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Altered orbitofrontal activity and dorsal striatal connectivity during emotion processing in dependent marijuana users after 28 days of abstinence. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:849-859. [PMID: 29197984 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4803-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Intact cognitive and emotional functioning is vital for the long-term success of addiction treatment strategies. Accumulating evidence suggests an association between chronic marijuana use and lasting alterations in cognitive brain function. Despite initial evidence for altered emotion processing in dependent marijuana users after short abstinence periods, adaptations in the domain of emotion processing after longer abstinence remain to be determined. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS Using task-based and resting state fMRI, the present study investigated emotion processing in 19 dependent marijuana users and 18 matched non-using controls after an abstinence period of > 28 days. RESULTS Relative to the control subjects, negative emotional stimuli elicited increased medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) activity and stronger mOFC-dorsal striatal and mOFC-amygdala functional coupling in dependent marijuana users (p < 0.022, FWE-corrected). Furthermore, mOFC-dorsal striatal functional connectivity was increased at rest in marijuana users (p < 0.03, FWE-corrected). Yet, processing of positive stimuli and subjective ratings of valence and arousal were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Together, the present findings provide the first evidence for persisting emotion processing alterations in dependent marijuana users. Alterations might reflect long-term neural adaptations as a consequence of chronic marijuana use or predisposing risk factors for the development of marijuana dependence.
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153
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The cannabinoid-1 receptor is abundantly expressed in striatal striosomes and striosome-dendron bouquets of the substantia nigra. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191436. [PMID: 29466446 PMCID: PMC5821318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Presynaptic cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1-R) bind endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids to modulate neurotransmitter release. CB1-Rs are expressed throughout the basal ganglia, including striatum and substantia nigra, where they play a role in learning and control of motivated actions. However, the pattern of CB1-R expression across different striatal compartments, microcircuits and efferent targets, and the contribution of different CB1-R-expressing neurons to this pattern, are unclear. We use a combination of conventional techniques and novel genetic models to evaluate CB1-R expression in striosome (patch) and matrix compartments of the striatum, and in nigral targets of striatal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs). CB1-R protein and mRNA follow a descending dorsolateral-to-ventromedial intensity gradient in the caudal striatum, with elevated expression in striosomes relative to the surrounding matrix. The lateral predominance of striosome CB1-Rs contrasts with that of the classical striosomal marker, the mu opioid receptor (MOR), which is expressed most prominently in rostromedial striosomes. The dorsolateral-to-ventromedial CB1-R gradient is similar to Drd2 dopamine receptor immunoreactivity and opposite to Substance P. This topology of CB1-R expression is maintained downstream in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Dense CB1-R-expressing striatonigral fibers extend dorsally within the substantia nigra pars reticulata, and colocalize with bundles of ventrally extending, striosome-targeted, dendrites of dopamine-containing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (striosome-dendron bouquets). Within striatum, CB1-Rs colocalize with fluorescently labeled MSN collaterals within the striosomes. Cre recombinase-mediated deletion of CB1-Rs from cortical projection neurons or MSNs, and MSN-selective reintroduction of CB1-Rs in knockout mice, demonstrate that the principal source of CB1-Rs in dorsolateral striosomes is local MSN collaterals. These data suggest a role for CB1-Rs in caudal dorsolateral striosome collaterals and striosome-dendron bouquet projections to lateral substantia nigra, where they are anatomically poised to mediate presynaptic disinhibition of both striosomal MSNs and midbrain dopamine neurons in response to endocannabinoids and cannabinomimetics.
