their chances of survival. Understanding what brain regions contribute to such a process is crucial to understand the mechanisms underlying adaptive as well as maladaptive learning, and has the potential to inform the treatment of anxiety disorders. Importantly, the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in the acquisition of pavlovian threat conditioning has been relegated largely to the inhibition of previously acquired learning. Here, we show that the vmPFC actually plays a causal role in the acquisition of pavlovian threat conditioning.
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80
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Effects of optogenetic photoexcitation of infralimbic cortex inputs to the basolateral amygdala on conditioned fear and extinction. Behav Brain Res 2020; 396:112913. [PMID: 32950607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Deficiencies in the ability to extinguish fear is a hallmark of Trauma- and stressor-related disorders, Anxiety disorders, and certain other neuropsychiatric conditions. Hence, a greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in the inhibition of fear is of significant translational relevance. Previous studies in rodents have shown that glutamatergic projections from the infralimbic prefrontal cortex (IL) to basolateral amygdala (BLA) play a crucial instructional role in the formation of extinction memories, and also indicate that variation in the strength of this input correlates with extinction efficacy. To further examine the relationship between the IL→BLA pathway and extinction we expressed three different titers of the excitatory opsin, channelrhodopsin (ChR2), in IL neurons and photostimulated their projections in the BLA during partial extinction training. The behavioral effects of photoexcitation differed across the titer groups: the low titer had no effect, the medium titer selectively facilitated extinction memory formation, and the high titer produced both an acute suppression of fear and a decrease in fear during (light-free) extinction retrieval. We discuss various possible explanations for these titer-specific effects, including the possibility of IL-mediated inhibition of BLA fear-encoding neurons under conditions of sufficiently strong photoexcitation. These findings further support the role of IL→BLA pathway in regulating fear and highlight the importance of methodological factors in optogenetic studies of neural circuits underling behavior.
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81
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Nahmoud I, Vasquez JG, Cho H, Dennis-Tiwary T, Likhtik E. Salient safety conditioning improves novel discrimination learning. Behav Brain Res 2020; 397:112907. [PMID: 32956774 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Generalized fear is one purported mechanism of anxiety that is a target of clinical and basic research. Impaired fear discrimination has been primarily examined from the perspective of increased fear learning, rather than how learning about non-threatening stimuli affects fear discrimination. To address this question, we tested how three Safety Conditioning protocols with varied levels of salience allocated to the safety cue compared to classic Fear Conditioning in their impact on subsequent innate anxiety, and differential fear learning of new aversive and neutral cues. Using a high anxiety strain of mice (129SvEv, Taconic), we show that Fear Conditioned animals show little exploration of the anxiogenic center of an open field 24 h later, and poor discrimination during new differential conditioning 7 days later. Three groups of mice underwent Safety Conditioning, (i) the safety tone was unpaired with a shock, (ii) the safety tone was unpaired with the shock and co-terminated with a house light signaling the end of the safety period, and (iii) the safety tone was unpaired with the shock and its beginning co-occurred with a house light, signaling the start of a safety period. Mice from all Safety Conditioning groups showed higher levels of open field exploration than the Fear Conditioned mice 24 h after training. Furthermore, Safety Conditioned animals showed improved discrimination learning of a novel non-threat, with the Salient Beginning safety conditioned group performing best. These findings indicate that high anxiety animals benefit from salient safety training to improve exploration and discrimination of new non-threating stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Nahmoud
- Chemistry Dept., Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY, United States
| | - J Ganay Vasquez
- Chemistry Dept., Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY, United States
| | - H Cho
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, NY, United States; Psychology Dept., Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY, United States
| | - T Dennis-Tiwary
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, NY, United States; Psychology Dept., Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY, United States
| | - E Likhtik
- Biology Dept., Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY, United States; Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, NY, United States.
