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Guma E, Snook E, Spring S, Lerch JP, Nieman BJ, Devenyi GA, Chakravarty MM. Subtle alterations in neonatal neurodevelopment following early or late exposure to prenatal maternal immune activation in mice. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 32:102868. [PMID: 34749289 PMCID: PMC8573196 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for a variety of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The timing of MIA-exposure has been shown to affect adolescent and adult offspring neurodevelopment, however, less is known about these effects in the neonatal period. To better understand the impact of MIA-exposure on neonatal brain development in a mouse model, we assess neonate communicative abilities with the ultrasonic vocalization task, followed by high-resolution ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the neonatal (postnatal day 8) mouse brain. Early exposed offspring displayed decreased communicative ability, while brain anatomy appeared largely unaffected, apart from some subtle alterations. By integrating MRI and behavioural assays to investigate the effects of MIA-exposure on neonatal neurodevelopment we show that offspring neuroanatomy and behaviour are only subtly affected by both early and late exposure. This suggests that the deficits often observed in later stages of life may be dormant, not yet developed in the neonatal period, or not as easily detectable using a cross-sectional approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Guma
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Emily Snook
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shoshana Spring
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brian J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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52
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Vorhees CV, Williams MT. Issues in the design, analysis, and application of rodent developmental neurotoxicology studies. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 87:107018. [PMID: 34256163 PMCID: PMC8440477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies could benefit from revisions to study design, data analysis, and some behavioral test methods to enhance reproducibility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed 69 studies submitted to the Office of Pesticide Programs. Two of the behavioral tests identified the lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) 20 and 13 times, respectively, while the other two tests identified the LOAEL only 3 and 4 times, respectively. The EPA review showed that the functional observational battery (FOB) was least effective at detecting the LOAEL, whereas tests of learning and memory (L&M) had methodological shortcomings. Human neurodevelopmental toxicity studies over the past 30 years show that most of the adverse effects are on higher cognitive functions such as L&M. The results of human studies together with structure-function relationships from neuroscience, suggest that tests of working memory, spatial navigation/memory, and egocentric navigation/memory should be added to guideline studies. Collectively, the above suggest that EPA and EU DNT studies would better reflect human findings and be more relevant to children by aligning L&M tests to the same domains that are affected in children, removing less useful methods (FOB), and using newer statistical models to better account for random factors of litter and litter × sex. Common issues in study design and data analyses are discussed: sample size, random group assignment, blinding, elimination of subjective rating methods, avoiding confirmation bias, more complete reporting of species, housing, test protocols, age, test order, and litter effects. Litter in DNT studies should at least be included as a random factor in ANOVA models and may benefit from inclusion of litter × sex as random factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles V Vorhees
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States of America.
| | - Michael T Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States of America
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53
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Li M, Brokaw A, Furuta AM, Coler B, Obregon-Perko V, Chahroudi A, Wang HY, Permar SR, Hotchkiss CE, Golos TG, Rajagopal L, Adams Waldorf KM. Non-human Primate Models to Investigate Mechanisms of Infection-Associated Fetal and Pediatric Injury, Teratogenesis and Stillbirth. Front Genet 2021; 12:680342. [PMID: 34290739 PMCID: PMC8287178 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.680342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide array of pathogens has the potential to injure the fetus and induce teratogenesis, the process by which mutations in fetal somatic cells lead to congenital malformations. Rubella virus was the first infectious disease to be linked to congenital malformations due to an infection in pregnancy, which can include congenital cataracts, microcephaly, hearing impairment and congenital heart disease. Currently, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital malformations globally, affecting 1 in every 200 infants. However, our knowledge of teratogenic viruses and pathogens is far from complete. New emerging infectious diseases may induce teratogenesis, similar to Zika virus (ZIKV) that caused a global pandemic in 2016-2017; thousands of neonates were born with congenital microcephaly due to ZIKV exposure in utero, which also included a spectrum of injuries to the brain, eyes and spinal cord. In addition to congenital anomalies, permanent injury to fetal and neonatal organs, preterm birth, stillbirth and spontaneous abortion are known consequences of a broader group of infectious diseases including group B streptococcus (GBS), Listeria monocytogenes, Influenza A virus (IAV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Animal models are crucial for determining the mechanism of how these various infectious diseases induce teratogenesis or organ injury, as well as testing novel therapeutics for fetal or neonatal protection. Other mammalian models differ in many respects from human pregnancy including placentation, labor physiology, reproductive tract anatomy, timeline of fetal development and reproductive toxicology. In contrast, non-human primates (NHP) most closely resemble human pregnancy and exhibit key similarities that make them ideal for research to discover the mechanisms of injury and for testing vaccines and therapeutics to prevent teratogenesis, fetal and neonatal injury and adverse pregnancy outcomes (e.g., stillbirth or spontaneous abortion). In this review, we emphasize key contributions of the NHP model pre-clinical research for ZIKV, HCMV, HIV, IAV, L. monocytogenes, Ureaplasma species, and GBS. This work represents the foundation for development and testing of preventative and therapeutic strategies to inhibit infectious injury of human fetuses and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Li