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154
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Aoki S, Liu AW, Akamine Y, Zucca A, Zucca S, Wickens JR. Cholinergic interneurons in the rat striatum modulate substitution of habits. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 47:1194-1205. [PMID: 29359362 PMCID: PMC6001626 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural flexibility is crucial for adaptive behaviour, and recent evidence suggests that cholinergic interneurons of the striatum play a distinct role. Previous studies of cholinergic function have focused on strategy switching by the dorsomedial or ventral striatum. We here investigated whether cholinergic interneurons in the dorsolateral striatum play a similar role at the level of switching of habitual responses. Because the dorsolateral striatum is particularly involved in habitual responding, we developed a habit substitution task that involved switching habitual lever‐press responses to one side to another. We first measured the effect of cholinergic activation in the dorsolateral striatum on this task. Chemogenetic activation of cholinergic interneurons caused an increase in the response rate for the substituted response that was significantly greater than the increase normally seen in control animals. The increase was due to burst‐like responses with shorter inter‐press intervals. However, there was no effect on inhibiting the old habit, or on habitual responding that did not require a switch. There was also no effect on lever‐press performance and its reversal before lever‐press responses became habitual. Conversely, neurochemically specific ablation of cholinergic interneurons did not significantly change habitual responding or response substitution. Thus, activation –but not ablation –of cholinergic interneurons in the dorsolateral striatum modulates expression of a new habit when an old habit is replaced by a new one. Together with previous work, this suggests that striatal cholinergic interneurons facilitate behavioural flexibility in both dorsolateral striatum in addition to dorsomedial and ventral striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Aoki
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Andrew W Liu
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yumiko Akamine
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Aya Zucca
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Stefano Zucca
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Jeffery R Wickens
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
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155
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Chronic alcohol exposure disrupts top-down control over basal ganglia action selection to produce habits. Nat Commun 2018; 9:211. [PMID: 29335427 PMCID: PMC5768774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Addiction involves a predominance of habitual control mediated through action selection processes in dorsal striatum. Research has largely focused on neural mechanisms mediating a proposed progression from ventral to dorsal lateral striatal control in addiction. However, over reliance on habit striatal processes may also arise from reduced cortical input to striatum, thereby disrupting executive control over action selection. Here, we identify novel mechanisms through which chronic intermittent ethanol exposure and withdrawal (CIE) disrupts top-down control over goal-directed action selection processes to produce habits. We find CIE results in decreased excitability of orbital frontal cortex (OFC) excitatory circuits supporting goal-directed control, and, strikingly, selectively reduces OFC output to the direct output pathway in dorsal medial striatum. Increasing the activity of OFC circuits restores goal-directed control in CIE-exposed mice. Our findings show habitual control in alcohol dependence can arise through disrupted communication between top-down, goal-directed processes onto basal ganglia pathways controlling action selection. Drug dependence shifts the balance in action selection away from goal-directed to habitual responding. Here, the authors report that chronic passive exposure to alcohol leads to suppression of orbitofrontal cortex inputs to dorsomedial striatum resulting in downregulation of goal-directed behavior.
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156
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Sloan ME, Gowin JL, Yan J, Schwandt ML, Spagnolo PA, Sun H, Hodgkinson CA, Goldman D, Ramchandani VA. Severity of alcohol dependence is associated with the fatty acid amide hydrolase Pro129Thr missense variant. Addict Biol 2018; 23:474-484. [PMID: 28150397 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in reward and addiction. One of the two main endocannabinoid neurotransmitters, anandamide, is metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase, an enzyme with a functional genetic polymorphism (FAAH Pro129Thr, rs324420). The Thr129 allele has been linked to problem drug and alcohol use, but the association has not been widely replicated and may be stronger for clinical measures of severity rather than categorical diagnosis. In the present study, we sought to determine whether the Thr129 allele was associated with both alcohol dependence (AD) diagnosis and severity in a sample of 1434 European American and African American individuals, 952 of whom were diagnosed with lifetime AD. Participants were genotyped for FAAH rs324420, and ancestry was determined via a genome-wide panel of ancestry informative markers. Subjects participated in Structured Clinical Interviews for psychiatric disorders and 90-day Timeline Followback interviews to assess recent alcohol use. European American participants with current AD had a higher Thr129 allele frequency than non-dependent controls. In European Americans with lifetime AD, there were significantly different distributions of drinking days and binge drinking days between the two genotype groups, with Thr129 carriers reporting a median of 10 fewer abstinent days and 13 more binge drinking days than Pro129/Pro129 homozygotes. In African American participants, there were no significant differences between Thr129 allele frequency in cases and controls and no significant differences in measures of AD severity by genotype. These findings provide evidence that the Pro129Thr missense variant is associated with AD severity in European Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Sloan
