201
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Canteras NS. Hypothalamic survival circuits related to social and predatory defenses and their interactions with metabolic control, reproductive behaviors and memory systems. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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202
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Alpár A, Harkany T. Novel insights into the spatial and temporal complexity of hypothalamic organization through precision methods allowing nanoscale resolution. J Intern Med 2018; 284:568-580. [PMID: 30027599 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian hypothalamus contains an astounding heterogeneity of neurons to achieve its role in coordinating central responses to virtually any environmental stressor over the life-span of an individual. Therefore, while core features of intrahypothalamic neuronal modalities and wiring patterns are stable during vertebrate evolution, integration of the hypothalamus into hierarchical brain-wide networks evolved to coordinate its output with emotionality, cognition and conscious decision-making. The advent of single-cell technologies represents a recent milestone in the study of hypothalamic organization by allowing the dissection of cellular heterogeneity and establishing causality between opto- and chemogenetic activity modulation of molecularly-resolved neuronal contingents and specific behaviours. Thus, organizational rules to accumulate an unprecedented variety of hierarchical neuroendocrine command networks into a minimal brain volume are being unravelled. Here, we review recent understanding at nanoscale resolution on how neuronal heterogeneity in the mammalian hypothalamus underpins the diversification of hormonal and synaptic output and keeps those sufficiently labile for continuous adaptation to meet environmental demands. Particular emphasis is directed towards the dissection of neuronal circuitry for aggression and food intake. Mechanistic data encompass cell identities, synaptic connectivity within and outside the hypothalamus to link vegetative and conscious levels of innate behaviours, and context- and circadian rhythm-dependent rules of synaptic neurophysiology to distinguish hypothalamic foci that either tune the body's metabolic set-point or specify behaviours. Consequently, novel insights emerge to explain the evolutionary advantages of non-laminar organization for neuroendocrine circuits coincidently using fast neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. These are then accrued into novel therapeutic principles that meet therapeutic criteria for human metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alpár
- SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - T Harkany
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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203
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Neural coding of sex-specific social information in the mouse brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:120-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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204
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Abstract
Sexually reproducing animals display sex differences in behavior. Although many of these sex differences in behavior are acquired with experience, sexually dimorphic behaviors such as mating and aggression are innate in the sense that they can be displayed without prior training or experience. In this review, we present recent advances in our understanding of the neural control of such innate sexually dimorphic social behaviors, with a focus on sexual behavior and aggression in flies and mice. We provide a brief overview of fundamental processes that regulate sexual differentiation in these animals to provide a framework within which more recent advances can be understood. We discuss advances in sensory, neuromodulatory, neural circuit, and experiential regulation of sexually dimorphic social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nirao M. Shah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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205
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Faber CL, Matsen ME, Velasco KR, Damian V, Phan BA, Adam D, Therattil A, Schwartz MW, Morton GJ. Distinct Neuronal Projections From the Hypothalamic Ventromedial Nucleus Mediate Glycemic and Behavioral Effects. Diabetes 2018; 67:2518-2529. [PMID: 30257978 PMCID: PMC6245222 DOI: 10.2337/db18-0380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN) is implicated both in autonomic control of blood glucose and in behaviors including fear and aggression, but whether these divergent effects involve the same or distinct neuronal subsets and their projections is unknown. To address this question, we used an optogenetic approach to selectively activate the subset of VMN neurons that express neuronal nitric oxide synthase 1 (VMNNOS1 neurons) implicated in glucose counterregulation. We found that photoactivation of these neurons elicits 1) robust hyperglycemia achieved by activation of counterregulatory responses usually reserved for the physiological response to hypoglycemia and 2) defensive immobility behavior. Moreover, we show that the glucagon, but not corticosterone, response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is blunted by photoinhibition of the same neurons. To investigate the neurocircuitry by which VMNNOS1 neurons mediate these effects, and to determine whether these diverse effects are dissociable from one another, we activated downstream VMNNOS1 projections in either the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (aBNST) or the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Whereas glycemic responses are fully recapitulated by activation of VMNNOS1 projections to the aBNST, freezing immobility occurred only upon activation of VMNNOS1 terminals in the PAG. These findings support previous evidence of a VMN→aBNST neurocircuit involved in glucose counterregulation and demonstrate that activation of VMNNOS1 neuronal projections supplying the PAG robustly elicits defensive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea L Faber
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Miles E Matsen
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Kevin R Velasco
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Vincent Damian
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Bao Anh Phan
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Daniel Adam
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
| | | | - Michael W Schwartz
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Gregory J Morton
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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206
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Mechanism underlying NMDA blockade-induced inhibition of aggression in post-weaning socially isolated mice. Neuropharmacology 2018; 143:95-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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207
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Been LE, Gibbons AB, Meisel RL. Towards a neurobiology of female aggression. Neuropharmacology 2018; 156:107451. [PMID: 30502376 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Although many people think of aggression as a negative or undesirable emotion, it is a normal part of many species' repertoire of social behaviors. Purposeful and controlled aggression can be adaptive in that it warns other individuals of perceived breaches in social contracts with the goal of dispersing conflict before it escalates into violence. Aggression becomes maladaptive, however, when it escalates inappropriately or impulsively into violence. Despite ample data demonstrating that impulsive aggression and violence occurs in both men and women, aggression has historically been considered a uniquely masculine trait. As a result, the vast majority of studies attempting to model social aggression in animals, particularly those aimed at understanding the neural underpinnings of aggression, have been conducted in male rodents. In this review, we summarize the state of the literature on the neurobiology of social aggression in female rodents, including social context, hormonal regulation and neural sites of aggression regulation. Our goal is to put historical research in the context of new research, emphasizing studies using ecologically valid methods and modern sophisticated techniques. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Current status of the neurobiology of aggression and impulsivity'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Been
- Department of Psychology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA, 19041, USA.
