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Subramanian R, Bauman A, Carpenter O, Cho C, Coste G, Dam A, Drake K, Ehnstrom S, Fitzgerald N, Jenkins A, Koolpe H, Liu R, Paserman T, Petersen D, Chavez DS, Rozental S, Thompson H, Tsukuda T, Zweig S, Gall M, Zupan B, Bergstrom H. An Infralimbic Cortex Neuronal Ensemble Encoded During Learning Attenuates Fear Generalization Expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.18.608308. [PMID: 39229064 PMCID: PMC11370439 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.18.608308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Generalization allows for experience to flexibly guide behavior when conditions change. A basic physical unit of memory storage and expression in the brain are sparse, distributed groups of neurons known as ensembles (i.e., the engram). The infralimbic (IL) subregion of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex plays a key role in modulating conditioned defensive responses. How IL neuronal ensembles established during learning contribute to generalized responses is unknown. In this set of experiments, generalization was tested in male and female mice by presenting a novel, ambiguous, tone generalization stimulus following Pavlovian defensive (fear) conditioning. The first experiment was designed to test a role for IL in generalization using chemogenetic manipulations. Results show IL bidirectionally regulates defensive behavior. IL silencing promotes a switch in defensive state from vigilant scanning to generalized freezing, while IL stimulation reduces freezing in favor of scanning. Leveraging activity-dependent tagging technology (ArcCreERT2 x eYFP system), a neuronal ensemble, preferentially located in IL superficial layer 2/3, was associated with the generalization stimulus. Remarkably, in the identical discrete location, fewer reactivated neurons were associated with the generalization stimulus at the remote timepoint (30 days) following learning. When an IL neuronal ensemble established during learning was selectively chemogenetically silenced, generalization increased. Conversely, IL neuronal ensemble stimulation reduced generalization. Overall, these data identify a crucial role for IL in suppressing generalized responses. Further, we uncover an IL neuronal ensemble, formed during learning, functions to later attenuate the expression of generalization in the presence of ambiguous threat stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajani Subramanian
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Avery Bauman
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Olivia Carpenter
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Chris Cho
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Gabrielle Coste
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Ahona Dam
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Kasey Drake
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Sara Ehnstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Naomi Fitzgerald
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Abigail Jenkins
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Hannah Koolpe
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Runqi Liu
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Tamar Paserman
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - David Petersen
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Diego Scala Chavez
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Stefano Rozental
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Hannah Thompson
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Tyler Tsukuda
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Sasha Zweig
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Megan Gall
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Bojana Zupan
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
| | - Hadley Bergstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY 12603 USA
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Glavonic E, Dragic M, Mitic M, Aleksic M, Lukic I, Ivkovic S, Adzic M. Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:669. [PMID: 38931336 PMCID: PMC11206546 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persistent fear, stemming from its dysregulated acquisition and extinction. The primary treatment for these disorders, exposure therapy (ET), relies heavily on fear extinction (FE) principles. Adolescence, a vulnerable period for developing psychiatric disorders, is characterized by neurobiological changes in the fear circuitry, leading to impaired FE and increased susceptibility to relapse following ET. Ketamine, known for relieving anxiety and reducing PTSD symptoms, influences fear-related learning processes and synaptic plasticity across the fear circuitry. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of ketamine (10 mg/kg) on FE in adolescent male C57 BL/6 mice at the behavioral and molecular levels. We analyzed the protein and gene expression of synaptic plasticity markers in the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) and sought to identify neural correlates associated with ketamine's effects on adolescent extinction learning. Ketamine ameliorated FE in the adolescent males, likely affecting the consolidation and/or recall of extinction memory. Ketamine also increased the Akt and mTOR activity and the GluA1 and GluN2A levels in the HPC and upregulated BDNF exon IV mRNA expression in the HPC and PFC of the fear-extinguished mice. Furthermore, ketamine increased the c-Fos expression in specific brain regions, including the ventral HPC (vHPC) and the left infralimbic ventromedial PFC (IL vmPFC). Providing a comprehensive exploration of ketamine's mechanisms in adolescent FE, our study suggests that ketamine's effects on FE in adolescent males are associated with the activation of hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 signaling, with the vHPC and the left IL vmPFC as the proposed neural correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilija Glavonic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
| | - Milorad Dragic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
- Laboratory for Neurobiology, Department of General Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Mitic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
| | - Minja Aleksic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
| | - Iva Lukic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
| | - Sanja Ivkovic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia; (E.G.); (M.D.); (M.M.); (M.A.); (I.L.); (S.I.)