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82
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Piantadosi PT, Yeates DCM, Floresco SB. Prefrontal cortical and nucleus accumbens contributions to discriminative conditioned suppression of reward-seeking. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:429-440. [PMID: 32934096 PMCID: PMC7497111 DOI: 10.1101/lm.051912.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Fear can potently inhibit ongoing behavior, including reward-seeking, yet the neural circuits that underlie such suppression remain to be clarified. Prior studies have demonstrated that distinct subregions of the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) differentially affect fear behavior, whereby fear expression is promoted by the more dorsal prelimbic cortex (PL) and inhibited by the more ventral infralimbic cortex (IL). These mPFC regions project to subregions of the nucleus accumbens, the core (NAcC) and shell (NAcS), that differentially contribute to reward-seeking as well as affective processes that may be relevant to fear expression. Here, we investigated how these mPFC and NAc subregions contribute to discriminative fear conditioning, assessed by conditioned suppression of reward-seeking. Bilateral inactivation of the NAcS or PL reduced the expression of conditioned suppression to a shock-associated CS+, whereas NAcC inactivation reduced reward-seeking without affecting suppression. IL inactivation caused a general reduction in conditioned suppression following discriminative conditioning, but not when using a single-stimulus design. Pharmacological disconnection of the PL → NAcS pathway revealed that this projection mediates conditioned suppression. These data add to a growing literature implicating discrete cortico-striatal pathways in the suppression of reward-seeking in response to aversive stimuli. Dysfunction within related structures may contribute to aberrant patterns of behavior in psychiatric illnesses including substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Piantadosi
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dylan C M Yeates
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
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83
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Chen WB, Pan HQ, He Y, Wang XH, Zhang WH, Pan BX. Rap1b but not Rap1a in the forebrain is required for learned fear. Cell Biosci 2020; 10:107. [PMID: 32944221 PMCID: PMC7488763 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-00469-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fear is an adaptive response across species in the face of threatening cues. It can be either innate or learned through postnatal experience. We have previously shown that genetic deletion of both Rap1a and Rap1b, two isoforms of small GTPase Rap1 in forebrain, causes impairment in auditory fear conditioning. However, the specific roles of these two isoforms are not yet known. Results In the present study, employing mice with forebrain-restricted deletion of Rap1a or Rap1b, we found that they are both dispensable for normal acquisition of fear learning. However, Rap1b but not Rap1a knockout (KO) mice displayed impairment in the retrieval of learned fear. Subsequently, we found that the expression of c-Fos, a marker of neuronal activity, is specifically decreased in prelimbic cortex (PL) of Rap1b KO mice after auditory fear conditioning, while remained unaltered in the amygdala and infralimbic cortex (IL). On the other hand, neither Rap1a nor Rap1b knockout altered the innate fear of mice in response to their predator odor, 2,5-Dihydro-2,4,5-Trimethylthiazoline (TMT). Conclusion Thus, our results indicate that it is Rap1b but not Rap1a involved in the retrieval process of fear learning, and the learned but not innate fear requires Rap1 signaling in forebrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bing Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China
| | - Han-Qing Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China
| | - Ye He
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Center for Basic Medical Experiment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China
| | - Xue-Hui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031 China.,Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 China
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84
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Gonzalez ST, Fanselow MS. The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and context in regulating fear learning and extinction. PSYCHOLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 13:459-472. [PMID: 34504659 PMCID: PMC8425341 DOI: 10.1037/pne0000207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An organism's ability to learn about and respond to stimuli in its environment is crucial for survival, which can involve learning simple associations such as learning what stimuli predict danger. However, individuals must also be able to use contextual information to adapt to changing environmental demands. While the circuitry that supports fear conditioning has been extensively studied, the circuitry that allows individuals to regulate fear under different circumstance is less well understood. A view of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) function has emerged wherein the prelimbic region of the vmPFC supports fear expression, while the infralimbic region supports fear inhibition. However, despite a rich literature exploring the role of these regions in appetitive learning and memory suggesting a more nuanced function, there has been little integration of this literature with studies of the vmPFC in fear learning. In this review, we argue that the function of the vmPFC in fear learning is not restricted to fear inhibition versus expression per se. Instead, the vmPFC uses contextual information to guide behavior, particularly in situations of ambiguity or conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah T Gonzalez
