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Haris EM, Bryant RA, Korgaonkar MS. Structural covariance, topological organization, and volumetric features of amygdala subnuclei in posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103619. [PMID: 38744025 PMCID: PMC11108976 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The amygdala is divided into functional subnuclei which have been challenging to investigate due to functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) limitations in mapping small neural structures. Hence their role in the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains poorly understood. Examination of covariance of structural MRI measures could be an alternate approach to circumvent this issue. T1-weighted anatomical scans from a 3 T scanner from non-trauma-exposed controls (NEC; n = 71, 75 % female) and PTSD participants (n = 67, 69 % female) were parcellated into 105 brain regions. Pearson's r partial correlations were computed for three and nine bilateral amygdala subnuclei and every other brain region, corrected for age, sex, and total brain volume. Pairwise correlation comparisons were performed to examine subnuclei covariance profiles between-groups. Graph theory was employed to investigate subnuclei network topology. Volumetric measures were compared to investigate structural changes. We found differences between amygdala subnuclei in covariance with the hippocampus for both groups, and additionally with temporal brain regions for the PTSD group. Network topology demonstrated the importance of the right basal nucleus in facilitating network communication only in PTSD. There were no between-group differences for any of the three structural metrics. These findings are in line with previous work that has failed to find structural differences for amygdala subnuclei between PTSD and controls. However, differences between amygdala subnuclei covariance profiles observed in our study highlight the need to investigate amygdala subnuclei functional connectivity in PTSD using higher field strength fMRI for better spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Haris
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Richard A Bryant
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mayuresh S Korgaonkar
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Department of Radiology, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
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2
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Roland AV, Coelho CAO, Haun HL, Gianessi CA, Lopez MF, D'Ambrosio S, Machinski SN, Kroenke CD, Frankland PW, Becker HC, Kash TL. Alcohol Dependence Modifies Brain Networks Activated During Withdrawal and Reaccess: A c-Fos-Based Analysis in Mice. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:393-404. [PMID: 36736419 PMCID: PMC10517410 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-level alcohol consumption causes neuroplastic changes in the brain that promote pathological drinking behavior. Some of these changes have been characterized in defined brain circuits and cell types, but unbiased approaches are needed to explore broader patterns of adaptations. METHODS We used whole-brain c-Fos mapping and network analysis to assess patterns of neuronal activity during alcohol withdrawal and following reaccess in a well-characterized model of alcohol dependence. Mice underwent 4 cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol to increase voluntary alcohol consumption, and a subset underwent forced swim stress to further escalate consumption. Brains were collected either 24 hours (withdrawal) or immediately following a 1-hour period of alcohol reaccess. c-fos counts were obtained for 110 brain regions using iDISCO and ClearMap. Then, we classified mice as high or low drinkers and used graph theory to identify changes in network properties associated with high-drinking behavior. RESULTS During withdrawal, chronic intermittent ethanol mice displayed widespread increased c-Fos expression relative to air-exposed mice, independent of forced swim stress. Reaccess drinking reversed this increase. Network modularity, a measure of segregation into communities, was increased in high-drinking mice after alcohol reaccess relative to withdrawal. The cortical amygdala showed increased cross-community coactivation during withdrawal in high-drinking mice, and cortical amygdala silencing in chronic intermittent ethanol mice reduced voluntary drinking. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol withdrawal in dependent mice causes changes in brain network organization that are attenuated by reaccess drinking. Olfactory brain regions, including the cortical amygdala, drive some of these changes and may play an important but underappreciated role in alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison V Roland
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Cesar A O Coelho
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Harold L Haun
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Carol A Gianessi
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Shannon D'Ambrosio
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Samantha N Machinski
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Christopher D Kroenke
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Paul W Frankland
- Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Howard C Becker
