Shifts in excitatory/inhibitory balance by juvenile stress: A role for neuron-astrocyte interaction in the dentate gyrus

Molecular mechanisms and behavioral relevance underlying neural correlates of childhood neglect

BACKGROUND

Childhood neglect is associated with brain changes, yet the molecular mechanisms and behavioral relevance underlying such associations remain elusive.

METHODS

We calculated fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) using resting-state functional MRI and tested their correlation with childhood neglect across a large sample of 510 healthy young adults. Then, we investigated the spatial relationships of the identified neural correlates of childhood neglect with gene expression, neurotransmitter, and behavioral domain atlases.

RESULTS

We found that more severe childhood neglect was correlated with higher fALFF in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex. Remarkably, the identified neural correlates of childhood neglect were spatially correlated with expression of gene categories primarily involving neuron, synapse, ion channel, cognitive and perceptual processes, and physiological response and regulation. Concurrently, there were significant associations between the neural correlates and specific neurotransmitter systems including serotonin and GABA. Finally, neural correlates of childhood neglect were associated with diverse behavioral domains implicating mental disorders, emotion, cognition, and sensory perception.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional study design cannot unequivocally establish causality.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings may not only add to the current knowledge regarding the relationship between childhood neglect and mental health, but also have clinical implications for developing preventive strategies for individuals exposed to childhood neglect who are at risk for mental disorders.

Early Life Stress Enhances Cognitive Decline and Alters Synapse Function and Interneuron Numbers in Young Male APP/PS1 Mice

BACKGROUND

Exposure to stress early in life increases the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in aged AD mouse models. So far, the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate 1) effects of early life stress (ELS) on early functional signs that precede the advanced neuropathological changes, and 2) correlate synaptosomal protein content with cognition to identify neural correlates of AD.

METHODS

APPswe/PS1dE9 mice and littermates were subjected to ELS by housing dams and pups with limited bedding and nesting material from postnatal days 2-9. At 3 months of age, an age where no cognitive loss or amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology is typically reported in this model, we assessed hippocampal Aβ pathology, synaptic strength and synapse composition and interneuron populations. Moreover, cognitive flexibility was assessed and correlated with synaptosomal protein content.

RESULTS

While ELS did not affect Aβ pathology, it increased synaptic strength and decreased the number of calretinin+ interneurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Both genotype and condition further affected the level of postsynaptic glutamatergic protein content. Finally, APP/PS1 mice were significantly impaired in cognitive flexibility at 3 months of age, and ELS exacerbated this impairment, but only at relatively high learning criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

ELS reduced cognitive flexibility in young APP/PS1 mice and altered markers for synapse and network function. These findings at an early disease stage provide novel insights in AD etiology and in how ELS could increase AD susceptibility.

Genetic risk factors for ME/CFS identified using combinatorial analysis

BACKGROUND

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic disease that lacks known pathogenesis, distinctive diagnostic criteria, and effective treatment options. Understanding the genetic (and other) risk factors associated with the disease would begin to help to alleviate some of these issues for patients.

METHODS

We applied both GWAS and the PrecisionLife combinatorial analytics platform to analyze ME/CFS cohorts from UK Biobank, including the Pain Questionnaire cohort, in a case-control design with 1000 cycles of fully random permutation. Results from this study were supported by a series of replication and cohort comparison experiments, including use of disjoint Verbal Interview CFS, post-viral fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia cohorts also derived from UK Biobank, and compared results for overlap and reproducibility.

RESULTS

Combinatorial analysis revealed 199 SNPs mapping to 14 genes that were significantly associated with 91% of the cases in the ME/CFS population. These SNPs were found to stratify by shared cases into 15 clusters (communities) made up of 84 high-order combinations of between 3 and 5 SNPs. p-values for these communities range from 2.3 × 10-10 to 1.6 × 10-72. Many of the genes identified are linked to the key cellular mechanisms hypothesized to underpin ME/CFS, including vulnerabilities to stress and/or infection, mitochondrial dysfunction, sleep disturbance and autoimmune development. We identified 3 of the critical SNPs replicated in the post-viral fatigue syndrome cohort and 2 SNPs replicated in the fibromyalgia cohort. We also noted similarities with genes associated with multiple sclerosis and long COVID, which share some symptoms and potentially a viral infection trigger with ME/CFS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first detailed genetic insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning ME/CFS and offers new approaches for better diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Psychopharmacological properties and therapeutic profile of the antidepressant venlafaxine