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Joshua L. Gowin
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Jia Yan
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Melanie L. Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Primavera A. Spagnolo
- Office of the Clinical Director; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Hui Sun
- Office of the Clinical Director; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Colin A. Hodgkinson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Rockville MD USA
| | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Rockville MD USA
| | - Vijay A. Ramchandani
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Bethesda MD USA
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157
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Memory Retention Involves the Ventrolateral Orbitofrontal Cortex: Comparison with the Basolateral Amygdala. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:373-383. [PMID: 28664926 PMCID: PMC5729558 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to link stimuli and actions with anticipated outcomes in order to sustain flexible behavior in an ever-changing environment. How it retains these associations to guide future behavior is less well-defined. Here we focused on one subregion of this heterogeneous structure, the ventrolateral OFC (VLO). CaMKII-driven inhibitory Gi-coupled designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) were infused and subsequently activated by their ligand Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) in conjunction with fear extinction training (a form of aversive conditioning) and response-outcome conditioning (a form of appetitive conditioning). Gi-DREADD-mediated inactivation of the VLO during extinction conditioning interfered with fear extinction memory, resulting in sustained freezing when mice were later tested drug-free. Similarly, Gi-DREADD-mediated inactivation in conjunction with response-outcome conditioning caused a later decay in goal-directed responding-that is, mice were unable to select actions based on the likelihood that they would be rewarded in a sustainable manner. By contrast, inhibitory Gi-DREADDs in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) impaired the acquisition of both conditioned fear extinction and response-outcome conditioning, as expected based on prior studies using other inactivation techniques. Meanwhile, DREADD-mediated inhibition of the dorsolateral striatum enhanced response-outcome conditioning, also in line with prior reports. Together, our findings suggest that learning-related neuroplasticity in the VLO may be necessary for memory retention in both appetitive and aversive domains.
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158
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Manning EE, Ahmari SE. How can preclinical mouse models be used to gain insight into prefrontal cortex dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder? Brain Neurosci Adv 2018; 2:2398212818783896. [PMID: 32166143 PMCID: PMC7058260 DOI: 10.1177/2398212818783896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that is characterised by perseverative thoughts and behaviours. Cognitive and affective disturbances play a central role in this illness, and it is therefore not surprising that clinical neuroimaging studies have demonstrated widespread alterations in prefrontal cortex functioning in patients. Preclinical mouse experimental systems provide the opportunity to gain mechanistic insight into the neurobiological changes underlying prefrontal cortex dysfunction through new technologies that allow measurement and manipulation of activity in discrete neural populations in awake, behaving mice. However, recent preclinical research has focused on striatal dysfunction, and has therefore provided relatively little insight regarding the role of the prefrontal cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder-relevant behaviours. Here, we will discuss a number of translational prefrontal cortex-dependent paradigms, including obsessive-compulsive disorder-relevant tasks that produce compulsive responding, and how they can be leveraged in this context. Drawing on recent examples that have led to mechanistic insight about specific genes, cell types and circuits that mediate prefrontal cortex contributions to distinct aspects of cognition, we will provide a framework for applying similar strategies to identify neural mechanisms underlying obsessive-compulsive disorder-relevant behavioural domains. We propose that research using clinically relevant paradigms will accelerate translation of findings from preclinical mouse models, thus supporting the development of novel therapeutics targeted to specific pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susanne E. Ahmari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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159
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Abstract
Habits are an essential and pervasive component of our daily lives that allow us to efficiently perform routine tasks. But their disruption contributes to the symptoms that underlie many psychiatric diseases. Emerging data are revealing the cellular and molecular mechanisms of habit formation in the dorsal striatum. New data suggest that in both the dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatum histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity acts as a critical negative regulator of the transcriptional processes underlying habit formation. In this review, we discuss this recent work and draw conclusions relevant to the treatment of diseases marked by maladaptive habits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate M Wassum
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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160
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161