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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Deryckere A, Woych J, Jaeger ECB, Tosches MA. Molecular Diversity of Neuron Types in the Salamander Amygdala and Implications for Amygdalar Evolution. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2022; 98:61-75. [PMID: 36574764 PMCID: PMC10096051 DOI: 10.1159/000527899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The amygdala is a complex brain structure in the vertebrate telencephalon, essential for regulating social behaviors, emotions, and (social) cognition. In contrast to the vast majority of neuron types described in the many nuclei of the mammalian amygdala, little is known about the neuronal diversity in non-mammals, making reconstruction of its evolution particularly difficult. Here, we characterize glutamatergic neuron types in the amygdala of the urodele amphibian Pleurodeles waltl. Our single-cell RNA sequencing data indicate the existence of at least ten distinct types and subtypes of glutamatergic neurons in the salamander amygdala. These neuron types are molecularly distinct from neurons in the ventral pallium (VP), suggesting that the pallial amygdala and the VP are two separate areas in the telencephalon. In situ hybridization for marker genes indicates that amygdalar glutamatergic neuron types are located in three major subdivisions: the lateral amygdala, the medial amygdala, and a newly defined area demarcated by high expression of the transcription factor Sim1. The gene expression profiles of these neuron types suggest similarities with specific neurons in the sauropsid and mammalian amygdala. In particular, we identify Sim1+ and Sim1+ Otp+ expressing neuron types, potentially homologous to the mammalian nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (NLOT) and to hypothalamic-derived neurons of the medial amygdala, respectively. Taken together, our results reveal a surprising diversity of glutamatergic neuron types in the amygdala of salamanders, despite the anatomical simplicity of their brain. These results offer new insights on the cellular and anatomical complexity of the amygdala in tetrapod ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Deryckere
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jamie Woych
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Eliza C. B. Jaeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; New York, NY 10027, USA
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Hennessy A, Seguin D, Correa S, Wang J, Martinez-Trujillo JC, Nicolson R, Duerden EG. Anxiety in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and the association with amygdala subnuclei structure. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 27:1053-1067. [PMID: 36278283 PMCID: PMC10108338 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221127512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is clinically characterized by social and communication difficulties as well as repetitive behaviors. Many children with ASD also suffer from anxiety, which has been associated with alterations in amygdala structure. In this work, the association between amygdala subnuclei volumes and anxiety was assessed in a cohort of 234 participants (mean age = 11.0 years, SD = 3.9, 95 children with ASD, 139 children were non-autistic). Children underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Amygdala subnuclei volumes were extracted automatically. Anxiety was assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children with ASD had higher anxiety scores relative to non-autistic children on all anxiety measures (all, p < 0.05). Anxiety levels were significantly predicted in children with ASD by right basal (right: B = 0.235, p = 0.002) and paralaminar (PL) (B = −0.99, p = 0.009) volumes. Basal nuclei receive multisensory information from cortical and subcortical areas and have extensive projections within the limbic system while the PL nuclei are involved in emotional processing. Alterations in basal and PL nuclei in children with ASD and the association with anxiety may reflect morphological changes related to in the neurocircuitry of anxiety in ASD. Lay abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is clinically characterized by social communication difficulties as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. In addition, children with ASD are more likely to experience anxiety compared with their peers who do not have ASD. Recent studies suggest that atypical amygdala structure, a brain region involved in emotions, may be related to anxiety in children with ASD. However, the amygdala is a complex structure composed of heterogeneous subnuclei, and few studies to date have focused on how amygdala subnuclei relate to in anxiety in this population. The current sample consisted of 95 children with ASD and 139 non-autistic children, who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessments for anxiety. The amygdala volumes were automatically segmented. Results indicated that children with ASD had elevated anxiety scores relative to peers without ASD. Larger basal volumes predicted greater anxiety in children with ASD, and this association was not seen in non-autistic children. Findings converge with previous literature suggesting ASD children suffer from higher levels of anxiety than non-autistic children, which may have important implications in treatment and interventions. Our results suggest that volumetric estimation of amygdala’s subregions in MRI may reveal specific anxiety-related associations in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emma G Duerden
- Western University, Canada