- Staglin Center for Brain & Behavioral Health, Department of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
| | - Michael S Fanselow
- Staglin Center for Brain & Behavioral Health, Department of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
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85
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Hou X, Rong C, Wang F, Liu X, Sun Y, Zhang HT. GABAergic System in Stress: Implications of GABAergic Neuron Subpopulations and the Gut-Vagus-Brain Pathway. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8858415. [PMID: 32802040 PMCID: PMC7416252 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8858415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress can cause a variety of central nervous system disorders, which are critically mediated by the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system in various brain structures. GABAergic neurons have different subsets, some of which coexpress certain neuropeptides that can be found in the digestive system. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the gut-brain axis, which is primarily regulated by the vagus nerve, is involved in stress, suggesting a communication between the "gut-vagus-brain" pathway and the GABAergic neuronal system. Here, we first summarize the evidence that the GABAergic system plays an essential role in stress responses. In addition, we review the effects of stress on different brain regions and GABAergic neuron subpopulations, including somatostatin, parvalbumin, ionotropic serotonin receptor 5-HT3a, cholecystokinin, neuropeptide Y, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, with regard to signaling events, behavioral changes, and pathobiology of neuropsychiatric diseases. Finally, we discuss the gut-brain bidirectional communications and the connection of the GABAergic system and the gut-vagus-brain pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Hou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong 271016, China
| | - Cuiping Rong
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Fugang Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong 271016, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong 271016, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong 271016, China
| | - Han-Ting Zhang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, The Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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86
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Extinction learning alters the neural representation of conditioned fear. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 20:983-997. [PMID: 32720205 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00814-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Extinction learning is a primary means by which conditioned associations to threats are controlled and is a model system for emotion dysregulation in anxiety disorders. Recent work has called for new approaches to track extinction-related changes in conditioned stimulus (CS) representations. We applied a multivariate analysis to previously -collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data on extinction learning, in which healthy young adult participants (N = 43; 21 males, 22 females) encountered dynamic snake and spider CSs while passively navigating 3D virtual environments. We used representational similarity analysis to compare voxel-wise activation t-statistic maps for the shock-reinforced CS (CS+) from the late phase of fear acquisition to the early and late phases of extinction learning within subjects. These patterns became more dissimilar from early to late extinction in a priori regions of interest: subgenual and dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, amygdala and hippocampus. A whole-brain searchlight analysis revealed similar findings in the insula, mid-cingulate cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, somatosensory cortex, cerebellum, and visual cortex. High state anxiety attenuated extinction-related changes to the CS+ patterning in the amygdala, which suggests an enduring threat representation. None of these effects generalized to an unreinforced control cue, nor were they evident in traditional univariate analyses. Our approach extends previous neuroimaging work by emphasizing how evoked neural patterns change from late acquisition through phases of extinction learning, including those in brain regions not traditionally implicated in animal models. Finally, the findings provide additional support for a role of the amygdala in anxiety-related persistence of conditioned fears.