Major depression (MD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide. Currently, the first-line treatment for MD targets the serotonin system but these drugs, notably the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, usually need 4 to 6 weeks before the benefit is felt and a significant proportion of patients shows an unsatisfactory response. Numerous treatments have been developed to circumvent these issues as venlafaxine, a mixed serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that binds and blocks both the SERT and NET transporters. Despite this pharmacological profile, it is difficult to have a valuable insight into its ability to produce more robust efficacy than single-acting agents. In this review, we provide an in-depth characterization of the pharmacological properties of venlafaxine from in vitro data to preclinical and clinical efficacy in depressed patients and animal models of depression to propose an indirect comparison with the most common antidepressants. Preclinical studies show that the antidepressant effect of venlafaxine is often associated with an enhancement of serotonergic neurotransmission at low doses. High doses of venlafaxine, which elicit a concomitant increase in 5-HT and NE tone, is associated with changes in different forms of plasticity in discrete brain areas. In particular, the hippocampus appears to play a crucial role in venlafaxine-mediated antidepressant effects notably by regulating processes such as adult hippocampal neurogenesis or the excitatory/inhibitory balance. Overall, depending on the dose used, venlafaxine shows a high efficacy on depressive-like symptoms in relevant animal models but to the same extent as common antidepressants. However, these data are counterbalanced by a lower tolerance. In conclusion, venlafaxine appears to be one of the most effective treatments for treatment of major depression. Still, direct comparative studies are warranted to provide definitive conclusions about its superiority.

The Presynaptic Scaffold Protein Bassoon in Forebrain Excitatory Neurons Mediates Hippocampal Circuit Maturation: Potential Involvement of TrkB Signalling

A presynaptic active zone organizer protein Bassoon orchestrates numerous important functions at the presynaptic active zone. We previously showed that the absence of Bassoon exclusively in forebrain glutamatergic presynapses (Bsn^Emx1cKO) in mice leads to developmental disturbances in dentate gyrus (DG) affecting synaptic excitability, morphology, neurogenesis and related behaviour during adulthood. Here, we demonstrate that hyperexcitability of the medial perforant path-to-DG (MPP-DG) pathway in Bsn^Emx1cKO mice emerges during adolescence and is sustained during adulthood. We further provide evidence for a potential involvement of tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), the high-affinity receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mediated signalling. We detect elevated TrkB protein levels in the dorsal DG of adult mice (~3–5 months-old) but not in adolescent (~4–5 weeks-old) mice. Electrophysiological analysis reveals increased field-excitatory-postsynaptic-potentials (fEPSPs) in the DG of the adult, but not in adolescent Bsn^Emx1cKO mice. In line with an increased TrkB expression during adulthood in Bsn^Emx1cKO, blockade of TrkB normalizes the increased synaptic excitability in the DG during adulthood, while no such effect was observed in adolescence. Accordingly, neurogenesis, which has previously been found to be increased in adult Bsn^Emx1cKO mice, was unaffected at adolescent age. Our results suggest that Bassoon plays a crucial role in the TrkB-dependent postnatal maturation of the hippocampus.

Reducing glutamic acid decarboxylase in the dorsal dentate gyrus attenuates juvenile stress induced emotional and cognitive deficits