- The University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Pardo-Bellver C, Vila-Martin ME, Martínez-Bellver S, Villafranca-Faus M, Teruel-Sanchis A, Savarelli-Balsamo CA, Drabik SM, Martínez-Ricós J, Cervera-Ferri A, Martínez-García F, Lanuza E, Teruel-Martí V. Neural activity patterns in the chemosensory network encoding vomeronasal and olfactory information in mice. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:988015. [PMID: 36120099 PMCID: PMC9479637 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.988015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents detect chemical information mainly through the olfactory and vomeronasal systems, which play complementary roles to orchestrate appropriate behavioral responses. To characterize the integration of chemosensory information, we have performed electrophysiological and c-Fos studies of the bulbo–amygdalar network in freely behaving female mice exploring neutral or conspecific stimuli. We hypothesize that processing conspecifics stimuli requires both chemosensory systems, and thus our results will show shared patterns of activity in olfactory and vomeronasal structures. Were the hypothesis not true, the activity of the vomeronasal structures would be independent of that of the main olfactory system. In the c-Fos analysis, we assessed the activation elicited by neutral olfactory or male stimuli in a broader network. Male urine induced a significantly higher activity in the vomeronasal system compared to that induced by a neutral odorant. Concerning the olfactory system, only the cortex–amygdala transition area showed significant activation. No differential c-Fos expression was found in the reward system and the basolateral amygdala. These functional patterns in the chemosensory circuitry reveal a strong top-down control of the amygdala over both olfactory bulbs, suggesting an active role of the amygdala in the integration of chemosensory information directing the activity of the bulbs during environmental exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Pardo-Bellver
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel E. Vila-Martin
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sergio Martínez-Bellver
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Villafranca-Faus
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Teruel-Sanchis
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Camila A. Savarelli-Balsamo
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sylwia M. Drabik
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joana Martínez-Ricós
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Cervera-Ferri
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-García
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Pre-Departmental Unit of Medicine, Jaume I University, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Enrique Lanuza
- Department of Functional and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Enrique Lanuza,
| | - Vicent Teruel-Martí
- Laboratory of Neuronal Circuits, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Vicent Teruel-Martí,
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du Plessis KC, Basu S, Rumbell TH, Lucas EK. Sex-Specific Neural Networks of Cued Threat Conditioning: A Pilot Study. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:832484. [PMID: 35656357 PMCID: PMC9152023 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.832484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cued threat conditioning is the most common preclinical model for emotional memory, which is dysregulated in anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Though women are twice as likely as men to develop these disorders, current knowledge of threat conditioning networks was established by studies that excluded female subjects. For unbiased investigation of sex differences in these networks, we quantified the neural activity marker c-fos across 112 brain regions in adult male and female mice after cued threat conditioning compared to naïve controls. We found that trained females engaged prelimbic cortex, lateral amygdala, cortical amygdala, dorsal peduncular cortex, and subparafasicular nucleus more than, and subparaventricular zone less than, trained males. To explore how these sex differences in regional activity impact the global network, we generated interregional cross-correlations of c-fos expression to identify regions that were co-active during conditioning and performed hub analyses to identify regional control centers within each neural network. These exploratory graph theory-derived analyses revealed sex differences in the functional coordination of the threat conditioning network as well as distinct hub regions between trained males and females. Hub identification across multiple networks constructed by sequentially pruning the least reliable connections revealed globus pallidus and ventral lateral septum as the most robust hubs for trained males and females, respectively. While low sample size and lack of non-associative controls are major limitations, these findings provide preliminary evidence of sex differences in the individual circuit components and broader global networks of threat conditioning that may confer female vulnerability to fear-based psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamryn C. du Plessis
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Sreetama Basu
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Timothy H. Rumbell
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth K. Lucas
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth K. Lucas,