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87
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Halladay LR, Kocharian A, Piantadosi PT, Authement ME, Lieberman AG, Spitz NA, Coden K, Glover LR, Costa VD, Alvarez VA, Holmes A. Prefrontal Regulation of Punished Ethanol Self-administration. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:967-978. [PMID: 31937415 PMCID: PMC7217757 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A clinical hallmark of alcohol use disorder is persistent drinking despite potential adverse consequences. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) are positioned to exert top-down control over subcortical regions, such as the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS) and basolateral amygdala, which encode positive and negative valence of ethanol (EtOH)-related stimuli. Prior rodent studies have implicated these regions in regulation of punished EtOH self-administration (EtOH-SA). METHODS We conducted in vivo electrophysiological recordings in mouse vmPFC and dmPFC to obtain neuronal correlates of footshock-punished EtOH-SA. Ex vivo recordings were performed in NAcS D1 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons receiving vmPFC input to examine punishment-related plasticity in this pathway. Optogenetic photosilencing was employed to assess the functional contribution of the vmPFC, dmPFC, vmPFC projections to NAcS, or vmPFC projections to basolateral amygdala, to punished EtOH-SA. RESULTS Punishment reduced EtOH lever pressing and elicited aborted presses (lever approach followed by rapid retraction). Neurons in the vmPFC and dmPFC exhibited phasic firing to EtOH lever presses and aborts, but only in the vmPFC was there a population-level shift in coding from lever presses to aborts with punishment. Closed-loop vmPFC, but not dmPFC, photosilencing on a postpunishment probe test negated the reduction in EtOH lever presses but not in aborts. Punishment was associated with altered plasticity at vmPFC inputs to D1 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAcS. Photosilencing vmPFC projections to the NAcS, but not to the basolateral amygdala, partially reversed suppression of EtOH lever presses on probe testing. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate a key role for the vmPFC in regulating EtOH-SA after punishment, with implications for understanding the neural basis of compulsive drinking in alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay R Halladay
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.
| | - Adrina Kocharian
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Patrick T Piantadosi
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michael E Authement
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Abby G Lieberman
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nathen A Spitz
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kendall Coden
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lucas R Glover
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Vincent D Costa
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Veronica A Alvarez
- Laboratory on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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88
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Liu WZ, Zhang WH, Zheng ZH, Zou JX, Liu XX, Huang SH, You WJ, He Y, Zhang JY, Wang XD, Pan BX. Identification of a prefrontal cortex-to-amygdala pathway for chronic stress-induced anxiety. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2221. [PMID: 32376858 PMCID: PMC7203160 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15920-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated prefrontal control over amygdala is engaged in the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases including depression and anxiety disorders. Here we show that, in a rodent anxiety model induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS), the dysregulation occurs in basolateral amygdala projection neurons receiving mono-directional inputs from dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC→BLA PNs) rather than those reciprocally connected with dmPFC (dmPFC↔BLA PNs). Specifically, CRS shifts the dmPFC-driven excitatory-inhibitory balance towards excitation in the former, but not latter population. Such specificity is preferential to connections made by dmPFC, caused by enhanced presynaptic glutamate release, and highly correlated with the increased anxiety-like behavior in stressed mice. Importantly, low-frequency optogenetic stimulation of dmPFC afferents in BLA normalizes the enhanced prefrontal glutamate release onto dmPFC→BLA PNs and lastingly attenuates CRS-induced increase of anxiety-like behavior. Our findings thus reveal a target cell-based dysregulation of mPFC-to-amygdala transmission for stress-induced anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Zhu Liu
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China.,Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Zheng
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zou
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Liu
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Shou-He Huang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Wen-Jie You
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Ye He
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun-Yu Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China. .,Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Nanchang University, 330031, Nanchang, China.