| | - Alison B Gibbons
- Department of Psychology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA, 19041, USA
| | - Robert L Meisel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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208
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Duistermars BJ, Pfeiffer BD, Hoopfer ED, Anderson DJ. A Brain Module for Scalable Control of Complex, Multi-motor Threat Displays. Neuron 2018; 100:1474-1490.e4. [PMID: 30415997 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Threat displays are a universal feature of agonistic interactions. Whether threats are part of a continuum of aggressive behaviors or separately controlled remains unclear. We analyze threats in Drosophila and show they are triggered by male cues and visual motion, and comprised of multiple motor elements that can be flexibly combined. We isolate a cluster of ∼3 neurons whose activity is necessary for threat displays but not for other aggressive behaviors, and whose artificial activation suffices to evoke naturalistic threats in solitary flies, suggesting that the neural control of threats is modular with respect to other aggressive behaviors. Artificially evoked threats suffice to repel opponents from a resource in the absence of contact aggression. Depending on its level of artificial activation, this neural threat module can evoke different motor elements in a threshold-dependent manner. Such scalable modules may represent fundamental "building blocks" of neural circuits that mediate complex multi-motor behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Duistermars
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Barret D Pfeiffer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Eric D Hoopfer
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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209
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Corman TS, Bergendahl SE, Epstein DJ. Distinct temporal requirements for Sonic hedgehog signaling in development of the tuberal hypothalamus. Development 2018; 145:dev.167379. [PMID: 30291164 DOI: 10.1242/dev.167379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays well characterized roles in brain and spinal cord development, but its functions in the hypothalamus have been more difficult to elucidate owing to the complex neuroanatomy of this brain area. Here, we use fate mapping and conditional deletion models in mice to define requirements for dynamic Shh activity at distinct developmental stages in the tuberal hypothalamus, a brain region with important homeostatic functions. At early time points, Shh signaling regulates dorsoventral patterning, neurogenesis and the size of the ventral midline. Fate-mapping experiments demonstrate that Shh-expressing and -responsive progenitors contribute to distinct neuronal subtypes, accounting for some of the cellular heterogeneity in tuberal hypothalamic nuclei. Conditional deletion of the hedgehog transducer smoothened (Smo), after dorsoventral patterning has been established, reveals that Shh signaling is necessary to maintain proliferation and progenitor identity during peak periods of hypothalamic neurogenesis. We also find that mosaic disruption of Smo causes a non-cell autonomous gain in Shh signaling activity in neighboring wild-type cells, suggesting a mechanism for the pathogenesis of hypothalamic hamartomas, benign tumors that form during hypothalamic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya S Corman
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
| | - Solsire E Bergendahl
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
| | - Douglas J Epstein
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA
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210
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Ishii KK, Touhara K. Neural circuits regulating sexual behaviors via the olfactory system in mice. Neurosci Res 2018; 140:59-76. [PMID: 30389572 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is essential for any animal species. Reproductive behaviors, or sexual behaviors, are largely shaped by external sensory cues exchanged during sexual interaction. In many animals, including rodents, olfactory cues play a critical role in regulating sexual behavior. What exactly these olfactory cues are and how they impact animal behavior have been a central question in the field. Over the past few decades, many studies have dedicated to identifying an active compound that elicits sexual behavior from crude olfactory components. The identified substance has served as a tool to dissect the sensory processing mechanisms in the olfactory systems. In addition, recent advances in genetic engineering, and optics and microscopic techniques have greatly expanded our knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying the control of sexual behavior in mice. This review summarizes our current knowledge about how sexual behaviors are controlled by olfactory cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro K Ishii
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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211
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Ogawa S, Tsukahara S, Choleris E, Vasudevan N. Estrogenic regulation of social behavior and sexually dimorphic brain formation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 110:46-59. [PMID: 30392880 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It has long been known that the estrogen, 17β-estradiol (17β-E), plays a central role for female reproductive physiology and behavior. Numerous studies have established the neurochemical and molecular basis of estrogenic induction of female sexual behavior, i.e., lordosis, in animal models. In addition, 17β-E also regulates male-type sexual and aggressive behavior. In males, testosterone secreted from the testes is irreversibly aromatized to 17β-E in the brain. We discuss the contribution of two nuclear receptor isoforms, estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ to the estrogenic regulation of sexually dimorphic brain formation and sex-typical expression of these social behaviors. Furthermore, 17β-E is a key player for social behaviors such as social investigation, preference, recognition and memory as well as anxiety-related behaviors in social contexts. Recent studies also demonstrated that not only nuclear receptor-mediated genomic signaling but also membrane receptor-mediated non-genomic actions of 17β-E may underlie the regulation of these behaviors. Finally, we will discuss how rapidly developing research tools and ideas allow us to investigate estrogenic action by emphasizing behavioral neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonoko Ogawa
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8577, Japan.
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nandini Vasudevan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, WhiteKnights Campus, Reading, RG6 6AS, United Kingdom
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212
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Fenster RJ, Lebois LAM, Ressler KJ, Suh J. Brain circuit dysfunction in post-traumatic stress disorder: from mouse to man. Nat Rev Neurosci 2018; 19:535-551. [PMID: 30054570 PMCID: PMC6148363 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-018-0039-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent, debilitating and sometimes deadly consequence of exposure to severe psychological trauma. Although effective treatments exist for some individuals, they are limited. New approaches to intervention, treatment and prevention are therefore much needed. In the past few years, the field has rapidly developed a greater understanding of the dysfunctional brain circuits underlying PTSD, a shift in understanding that has been made possible by technological revolutions that have allowed the observation and perturbation of the macrocircuits and microcircuits thought to underlie PTSD-related symptoms. These advances have allowed us to gain a more translational knowledge of PTSD, have provided further insights into the mechanisms of risk and resilience and offer promising avenues for therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Fenster
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Junghyup Suh
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
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213
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The Neural Mechanisms of Sexually Dimorphic Aggressive Behaviors. Trends Genet 2018; 34:755-776. [PMID: 30173869 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is a fundamental social behavior that is essential for competing for resources and protecting oneself and families in both males and females. As a result of natural selection, aggression is often displayed differentially between the sexes, typically at a higher level in males than females. Here, we highlight the behavioral differences between male and female aggression in rodents. We further outline the aggression circuits in males and females, and compare their differences at each circuit node. Lastly, we summarize our current understanding regarding the generation of sexually dimorphic aggression circuits during development and their maintenance during adulthood. In both cases, gonadal steroid hormones appear to play crucial roles in differentiating the circuits by impacting on the survival, morphology, and intrinsic properties of relevant cells. Many other factors, such as environment and experience, may also contribute to sex differences in aggression and remain to be investigated in future studies.
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214
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Keller JA, Chen J, Simpson S, Wang EHJ, Lilascharoen V, George O, Lim BK, Stowers L. Voluntary urination control by brainstem neurons that relax the urethral sphincter. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:1229-1238. [PMID: 30104734 PMCID: PMC6119086 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0204-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Voluntary urination ensures that waste is eliminated when safe and socially appropriate, even without a pressing urge. Uncontrolled urination, or incontinence, is a common problem with few treatment options. Normal urine release requires a small region in the brainstem known as Barrington's nucleus (Bar), but specific neurons that relax the urethral sphincter and enable urine flow are unknown. Here we identify a small subset of Bar neurons that control the urethral sphincter in mice. These excitatory neurons express estrogen receptor 1 (BarESR1), project to sphincter-relaxing interneurons in the spinal cord and are active during natural urination. Optogenetic stimulation of BarESR1 neurons rapidly initiates sphincter bursting and efficient voiding in anesthetized and behaving animals. Conversely, optogenetic and chemogenetic inhibition reveals their necessity in motivated urination behavior. The identification of these cells provides an expanded model for the control of urination and its dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Keller
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sierra Simpson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eric Hou-Jen Wang
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Varoth Lilascharoen
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Stowers
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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215
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Viskaitis P, Irvine EE, Smith MA, Choudhury AI, Alvarez-Curto E, Glegola JA, Hardy DG, Pedroni SMA, Paiva Pessoa MR, Fernando ABP, Katsouri L, Sardini A, Ungless MA, Milligan G, Withers DJ. Modulation of SF1 Neuron Activity Coordinately Regulates Both Feeding Behavior and Associated Emotional States. Cell Rep 2018; 21:3559-3572. [PMID: 29262334 PMCID: PMC5746599 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Feeding requires the integration of homeostatic drives with emotional states relevant to food procurement in potentially hostile environments. The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates feeding and anxiety, but how these are controlled in a concerted manner remains unclear. Using pharmacogenetic, optogenetic, and calcium imaging approaches with a battery of behavioral assays, we demonstrate that VMH steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) neurons constitute a nutritionally sensitive switch, modulating the competing motivations of feeding and avoidance of potentially dangerous environments. Acute alteration of SF1 neuronal activity alters food intake via changes in appetite and feeding-related behaviors, including locomotion, exploration, anxiety, and valence. In turn, intrinsic SF1 neuron activity is low during feeding and increases with both feeding termination and stress. Our findings identify SF1 neurons as a key part of the neurocircuitry that controls both feeding and related affective states, giving potential insights into the relationship between disordered eating and stress-associated psychological disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Viskaitis
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Elaine E Irvine
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mark A Smith
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Agharul I Choudhury
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Elisa Alvarez-Curto
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Justyna A Glegola
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Darran G Hardy
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Silvia M A Pedroni
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Maria R Paiva Pessoa
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anushka B P Fernando
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Loukia Katsouri
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alessandro Sardini
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mark A Ungless
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Dominic J Withers
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
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216
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Functions of medial hypothalamic and mesolimbic dopamine circuitries in aggression. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018; 24:104-112. [PMID: 30746430 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Aggression is a crucial survival behavior: it is employed to defend territory, compete for food and mating opportunities, protect kin, and resolve disputes. Although widely differing in its behavioral expression, aggression is observed across many species. The neural substrates of aggression have been investigated for nearly a century and two highly conserved circuitries emerge as critical substrates for generating and modulating aggression. One circuitry centers on the medial hypothalamus. Activity of the medial hypothalamic cells closely correlates with attacks and can bi-directionally modulate aggressive behaviors. The other aggression-related circuit involves the mesolimbic dopamine cells. Dopaminergic antagonists are the most commonly used treatment for suppressing human aggression in psychotic patients. Animal studies support essential roles of dopaminergic signaling in the nucleus accumbens in assessing the reward value of aggression and reinforcing the aggressive behaviors. In this review, we will provide an overview regarding the functions of medial hypothalamus and dopaminergic system in mediating aggressive behaviors and the potential interactions between these two circuitries.