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Woodward ORM, Gribble FM, Reimann F, Lewis JE. Gut peptide regulation of food intake - evidence for the modulation of hedonic feeding. J Physiol 2022; 600:1053-1078. [PMID: 34152020 DOI: 10.1113/jp280581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of people living with obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975 with serious implications for public health, as obesity is linked to a significantly higher chance of early death from associated comorbidities (metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer). As obesity is a consequence of food intake exceeding the demands of energy expenditure, efforts are being made to better understand the homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms governing food intake. Gastrointestinal peptides are secreted from enteroendocrine cells in response to nutrient and energy intake, and modulate food intake either via afferent nerves, including the vagus nerve, or directly within the central nervous system, predominantly gaining access at circumventricular organs. Enteroendocrine hormones modulate homeostatic control centres at hypothalamic nuclei and the dorso-vagal complex. Additional roles of these peptides in modulating hedonic food intake and/or preference via the neural systems of reward are starting to be elucidated, with both peripheral and central peptide sources potentially contributing to central receptor activation. Pharmacological interventions and gastric bypass surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity elevate enteroendocrine hormone levels and also alter food preference. Hence, understanding of the hedonic mechanisms mediated by gut peptide action could advance development of potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orla R M Woodward
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Fiona M Gribble
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Frank Reimann
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Jo E Lewis
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
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Seguin D, Pac S, Wang J, Nicolson R, Martinez-Trujillo J, Duerden EG. Amygdala subnuclei development in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Association with social communication and repetitive behaviors. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e2299. [PMID: 34333868 PMCID: PMC8413788 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The amygdala subnuclei regulate emotional processing and are widely implicated in social cognitive impairments often seen in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dysregulated amygdala development has been reported in young children with ASD; less is known about amygdala maturation in later adolescence, a sensitive window for social skill development. METHODS The macrostructural development of the amygdala subnuclei was assessed at two time points in a longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of adolescents with ASD (n = 23) and typically-developing adolescents (n = 15) . In adolescents with ASD, amygdala subnuclei growth was assessed in relation to ASD symptomatology based on standardized diagnostic assessments. Participants were scanned with MRI at median age of 12 years and returned for a second scan at a median age of 15 years. The volumes of nine amygdala subnuclei were extracted using an automatic segmentation algorithm. RESULTS When examining the longitudinal data acquired across two time points, adolescents with ASD had larger basolateral amygdala (BLA) nuclei volumes compared to typically developing adolescents (B = 46.8, p = 0.04). When examining ASD symptomatology in relation to the growth of the amygdala subnuclei, reciprocal social interaction scores on the ADI-R were positively associated with increased growth of the BLA nuclei (B = 8.3, p < 0.001). Growth in the medial nucleus negatively predicted the communication (B = -46.9, p = 0.02) and social (B = -47.7, p < 0.001) domains on the ADOS-G. Growth in the right cortical nucleus (B = 26.14, p = 0.02) positively predicted ADOS-G social scores. Central nucleus maturation (B = 29.9, p = 0.02) was associated with the repetitive behaviors domain on the ADOS-G. CONCLUSIONS Larger BLA volumes in adolescents with ASD may reflect underlying alterations in cellular density previously reported in post-mortem studies. Furthermore, findings demonstrate an association between regional growth in amygdala subnuclei volumes and ASD symptomatology. Improved understanding of the developmental trajectories of the amygdala subnuclei may aid in identifying key windows for interventions, particularly for social communication, in adolescents with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Seguin
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Sara Pac
- Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Jianan Wang
- Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Julio Martinez-Trujillo
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Emma G Duerden
- Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.,Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Canada
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Zhang L, Hu X, Lu L, Li B, Hu X, Bu X, Li H, Tang S, Gao Y, Yang Y, Sweeney JA, Gong Q, Huang X. Anatomic alterations across amygdala subnuclei in medication-free patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2020; 45:334-343. [PMID: 32293840 PMCID: PMC7850150 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.190114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amygdala has been implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a common, disabling illness. However, the regional distribution of anatomic alterations in this structure and their association with the symptoms of OCD remains to be established. METHODS We collected high-resolution 3D T1-weighted images from 81 untreated patients with OCD and no lifetime history of comorbid psychotic, affective or anxiety disorders, and from 95 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We extracted the volume of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) and compared them across groups using FreeSurfer 6.0. In exploratory analyses, we evaluated other subnuclei, including the cortical medial nuclei, the anterior amygdaloid area, and the corticoamygdaloid transition area. RESULTS Patients with OCD had reduced amygdala volume bilaterally compared with healthy controls (left, p = 0.034; right, p = 0.002). Volume reductions were greater in