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Jung JH, Wang Y, Mocle AJ, Zhang T, Köhler S, Frankland PW, Josselyn SA. Examining the engram encoding specificity hypothesis in mice. Neuron 2023; 111:1830-1845.e5. [PMID: 36990091 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
According to the encoding specificity hypothesis, memory is best recalled by retrieval cues that overlap with training cues. Human studies generally support this hypothesis. However, memories are thought to be stored in neuronal ensembles (engrams), and retrieval cues are thought to reactivate neurons in an engram to induce memory recall. Here, we visualized engrams in mice to test whether retrieval cues that overlap with training cues produce maximal memory recall via high engram reactivation (engram encoding specificity hypothesis). Using variations of cued threat conditioning (pairing conditioned stimulus [CS] with footshock), we manipulated encoding and retrieval conditions along multiple domains, including pharmacological state, external sensory cue, and internal optogenetic cue. Maximal engram reactivation and memory recall occurred when retrieval conditions closely matched training conditions. These findings provide a biological basis for the encoding specificity hypothesis and highlight the important interaction between stored information (engram) and cues available at memory retrieval (ecphory).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Hoon Jung
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Andrew J Mocle
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Tao Zhang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Stefan Köhler
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada; The Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Paul W Frankland
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; Child & Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Sheena A Josselyn
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada.
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Chesworth R, Visini G, Karl T. Impaired extinction of operant cocaine in a genetic mouse model of schizophrenia risk. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8. [PMID: 37233814 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with schizophrenia have high rates of comorbid substance use problems. One potential explanation for this comorbidity is similar neuropathophysiology in substance use and schizophrenia, which may arise from shared genetic risk factors between the two disorders. Here we investigated if genetic risk for schizophrenia could affect drug reward and reinforcement for cocaine in an established mouse model of genetic risk for schizophrenia, the neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain heterozygous (Nrg1 TM HET) mouse. METHODS We examined drug-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference for several cocaine doses (5, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg) in male adult Nrg1 TM HET and wild-type-like (WT) littermates. We also investigated intravenous self-administration of and motivation for cocaine (doses 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/kg/infusion), as well as extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine. In a follow-up experiment, we examined self-administration, extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of a natural reward, oral sucrose. RESULTS Cocaine preference was similar between Nrg1 TM HET mice and WT littermates at all doses tested. Locomotor sensitization to cocaine was not affected by Nrg1 genotype at any dose. Although self-administration and motivation for cocaine was unaffected, extinction of cocaine self-administration was impaired in Nrg1 TM HET compared to WT controls, and cue-induced reinstatement was greater in Nrg1 mutants in the middle of the reinstatement session. Sucrose self-administration and extinction thereof was not affected by genotype, but inactive lever responding was elevated during cue-induced reinstatement for operant sucrose in Nrg1 TM HET mice compared to WTs. DISCUSSION These results suggest impaired response inhibition for cocaine in Nrg1 TM HET mice and suggests Nrg1 mutation may contribute to behaviours which can limit control over cocaine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Gabriela Visini
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
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Tashiro R, Ozaki D, Bautista-Garrido J, Sun G, Obertas L, Mobley AS, Kim GS, Aronowski J, Jung JE. Young Astrocytic Mitochondria Attenuate the Elevated Level of CCL11 in the Aged Mice, Contributing to Cognitive Function Improvement. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065187. [PMID: 36982260 PMCID: PMC10049211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging drives cognitive decline, and mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of age-induced neurodegeneration. Recently, we demonstrated that astrocytes secrete functional mitochondria (Mt), which help adjacent cells to resist damage and promote repair after neurological injuries. However, the relationship between age-dependent changes in astrocytic Mt function and cognitive decline remains poorly understood. Here, we established that aged astrocytes secret less functional Mt compared to young astrocytes. We found the aging factor C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11) is elevated in the hippocampus of aged mice, and that its level is reduced upon systemic administration of young Mt, in vivo. Aged mice receiving young Mt, but not aged Mt improved cognitive function and hippocampal integrity. Using a CCL11-induced aging-like model in vitro, we found that astrocytic Mt protect hippocampal neurons and enhance a regenerative environment through upregulating synaptogenesis-related gene expression and anti-oxidants that were suppressed by CCL11. Moreover, the inhibition of CCL11-specific receptor C-C chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) boosted the expression of synaptogenesis-related genes in the cultured hippocampal neurons and restored the neurite outgrowth. This study suggests that young astrocytic Mt can preserve cognitive function in the CCL11-mediated aging brain by promoting neuronal survival and neuroplasticity in the hippocampus.