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Laguesse S, Morisot N, Phamluong K, Ron D. Region specific activation of the AKT and mTORC1 pathway in response to excessive alcohol intake in rodents. Addict Biol 2017; 22:1856-1869. [PMID: 27766766 PMCID: PMC5398951 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported that the kinase AKT is activated in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rodents in response to excessive consumption of alcohol. One of the important downstream targets of AKT is the mammalian Target Of Rapamycin in Complex 1 (mTORC1), which was also activated by alcohol intake. mTORC1 controls dendritic protein translation, and we showed that the mTORC1-dependent translational machinery is activated in the NAc in response to alcohol intake. Importantly, systemic or intra-NAc inhibition of the AKT/mTORC1 pathway attenuated alcohol-drinking behaviors. Here, we mapped the activation patterns of AKT and mTORC1 in corticostriatal regions of rodents consuming large amounts of alcohol. We found that the activation of AKT and mTORC1 in response to cycles of binge drinking of 20 percent alcohol was centered in the NAc shell. Both kinases were not activated in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS); however, AKT, but not mTORC1, was activated in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) of mice but not rats. Interestingly, excessive intake of alcohol produced a selective activation of the AKT/mTORC1 pathway in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), which was not observed in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Furthermore, this signaling pathway was not activated in the NAc shell or OFC of rats consuming moderate amounts of alcohol nor was it activated in rats consuming sucrose. Together, our results suggest that excessive alcohol intake produces a brain region selective activation of the AKT/mTORC1 pathway, which is likely to contribute to NAc shell and OFC-dependent mechanisms that underlie the development and maintenance of alcohol drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Laguesse
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nadege Morisot
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Khanhky Phamluong
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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162
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Parallel, but Dissociable, Processing in Discrete Corticostriatal Inputs Encodes Skill Learning. Neuron 2017; 96:476-489.e5. [PMID: 29024667 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Changes in cortical and striatal function underlie the transition from novel actions to refined motor skills. How discrete, anatomically defined corticostriatal projections function in vivo to encode skill learning remains unclear. Using novel fiber photometry approaches to assess real-time activity of associative inputs from medial prefrontal cortex to dorsomedial striatum and sensorimotor inputs from motor cortex to dorsolateral striatum, we show that associative and sensorimotor inputs co-engage early in action learning and disengage in a dissociable manner as actions are refined. Disengagement of associative, but not sensorimotor, inputs predicts individual differences in subsequent skill learning. Divergent somatic and presynaptic engagement in both projections during early action learning suggests potential learning-related in vivo modulation of presynaptic corticostriatal function. These findings reveal parallel processing within associative and sensorimotor circuits that challenges and refines existing views of corticostriatal function and expose neuronal projection- and compartment-specific activity dynamics that encode and predict action learning.
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163
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Wiegert JS, Mahn M, Prigge M, Printz Y, Yizhar O. Silencing Neurons: Tools, Applications, and Experimental Constraints. Neuron 2017; 95:504-529. [PMID: 28772120 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Reversible silencing of neuronal activity is a powerful approach for isolating the roles of specific neuronal populations in circuit dynamics and behavior. In contrast with neuronal excitation, for which the majority of studies have used a limited number of optogenetic and chemogenetic tools, the number of genetically encoded tools used for inhibition of neuronal activity has vastly expanded. Silencing strategies vary widely in their mechanism of action and in their spatial and temporal scales. Although such manipulations are commonly applied, the design and interpretation of neuronal silencing experiments present unique challenges, both technically and conceptually. Here, we review the most commonly used tools for silencing neuronal activity and provide an in-depth analysis of their mechanism of action and utility for particular experimental applications. We further discuss the considerations that need to be given to experimental design, analysis, and interpretation of collected data. Finally, we discuss future directions for the development of new silencing approaches in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Simon Wiegert
- Research Group Synaptic Wiring and Information Processing, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Mahn
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Matthias Prigge
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yoav Printz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ofer Yizhar
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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164