A high degree of regional, temporal and molecular specificity is evident in the regulation of GABAergic signaling in stress-responsive circuitry, hampering the use of systemic GABAergic modulators for the treatment of stress-related psychopathology. Here we investigated the effectiveness of local intervention with the GABA synthetic enzymes GAD65 and GAD67 in the dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) vs ventral DG (vDG) to alleviate anxiety-like behavior and stress-induced symptoms in the rat. We induced shRNA-mediated knock down of either GAD65 or GAD67 with lentiviral vectors microinjected into the dDG or vDG of young adult male rats and examined anxiety behavior, learning and memory performance. Subsequently we tested whether reducing GAD65 expression in the dDG would also confer resilience against juvenile stress-induced behavioral and physiological symptoms in adulthood. While knock down of either isoform in the vDG increased anxiety levels in the open field and the elevated plus maze tests, the knock down of GAD65, but not GAD67, in the dDG conferred a significant reduction in anxiety levels. Strikingly, this manipulation also attenuated juvenile stress evoked anxiety behavior, cognitive and synaptic plasticity impairments. Local GABAergic circuitry in the DG plays an important and highly region-specific role in control of emotional behavior and stress responding. Reduction of GAD65 expression in the dDG appears to provide resilience to juvenile stress-induced emotional and cognitive deficits, opening a new direction towards addressing a significant risk factor for developing stress and trauma-related psychopathologies later in life.

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GAD67/65 in the dorsal/ventral dentate gyrus differentially modulate anxiety.

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Reduced GAD65 expression in the dorsal dentate gyrus supports stress resilience.

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The dorsal dentate gyrus plays a key role in stress resilience.

Influence of glutamate and GABA transport on brain excitatory/inhibitory balance

An optimally functional brain requires both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that are regulated and balanced. A perturbation in the excitatory/inhibitory balance-as is the case in some neurological disorders/diseases (e.g. traumatic brain injury Alzheimer's disease, stroke, epilepsy and substance abuse) and disorders of development (e.g. schizophrenia, Rhett syndrome and autism spectrum disorder)-leads to dysfunctional signaling, which can result in impaired cognitive and motor function, if not frank neuronal injury. At the cellular level, transmission of glutamate and GABA, the principle excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system control excitatory/inhibitory balance. Herein, we review the synthesis, release, and signaling of GABA and glutamate followed by a focused discussion on the importance of their transport systems to the maintenance of excitatory/inhibitory balance.

Long-Term Impact of Early-Life Stress on Hippocampal Plasticity: Spotlight on Astrocytes

Adverse experiences during childhood are among the most prominent risk factors for developing mood and anxiety disorders later in life. Early-life stress interventions have been established as suitable models to study the neurobiological basis of childhood adversity in rodents. Different models such as maternal separation, impaired maternal care and juvenile stress during the postweaning/prepubertal life phase are utilized. Especially within the limbic system, they induce lasting alterations in neuronal circuits, neurotransmitter systems, neuronal architecture and plasticity that are further associated with emotional and cognitive information processing. Recent studies found that astrocytes, a special group of glial cells, have altered functions following early-life stress as well. As part of the tripartite synapse, astrocytes interact with neurons in multiple ways by affecting neurotransmitter uptake and metabolism, by providing gliotransmitters and by providing energy to neurons within local circuits. Thus, astrocytes comprise powerful modulators of neuronal plasticity and are well suited to mediate the long-term effects of early-life stress on neuronal circuits. In this review, we will summarize current findings on altered astrocyte function and hippocampal plasticity following early-life stress. Highlighting studies for astrocyte-related plasticity modulation as well as open questions, we will elucidate the potential of astrocytes as new targets for interventions against stress-induced neuropsychiatric disorders.

Hippocampal µ-opioid receptors on GABAergic neurons mediate stress-induced impairment of memory retrieval

Stressful life events induce abnormalities in emotional and cognitive behaviour. The endogenous opioid system plays an essential role in stress adaptation and coping strategies. In particular, the µ-opioid receptor (μR), one of the major opioid receptors, strongly influences memory processing in that alterations in μR signalling are associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it remains unclear whether μR signalling contributes to memory impairments induced by acute stress. Here, we utilized pharmacological methods and cell-type-selective/non-cell-type-selective μR depletion approaches combined with behavioural tests, biochemical analyses, and in vitro electrophysiological recordings to investigate the role of hippocampal μR signalling in memory-retrieval impairment induced by acute elevated platform (EP) stress in mice. Biochemical and molecular analyses revealed that hippocampal μRs were significantly activated during acute stress. Blockage of hippocampal μRs, non-selective deletion of μRs or selective deletion of μRs on GABAergic neurons (μR_GABA) reversed EP-stress-induced impairment of memory retrieval, with no effect on the elevation of serum corticosterone after stress. Electrophysiological results demonstrated that stress depressed hippocampal GABAergic synaptic transmission to CA1 pyramidal neurons, thereby leading to excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance in a μR_GABA-dependent manner. Pharmaceutically enhancing hippocampal GABA_A receptor-mediated inhibitory currents in stressed mice restored their memory retrieval, whereas inhibiting those currents in the unstressed mice mimicked the stress-induced impairment of memory retrieval. Our findings reveal a novel pathway in which endogenous opioids recruited by acute stress predominantly activate μR_GABA to depress GABAergic inhibitory effects on CA1 pyramidal neurons, which subsequently alters the E/I balance in the hippocampus and results in impairment of memory retrieval.