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89
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Harel A, Ryan TJ. The memory toolbox: how genetic manipulations and cellular imaging are transforming our understanding of learned information. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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90
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Mayo LM, Asratian A, Lindé J, Morena M, Haataja R, Hammar V, Augier G, Hill MN, Heilig M. Elevated Anandamide, Enhanced Recall of Fear Extinction, and Attenuated Stress Responses Following Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase: A Randomized, Controlled Experimental Medicine Trial. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:538-547. [PMID: 31590924 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder, an area of large unmet medical needs, is characterized by persistence of fear memories and maladaptive stress responses. In rodents, elevation of the endocannabinoid anandamide due to inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) facilitates fear extinction and protects against the anxiogenic effects of stress. We recently reported that elevated anandamide levels in people homozygous for a loss-of-function FAAH mutation are associated with a similar phenotype, suggesting a translational validity of the preclinical findings. METHODS In this double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental medicine study, healthy adults were randomized to an FAAH inhibitor (PF-04457845, 4 mg orally, once daily; n = 16) or placebo (n = 29) for 10 days. On days 9 and 10, participants completed a task battery assessing psychophysiological indices of fear learning, stress reactivity, and stress-induced affective responses. RESULTS FAAH inhibition produced a 10-fold increase in baseline anandamide. This was associated with potentiated recall of fear extinction memory when tested 24 hours after extinction training. FAAH inhibition also attenuated autonomic stress reactivity, assessed via electrodermal activity, and protected against stress-induced negative affect, measured via facial electromyography. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide preliminary human evidence that FAAH inhibition can improve the recall of fear extinction memories and attenuate the anxiogenic effects of stress, in a direct translation of rodent findings. The beneficial effects of FAAH inhibition on fear extinction, as well as stress- and affect-related behaviors, provide a strong rationale for developing this drug class as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Anna Asratian
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Lindé
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Cummings Scool of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Roosa Haataja
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Valter Hammar
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gaëlle Augier
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Cummings Scool of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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91
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Chronic Ethanol Differentially Modulates Glutamate Release from Dorsal and Ventral Prefrontal Cortical Inputs onto Rat Basolateral Amygdala Principal Neurons. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0132-19.2019. [PMID: 31548367 PMCID: PMC7070451 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0132-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) have strong reciprocal connectivity. Projections from the BLA to the mPFC can drive innate, anxiety-related behaviors, but it is unclear whether reciprocal projections from the mPFC to BLA have similar roles. Here, we use optogenetics and chemogenetics to characterize the neurophysiological and behavioral alterations produced by chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal on dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) and ventral mPFC (vmPFC) medial prefrontal cortical terminals in the BLA. We exposed adult male Sprague Dawley rats to chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) using vapor chambers, measured anxiety-like behavior on the elevated zero maze, and used electrophysiology to record glutamatergic and GABAergic responses in BLA principal neurons. We found that withdrawal from a 7 d CIE exposure produced opposing effects at dmPFC (increased glutamate release) and vmPFC (decreased glutamate release) terminals in the BLA. Chemogenetic inhibition of dmPFC terminals in the BLA attenuated the increased anxiety-like behavior we observed during withdrawal. These data demonstrate that chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal strengthen the synaptic connections between the dmPFC and BLA but weakens the vmPFC–BLA pathway. Moreover, facilitation of the dmPFC–BLA pathway during withdrawal contributes to anxiety-like behavior. Given the opposing roles of dmPFC–BLA and vmPFC–BLA pathways in fear conditioning, our results suggest that chronic ethanol exposure simultaneously facilitates circuits involved in the acquisition of and diminishes circuits involved with the extinction of withdrawal-related aversive behaviors.