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O'Hare JK, Li H, Kim N, Gaidis E, Ade K, Beck J, Yin H, Calakos N. Striatal fast-spiking interneurons selectively modulate circuit output and are required for habitual behavior. eLife 2017; 6:26231. [PMID: 28871960 PMCID: PMC5584985 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Habit formation is a behavioral adaptation that automates routine actions. Habitual behavior correlates with broad reconfigurations of dorsolateral striatal (DLS) circuit properties that increase gain and shift pathway timing. The mechanism(s) for these circuit adaptations are unknown and could be responsible for habitual behavior. Here we find that a single class of interneuron, fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs), modulates all of these habit-predictive properties. Consistent with a role in habits, FSIs are more excitable in habitual mice compared to goal-directed and acute chemogenetic inhibition of FSIs in DLS prevents the expression of habitual lever pressing. In vivo recordings further reveal a previously unappreciated selective modulation of SPNs based on their firing patterns; FSIs inhibit most SPNs but paradoxically promote the activity of a subset displaying high fractions of gamma-frequency spiking. These results establish a microcircuit mechanism for habits and provide a new example of how interneurons mediate experience-dependent behavior. From biting fingernails to the daily commute, habits are sets of actions that can be completed almost without thinking and that are difficult to change or stop. Behavioral neuroscientists refer to habits as “stimulus-response” behaviors, and know that forming a new habit requires a region deep within the brain called the dorsolateral striatum. Indeed, in this region, the outgoing neurons – which make up 95% of the cells - respond differently to incoming signals in mice that have learned habits compared to non-habitual mice. However a question remained: what exactly was producing these differences? O’Hare et al. have now found, unexpectedly, that the answer resides not in the 95% of outgoing neurons, but rather in a rare type of cell known as the fast-spiking interneuron. This cell is connected to many others and it appears to act like a conductor, orchestrating the previously identified changes in the output neurons. These findings were made using mice that had been trained to press a lever for a sugar pellet reward. Habit was measured by how long mice kept pressing even if they had just been allowed to eat their fill of pellets and the test lever was no longer dispensing pellets. Habitual mice continue to press the lever in this circumstance, while other mice do not. O’Hare et al. found that inactivating the “conductor” cell made the output neurons respond in the opposite way to how they normally respond in habitual mice. Further experiments showed that fast-spiking interneurons were also more easily activated in habitual mice. To test whether this putative “conductor” cell was necessary for habitual behaviors, a technique known as chemogenetics was used to turn down its activity in habitual mice. Indeed, reducing activity in the conductor cell blocked the habitual behavior. While some habits are a helpful and economical way to get through daily life, habits are also thought to be corrupted in a number of diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, addictions and compulsions. Identifying this specific, yet rare, cell as a critical part of maintaining habits points out a new target to consider for therapies. Further work is needed before such treatments might become available to treat habit-related disorders; though O'Hare et al. are now taking steps in this direction by trying to work out how the fast-spiking interneuron changes its own activity when a habit is formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K O'Hare
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States.,Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
| | - Haofang Li
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Erin Gaidis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Kristen Ade
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States.,Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
| | - Jeff Beck
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
| | - Henry Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Nicole Calakos
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States.,Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
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165
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Abstract
This article presents highlights chosen from research that appeared during 2016 on Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Selected articles felt to represent meaningful advances in the field are briefly summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Black
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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166
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Abstract
This article presents highlights chosen from research that appeared during 2016 on Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Selected articles felt to represent meaningful advances in the field are briefly summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Black
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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167
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Kobayashi K, Inoue KI, Tanabe S, Kato S, Takada M, Kobayashi K. Pseudotyped Lentiviral Vectors for Retrograde Gene Delivery into Target Brain Regions. Front Neuroanat 2017; 11:65. [PMID: 28824385 PMCID: PMC5539090 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene transfer through retrograde axonal transport of viral vectors offers a substantial advantage for analyzing roles of specific neuronal pathways or cell types forming complex neural networks. This genetic approach may also be useful in gene therapy trials by enabling delivery of transgenes into a target brain region distant from the injection site of the vectors. Pseudotyping of a lentiviral vector based on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with various fusion envelope glycoproteins composed of different combinations of rabies virus glycoprotein (RV-G) and vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) enhances the efficiency of retrograde gene transfer in both rodent and nonhuman primate brains. The most recently developed lentiviral vector is a pseudotype with fusion glycoprotein type E (FuG-E), which demonstrates highly efficient retrograde gene transfer in the brain. The FuG-E–pseudotyped vector permits powerful experimental strategies for more precisely investigating the mechanisms underlying various brain functions. It also contributes to the development of new gene therapy approaches for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, by delivering genes required for survival and protection into specific neuronal populations. In this review article, we report the properties of the FuG-E–pseudotyped vector, and we describe the application of the vector to neural circuit analysis and the potential use of the FuG-E vector in gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological SciencesOkazaki, Japan.,SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)Hayama, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Neuroscience, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto UniversityInuyama, Japan