the CeA (left: -11.9%, p = 0.002; right: -13.3%, p < 0.001) than in the BLA (left lateral nucleus: -3.3%, p = 0.029; right lateral nucleus: -3.9%, p = 0.018; right basal nucleus: -4.1%, p = 0.017; left accessory basal nucleus: -6.5%, p = 0.001; right accessory basal nucleus: -9.3%, p < 0.001). Volume reductions in the CeA were associated with illness duration. Exploratory analysis revealed smaller medial (left: -15.4%, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.101) and cortical (left: -9.1%, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.058; right: -15.4%, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.175) nuclei in patients with OCD compared with healthy controls. LIMITATIONS Although the strict exclusion criteria used in the study helped us to identify OCD-specific alterations, they may have limited generalizability to the broader OCD population. CONCLUSION Our results provide a comprehensive anatomic profile of alterations in the amygdala subnuclei in untreated patients with OCD and highlight a distinctive pattern of volume reductions across subnuclei in OCD. Based on the functional properties of the amygdala subnuclei established from preclinical research, CeA impairment may contribute to behavioural inflexibility, and BLA disruption may be responsible for altered fear conditioning and the affective components of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianqing Zhang
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Xinyu Hu
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Lu Lu
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Bin Li
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Xiaoxiao Hu
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Xuan Bu
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Hailong Li
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Shi Tang
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Yingxue Gao
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Yanchun Yang
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - John A Sweeney
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Qiyong Gong
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- From the Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Sweeney, Gong, Huang); the Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China (Li, Yang); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA (Sweeney); and the Psychoradiology Research Unit of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2018RU011), West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Lu, Xiaoxiao Hu, Bu, Li, Tang, Gao, Gong, Huang)
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10
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Yao Z, Fu Y, Wu J, Zhang W, Yu Y, Zhang Z, Wu X, Wang Y, Hu B. Morphological changes in subregions of hippocampus and amygdala in major depressive disorder patients. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 14:653-667. [PMID: 30519998 PMCID: PMC6551316 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-0003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite many neuroimaging studies in the past years, the neuroanatomical substrates of major depressive disorder (MDD) subcortical structures are still not well understood. Since hippocampus and amygdala are the two vital subcortical structures that most susceptible to MDD, finding the evidence of morphological changes in their subregions may bring some new insights for MDD research. Combining structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with novel morphometry analysis methods, we recruited 25 MDD patients and 28 healthy controls (HC), and investigated their volume and morphological differences in hippocampus and amygdala. Relative to volumetric method, our methods detected more significant global morphological atrophies (p<0.05). More precisely, subiculum and cornu ammonis (CA) 1 subregions of bilateral hippocampus, lateral (LA) and basolateral ventromedial (BLVM) of left amygdala and LA, BLVM, central (CE), amygdalostriatal transition area (ASTR), anterior cortical (ACO) and anterior amygdaloid area (AAA) of right amygdala were demonstrated prone to atrophy. Correlation analyses between each subject's surface eigenvalues and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were then performed. Correlation results showed that atrophy areas in hippocampus and amygdala have slight tendencies of expanding into other subregions with the development of MDD. Finally, we performed group morphometric analysis and drew the atrophy and expansion areas between MDD-Medicated group (only 19 medicated subjects in MDD group were included) and HC group, found some preliminary evidence about subregional morphological resilience of hippocampus and amygdala. These findings revealed new pathophysiologic patterns in the subregions of hippocampus and amygdala, which can help with subsequent smaller-scale MDD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Yao
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, P.O. Box 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu Fu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, P.O. Box 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 878809, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yue Yu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, P.O. Box 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zicheng Zhang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, P.O. Box 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xia Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, P.O. Box 100000, Beijing, China.
| | - Yalin Wang
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 878809, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
| | - Bin Hu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, P.O. Box 730000, Lanzhou, China.