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217
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Optogenetic Study of Anterior BNST and Basomedial Amygdala Projections to the Ventromedial Hypothalamus. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-CFN-0204-18. [PMID: 29971248 PMCID: PMC6027956 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0204-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The basomedial amygdala (BM) influences the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) through direct glutamatergic projections as well as indirectly, through the anterior part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTa). However, BM and BNSTa axons end in a segregated fashion in VMH. BM projects to the core of VMH, where VMH’s projection cells are located, whereas BNSTa projects to the shell of VMH, where GABAergic cells that inhibit core neurons are concentrated. However, the consequences of this dual regulation of VMH by BM and BNSTa are unknown. To study this question, we recorded the responses of VMH’s shell and core neurons to the optogenetic activation of BM or BNSTa inputs in transgenic mice that selectively express Cre-recombinase in glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons. Glutamatergic BM inputs fired most core neurons but elicited no response in GABAergic shell neurons. Following BM infusions of AAV-EF1α-DIO-hChR2-mCherry in Vgat-ires-Cre-Ai6 mice, no anterograde labeling was observed in the VMH, suggesting that GABAergic BM neurons do not project to the VMH. In contrast, BNSTa sent mostly GABAergic projections that inhibited both shell and core neurons. However, BNSTa-evoked IPSPs had a higher amplitude in shell neurons. Since we also found that activation of GABAergic shell neurons causes an inhibition of core neurons, these results suggest that depending on the firing rate of shell neurons, BNSTa inputs could elicit a net inhibition or disinhibition of core neurons. Thus, the dual regulation of VMH by BM and BNSTa imparts flexibility to this regulator of defensive and social behaviors.
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Scaia MF, Morandini L, Noguera C, Trudeau VL, Somoza GM, Pandolfi M. Can estrogens be considered as key elements of the challenge hypothesis? The case of intrasexual aggression in a cichlid fish. Physiol Behav 2018; 194:481-490. [PMID: 29935215 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Territorial aggression has been widely studied in males and it has been historically suggested that androgens are key mediators of this behavior. However, more recent evidence suggests that it is the aromatization to estrogens, rather than androgens themselves, that is key to regulating this behavior. Females also display aggressive behaviors, but the physiological regulation of female aggression is still understudied when compared to males. In this context, the challenge hypothesis postulates that male-male aggressive interactions stimulate the production of androgens in males in periods of social instability. Here we determine plasma sex steroid levels in Cichlasoma dimerus to assess whether estrogens are related to aggressive behavior and to test the challenge hypothesis in both males and females. We set-up challenge trials as intrasexual dyadic encounters and determined androgen and estrogen levels before and after the trial in both winners and losers. Even though there were no differences in initial estradiol-17β plasma levels between male winners and losers, initial levels were higher (p = .046) in female winners than in losers, while there were no differences in testosterone or 11-ketotestosterone levels. After trials, both males and females showed elevated levels of estradiol-17β and both androgens, but only males exhibited a significant 1.45, 5.42 and 3.2-fold increase in estradiol-17β, testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone, respectively (p = .023, p = .016, p = .018). Moreover, changes in circulating levels of estradiol-17β in females after the trials do not depend on their reproductive status or on the outcome of the contest. We suggest that female aggression is associated with initial levels of estradiol-17β, and that the challenge hypothesis, originally defined for androgens, could also be extended to estrogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Scaia
- Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada - CONICET, Ciudad Auntónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Leonel Morandini
- Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada - CONICET, Ciudad Auntónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - CristobalAlejandro Noguera
- Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada - CONICET, Ciudad Auntónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vance L Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Gustavo Manuel Somoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Matías Pandolfi
- Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada - CONICET, Ciudad Auntónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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219
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A neural network for intermale aggression to establish social hierarchy. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:834-842. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0153-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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220
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Harris AZ, Atsak P, Bretton ZH, Holt ES, Alam R, Morton MP, Abbas AI, Leonardo ED, Bolkan SS, Hen R, Gordon JA. A Novel Method for Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Female Mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1276-1283. [PMID: 29090682 PMCID: PMC5916350 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Historically, preclinical stress studies have often omitted female subjects, despite evidence that women have higher rates of anxiety and depression. In rodents, many stress susceptibility and resilience studies have focused on males as one commonly used paradigm-chronic social defeat stress-has proven challenging to implement in females. We report a new version of the social defeat paradigm that works in female mice. By applying male odorants to females to increase resident male aggressive behavior, we find that female mice undergo repeated social defeat stress and develop social avoidance, decreased sucrose preference, and decreased time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze relative to control mice. Moreover, a subset of the female mice in this paradigm display resilience, maintaining control levels of social exploration and sucrose preference. This method produces comparable results to those obtained in male mice and will greatly facilitate studying female stress susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Z Harris
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Piray Atsak
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Zachary H Bretton
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emma S Holt
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Raisa Alam
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mitchell P Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Atheir I Abbas
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - E David Leonardo
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Scott S Bolkan
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - René Hen
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joshua A Gordon
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
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221
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A hypothalamic circuit for the circadian control of aggression. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:717-724. [PMID: 29632359 PMCID: PMC5920747 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0126-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
“Sundowning” in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by early evening agitation and aggression. While such periodicity suggests a circadian origin, whether the circadian clock directly regulates aggressive behavior is unknown. We demonstrate that a daily rhythm in aggression propensity in male mice is gated by GABAergic subparaventricular zone (SPZGABA) neurons, the major postsynaptic targets of the central circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Optogenetic mapping revealed that SPZGABA neurons receive input from vasoactive intestinal polypeptide SCN neurons and innervate neurons in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) known to regulate aggression. Additionally, VMH-projecting dorsal SPZ neurons are more active during early day than early night, and acute chemogenetic inhibition of SPZGABA transmission phase-dependently increases aggression. Finally, SPZGABA-recipient central VMH neurons directly innervate VMHvl neurons and activation of this intra-VMH circuit drove attack behavior. Altogether, we reveal a functional polysynaptic circuit by which the SCN clock regulates aggression.