| | - Soshi Tanabe
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Neuroscience, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto UniversityInuyama, Japan
| | - Shigeki Kato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of MedicineFukushima, Japan
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Neuroscience, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto UniversityInuyama, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of MedicineFukushima, Japan
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168
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Makino H, Hwang EJ, Hedrick NG, Komiyama T. Circuit Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Learning. Neuron 2017; 92:705-721. [PMID: 27883902 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between the brain and the environment is flexible, forming the foundation for our ability to learn. Here we review the current state of our understanding of the modifications in the sensorimotor pathway related to sensorimotor learning. We divide the process into three hierarchical levels with distinct goals: (1) sensory perceptual learning, (2) sensorimotor associative learning, and (3) motor skill learning. Perceptual learning optimizes the representations of important sensory stimuli. Associative learning and the initial phase of motor skill learning are ensured by feedback-based mechanisms that permit trial-and-error learning. The later phase of motor skill learning may primarily involve feedback-independent mechanisms operating under the classic Hebbian rule. With these changes under distinct constraints and mechanisms, sensorimotor learning establishes dedicated circuitry for the reproduction of stereotyped neural activity patterns and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Makino
- Neurobiology Section, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eun Jung Hwang
- Neurobiology Section, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan G Hedrick
- Neurobiology Section, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Takaki Komiyama
- Neurobiology Section, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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169
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Ballas SK. The Use of Cannabis by Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Increased the Frequency of Hospitalization due to Vaso-Occlusive Crises. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2017; 2:197-201. [PMID: 29082316 PMCID: PMC5627667 DOI: 10.1089/can.2017.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine if patients with sickle cell disease using cannabis had decreased frequency of acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) that required hospitalization. Method: This was a retrospective study in which 270 urine drug screen tests were done on 72 patients: 40 males and 32 females. Results: Cannabinoids were found in 144 urine tests from 37 patients and were negative in 126 tests from 35 patients. Males who used cannabis were significantly younger (p<0.001) than males who did not. Patients who tested positive used benzodiazepines, cocaine, and phencyclidine significantly more often than patients who tested negative. There was no significant difference in the amounts of opioids consumed by users and nonusers of cannabis. The cannabis cohort was seen in the clinic significantly (p<0.05) less often than controls, but hospital admissions were significantly greater in the cannabis group than controls (p<0.05). Conclusion: These data show an unexpected negative effect of cannabis on the frequency of VOCs. This may be due to the effect of cannabis on the brain and/or the severity of the disease in the cannabis users. More controlled studies are needed to clarify these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir K Ballas
- Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Department of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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170
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Araque A, Castillo PE, Manzoni OJ, Tonini R. Synaptic functions of endocannabinoid signaling in health and disease. Neuropharmacology 2017. [PMID: 28625718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are a family of lipid molecules that act as key regulators of synaptic transmission and plasticity. They are synthetized "on demand" following physiological and/or pathological stimuli. Once released from postsynaptic neurons, eCBs typically act as retrograde messengers to activate presynaptic type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1) and induce short- or long-term depression of neurotransmitter release. Besides this canonical mechanism of action, recent findings have revealed a number of less conventional mechanisms by which eCBs regulate neural activity and synaptic function, suggesting that eCB-mediated plasticity is mechanistically more diverse than anticipated. These mechanisms include non-retrograde signaling, signaling via astrocytes, participation in long-term potentiation, and the involvement of mitochondrial CB1. Focusing on paradigmatic brain areas, such as hippocampus, striatum, and neocortex, we review typical and novel signaling mechanisms, and discuss the functional implications in normal brain function and brain diseases. In summary, eCB signaling may lead to different forms of synaptic plasticity through activation of a plethora of mechanisms, which provide further complexity to the functional consequences of eCB signaling. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "A New Dawn in Cannabinoid Neurobiology".
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Pablo E Castillo
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Olivier J Manzoni
- Institut National de la Santé et et de la Recherche Médicale U901 Marseille, France, Université de la Méditerranée UMR S901 Aix-Marseille Marseille, France, INMED Marseille, France.
| | - Raffaella Tonini
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.