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11
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Cherry JA, Baum MJ. Sex differences in main olfactory system pathways involved in psychosexual function. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12618. [PMID: 31634411 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We summarize literature from animal and human studies assessing sex differences in the ability of the main olfactory system to detect and process sex-specific olfactory signals ("pheromones") that control the expression of psychosexual functions in males and females. A case is made in non primate mammals for an obligatory role of pheromonal signaling via the main olfactory system (in addition to the vomeronasal-accessory olfactory system) in mate recognition and sexual arousal, with male-specific as well as female-specific pheromones subserving these functions in the opposite sex. Although the case for an obligatory role of pheromones in mate recognition and mating among old world primates, including humans, is weaker, we review the current literature assessing the role of putative human pheromones (eg, AND, EST, "copulin"), detected by the main olfactory system, in promoting mate choice and mating in men and women. Based on animal studies, we hypothesize that sexually dimorphic effects of putative human pheromones are mediated via main olfactory inputs to the medial amygdala which, in turn, transmits olfactory information to sites in the hypothalamus that regulate reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Cherry
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J Baum
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
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12
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Yoshida S, Ohnishi R, Tsuneoka Y, Yamamoto-Mimura Y, Muramatsu R, Kato T, Funato H, Kuroda KO. Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor 1 in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Maternal Absence-Induced Attenuation of Transport Response in Mouse Pups. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:204. [PMID: 30057526 PMCID: PMC6053499 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A human infant initially shows non-selective sociality, and gradually develops selective attachment toward its caregiver, manifested as "separation anxiety." It was unclear whether such sophistication of attachment system occurs in non-human mammals. To seek a mouse model of separation anxiety, we utilized a primitive attachment behavior, the Transport Response, in that both human and mouse newborns immediately stop crying and stay immobile to cooperate with maternal carrying. We examined the mouse Transport Response in three social contexts: 30-min isolation in a novel environment, 30-min maternal absence experienced with littermates in the home cage, and the control home-cage condition with the mother and littermates. The pups after postnatal day (PND) 13 attenuated their Transport Response not only in complete isolation but also by maternal absence, and activated several brain areas including the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, suggesting that 30-min maternal absence was perceived as a social stress by mouse pups after PND13. This attenuation of Transport Response by maternal absence was independent with plasma corticosterone, but was diminished by prior administration of a corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) antagonist. Among 18 brain areas examined, only neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) co-express c-fos mRNA and CRFR1 after maternal absence. Consistently, excitotoxic ACC lesions inhibited the maternal absence-induced attenuation of Transport Response. These data indicate that the expression of mouse Transport Response is influenced not only by social isolation but also by maternal absence even in their home cage with littermates after PND13, at least partly via CRF-CRFR1 signaling in the ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachine Yoshida
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuko Ohnishi
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Yousuke Tsuneoka
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | | | - Reiko Muramatsu
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Funato
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kumi O. Kuroda
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
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13
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Wacker D, Ludwig M. The role of vasopressin in olfactory and visual processing. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:201-215. [PMID: 29951699 PMCID: PMC6335376 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2867-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neural vasopressin is a potent modulator of behaviour in vertebrates. It acts at both sensory processing regions and within larger regulatory networks to mediate changes in social recognition, affiliation, aggression, communication and other social behaviours. There are multiple populations of vasopressin neurons within the brain, including groups in olfactory and visual processing regions. Some of these vasopressin neurons, such as those in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, anterior olfactory nucleus, piriform cortex and retina, were recently identified using an enhanced green fluorescent protein-vasopressin (eGFP-VP) transgenic rat. Based on the interconnectivity of vasopressin-producing and sensitive brain areas and in consideration of autocrine, paracrine and neurohormone-like actions associated with somato-dendritic release, we discuss how these different neuronal populations may interact to impact behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Wacker
- School of STEM (Division of Biological Sciences), University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA.
| | - Mike Ludwig
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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14
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Gutiérrez-García AG, Contreras CM, Saldivar-Lara M. An alarm pheromone reduces ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens shell responsivity. Neurosci Lett 2018; 678:16-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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15
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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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