Neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex of humans and other haplorrhine primates

Morphological study of neuropeptide Y expression in human and mouse anterior insular cortex: Overexpression in the insular cortex and nucleus accumbens in obese mice on a long-term obesogenic diet

BACKGROUND

The anterior lobe of the insular cortex (aINS) is a cortical region that has reciprocal connections with limbic centers such as the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, amygdala and nucleus accumbens (NAc). In fact, the aINS has been involved in the integration of autonomic information for emotional and motivational functions. The compulsive consumption of drugs or high-fat foods induces alterations at both behavioural and brain levels. Brain reward circuits are altered in response to continued intake, in particular the dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the NAc. The aINS has multiple connections with the components of this system. In recent years, efforts have been made to better understand the fundamental role of the aINS in addiction, making it one of the key centres of interest for research into new treatments for addiction.

OBJECTIVES

The present work focuses on studying 1.- whether the human aINS expresses orexigenic peptides such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide known to induce hyperphagia, and which has been implicated in the onset and development of obesity, 2.- the long-term effect of an obesogenic diet on NPY expression in the aINS and NAc of C57BL/6 mice.

METHODS

A total of 17 female C57BL/6 J mice were used in this study. Female mice were fed ad libitum with water and, either a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. There were seven female mice on the SD and ten on the HFD. The duration of the experiment was 180 days. We also studied 3 human adult brains (1 male and 2 females, mean age 55.7 ± 5.2 years). The morphological study was performed using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence techniques to study the neurochemical profile of NPY neurons of the aINS and NAc of humans and mice.

RESULTS

Our morphological analysis demonstrates for the first time the basal expression of NPY in different layers of the human cortex (II, III, IV, V/VI), in a pattern similar to previous studies in other species. Furthermore, we observed an increase in the number of NPY-positive cells and their intracytoplasmic signal in the aINS and NAc of the obese mice subjected to a long-term obesogenic diet.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study to show the distribution and expression of NPY in the human INS and how its expression is altered after prolonged treatment with an obesogenic diet in obese mice. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying obesity in regions related to the reward system and associated with uncontrolled intake of high-fat foods, thus facilitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Hedonic eating, obesity, and addiction result from increased neuropeptide Y in the nucleus accumbens during human brain evolution

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is central to motivation and action, exhibiting one of the highest densities of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the brain. Within the NAc, NPY plays a role in reward and is involved in emotional behavior and in increasing alcohol and drug addiction and fat intake. Here, we examined NPY innervation and neurons of the NAc in humans and other anthropoid primates in order to determine whether there are differences among these various species that would correspond to behavioral or life history variables. We quantified NPY-immunoreactive axons and neurons in the NAc of 13 primate species, including humans, great apes, and monkeys. Our data show that the human brain is unique among primates in having denser NPY innervation within the NAc, as measured by axon length density to neuron density, even after accounting for brain size. Combined with our previous finding of increased dopaminergic innervation in the same region, our results suggest that the neurochemical profile of the human NAc appears to have rendered our species uniquely susceptible to neurophysiological conditions such as addiction. The increase in NPY specific to the NAc may represent an adaptation that favors fat intake and contributes to an increased vulnerability to eating disorders, obesity, as well as alcohol and drug dependence. Along with our findings for dopamine, these deeply rooted structural attributes of the human brain are likely to have emerged early in the human clade, laying the groundwork for later brain expansion and the development of cognitive and behavioral specializations.

The Distinct Characteristics of Somatostatin Neurons in the Human Brain

Somatostatin cells are frequently described as a major population of GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of their molecular expression, morphological features, and laminar distribution. We provided a detailed description of somatostatin neurons in the human prefrontal cortex, including their proportion in the total neuron population, laminar distribution, neurotransmitter phenotype, as well as their molecular and morphological characteristics using immunofluorescence and RNAscope in situ hybridization. We found that somatostatin neurons comprise around 7% of neocortical neurons in the human Brodmann areas 9 and 14r, without significant difference between the two regions. Somatostatin cells were NeuN positive and synthesized vesicular GABA transporter and glutamate decarboxylase 1 and 2, confirming their neuronal nature and GABAergic phenotype. Somatostatin cells in the upper cortical layers were small, had a high expression of somatostatin mRNA, a relatively low expression of somatostatin peptide, and co-expressed calbindin. In the lower cortical layers, somatostatin cells were larger with complex somato-dendritic morphology, typically showed a lower expression of somatostatin mRNA and a high expression of somatostatin peptide, and co-expressed neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), but not calbindin. Somatostatin neurons in the white matter co-expressed MAP2. Based on their somato-dendritic morphology, cortical somatostatin neurons could be classified into at least five subtypes. The somatostatin neurons of the human prefrontal cortex show remarkable morphological and molecular complexity, which implies that they have equally complex and distinct functions in the human brain.