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222
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Emerging Roles of Estrogen-Related Receptors in the Brain: Potential Interactions with Estrogen Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041091. [PMID: 29621182 PMCID: PMC5979530 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to their well-known role in the female reproductive system, estrogens can act in the brain to regulate a wide range of behaviors and physiological functions in both sexes. Over the past few decades, genetically modified animal models have greatly increased our knowledge about the roles of estrogen receptor (ER) signaling in the brain in behavioral and physiological regulations. However, less attention has been paid to the estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), the members of orphan nuclear receptors whose sequences are homologous to ERs but lack estrogen-binding ability. While endogenous ligands of ERRs remain to be determined, they seemingly share transcriptional targets with ERs and their expression can be directly regulated by ERs through the estrogen-response element embedded within the regulatory region of the genes encoding ERRs. Despite the broad expression of ERRs in the brain, we have just begun to understand the fundamental roles they play at molecular, cellular, and circuit levels. Here, we review recent research advancement in understanding the roles of ERs and ERRs in the brain, with particular emphasis on ERRs, and discuss possible cross-talk between ERs and ERRs in behavioral and physiological regulations.
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223
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Aleyasin H, Flanigan ME, Russo SJ. Neurocircuitry of aggression and aggression seeking behavior: nose poking into brain circuitry controlling aggression. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 49:184-191. [PMID: 29524848 PMCID: PMC5935264 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is an innate behavior that helps individuals succeed in environments with limited resources. Over the past few decades, neurobiologists have identified neural circuits that promote and modulate aggression; however, far less is known regarding the motivational processes that drive aggression. Recent research suggests that aggression can activate reward centers in the brain to promote positive valence. Here, we review major recent findings regarding neural circuits that regulate aggression, with an emphasis on those regions involved in the rewarding or reinforcing properties of aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Aleyasin
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Meghan E Flanigan
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Scott J Russo
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
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224
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Social behaviour shapes hypothalamic neural ensemble representations of conspecific sex. Nature 2018; 550:388-392. [PMID: 29052632 PMCID: PMC5674977 DOI: 10.1038/nature23885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
All animals possess a repertoire of innate (or instinctive1,2) behaviors, which can be performed without training. Whether such behaviors are mediated by anatomically distinct and/or genetically specified neural pathways remains a matter of debate3-5. Here we report that hypothalamic neural ensemble representations underlying innate social behaviors are shaped by social experience. Estrogen receptor 1-expressing (Esr1+) neurons in the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) control mating and fighting in rodents6-8. We used microendoscopy9 to image VMHvl Esr1+ neuronal activity in male mice engaged in these social behaviours. In sexually and socially experienced adult males, divergent and characteristic neural ensembles represented male vs. female conspecifics. But surprisingly, in inexperienced adult males, male and female intruders activated overlapping neuronal populations. Sex-specific ensembles gradually separated as the mice acquired social and sexual experience. In mice permitted to investigate but not mount or attack conspecifics, ensemble divergence did not occur. However, 30 min of sexual experience with a female was sufficient to promote both male vs. female ensemble separation and attack, measured 24 hr later. These observations uncover an unexpected social experience-dependent component to the formation of hypothalamic neural assemblies controlling innate social behaviors. More generally, they reveal plasticity and dynamic coding in an evolutionarily ancient deep subcortical structure that is traditionally viewed as a “hard-wired” system.
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225
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Task Division within the Prefrontal Cortex: Distinct Neuron Populations Selectively Control Different Aspects of Aggressive Behavior via the Hypothalamus. J Neurosci 2018; 38:4065-4075. [PMID: 29487128 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3234-17.2018] [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: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
An important question in behavioral neurobiology is how particular neuron populations and pathways mediate the overall roles of brain structures. Here we investigated this issue by studying the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an established locus of inhibitory control of aggression. We established in male rats that dominantly distinct mPFC neuron populations project to and produce dense fiber networks with glutamate release sites in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH; i.e., two executory centers of species-specific and violent bites, respectively). Optogenetic stimulation of mPFC terminals in MBH distinctively increased bite counts in resident/intruder conflicts, whereas the stimulation of similar terminals in LH specifically resulted in violent bites. No other behaviors were affected by stimulations. These findings show that the mPFC controls aggressiveness by behaviorally dedicated neuron populations and pathways, the roles of which may be opposite to those observed in experiments where the role of the whole mPFC (or of its major parts) has been investigated. Overall, our findings suggest that the mPFC organizes into working units that fulfill specific aspects of its wide-ranging roles.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Aggression control is associated with many cognitive and emotional aspects processed by the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, how the prefrontal cortex influences quantitative and qualitative aspects of aggressive behavior remains unclear. We demonstrated that dominantly distinct PFC neuron populations project to the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and the lateral hypothalamus (LH; i.e., two executory centers of species-specific and violent bites, respectively). Stimulation of mPFC fibers in MBH distinctively increased bite counts during fighting, whereas stimulation of similar terminals in LH specifically resulted in violent bites. Overall, our results suggest a direct prefrontal control over the hypothalamus, which is involved in the modulation of quantitative and qualitative aspects of aggressive behavior through distinct prefrontohypothalamic projections.