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171
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Sloan ME, Gowin JL, Ramchandani VA, Hurd YL, Le Foll B. The endocannabinoid system as a target for addiction treatment: Trials and tribulations. Neuropharmacology 2017; 124:73-83. [PMID: 28564576 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Addiction remains a major public health concern, and while pharmacotherapies can be effective, clinicians are limited by the paucity of existing interventions. Endocannabinoid signaling is involved in reward and addiction, which raises the possibility that drugs targeting this system could be used to treat substance use disorders. This review discusses findings from randomized controlled trials evaluating cannabinergic medications for addiction. Current evidence suggests that pharmacotherapies containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, such as dronabinol and nabiximols, are effective for cannabis withdrawal. Dronabinol may also reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) inverse agonist rimonabant showed promising effects for smoking cessation but also caused psychiatric side effects and currently lacks regulatory approval. Few trials have investigated cannabinergic medications for alcohol use disorder. Overall, the endocannabinoid system remains a promising target for addiction treatment. Development of novel medications such as fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors and neutral CB1 antagonists promises to extend the range of available interventions. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "A New Dawn in Cannabinoid Neurobiology".
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Sloan
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 Center Drive (10CRC, 2-2352), Bethesda, MD, 20892-1540, USA
| | - Joshua L Gowin
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 Center Drive (10CRC, 2-2352), Bethesda, MD, 20892-1540, USA
| | - Vijay A Ramchandani
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 Center Drive (10CRC, 2-2352), Bethesda, MD, 20892-1540, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Hess CSM Building, Floor 10, Rm 105, Office 1470, Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Canada; Addiction Medicine Service, Ambulatory Care and Structured Treatments, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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172
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Garcia AF, Nakata KG, Ferguson SM. Viral strategies for targeting cortical circuits that control cocaine-taking and cocaine-seeking in rodents. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 174:33-41. [PMID: 28552825 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Addiction to cocaine is a chronic disease characterized by persistent drug-taking and drug-seeking behaviors, and a high likelihood of relapse. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has long been implicated in the development of cocaine addiction, and relapse. However, the PFC is a heterogeneous structure, and understanding the role of PFC subdivisions, cell types and afferent/efferent connections is critical for gaining a comprehensive picture of the contribution of the PFC in addiction-related behaviors. Here we provide an update on the role of the PFC in cocaine addiction from recent work that used viral-mediated optogenetic and chemogenetic tools to study the role of the PFC in drug-taking and drug-seeking behavior in rodents. Following overviews of rodent PFC neuroanatomy and of viral-mediated optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques, we review studies of manipulations within the PFC, followed by a review of work that utilized targeted manipulations to PFC inputs and outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron F Garcia
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kanichi G Nakata
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Susan M Ferguson
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
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173
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Zona LC, Fry BR, LaLonde JA, Cromwell HC. Effects of anandamide administration on components of reward processing during free choice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 158:14-21. [PMID: 28529018 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has implicated the positive modulation of anandamide, an endocannabinoid neurotransmitter, on feeding behavior. Anandamide is particularly noteworthy as it acts as an endogenous ligand of the CB1 receptor, the same receptor that is activated by tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive component in Cannabis sativa. Cannabis legalization in North America has presented with a need to study endocannabinoid agonists and their effects on behavior. Much has yet to be determined in terms of the role of the endocannabinoid system in decision-making scenarios. The research presented here tested the hypothesis that anandamide would augment motivation and reward processing via appetitive and consummatory measures during an operant, foraging task. A three-box design was used in order to provide the animals with a free choice, exploratory foraging environment. Discrimination, preference, and incentive contrast were analyzed as discrete measures of decision-making in the three-box paradigm. Anandamide administration (1mg/kg) was found to significantly increase motivation for the optimal foraging outcome and alter basic processing of reward information involved in discrimination and relative valuation. The positive effects of anandamide on eating behavior and motivation have implications toward possible treatment modalities for patient populations presenting with disorders of motivation. These findings suggest the need for continued investigation of the endocannabinoid system as a central component of motivated behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke C Zona
- Department of Psychology, John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States
| | - Benjamin R Fry
- Department of Psychology, John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States
| | - Jacob A LaLonde
- Department of Psychology, John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States
| | - Howard C Cromwell
- Department of Psychology, John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States.