Update on the Role of Neuropeptide Y and Other Related Factors in Breast Cancer and Osteoporosis

Breast cancer and osteoporosis are common diseases that affect the survival and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Women with breast cancer are more likely to develop osteoporosis than women without breast cancer due to certain factors that can affect both diseases simultaneously. For instance, estrogen and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) play important roles in the occurrence and development of these two diseases. Moreover, chemotherapy and hormone therapy administered to breast cancer patients also increase the incidence of osteoporosis, and in recent years, neuropeptide Y (NPY) has also been found to impact breast cancer and osteoporosis.Y1 and Y5 receptors are highly expressed in breast cancer, and Y1 and Y2 receptors affect osteogenic response, thus potentially highlighting a potential new direction for treatment strategies. In this paper, the relationship between breast cancer and osteoporosis, the influence of NPY on both diseases, and the recent progress in the research and treatment of these diseases are reviewed.

Conserved cell types with divergent features in human versus mouse cortex

Elucidating the cellular architecture of the human cerebral cortex is central to understanding our cognitive abilities and susceptibility to disease. Here we used single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis to perform a comprehensive study of cell types in the middle temporal gyrus of human cortex. We identified a highly diverse set of excitatory and inhibitory neuron types that are mostly sparse, with excitatory types being less layer-restricted than expected. Comparison to similar mouse cortex single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets revealed a surprisingly well-conserved cellular architecture that enables matching of homologous types and predictions of properties of human cell types. Despite this general conservation, we also found extensive differences between homologous human and mouse cell types, including marked alterations in proportions, laminar distributions, gene expression and morphology. These species-specific features emphasize the importance of directly studying human brain.

Laminar Distribution of Neurochemically-Identified Interneurons and Cellular Co-expression of Molecular Markers in Epileptic Human Cortex

Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are fundamental elements of cortical circuits and play critical roles in shaping network activity. Dysfunction of interneurons can lead to various brain disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Based on the electrophysiological properties, cell morphology, and molecular identity, interneurons could be classified into various subgroups. In this study, we investigated the density and laminar distribution of different interneuron types and the co-expression of molecular markers in epileptic human cortex. We found that parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) neurons were distributed in all cortical layers except layer I, while tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were abundant in the deep layers and white matter. Cholecystokinin (CCK) neurons showed a high density in layers IV and VI. Neurons with these markers constituted ~7.2% (PV), 2.6% (SST), 0.5% (TH), 0.5% (NPY), and 4.4% (CCK) of the gray-matter neuron population. Double- and triple-labeling revealed that NPY neurons were also SST-immunoreactive (97.7%), and TH neurons were more likely to express SST (34.2%) than PV (14.6%). A subpopulation of CCK neurons (28.0%) also expressed PV, but none contained SST. Together, these results revealed the density and distribution patterns of different interneuron populations and the overlap between molecular markers in epileptic human cortex.

Male sex may be associated with higher metabolic risk in first-episode schizophrenia patients: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND

High incidence of metabolic syndrome has been evidenced in schizophrenia patients. However, gender-specific relationship with risk of metabolic disorders in first-episode schizophrenia has received poor systematic study.

AIM

We aimed at exploring the impact of sex difference on the parameters of glucolipid metabolism in first-episode psychosis schizophrenia (FEP) patients.

METHODS

We performed a post hoc analysis of data from our previously performed clinical trial. A total of 60 FEP patients and 28 healthy sex- and age-matched volunteers were included. Blood glucose and lipid metabolic profiles, as well as schizophrenia-related clinical symptoms were assessed. The body mass index, level of blood insulin and the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured.

RESULTS

The FEP patients demonstrated significant increases in blood insulin concentration, insulin resistance and blood triglyceride when compared with healthy controls. In FEP patients, there were no differences in psychopathology measurements between the genders. BMI and HOMA-IR were significantly greater in male vs female FEP patients. In addition, a more severe dyslipidemia was also observed in male FEP patients, including an increased triglyceride level, an augmented LDL content and a decreased HDL concentration. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that the gender was significantly correlated to HOMA-IR.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results suggest that male FEP patients may be more predisposed to insulin resistance and dyslipidemia than female FEP patients. These results could contribute to the understanding of prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome in FEP patients.