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226
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Kohl J, Dulac C. Neural control of parental behaviors. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 49:116-122. [PMID: 29482085 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Parenting is a multicomponent social behavior that is essential for the survival of offspring in many species. Despite extensive characterization of individual brain areas involved in parental care, we do not fully understand how discrete aspects of this behavior are orchestrated at the neural circuit level. Recent progress in identifying genetically specified neuronal populations critical for parenting, and the use of genetic and viral tools for circuit-cracking now allow us to deconstruct the underlying circuitry and, thus, to elucidate how different aspects of parental care are controlled. Here we review the latest advances, outline possible organizational principles of parental circuits and discuss future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Kohl
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Dulac
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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227
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Jimenez JC, Su K, Goldberg AR, Luna VM, Biane JS, Ordek G, Zhou P, Ong SK, Wright MA, Zweifel L, Paninski L, Hen R, Kheirbek MA. Anxiety Cells in a Hippocampal-Hypothalamic Circuit. Neuron 2018; 97:670-683.e6. [PMID: 29397273 PMCID: PMC5877404 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 339] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus is traditionally thought to transmit contextual information to limbic structures where it acquires valence. Using freely moving calcium imaging and optogenetics, we show that while the dorsal CA1 subregion of the hippocampus is enriched in place cells, ventral CA1 (vCA1) is enriched in anxiety cells that are activated by anxiogenic environments and required for avoidance behavior. Imaging cells defined by their projection target revealed that anxiety cells were enriched in the vCA1 population projecting to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) but not to the basal amygdala (BA). Consistent with this selectivity, optogenetic activation of vCA1 terminals in LHA but not BA increased anxiety and avoidance, while activation of terminals in BA but not LHA impaired contextual fear memory. Thus, the hippocampus encodes not only neutral but also valence-related contextual information, and the vCA1-LHA pathway is a direct route by which the hippocampus can rapidly influence innate anxiety behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Jimenez
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katy Su
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander R Goldberg
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor M Luna
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy S Biane
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gokhan Ordek
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pengcheng Zhou
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition and Machine Learning Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Departments of Statistics and Neuroscience, Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, and NeuroTechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samantha K Ong
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew A Wright
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Larry Zweifel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Liam Paninski
- Departments of Statistics and Neuroscience, Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, and NeuroTechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - René Hen
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mazen A Kheirbek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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228
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The aggressive brain: insights from neuroscience. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 19:60-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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229
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Albin RL. Tourette syndrome: a disorder of the social decision-making network. Brain 2018; 141:332-347. [PMID: 29053770 PMCID: PMC5837580 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tourette syndrome is a common neurodevelopmental disorder defined by characteristic involuntary movements, tics, with both motor and phonic components. Tourette syndrome is usually conceptualized as a basal ganglia disorder, with an emphasis on striatal dysfunction. While considerable evidence is consistent with these concepts, imaging data suggest diffuse functional and structural abnormalities in Tourette syndrome brain. Tourette syndrome exhibits features that are difficult to explain solely based on basal ganglia circuit dysfunctions. These features include the natural history of tic expression, with typical onset of tics around ages 5 to 7 years and exacerbation during the peri-pubertal years, marked sex disparity with higher male prevalence, and the characteristic distribution of tics. The latter are usually repetitive, somewhat stereotyped involuntary eye, facial and head movements, and phonations. A major functional role of eye, face, and head movements is social signalling. Prior work in social neuroscience identified a phylogenetically conserved network of sexually dimorphic subcortical nuclei, the Social Behaviour Network, mediating many social behaviours. Social behaviour network function is modulated developmentally by gonadal steroids and social behaviour network outputs are stereotyped sex and species specific behaviours. In 2011 O'Connell and Hofmann proposed that the social behaviour network interdigitates with the basal ganglia to form a greater network, the social decision-making network. The social decision-making network may have two functionally complementary limbs: the basal ganglia component responsible for evaluation of socially relevant stimuli and actions with the social behaviour network component responsible for the performance of social acts. Social decision-making network dysfunction can explain major features of the neurobiology of Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome may be a disorder of social communication resulting from developmental abnormalities at several levels of the social decision-making network. The social decision-making network dysfunction hypothesis suggests new avenues for research in Tourette syndrome and new potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger L Albin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Neurology Service and GRECC, VAAAHS, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
- University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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230
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Zempo B, Karigo T, Kanda S, Akazome Y, Oka Y. Morphological Analysis of the Axonal Projections of EGFP-Labeled Esr1-Expressing Neurons in Transgenic Female Medaka. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1228-1241. [PMID: 29300923 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Some hypothalamic neurons expressing estrogen receptor α (Esr1) are thought to transmit a gonadal estrogen feedback signal to gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) neurons, which is the final common pathway for feedback regulation of reproductive functions. Moreover, estrogen-sensitive neurons are suggested to control sexual behaviors in coordination with reproduction. In mammals, hypothalamic estrogen-sensitive neurons release the peptide kisspeptin and regulate GnRH1 neurons. However, a growing body of evidence in nonmammalian species casts doubt on the regulation of GnRH1 neurons by kisspeptin neurons. As a step toward understanding how estrogen regulates neuronal circuits for reproduction and sex behavior in vertebrates in general, we generated a transgenic (Tg) medaka that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) specifically in esr1-expressing neurons (esr1 neurons) and analyzed their axonal projections. We found that esr1 neurons in the preoptic area (POA) project to the gnrh1 neurons. We also demonstrated by transcriptome and histological analyses that these esr1 neurons are glutamatergic or γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) but not kisspeptinergic. We therefore suggest that glutamatergic and GABAergic esr1 neurons in the POA regulate gnrh1 neurons. This hypothesis is consistent with previous studies in mice that found that glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission is critical for estrogen-dependent changes in GnRH1 neuron firing. Thus, we propose that this neuronal circuit may provide an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for regulation of reproduction. In addition, we showed that telencephalic esr1 neurons project to medulla, which may control sexual behavior. Moreover, we found that some POA-esr1 neurons coexpress progesterone receptors. These neurons may form the neuronal circuits that regulate reproduction and sex behavior in response to the serum estrogen/progesterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buntaro Zempo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Division of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomomi Karigo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Akazome
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Anatomy, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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231
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Nasanbuyan N, Yoshida M, Takayanagi Y, Inutsuka A, Nishimori K, Yamanaka A, Onaka T. Oxytocin-Oxytocin Receptor Systems Facilitate Social Defeat Posture in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:763-775. [PMID: 29186377 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Social stress has deteriorating effects on various psychiatric diseases. In animal models, exposure to socially dominant conspecifics (i.e., social defeat stress) evokes a species-specific defeat posture via unknown mechanisms. Oxytocin neurons have been shown to be activated by stressful stimuli and to have prosocial and anxiolytic actions. The roles of oxytocin during social defeat stress remain unclear. Expression of c-Fos, a marker of neuronal activation, in oxytocin neurons and in oxytocin receptor‒expressing neurons was investigated in mice. The projection of oxytocin neurons was examined with an anterograde viral tracer, which induces selective expression of membrane-targeted palmitoylated green fluorescent protein in oxytocin neurons. Defensive behaviors during double exposure to social defeat stress in oxytocin receptor‒deficient mice were analyzed. After social defeat stress, expression of c-Fos protein was increased in oxytocin neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, supraoptic nucleus, and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. Expression of c-Fos protein was also increased in oxytocin receptor‒expressing neurons of brain regions, including the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. Projecting fibers from paraventricular hypothalamic oxytocin neurons were found in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. Oxytocin receptor‒deficient mice showed reduced defeat posture during the second social defeat stress. These findings suggest that social defeat stress activates oxytocin-oxytocin receptor systems, and the findings are consistent with the view that activation of the oxytocin receptor in brain regions, including the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus and the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, facilitates social defeat posture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naranbat Nasanbuyan
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan
| | - Masahide Yoshida
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan
| | - Yuki Takayanagi
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan
| | - Ayumu Inutsuka
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan
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232
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Medial preoptic circuit induces hunting-like actions to target objects and prey. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:364-372. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0072-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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233