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Cannabidiol modulates contextual fear memory consolidation in animals with experimentally induced type-1 diabetes mellitus. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2023:1-11. [PMID: 36805056 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2023.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In view of the neuroprotective characteristic of cannabidiol (CBD) and its beneficial action on aversive memory in non-diabetic animals, we aimed to investigate in animals with experimentally induced type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) whether CBD treatment would be able to impair the contextual fear memory consolidation, its generalisation and whether the effect would be lasting. We also investigated the CBD effect on anxiety-like responses. METHODS After T1DM induction, animals received single or more prolonged treatment with CBD and were submitted to the contextual fear conditioning test. As expression of activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated (Arc) protein is necessary for memory consolidation, we evaluated its expression in the dorsal hippocampus (DH). For evaluating anxiety-related responses, animals were submitted to the elevated plus maze test (EPMT), in which the time and number of entries in the open arms were used as anxiety index. RESULTS A single injection of CBD impaired the contextual fear memory consolidation and its generalisation, which was evaluated by exposing the animal in a neutral context. This single injection was able to reduce the elevated expression of Arc in the DH from these animals. Interestingly, more prolonged treatment with CBD also impaired the persistence of context-conditioned fear memory and induced an anxiolytic-like effect, as the treated group spent more time in the open arms of the EPMT. CONCLUSION CBD interferes with contextual fear memory and the dosage regimen of treatment seems to be important. Moreover, we cannot rule out the involvement of emotional aspects in these processes related to fear memory.
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Lawson K, Scarlata MJ, Cho WC, Mangan C, Petersen D, Thompson HM, Ehnstrom S, Mousley AL, Bezek JL, Bergstrom HC. Adolescence alcohol exposure impairs fear extinction and alters medial prefrontal cortex plasticity. Neuropharmacology 2022; 211:109048. [PMID: 35364101 PMCID: PMC9067297 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
After experiencing a traumatic event people often turn to alcohol to cope with symptoms. In those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD), PTSD symptoms can worsen, suggesting that alcohol changes how traumatic memory is expressed. The objective of this series of experiments is to identify how alcohol drinking (EtOH), following cued fear conditioning and extinction, impacts fear expression in mice. Molecular (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc/arg3.1) and structural (dendrite and spine morphometry) markers of neuronal plasticity were measured following remote extinction retrieval. Mouse age (adolescent and adult) and sex were included as interacting variables in a full factorial design. Females drank more EtOH than males and adolescents drank more EtOH than adults. Adolescent females escalated EtOH intake across drinking days. Adolescent drinkers exhibited more conditioned freezing during extinction retrieval, an effect that persisted for at least 20 days. Heightened cued freezing in the adolescent group was associated with greater Arc/arg3.1 expression in layer (L) 2/3 prelimbic (PL) cortex, greater spine density, and reduced basal dendrite complexity. In adults, drinking was associated with reduced L2/3 infralimbic (IL) Arc expression but no behavioral differences. Few sex interactions were uncovered throughout. Overall, these data identify prolonged age-related differences in alcohol-induced fear extinction impairment and medial prefrontal cortex neuroadaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Lawson
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - M J Scarlata
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - W C Cho
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - C Mangan
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - D Petersen
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - H M Thompson
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - S Ehnstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - A L Mousley
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - J L Bezek
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - H C Bergstrom
- Department of Psychological Science, Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA.