State-Dependent Memory: Neurobiological Advances and Prospects for Translation to Dissociative Amnesia

In susceptible individuals, overwhelming traumatic stress often results in severe abnormalities of memory processing, manifested either as the uncontrollable emergence of memories (flashbacks) or as an inability to remember events (dissociative amnesia, DA) that are usually, but not necessarily, related to the stressful experience. These memory abnormalities are often the source of debilitating psychopathologies such as anxiety, depression and social dysfunction. The question of why memory for some traumatic experiences is compromised while other comparably traumatic experiences are remembered perfectly well, both within and across individuals, has puzzled clinicians for decades. In this article, we present clinical, cognitive, and neurobiological perspectives on memory research relevant to DA. In particular, we examine the role of state dependent memory (wherein memories are difficult to recall unless the conditions at encoding and recall are similar), and discuss how advances in the neurobiology of state-dependent memory (SDM) gleaned from animal studies might be translated to humans.

Ablation of the presynaptic organizer Bassoon in excitatory neurons retards dentate gyrus maturation and enhances learning performance

Bassoon is a large scaffolding protein of the presynaptic active zone involved in the development of presynaptic terminals and in the regulation of neurotransmitter release at both excitatory and inhibitory brain synapses. Mice with constitutive ablation of the Bassoon (Bsn) gene display impaired presynaptic function, show sensory deficits and develop severe seizures. To specifically study the role of Bassoon at excitatory forebrain synapses and its relevance for control of behavior, we generated conditional knockout (Bsn cKO) mice by gene ablation through an Emx1 promoter-driven Cre recombinase. In these animals, we confirm selective loss of Bassoon from glutamatergic neurons of the forebrain. Behavioral assessment revealed that, in comparison to wild-type littermates, Bsn cKO mice display selectively enhanced contextual fear memory and increased novelty preference in a spatial discrimination/pattern separation task. These changes are accompanied by an augmentation of baseline synaptic transmission at medial perforant path to dentate gyrus (DG) synapses, as indicated by increased ratios of field excitatory postsynaptic potential slope to fiber volley amplitude. At the structural level, an increased complexity of apical dendrites of DG granule cells can be detected in Bsn cKO mice. In addition, alterations in the expression of cellular maturation markers and a lack of age-dependent decrease in excitability between juvenile and adult Bsn cKO mice are observed. Our data suggest that expression of Bassoon in excitatory forebrain neurons is required for the normal maturation of the DG and important for spatial and contextual memory.

Single-Prolonged Stress: A Review of Two Decades of Progress in a Rodent Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common, costly, and often debilitating psychiatric condition. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this disease are still largely unknown or poorly understood. Considerable evidence indicates that PTSD results from dysfunction in highly-conserved brain systems involved in stress, anxiety, fear, and reward. Pre-clinical models of traumatic stress exposure are critical in defining the neurobiological mechanisms of PTSD, which will ultimately aid in the development of new treatments for PTSD. Single prolonged stress (SPS) is a pre-clinical model that displays behavioral, molecular, and physiological alterations that recapitulate many of the same alterations observed in PTSD, illustrating its validity and giving it utility as a model for investigating post-traumatic adaptations and pre-trauma risk and protective factors. In this manuscript, we review the present state of research using the SPS model, with the goals of (1) describing the utility of the SPS model as a tool for investigating post-trauma adaptations, (2) relating findings using the SPS model to findings in patients with PTSD, and (3) indicating research gaps and strategies to address them in order to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of PTSD.