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Hellier V, Brock O, Candlish M, Desroziers E, Aoki M, Mayer C, Piet R, Herbison A, Colledge WH, Prévot V, Boehm U, Bakker J. Female sexual behavior in mice is controlled by kisspeptin neurons. Nat Commun 2018; 9:400. [PMID: 29374161 PMCID: PMC5786055 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02797-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior is essential for the survival of many species. In female rodents, mate preference and copulatory behavior depend on pheromones and are synchronized with ovulation to ensure reproductive success. The neural circuits driving this orchestration in the brain have, however, remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that neurons controlling ovulation in the mammalian brain are at the core of a branching neural circuit governing both mate preference and copulatory behavior. We show that male odors detected in the vomeronasal organ activate kisspeptin neurons in female mice. Classical kisspeptin/Kiss1R signaling subsequently triggers olfactory-driven mate preference. In contrast, copulatory behavior is elicited by kisspeptin neurons in a parallel circuit independent of Kiss1R involving nitric oxide signaling. Consistent with this, we find that kisspeptin neurons impinge onto nitric oxide-synthesizing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Our data establish kisspeptin neurons as a central regulatory hub orchestrating sexual behavior in the female mouse brain. Mate preference and copulatory behavior in female rodents are coordinated with the ovulation cycles of the animal. This study shows that hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons control both mate choice and copulation, and therefore, that sexual behavior and ovulation may be synchronized by the same neuropeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Hellier
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Olivier Brock
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Candlish
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Elodie Desroziers
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Mari Aoki
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Richard Piet
- Center for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Allan Herbison
- Center for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - William Henry Colledge
- Reproductive Physiology Group, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Vincent Prévot
- Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Inserm U1172, F- 59000, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Julie Bakker
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium. .,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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234
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Hood S, Amir S. Biological Clocks and Rhythms of Anger and Aggression. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:4. [PMID: 29410618 PMCID: PMC5787107 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The body’s internal timekeeping system is an under-recognized but highly influential force in behaviors and emotions including anger and reactive aggression. Predictable cycles or rhythms in behavior are expressed on several different time scales such as circadian (circa diem, or approximately 24-h rhythms) and infradian (exceeding 24 h, such as monthly or seasonal cycles). The circadian timekeeping system underlying rhythmic behaviors in mammals is constituted by a network of clocks distributed throughout the brain and body, the activity of which synchronizes to a central pacemaker, or master clock. Our daily experiences with the external environment including social activity strongly influence the exact timing of this network. In the present review, we examine evidence from a number of species and propose that anger and reactive aggression interact in multiple ways with circadian clocks. Specifically, we argue that: (i) there are predictable rhythms in the expression of aggression and anger; (ii) disruptions of the normal functioning of the circadian system increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviors; and (iii) conversely, chronic expression of anger can disrupt normal rhythmic cycles of physiological activities and create conditions for pathologies such as cardiovascular disease to develop. Taken together, these observations suggest that a comprehensive perspective on anger and reactive aggression must incorporate an understanding of the role of the circadian timing system in these intense affective states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Hood
- Department of Psychology, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Shimon Amir
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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235
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Wei YC, Wang SR, Jiao ZL, Zhang W, Lin JK, Li XY, Li SS, Zhang X, Xu XH. Medial preoptic area in mice is capable of mediating sexually dimorphic behaviors regardless of gender. Nat Commun 2018; 9:279. [PMID: 29348568 PMCID: PMC5773506 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02648-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The medial preoptic area (mPOA) differs between males and females in nearly all species examined to date, including humans. Here, using fiber photometry recordings of Ca2+ transients in freely behaving mice, we show ramping activities in the mPOA that precede and correlate with sexually dimorphic display of male-typical mounting and female-typical pup retrieval. Strikingly, optogenetic stimulation of the mPOA elicits similar display of mounting and pup retrieval in both males and females. Furthermore, by means of recording, ablation, optogenetic activation, and inhibition, we show mPOA neurons expressing estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1) are essential for the sexually biased display of these behaviors. Together, these results underscore the shared layout of the brain that can mediate sex-specific behaviors in both male and female mice and provide an important functional frame to decode neural mechanisms governing sexually dimorphic behaviors in the future. The medial preoptic area (mPOA) in a mammalian brain is sexually dimorphic, and yet its exact function in mediating gender-specific behavior remains unclear. Here, Xu and colleagues show that optogenetic manipulation of the mPOA in male mice induce female-stereotyped behaviors and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chao Wei
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shao-Ran Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhuo-Lei Jiao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jun-Kai Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xing-Yu Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuai-Shuai Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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236
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Abstract
Reproductive behavior is the behavior related to the production of offspring and includes all aspects from the establishment of mating systems, courtship, sexual behavior, and parturition to the care of young. In this chapter, I outline the hormonal regulation of the estrous cycle, followed by a description of the neural regulation of female sexual behavior. Ovarian hormones play an important role in the induction of ovulation and behavioral estrus, in which they interact closely with several neurotransmitters and neuropeptides to induce sexual behavior. This chapter discusses the latest research on the role of estrogen, progesterone, serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, oxytocin, and GABA in female mating behavior. In addition, the most relevant brain areas, such as the preoptic area and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, in which these regulations take place, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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237
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Semple E, Hill JW. Sim1 Neurons Are Sufficient for MC4R-Mediated Sexual Function in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:439-449. [PMID: 29059347 PMCID: PMC5761591 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction is a poorly understood condition that affects up to one-third of men around the world. Existing treatments that target the periphery do not work for all men. Previous studies have shown that central melanocortins, which are released by pro-opiomelanocortin neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, can lead to male erection and increased libido. Several studies specifically implicate the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in the central control of sexual function, but the specific neural circuitry involved is unknown. We hypothesized that single-minded homolog 1 (Sim1) neurons play an important role in the melanocortin-mediated regulation of male sexual behavior. To test this hypothesis, we examined the sexual behavior of mice expressing MC4R only on Sim1-positive neurons (tbMC4Rsim1 mice) in comparison with tbMC4R null mice and wild-type controls. In tbMC4Rsim1 mice, MC4R reexpression was found in the medial amygdala and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These mice were paired with sexually experienced females, and their sexual function and behavior was scored based on mounting, intromission, and ejaculation. tbMC4R null mice showed a longer latency to mount, a reduced intromission efficiency, and an inability to reach ejaculation. Expression of MC4R only on Sim1 neurons reversed the sexual deficits seen in tbMC4R null mice. This study implicates melanocortin signaling via the MC4R on Sim1 neurons in the central control of male sexual behavior.
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MESH Headings
- Amygdala/drug effects
- Amygdala/metabolism
- Amygdala/pathology
- Animals
- Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/drug effects
- Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/metabolism
- Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/pathology
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Copulation/drug effects
- Crosses, Genetic
- Fertility Agents, Male/administration & dosage
- Fertility Agents, Male/therapeutic use
- Heterozygote
- Infertility, Male/drug therapy
- Infertility, Male/metabolism
- Infertility, Male/pathology
- Injections, Intraventricular
- Male
- Mice, Knockout
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Neurons/pathology
- Organ Specificity
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/drug effects
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/pathology
- Random Allocation
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/genetics
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/metabolism
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- alpha-MSH/administration & dosage
- alpha-MSH/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Semple
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio 43606
| | - Jennifer W. Hill
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio 43606
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238
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Bruggeman EC, Garretson JT, Wu R, Shi H, Xue B. Neuronal Dnmt1 Deficiency Attenuates Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice. Endocrinology 2018; 159:145-162. [PMID: 29145563 PMCID: PMC5761599 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant neuronal DNA methylation patterns have been implicated in the promotion of obesity development; however, the role of neuronal DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), enzymes that catalyze DNA methylation, in energy balance remains poorly understood. We investigated whether neuronal Dnmt1 regulates normal energy homeostasis and obesity development using a neuronal Dnmt1 knockout (ND1KO) mouse model, Dnmt1fl/fl Synapsin1Cre, which specifically deletes Dnmt1 in neurons. Neuronal Dnmt1 deficiency reduced adiposity in chow-fed mice and attenuated obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed male mice. ND1KO male mice had reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure with the HFD. Furthermore, these mice had improved insulin sensitivity, as measured using an insulin tolerance test. The HFD-fed ND1KO mice had smaller fat pads and upregulation of thermogenic genes in brown adipose tissue. These data suggest that neuronal Dnmt1 plays an important role in regulating energy homeostasis. Notably, ND1KO male mice had elevated estrogen receptor-α (ERα) gene expression in the medial hypothalamus, which previously has been shown to control body weight. Immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that ERα protein expression was upregulated specifically in the dorsomedial region of the ventromedial hypothalamus, a region that might mediate the central effect of leptin. We conclude that neuronal Dnmt1 regulates energy homeostasis through pathways controlling food intake and energy expenditure. In addition, ERα expression in the dorsomedial region of the ventromedial hypothalamus might mediate these effects.