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92
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Sun H, Fu S, Cui S, Yin X, Sun X, Qi X, Cui K, Wang J, Ma L, Liu FY, Liao FF, Wang XH, Yi M, Wan Y. Development of a CRISPR-SaCas9 system for projection- and function-specific gene editing in the rat brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaay6687. [PMID: 32206715 PMCID: PMC7080442 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay6687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A genome editing technique based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated endonuclease Cas9 enables efficient modification of genes in various cell types, including neurons. However, neuronal ensembles even in the same brain region are not anatomically or functionally uniform but divide into distinct subpopulations. Such heterogeneity requires gene editing in specific neuronal populations. We developed a CRISPR-SaCas9 system-based technique, and its combined application with anterograde/retrograde AAV vectors and activity-dependent cell-labeling techniques achieved projection- and function-specific gene editing in the rat brain. As a proof-of-principle application, we knocked down the cbp (CREB-binding protein), a sample target gene, in specific neuronal subpopulations in the medial prefrontal cortex, and demonstrated the significance of the projection- and function-specific CRISPR-SaCas9 system in revealing neuronal and circuit basis of memory. The high efficiency and specificity of our projection- and function-specific CRISPR-SaCas9 system could be widely applied in neural circuitry studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Su Fu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shuang Cui
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiangsha Yin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xuetao Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Kun Cui
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Longyu Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Feng-Yu Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fei-Fei Liao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xin-Hong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - You Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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93
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Joo B, Koo JW, Lee S. Posterior parietal cortex mediates fear renewal in a novel context. Mol Brain 2020; 13:16. [PMID: 32024548 PMCID: PMC7003400 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-0556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The return of fear following extinction therapy is an important issue associated with the treatment of many fear-related disorders. Fear renewal is a suitable model, with which context-dependent modulation of the fear response can be examined. In this model, any context outside of an extinction context (e.g., novel or familiar contexts) could evoke relapse of the fear response. However, brain regions associated with context-dependent modulation are not fully understood. The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is considered a center for integrating multisensory information and making decisions. To study its role in the contextual modulation of fear relapse, we reversibly inactivated the PPC in mice before they were exposed to various contexts after extinction training. When muscimol was infused into the PPC, fear renewal was impaired in a novel context, but not in a familiar context. Fear relapses were blocked during optogenetic inhibition of the PPC, only when animals were placed in a novel context. We propose that the neural activity of the PPC is necessary for the relapse of a precise response to an extinguished conditioned stimulus in a novel context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bitna Joo
- Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41068, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja Wook Koo
- Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41068, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sukwon Lee
- Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41068, Republic of Korea.
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94
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Kreutzmann JC, Jovanovic T, Fendt M. Infralimbic cortex activity is required for the expression but not the acquisition of conditioned safety. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2161-2172. [PMID: 32363439 PMCID: PMC7306044 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05527-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability to discriminate between danger and safety is crucial for survival across species. Whereas danger signals predict the onset of a potentially threatening event, safety signals indicate the non-occurrence of an aversive event, thereby reducing fear and stress responses. While the neural basis of conditioned safety remains to be elucidated, fear extinction studies provide evidence that the infralimbic cortex (IL) modulates fear inhibition. In the current study, the IL was temporarily inactivated with local muscimol injections in male and female rats. The effect of IL inactivation on the acquisition and expression of conditioned safety was investigated utilizing the startle response. Temporary inactivation of the IL prior to conditioning did not affect the acquisition of conditioned safety, whereas IL inactivation during the expression test completely blocked the expression of conditioned safety in male and female rats. Inactivation of the neighboring prelimbic (PL) cortex during the expression test did not affect the expression of safety memory. Our findings suggest that the IL is a critical brain region for the expression of safety memory. Because patients suffering from anxiety disorders are often unable to make use of safety cues to inhibit fear, the present findings are of clinical relevance and could potentially contribute to therapy optimization of anxiety-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith C Kreutzmann
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Pharmacology & Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University Detroit, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Markus Fendt
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Pharmacology & Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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95
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Sangha S, Diehl MM, Bergstrom HC, Drew MR. Know safety, no fear. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:218-230. [PMID: 31738952 PMCID: PMC6981293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Every day we are bombarded by stimuli that must be assessed for their potential for harm or benefit. Once a stimulus is learned to predict harm, it can elicit fear responses. Such learning can last a lifetime but is not always beneficial for an organism. For an organism to thrive in its environment, it must know when to engage in defensive, avoidance behaviors and when to engage in non-defensive, approach behaviors. Fear should be suppressed in situations that are not dangerous: when a novel, innocuous stimulus resembles a feared stimulus, when a feared stimulus no longer predicts harm, or when there is an option to avoid harm. A cardinal feature of anxiety disorders is the inability to suppress fear adaptively. In PTSD, for instance, learned fear is expressed inappropriately in safe situations and is resistant to extinction. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of suppressing fear responses during stimulus discrimination, fear extinction, and active avoidance, focusing on the well-studied tripartite circuit consisting of the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Sangha
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Maria M Diehl
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
| | - Hadley C Bergstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA.
