Receptor-dependent regulation of dendrite formation of noradrenaline and dopamine in non-GABAergic cerebral cortical neurons

Comparing stem cells, transdifferentiation and brain organoids as tools for psychiatric research

The inaccessibility of neurons coming directly from patients has hindered our understanding of mental illnesses at the cellular level. To overcome this obstacle, six different cellular approaches that carry the genetic vulnerability to psychiatric disorders are currently available: Olfactory Neuroepithelial Cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Pluripotent Monocytes, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Induced Neuronal cells and more recently Brain Organoids. Here we contrast advantages and disadvantages of each of these six cell-based methodologies. Neuronal-like cells derived from pluripotent monocytes are presented in more detail as this technique was recently used in psychiatry for the first time. Among the parameters used for comparison are; accessibility, need for reprograming, time to deliver differentiated cells, differentiation efficiency, reproducibility of results and cost. We provide a timeline on the discovery of these cell-based methodologies, but, our main goal is to assist researchers selecting which cellular approach is best suited for any given project. This manuscript also aims to help readers better interpret results from the published literature. With this goal in mind, we end our work with a discussion about the differences and similarities between cell-based techniques and postmortem research, the only currently available tools that allow the study of mental illness in neurons or neuronal-like cells coming directly from patients.

Neurobehavioral changes arising from early life dopamine signaling perturbations

Dopamine (DA) signaling is critical to the modulation of multiple brain functions including locomotion, reinforcement, attention and cognition. The literature provides strong evidence that altered DA availability and actions can impact normal neurodevelopment, with both early and enduring consequences on anatomy, physiology and behavior. An appreciation for the developmental contributions of DA signaling to brain development is needed to guide efforts to preclude and remedy neurobehavioral disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, addiction, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, each of which exhibits links to DA via genetic, cellular and/or pharmacological findings. In this review, we highlight research pursued in preclinical models that use genetic and pharmacological approaches to manipulate DA signaling at sensitive developmental stages, leading to changes at molecular, circuit and/or behavioral levels. We discuss how these alterations can be aligned with traits displayed by neuropsychiatric diseases. Lastly, we review human studies that evaluate contributions of developmental perturbations of DA systems to increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Postnatal exposure to PFOS, but not PBDE 99, disturb dopaminergic gene transcription in the mouse CNS

The CNS of breast feeding infants and toddlers may be exposed to persistent organic pollutants via lactational transfer. Here, 10 days old mice were exposed to single oral doses of either PFOS, PBDE99 or vehicle control and were examined for changes in dopaminergic gene transcription in CNS tissue collected at 24h or 2 months post exposure.qPCR analyses of brain tissue from mice euthanized 24h post exposure revealed that PFOS affected transcription of Dopamine receptor-D5 (DRD5) in cerebral cortex and Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the hippocampus. At 2 months of age, mice neonatally exposed to PFOS displayed decreased transcription of Dopamine receptor-D2 (DRD2) and TH in hippocampus. No significant changes in any of the tested genes were observed in PBDE99 exposed mice. This indicates that PFOS, but not PBDE99, affects the developing cerebral dopaminergic system at gene transcriptional level in cortex and hippocampus, which may account for some of the mechanistic effects behind the aetiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The presence of cortical neurons in striatal-cortical co-cultures alters the effects of dopamine and BDNF on medium spiny neuron dendritic development

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are the major striatal neuron and receive synaptic input from both glutamatergic and dopaminergic afferents. These synapses are made on MSN dendritic spines, which undergo density and morphology changes in association with numerous disease and experience-dependent states. Despite wide interest in the structure and function of mature MSNs, relatively little is known about MSN development. Furthermore, most in vitro studies of MSN development have been done in simple striatal cultures that lack any type of non-autologous synaptic input, leaving open the question of how MSN development is affected by a complex environment that includes other types of neurons, glia, and accompanying secreted and cell-associated cues. Here we characterize the development of MSNs in striatal-cortical co-culture, including quantitative morphological analysis of dendritic arborization and spine development, describing progressive changes in density and morphology of developing spines. Overall, MSN growth is much more robust in the striatal-cortical co-culture compared to striatal mono-culture. Inclusion of dopamine (DA) in the co-culture further enhances MSN dendritic arborization and spine density, but the effects of DA on dendritic branching are only significant at later times in development. In contrast, exogenous Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has only a minimal effect on MSN development in the co-culture, but significantly enhances MSN dendritic arborization in striatal mono-culture. Importantly, inhibition of NMDA receptors in the co-culture significantly enhances the effect of exogenous BDNF, suggesting that the efficacy of BDNF depends on the cellular environment. Combined, these studies identify specific periods of MSN development that may be particularly sensitive to perturbation by external factors and demonstrate the importance of studying MSN development in a complex signaling environment.

Serotonin 2A receptor regulates microtubule assembly and induces dynamics of dendritic growth cones in rat cortical neurons in vitro

Serotonin (5-HT) regulates the development of cerebral cortex, but 5-HT receptors mediating the effects are poorly understood. We investigated roles of 5-HT2A receptor in dendritic growth cones using dissociation culture of rat cerebral cortex. Neurons at embryonic day 16 were cultured for 4 days and treated with 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist (DOI) for 4h. DOI increased the size of growth cone periphery which was actin-rich and microtubule-associated protein 2-negative at the dendritic tip. The length increase of the growth cone periphery may be mediated by 5-HT2A receptor, because the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist reversed the effects of DOI. Moreover, the time-lapse analysis demonstrated the increase of morphological dynamics in dendritic growth cones by DOI. Next, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the actions of 5-HT2A receptor in dendritic growth cones, we examined the cytoskeletal proteins, tyrosinated α-tubulin (Tyr-T; dynamic tubulin) and acetylated α-tubulin (Ace-T; stable tubulin). DOI increased the fluorescence intensity of Tyr-T, while decreased that of Ace-T in the dendritic growth cone periphery. These effects were reversed by the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, suggesting that 5-HT2A receptor promotes microtubule dynamics. In summary, it was suggested that 5-HT2A receptor induces morphological changes and dynamics of dendritic growth cones through regulation of microtubule assembly.

Developmental origins of brain disorders: roles for dopamine

Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, such as dopamine, participate in a wide range of behavioral and cognitive functions in the adult brain, including movement, cognition, and reward. Dopamine-mediated signaling plays a fundamental neurodevelopmental role in forebrain differentiation and circuit formation. These developmental effects, such as modulation of neuronal migration and dendritic growth, occur before synaptogenesis and demonstrate novel roles for dopaminergic signaling beyond neuromodulation at the synapse. Pharmacologic and genetic disruptions demonstrate that these effects are brain region- and receptor subtype-specific. For example, the striatum and frontal cortex exhibit abnormal neuronal structure and function following prenatal disruption of dopamine receptor signaling. Alterations in these processes are implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and emerging studies of neurodevelopmental disruptions may shed light on the pathophysiology of abnormal neuronal circuitry in neuropsychiatric disorders.