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MESH Headings
- Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism
- Adipose Tissue, Brown/pathology
- Adiposity
- Animals
- Crosses, Genetic
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1/deficiency
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1/metabolism
- DNA Methylation
- Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects
- Energy Intake
- Energy Metabolism
- Estrogen Receptor alpha/genetics
- Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hypothalamus, Middle/enzymology
- Hypothalamus, Middle/metabolism
- Hypothalamus, Middle/pathology
- Insulin Resistance
- Male
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/deficiency
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Neurons/enzymology
- Neurons/metabolism
- Neurons/pathology
- Obesity/etiology
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/pathology
- Obesity/prevention & control
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Sex Characteristics
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C. Bruggeman
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
| | - John T. Garretson
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
| | - Rui Wu
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta,
Georgia 30302
| | - Hang Shi
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta,
Georgia 30302
| | - Bingzhong Xue
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta,
Georgia 30302
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239
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Hashikawa Y, Hashikawa K, Falkner AL, Lin D. Ventromedial Hypothalamus and the Generation of Aggression. Front Syst Neurosci 2017; 11:94. [PMID: 29375329 PMCID: PMC5770748 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is a costly behavior, sometimes with severe consequences including death. Yet aggression is prevalent across animal species ranging from insects to humans, demonstrating its essential role in the survival of individuals and groups. The question of how the brain decides when to generate this costly behavior has intrigued neuroscientists for over a century and has led to the identification of relevant neural substrates. Various lesion and electric stimulation experiments have revealed that the hypothalamus, an ancient structure situated deep in the brain, is essential for expressing aggressive behaviors. More recently, studies using precise circuit manipulation tools have identified a small subnucleus in the medial hypothalamus, the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl), as a key structure for driving both aggression and aggression-seeking behaviors. Here, we provide an updated summary of the evidence that supports a role of the VMHvl in aggressive behaviors. We will consider our recent findings detailing the physiological response properties of populations of VMHvl cells during aggressive behaviors and provide new understanding regarding the role of the VMHvl embedded within the larger whole-brain circuit for social sensation and action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Koichi Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Annegret L Falkner
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States.,Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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240
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McHenry JA, Robison CL, Bell GA, Vialou VV, Bolaños-Guzmán CA, Nestler EJ, Hull EM. The role of ΔfosB in the medial preoptic area: Differential effects of mating and cocaine history. Behav Neurosci 2017; 130:469-78. [PMID: 27657309 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor deltaFosB (ΔFosB) is induced in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse and natural rewards. Less is known about its role in other brain areas. Here, we compared the effects of mating versus cocaine history on induction of ΔFosB in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), an integral site for reproductive behavior, and in the NAc. ΔFosB immunoreactivity (ir) was increased in the MPOA of previously naïve and experienced male rats that mated the day before euthanasia, compared to unmated controls and experienced males with recent mating abstinence. Western immunoblots confirmed that the 35-37-kDa isoform of ΔFosB was increased more in recently mated males. Conversely, previous plus recent cocaine did not increase ΔFosB-ir in the MPOA, despite an increase in the NAc. Next, a viral vector expressing ΔFosB, its dominant negative antagonist ΔJunD, or green fluorescent protein (GFP) control, were microinjected bilaterally into the MPOA. ΔFosB overexpression impaired copulation and promoted female-directed aggression, compared to ΔJunD and control males. These data suggest that ΔFosB in the mPOA is expressed in an experience-dependent manner and affects systems that coordinate mating and aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vincent V Vialou
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | | | - Eric J Nestler
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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241
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Hashikawa K, Hashikawa Y, Tremblay R, Zhang J, Feng JE, Sabol A, Piper WT, Lee H, Rudy B, Lin D. Esr1 + cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus control female aggression. Nat Neurosci 2017; 20:1580-1590. [PMID: 28920934 PMCID: PMC5953764 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
As an essential means of resolving conflicts, aggression is expressed by both sexes but often at a higher level in males than in females. Recent studies suggest that cells in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) that express estrogen receptor-α (Esr1) and progesterone receptor are essential for male but not female mouse aggression. In contrast, here we show that VMHvlEsr1+ cells are indispensable for female aggression. This population was active when females attacked naturally. Inactivation of these cells reduced female aggression whereas their activation elicited attack. Additionally, we found that female VMHvl contains two anatomically distinguishable subdivisions that showed differential gene expression, projection and activation patterns after mating and fighting. These results support an essential role of the VMHvl in both male and female aggression and reveal the existence of two previously unappreciated subdivisions in the female VMHvl that are involved in distinct social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yoshiko Hashikawa
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robin Tremblay
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - James E Feng
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexander Sabol
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Walter T Piper
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hyosang Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, Korea
| | - Bernardo Rudy
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Emotional Brain Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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242
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Establishment of a repeated social defeat stress model in female mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12838. [PMID: 28993631 PMCID: PMC5634448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12811-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have employed repeated social defeat stress (RSDS) to study the neurobiological mechanisms of depression in rodents. An important limitation of RSDS studies to date is that they have been conducted exclusively in male mice due to the difficulty of initiating attack behavior directed toward female mice. Here, we establish a female mouse model of RSDS by inducing male aggression toward females through chemogenetic activation of the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). We demonstrate that females susceptible to RSDS display social avoidance, anxiety-like behavior, reduction of body weight, and elevated levels of circulating interleukin 6. In contrast, a subset of mice we term resilient only display anxiety-like behaviors after RSDS. This model allows for investigation of sex differences in the neurobiological mechanisms of defeat‒induced depression‒like behaviors. A robust female social defeat model is a critical first step in the identification and development of novel therapeutic compounds to treat depression and anxiety disorders in women.
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243
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McCarthy MM. Probing the neural circuits of sex and aggression with precision genetics: Commentary on "Estrogen receptor alpha is required in GABAergic but not glutamatergic, neurons to masculinize behavior" by Wu and Tollkuhn. Horm Behav 2017; 95:1-2. [PMID: 28733175 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201.