| | - Michael R Drew
- Center for Learning and Memory and Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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96
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Zhou F, Geng Y, Xin F, Li J, Feng P, Liu C, Zhao W, Feng T, Guastella AJ, Ebstein RP, Kendrick KM, Becker B. Human Extinction Learning Is Accelerated by an Angiotensin Antagonist via Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex and Its Connections With Basolateral Amygdala. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:910-920. [PMID: 31471037 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficient extinction learning and threat adaptation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)-amygdala circuitry strongly impede the efficacy of exposure-based interventions in anxiety disorders. Recent animal models suggest a regulatory role of the renin-angiotensin system in both these processes. Against this background, the present randomized placebo-controlled pharmacologic functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment aimed at determining the extinction enhancing potential of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan (LT) in humans. METHODS Seventy healthy male subjects underwent Pavlovian threat conditioning and received single-dose LT (50 mg) or placebo administration before extinction. Psychophysiological threat reactivity (skin conductance response) and neural activity during extinction served as primary outcomes. Psychophysiological interaction, voxelwise mediation, and novel multivariate pattern classification analyses were used to determine the underlying neural mechanisms. RESULTS LT significantly accelerated the decline of the psychophysiological threat response during within-session extinction learning. On the neural level, the acceleration was accompanied and critically mediated by threat-specific enhancement of vmPFC activation. Furthermore, LT enhanced vmPFC-basolateral amygdala coupling and attenuated the neural threat expression, particularly in the vmPFC, during early extinction. CONCLUSIONS Overall the results indicate that LT facilitates within-session threat memory extinction by augmenting threat-specific encoding in the vmPFC and its regulatory control over the amygdala. The findings document a pivotal role of angiotensin regulation of extinction learning in humans and suggest that adjunct LT administration has the potential to facilitate the efficacy of exposure-based interventions in anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhou
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yayuan Geng
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Fei Xin
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jialin Li
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Pan Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingyong Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Youth Mental Health Unit, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Richard P Ebstein
- China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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97
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Excitation of Diverse Classes of Cholecystokinin Interneurons in the Basal Amygdala Facilitates Fear Extinction. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0220-19.2019. [PMID: 31636080 PMCID: PMC6838687 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0220-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that interneurons (INs) orchestrate neural activity and plasticity in corticoamygdala circuits to regulate fear behaviors. However, defining the precise role of cholecystokinin-expressing INs (CCK INs) remains elusive due to the technical challenge of parsing this population from CCK-expressing principal neurons (CCK PNs). Here, we used an intersectional genetic strategy in CCK-Cre;Dlx5/6-Flpe double-transgenic mice to study the anatomical, molecular and electrophysiological properties of CCK INs in the basal amygdala (BA) and optogenetically manipulate these cells during fear extinction. Electrophysiological recordings confirmed that this strategy targeted GABAergic cells and that a significant proportion expressed functional cannabinoid CB1 receptors; a defining characteristic of CCK-expressing basket cells. However, immunostaining showed that subsets of the genetically-targeted cells expressed either neuropeptide Y (NPY; 29%) or parvalbumin (PV; 17%), but not somatostatin (SOM) or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-α. Further morphological and electrophysiological analyses showed that four IN types could be identified among the EYFP-expressing cells: CCK/cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R)-expressing basket cells, neurogliaform cells, PV+ basket cells, and PV+ axo-axonic cells. At the behavioral level, in vivo optogenetic photostimulation of the targeted population during extinction acquisition led to reduced freezing on a light-free extinction retrieval test, indicating extinction memory facilitation; whereas photosilencing was without effect. Conversely, non-selective (i.e., inclusive of INs and PNs) photostimulation or photosilencing of CCK-targeted cells, using CCK-Cre single-transgenic mice, impaired extinction. These data reveal an unexpectedly high degree of phenotypic complexity in a unique population of extinction-modulating BA INs.