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174
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Nogueira R, Abolafia JM, Drugowitsch J, Balaguer-Ballester E, Sanchez-Vives MV, Moreno-Bote R. Lateral orbitofrontal cortex anticipates choices and integrates prior with current information. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14823. [PMID: 28337990 PMCID: PMC5376669 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive behavior requires integrating prior with current information to anticipate upcoming events. Brain structures related to this computation should bring relevant signals from the recent past into the present. Here we report that rats can integrate the most recent prior information with sensory information, thereby improving behavior on a perceptual decision-making task with outcome-dependent past trial history. We find that anticipatory signals in the orbitofrontal cortex about upcoming choice increase over time and are even present before stimulus onset. These neuronal signals also represent the stimulus and relevant second-order combinations of past state variables. The encoding of choice, stimulus and second-order past state variables resides, up to movement onset, in overlapping populations. The neuronal representation of choice before stimulus onset and its build-up once the stimulus is presented suggest that orbitofrontal cortex plays a role in transforming immediate prior and stimulus information into choices using a compact state-space representation. The orbitofrontal cortex encodes outcomes, expected rewards and values, but it is unclear how this region uses this information to inform action selection. Here, the authors show that lateral orbitofrontal cortex anticipates upcoming choices and combines recent prior information with current sensory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Nogueira
- Center for Brain and Cognition and Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08018, Spain.,Research Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain
| | - Juan M Abolafia
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Jan Drugowitsch
- Département des Neurosciences Fondamentales, Université de Genève, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Emili Balaguer-Ballester
- Department of Computing and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim D-68159, Germany
| | - Maria V Sanchez-Vives
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain.,ICREA, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Rubén Moreno-Bote
- Center for Brain and Cognition and Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08018, Spain.,Research Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain.,Serra Húnter Fellow Programme, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08018, Spain
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175
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Kobayashi K, Kato S, Kobayashi K. Genetic manipulation of specific neural circuits by use of a viral vector system. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 125:67-75. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-016-1674-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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176
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Pina MM, Cunningham CL. Ethanol-seeking behavior is expressed directly through an extended amygdala to midbrain neural circuit. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 137:83-91. [PMID: 27866960 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Abstinent alcohol-dependent individuals experience an enduring sensitivity to cue-induced craving and relapse to drinking. There is considerable evidence indicating that structures within the midbrain and extended amygdala are involved in this process. Individually, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) have been shown to modulate cue-induced ethanol-seeking behavior. It is hypothesized that cue-induced seeking is communicated through a direct projection from the BNST to VTA. In the current experiments, an intersectional viral strategy was used in DBA/2J mice to selectively target and inhibit BNST projections to the VTA during a test of ethanol conditioned place preference (CPP). Inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (hM4Di DREADDs) were expressed in VTA-projecting BNST (BNST-VTA) cells by infusing a retrograde herpes-simplex virus encoding cre recombinase (HSV-Cre) into VTA and a cre-inducible adeno-associated virus encoding hM4Di (AAV-DIO-hM4Di) into BNST. Before testing the expression of preference, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) was peripherally administered to activate hM4Di receptors and selectively inhibit these cells. Ethanol CPP expression was blocked by CNO-mediated inhibition of BNST-VTA cells. A follow-up study revealed this effect was specific to CNO activation of hM4Di as saline- and CNO-treated mice infused with a control vector (HSV-GFP) in place of HSV-Cre showed significant CPP. These findings establish a role for a direct BNST input to VTA in cue-induced ethanol-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie M Pina
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience & Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA.
| | - Christopher L Cunningham
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience & Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA
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177
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Gremel CM, Lovinger DM. Associative and sensorimotor cortico-basal ganglia circuit roles in effects of abused drugs. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:71-85. [PMID: 27457495 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian forebrain is characterized by the presence of several parallel cortico-basal ganglia circuits that shape the learning and control of actions. Among these are the associative, limbic and sensorimotor circuits. The function of all of these circuits has now been implicated in responses to drugs of abuse, as well as drug seeking and drug taking. While the limbic circuit has been most widely examined, key roles for the other two circuits in control of goal-directed and habitual instrumental actions related to drugs of abuse have been shown. In this review we describe the three circuits and effects of acute and chronic drug exposure on circuit physiology. Our main emphasis is on drug actions in dorsal striatal components of the associative and sensorimotor circuits. We then review key findings that have implicated these circuits in drug seeking and taking behaviors, as well as drug use disorders. Finally, we consider different models describing how the three cortico-basal ganglia circuits become involved in drug-related behaviors. This topic has implications for drug use disorders and addiction, as treatments that target the balance between the different circuits may be useful for reducing excessive substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Gremel
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - D M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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