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244
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Coutinho EA, Okamoto S, Ishikawa AW, Yokota S, Wada N, Hirabayashi T, Saito K, Sato T, Takagi K, Wang CC, Kobayashi K, Ogawa Y, Shioda S, Yoshimura Y, Minokoshi Y. Activation of SF1 Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus by DREADD Technology Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Peripheral Tissues. Diabetes 2017; 66:2372-2386. [PMID: 28673934 DOI: 10.2337/db16-1344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates glucose and energy metabolism in mammals. Optogenetic stimulation of VMH neurons that express steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) induces hyperglycemia. However, leptin acting via the VMH stimulates whole-body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity in some peripheral tissues, and this effect of leptin appears to be mediated by SF1 neurons. We examined the effects of activation of SF1 neurons with DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) technology. Activation of SF1 neurons by an intraperitoneal injection of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), a specific hM3Dq ligand, reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure in mice expressing hM3Dq in SF1 neurons. It also increased whole-body glucose utilization and glucose uptake in red-type skeletal muscle, heart, and interscapular brown adipose tissue, as well as glucose production and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver, thereby maintaining blood glucose levels. During hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, such activation of SF1 neurons increased insulin-induced glucose uptake in the same peripheral tissues and tended to enhance insulin-induced suppression of glucose production by suppressing gluconeogenic gene expression and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver. DREADD technology is thus an important tool for studies of the role of the brain in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eulalia A Coutinho
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shiki Okamoto
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ayako Wendy Ishikawa
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Division of Visual Information Processing, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shigefumi Yokota
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Wada
- Global Research Center for Innovative Life Science, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hirabayashi
- Global Research Center for Innovative Life Science, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kumiko Saito
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sato
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazuyo Takagi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Human Life Science, Nagoya University of Economics, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Chen-Chi Wang
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Center for Experimental Animals, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Section of Viral Vector Development, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, CREST (AMED-CREST), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Shioda
- Global Research Center for Innovative Life Science, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumiko Yoshimura
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Division of Visual Information Processing, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Minokoshi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Physiological Science, School of Life Sciences, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
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245
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Wu MV, Tollkuhn J. Estrogen receptor alpha is required in GABAergic, but not glutamatergic, neurons to masculinize behavior. Horm Behav 2017; 95:3-12. [PMID: 28734725 PMCID: PMC7011612 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Masculinization of the altricial rodent brain is driven by estrogen signaling during a perinatal critical period. Genetic deletion of estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1/ERα) results in altered hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis signaling and a dramatic reduction of male sexual and territorial behaviors. However, the role of ERα in masculinizing distinct classes of neurons remains unexplored. We deleted ERα in excitatory or inhibitory neurons using either a Vglut2 or Vgat driver and assessed male behaviors. We find that Vglut2-Cre;Esr1lox/lox mutant males lack ERα in the ventrolateral region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) and posterior ventral portion of the medial amygdala (MePV). These mutants recapitulate the increased serum testosterone levels seen with constitutive ERα deletion, but have none of the behavioral deficits. In contrast, Vgat-Cre;Esr1lox/lox males with substantial ERα deletion in inhibitory neurons, including those of the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTpr), posterior dorsal MeA (MePD), and medial preoptic area (MPOA) have normal testosterone levels, but display alterations in mating and territorial behaviors. These mutants also show dysmasculinized expression of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor beta (Esr2). Our results demonstrate that ERα masculinizes GABAergic neurons that gate the display of male-typical behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody V Wu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Jessica Tollkuhn
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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246
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Abstract
Territorial male mice are aggressive toward intruding males, but socially bonded males are not. Through manipulation of activity in a subset of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus, Yang et al. (2017) report that social and physiological factors non-linearly interact to control male aggression.
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247
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Yang T, Yang CF, Chizari MD, Maheswaranathan N, Burke KJ, Borius M, Inoue S, Chiang MC, Bender KJ, Ganguli S, Shah NM. Social Control of Hypothalamus-Mediated Male Aggression. Neuron 2017; 95:955-970.e4. [PMID: 28757304 PMCID: PMC5648542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
How environmental and physiological signals interact to influence neural circuits underlying developmentally programmed social interactions such as male territorial aggression is poorly understood. We have tested the influence of sensory cues, social context, and sex hormones on progesterone receptor (PR)-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) that are critical for male territorial aggression. We find that these neurons can drive aggressive displays in solitary males independent of pheromonal input, gonadal hormones, opponents, or social context. By contrast, these neurons cannot elicit aggression in socially housed males that intrude in another male's territory unless their pheromone-sensing is disabled. This modulation of aggression cannot be accounted for by linear integration of environmental and physiological signals. Together, our studies suggest that fundamentally non-linear computations enable social context to exert a dominant influence on developmentally hard-wired hypothalamus-mediated male territorial aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cindy F Yang
- Program in Neuroscience, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - M Delara Chizari
- Department of Anatomy, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Kenneth J Burke
- Program in Neuroscience, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Maxim Borius
- Department of Anatomy, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sayaka Inoue
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael C Chiang
- Department of Anatomy, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kevin J Bender
- Department of Neurology, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Surya Ganguli
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nirao M Shah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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248
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Freezing response-independent facilitation of fear extinction memory in the prefrontal cortex. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5363. [PMID: 28706238 PMCID: PMC5509670 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04335-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The infralimbic cortex (IL) is known to facilitate the formation of extinction memory through reciprocal interactions with the amygdala, which produces fear responses such as freezing. Thus, whether presynaptic input from the amygdala and post-synaptic output of IL neurons are functionally dissociated in extinction memory formation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that photostimulation of IL inputs from BLA did not change freezing responses to conditioned stimuli (CS) during training, but did facilitate extinction memory, measured as a reduction in freezing responses to the CS 1 day later. On the other hand, photostimulation of somata of IL neurons induced an immediate reduction in freezing to CS, but this did not affect extinction memory tested the next day. These results provide in vivo evidence for IL-dependent facilitation of extinction memory without post-synaptic modulation of freezing circuits.
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249
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Functional Heterogeneity in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis. J Neurosci 2017; 36:8038-49. [PMID: 27488624 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0856-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Early work stressed the differing involvement of the central amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the genesis of fear versus anxiety, respectively. In 2009, Walker, Miles, and Davis proposed a model of amygdala-BNST interactions to explain these functional differences. This model became extremely influential and now guides a new wave of studies on the role of BNST in humans. Here, we consider evidence for and against this model, in the process highlighting central principles of BNST organization. This analysis leads us to conclude that BNST's influence is not limited to the generation of anxiety-like responses to diffuse threats, but that it also shapes the impact of discrete threatening stimuli. It is likely that BNST-CeA interactions are involved in modulating responses to such threats. In addition, whereas current views emphasize the contributions of the anterolateral BNST region in anxiety, accumulating data indicate that the anteromedial and anteroventral regions also play a critical role. The presence of multiple functional subregions within the small volume of BNST raises significant technical obstacles for functional imaging studies in humans.
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250
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Hurtado-López J, Ramirez-Moreno DF, Sejnowski TJ. Decision-making neural circuits mediating social behaviors : An attractor network model. J Comput Neurosci 2017; 43:127-142. [PMID: 28660531 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-017-0654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We propose a mathematical model of a continuous attractor network that controls social behaviors. The model is examined with bifurcation analysis and computer simulations. The results show that the model exhibits stable steady states and thresholds for steady state transitions corresponding to some experimentally observed behaviors, such as aggression control. The performance of the model and the relation with experimental evidence are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Hurtado-López
- Department of Mathematics, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cll 25 No. 115-85 Km 2 vía Cali-Jamundí, 760030, Cali, Colombia.
| | | | - Terrence J Sejnowski
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA
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