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98
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Maymon N, Mizrachi Zer-Aviv T, Sabban EL, Akirav I. Neuropeptide Y and cannabinoids interaction in the amygdala after exposure to shock and reminders model of PTSD. Neuropharmacology 2019; 162:107804. [PMID: 31622603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of cannabinoid and neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors may offer therapeutic benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional interaction between these systems in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in a rat model of PTSD. Rats were exposed to the shock and reminders model of PTSD and tested for hyper arousal/PTSD- and depression-like behaviors 3 weeks later. Immediately after shock exposure rats were microinjected into the BLA with URB597, a selective inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) that increases the levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide or with the NPY1 receptor agonist Leu31,Pro34-NPY (Leu). Intra-BLA URB597 prevented the shock/reminders-induced PTSD- behaviors (extinction, startle) and depression-behaviors (despair, social impairments). These preventing effects of URB597 on PTSD- and depression-like behaviors were shown to be mostly mediated by cannabinoid CB1 and NPY1 receptors, as they were blocked when URB597 was co-administered with a low dose of a CB1 or NPY1 receptor antagonist. Similarly, intra-BLA Leu prevented development of all the behaviors. Interestingly, a CB1 antagonist prevented the effects of Leu on despair and social behavior, but not the effects on extinction and startle. Moreover, exposure to shock and reminders upregulated CB1 and NPY1 receptors in the BLA and infralimbic prefrontal cortex and this upregulation was restored to normal with intra-BLA URB597 or Leu. The findings suggest that the functional interaction between the eCB and NPY1 systems is complex and provide a rationale for exploring novel therapeutic strategies that target the cannabinoid and NPY systems for stress-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Maymon
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | | | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College Valhalla, New York, 10595, USA
| | - Irit Akirav
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
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99
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Uniyal A, Singh R, Akhtar A, Bansal Y, Kuhad A, Sah SP. Co-treatment of piracetam with risperidone rescued extinction deficits in experimental paradigms of post-traumatic stress disorder by restoring the physiological alterations in cortex and hippocampus. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 185:172763. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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100
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Hoseini MS, Rakela B, Flores-Ramirez Q, Hasenstaub AR, Alvarez-Buylla A, Stryker MP. Transplanted Cells Are Essential for the Induction But Not the Expression of Cortical Plasticity. J Neurosci 2019; 39:7529-7538. [PMID: 31391263 PMCID: PMC6750933 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1430-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of even a small number of embryonic inhibitory neurons from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) into postnatal visual cortex makes it lose responsiveness to an eye deprived of vision when the transplanted neurons reach the age of the normal critical period of activity-dependent ocular dominance (OD) plasticity. The transplant might induce OD plasticity in the host circuitry or might instead construct a parallel circuit of its own to suppress cortical responses to the deprived eye. We transplanted MGE neurons expressing either archaerhodopsin or channelrhodopsin into the visual cortex of both male and female mice, closed one eyelid for 4-5 d, and, as expected, observed transplant-induced OD plasticity. This plasticity was evident even when the activity of the transplanted cells was suppressed or enhanced optogenetically, demonstrating that the plasticity was produced by changes in the host visual cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Interneuron transplantation into mouse V1 creates a window of heightened plasticity that is quantitatively and qualitatively similar to the normal critical period; that is, short-term occlusion of either eye markedly changes ocular dominance (OD). The underlying mechanism of this process is not known. Transplanted interneurons might either form a separate circuit to maintain the OD shift or might instead trigger changes in the host circuity. We designed experiments to distinguish the two hypotheses. Our findings suggest that while inhibition produced by the transplanted cells triggers this form of plasticity, the host circuity is entirely responsible for maintaining the OD shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood S Hoseini
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158,
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Benjamin Rakela
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Quetzal Flores-Ramirez
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Andrea R Hasenstaub
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
- Coleman Memorial Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, and
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Michael P Stryker
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158,
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
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