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alyssa Brokaw
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anna M. Furuta
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brahm Coler
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Veronica Obregon-Perko
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hsuan-Yuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charlotte E. Hotchkiss
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Thaddeus G. Golos
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kristina M. Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Fyke W, Premoli M, Echeverry Alzate V, López-Moreno JA, Lemaire-Mayo V, Crusio WE, Marsicano G, Wöhr M, Pietropaolo S. Communication and social interaction in the cannabinoid-type 1 receptor null mouse: Implications for autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2021; 14:1854-1872. [PMID: 34173729 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical findings have suggested a role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the etiopathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous mouse studies have investigated the role of ECS in several behavioral domains; however, none of them has performed an extensive assessment of social and communication behaviors, that is, the main core features of ASD. This study employed a mouse line lacking the primary endocannabinoid receptor (CB1r) and characterized ultrasonic communication and social interaction in CB1-/- , CB1+/- , and CB1+/+ males and females. Quantitative and qualitative alterations in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were observed in CB1 null mice both during early development (i.e., between postnatal days 4 and 10), and at adulthood (i.e., at 3 months of age). Adult mutants also showed marked deficits in social interest in the three-chamber test and social investigation in the direct social interaction test. These behavioral alterations were mostly observed in both sexes and appeared more marked in CB1-/- than CB1+/- mutant mice. Importantly, the adult USV alterations could not be attributed to differences in anxiety or sensorimotor abilities, as assessed by the elevated plus maze and auditory startle tests. Our findings demonstrate the role of CB1r in social communication and behavior, supporting the use of the CB1 full knockout mouse in preclinical research on these ASD-relevant core domains. LAY SUMMARY: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is important for brain development and neural function and is therefore likely to be involved in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Here we investigated changes in social behavior and communication, which are core features of ASD, in male and female mice lacking the chief receptor of this system. Our results show that loss of this receptor results in several changes in social behavior and communication both during early development and in adulthood, thus supporting the role of the ECS in these ASD-core behavioral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Fyke
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, EPHE, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,Graduate Program in Neural and Behavioral Science, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Marika Premoli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Victor Echeverry Alzate
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology on Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Madrid Complutense University, Spain.,Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Malaga University, Spain
| | - José A López-Moreno
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology on Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Madrid Complutense University, Spain
| | | | - Wim E Crusio
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, EPHE, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, U862 NeuroCentre Magendie, Group Endocannabinoids and Neuroadaptation, Bordeaux, France
| | - Markus Wöhr
- KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, Leuven, Belgium.,KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Early life adversity targets the transcriptional signature of hippocampal NG2+ glia and affects voltage gated sodium (Na v) channels properties. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100338. [PMID: 34095364 PMCID: PMC8164094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of early life adversity (ELA) on adult mental health remain still elusive. To date, most studies have exclusively targeted neuronal populations and not considered neuron-glia crosstalk as a crucially important element for the integrity of stress-related brain function. Here, we have investigated the impact of ELA, in the form of a limited bedding and nesting material (LBN) paradigm, on a glial subpopulation with unique properties in brain homeostasis, the NG2+ cells. First, we have established a link between maternal behavior, activation of the offspring's stress response and heterogeneity in the outcome to LBN manipulation. We further showed that LBN targets the hippocampal NG2+ transcriptome with glucocorticoids being an important mediator of the LBN-induced molecular changes. LBN altered the NG2+ transcriptome and these transcriptional effects were correlated with glucocorticoids levels. The functional relevance of one LBN-induced candidate gene, Scn7a, could be confirmed by an increase in the density of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel activated currents in hippocampal NG2+ cells. Scn7a remained upregulated until adulthood in LBN animals, which displayed impaired cognitive performance. Considering that Nav channels are important for NG2+ cell-to-neuron communication, our findings provide novel insights into the disruption of this process in LBN mice.
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