White Matter Neurons in Young Adult and Aged Rhesus Monkey

In humans and non-human primates (NHP), white matter neurons (WMNs) persist beyond early development. Their functional importance is largely unknown, but they have both corticothalamic and corticocortical connectivity and at least one subpopulation has been implicated in vascular regulation and sleep. Several other studies have reported that the density of WMNs in humans is altered in neuropathological or psychiatric conditions. The present investigation evaluates and compares the density of superficial and deep WMNs in frontal (FR), temporal (TE), and parietal (Par) association regions of four young adult and four aged male rhesus monkeys. A major aim was to determine whether there was age-related neuronal loss, as might be expected given the substantial age-related changes known to occur in the surrounding white matter environment. Neurons were visualized by immunocytochemistry for Neu-N in coronal tissue sections (30 μm thickness), and neuronal density was assessed by systematic random sampling. Per 0.16 mm² sampling box, this yielded about 40 neurons in the superficial WM and 10 in the deep WM. Consistent with multiple studies of cell density in the cortical gray matter of normal brains, neither the superficial nor deep WM populations showed statistically significant age-related neuronal loss, although we observed a moderate decrease with age for the deep WMNs in the frontal region. Morphometric analyses, in contrast, showed significant age effects in soma size and circularity. In specific, superficial WMNs were larger in FR and Par WM regions of the young monkeys; but in the TE, these were larger in the older monkeys. An age effect was also observed for soma circularity: superficial WMNs were more circular in FR and Par of the older monkeys. This second, morphometric result raises the question of whether other age-related morphological, connectivity, or molecular changes occur in the WMNs. These could have multiple impacts, given the wide range of putative WMN functions and their involvement in both corticothalamic and corticocortical circuitry.

High spatial resolution proteomic comparison of the brain in humans and chimpanzees

We performed high-throughput mass spectrometry at high spatial resolution from individual regions (anterior cingulate and primary motor, somatosensory, and visual cortices) and layers of the neocortex (layers III, IV, and V) and cerebellum (granule cell layer), as well as the caudate nucleus in humans and chimpanzees. A total of 39 mass spectrometry peaks were matched with probable protein identifications in both species, allowing for comparison in expression. We explored how the pattern of protein expression varies across regions and cortical layers to provide insights into the differences in molecular phenotype of these neural structures between species. The expression of proteins differed principally in a region- and layer-specific pattern, with more subtle differences between species. Specifically, human and chimpanzee brains were similar in their distribution of proteins related to the regulation of transcription and enzyme activity but differed in their expression of proteins supporting aerobic metabolism. Whereas most work assessing molecular expression differences in the brains of primates has been performed on gene transcripts, this dataset extends current understanding of the differential molecular expression that may underlie human cognitive specializations.

Mapping arealisation of the visual cortex of non-primate species: lessons for development and evolution

The integration of the visual stimulus takes place at the level of the neocortex, organized in anatomically distinct and functionally unique areas. Primates, including humans, are heavily dependent on vision, with approximately 50% of their neocortical surface dedicated to visual processing and possess many more visual areas than any other mammal, making them the model of choice to study visual cortical arealisation. However, in order to identify the mechanisms responsible for patterning the developing neocortex, specifying area identity as well as elucidate events that have enabled the evolution of the complex primate visual cortex, it is essential to gain access to the cortical maps of alternative species. To this end, species including the mouse have driven the identification of cellular markers, which possess an area-specific expression profile, the development of new tools to label connections and technological advance in imaging techniques enabling monitoring of cortical activity in a behaving animal. In this review we present non-primate species that have contributed to elucidating the evolution and development of the visual cortex. We describe the current understanding of the mechanisms supporting the establishment of areal borders during development, mainly gained in the mouse thanks to the availability of genetically modified lines but also the limitations of the mouse model and the need for alternate species.

Humans and great apes share increased neocortical neuropeptide Y innervation compared to other haplorhine primates

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a role in a variety of basic physiological functions and has also been implicated in regulating cognition, including learning and memory. A decrease in neocortical NPY has been reported for Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, potentially contributing to associated cognitive deficits. The goal of the present analysis was to examine variation in neocortical NPY-immunoreactive axon and varicosity density among haplorhine primates (monkeys, apes, and humans). Stereologic methods were used to measure the ratios of NPY-expressing axon length density to total neuron density (ALv/Nv) and NPY-immunoreactive varicosity density to neuron density (Vv/Nv), as well as the mean varicosity spacing in neocortical areas 10, 24, 44, and 22 (Tpt) of humans, African great apes, New World monkeys, and Old World monkeys. Humans and great apes showed increased cortical NPY innervation relative to monkey species for ALv/Nv and Vv/Nv. Furthermore, humans and great apes displayed a conserved pattern of varicosity spacing across cortical areas and layers, with no differences between cortical layers or among cortical areas. These phylogenetic differences may be related to shared life history variables and may reflect specific cognitive abilities.

Unraveling the mechanisms responsible for the comorbidity between metabolic syndrome and mental health disorders

The increased prevalence and high comorbidity of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and mental health disorders (MHDs) have prompted investigation into the potential contributing mechanisms. There is a bidirectional association between MetS and MHDs including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. Medication side effects and social repercussions are contributing environmental factors, but there are a number of shared underlying neurological and physiological mechanisms that explain the high comorbidity between these two disorders. Inflammation is a state shared by both disorders, and it contributes to disruptions of neuroregulatory systems (including the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and neuropeptide Y systems) as well as dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. MetS in pregnant women also exposes the developing fetal brain to inflammatory factors that predispose the offspring to MetS and psychopathologies. Due to the shared nature of these conditions, treatment should address aspects of both mental health and metabolic disorders. Additionally, interventions that can interrupt the transfer of increased risk of the disorders to the next generation need to be developed. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.