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Formation of False Context Fear Memory Is Regulated by Hypothalamic Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116286. [PMID: 35682965 PMCID: PMC9181353 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic events frequently produce false fear memories. We investigated the effect of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) knockdown (Hy-Crf-KD) or overexpression (Hy-CRF-OE) on contextual fear memory, as fear stress-released CRF and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation affects the memory system. Mice were placed in a chamber with an electric footshock as a conditioning stimulus (CS) in Context A, then exposed to a novel chamber without CS, as Context B, at 3 h (B-3h) or 24 h (B-24h). The freezing response in B-3h was intensified in the experimental mice, compared to control mice not exposed to CS, indicating that a false fear memory was formed at 3 h. The within-group freezing level at B-24h was higher than that at B-3h, indicating that false context fear memory was enhanced at B-24h. The difference in freezing levels between B-3h and B-24h in Hy-Crf-KD mice was larger than that of controls. In Hy-CRF-OE mice, the freezing level at B-3h was higher than that of control and Hy-Crf-KD mice, while the freezing level in B-24h was similar to that in B-3h. Locomotor activity before CS and freezing level during CS were similar among the groups. Therefore, we hypothesized that Hy-Crf-KD potentiates the induction of false context fear memory, while Hy-CRF-OE enhances the onset of false fear memory formation.
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Park S, Cho J, Huh Y. Role of the anterior insular cortex in restraint-stress induced fear behaviors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6504. [PMID: 35444205 PMCID: PMC9021273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10345-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are thought to occur by dysfunction in the fear and anxiety-related brain circuit, however, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Recent human studies have shown that the right anterior insular cortex (aIC) activity is positively correlated with the severity of PTSD symptoms. Understanding the role of the aIC in fear and anxiety may provide insights into the etiology of anxiety disorders. We used a modified shock-probe defensive burying behavioral test, which utilizes the natural propensity of rodents to bury potentially dangerous objects, to test the role of aIC in fear. Mice exposed to restraint stress exhibited burying of the restrainer-resembling object, indicative of defensive behavior. Electrolytic ablation of the aIC significantly diminished this defensive burying behavior, suggesting the involvement of the aIC. Single-unit recording of pyramidal neurons in the aIC showed that a proportion of neurons which increased activity in the presence of a restrainer-resembling object was significantly correlated with the defensive burying behavior. This correlation was only present in mice exposed to restraint stress. These results suggest that altered neuronal representation in the aIC may regulate fear and anxiety after exposure to a traumatic event. Overall, our result demonstrates that the aIC mediates fear and anxiety and that it could be a potential target for treating anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanggeon Park
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung-si, 25601, Korea.,Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeiwon Cho
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Scranton College, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea. .,Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeowool Huh
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung-si, 25601, Korea. .,Translational Brain Research Center, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, 22711, South Korea.
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Maniskas ME, Mack AF, Morales-Scheihing D, Finger C, Zhu L, Paulter R, Urayama A, McCullough LD, Manwani B. Sex differences in a murine model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 14:100260. [PMID: 34589766 PMCID: PMC8474688 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one of the common causes of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in the aging population. Increased amyloid plaque deposition within cerebral blood vessels, specifically the smooth muscle layer, is linked to increased cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and impaired cognition in CAA. Studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have shown that amyloid plaque pathology is more prevalent in the brains of elderly women (2/3rd of the dementia population) compared with men, however, there is a paucity of studies on sex differences in CAA. The objective of this study was to discern the sexual dichotomies in CAA. We utilized male and female Tg-SwDI mice (mouse model of CAA) at 12-14 months of age for this study. We evaluated sex differences in CMBs, cognitive function and inflammation. Cognition was assessed using Y-maze (spatial working memory) and Fear Conditioning (contextual memory). CMBs were quantified by ex vivo brain MRI scans. Inflammatory cytokines in brain were quantified using ELISA. Our results demonstrated that aging Tg-SwDI female mice had a significantly higher burden of CMBs on MRI as compared to males. Interestingly, these aging Tg-SwDI female mice also had significantly impaired spatial and contextual memory on Y maze and Fear Conditioning respectively. Furthermore, female mice had significantly lower circulating inflammatory cytokines, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-9, and IFN-γ, as compared to males. Our results demonstrate that aging female Tg-SwDI mice are more cognitively impaired and have higher number of CMBs, as compared to males at 12-14 months of age. This may be secondary to reduced levels of neural repair cytokines (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-9 and IFN-γ) involved in sex specific inflammatory signaling in CAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E. Maniskas
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alexis F. Mack
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Diego Morales-Scheihing
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Carson Finger
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Liang Zhu
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Robia Paulter
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Akihiko Urayama
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Louise D. McCullough
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Bharti Manwani
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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