1
|
Steiner NL, Purohit DC, Tiefenthaler CM, Mandyam CD. Abstinence and Fear Experienced during This Period Produce Distinct Cortical and Hippocampal Adaptations in Alcohol-Dependent Rats. Brain Sci 2024; 14:431. [PMID: 38790410 PMCID: PMC11118749 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050431] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrate that ethanol dependence induced by repeating cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) followed by protracted abstinence produces significant gray matter damage via myelin dysfunction in the rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and alterations in neuronal excitability in the mPFC and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Specifically, abstinence-induced neuroadaptations have been associated with persistent elevated relapse to drinking. The current study evaluated the effects of forced abstinence for 1 day (d), 7 d, 21 d, and 42 d following seven weeks of CIE on synaptic plasticity proteins in the mPFC and DG. Immunoblotting revealed reduced expression of CaMKII in the mPFC and enhanced expression of GABAA and CaMKII in the DG at the 21 d time point, and the expression of the ratio of GluN2A/2B subunits did not change at any of the time points studied. Furthermore, cognitive performance via Pavlovian trace fear conditioning (TFC) was evaluated in 3 d abstinent rats, as this time point is associated with negative affect. In addition, the expression of the ratio of GluN2A/2B subunits and a 3D structural analysis of neurons in the mPFC and DG were evaluated in 3 d abstinent rats. Behavioral analysis revealed faster acquisition of fear responses and reduced retrieval of fear memories in CIE rats compared to controls. TFC produced hyperplasticity of pyramidal neurons in the mPFC under control conditions and this effect was not evident or blunted in abstinent rats. Neurons in the DG were unaltered. TFC enhanced the GluN2A/2B ratio in the mPFC and reduced the ratio in the DG and was not altered by abstinence. These findings indicate that forced abstinence from CIE produces distinct and divergent alterations in plasticity proteins in the mPFC and DG. Fear learning-induced changes in structural plasticity and proteins contributing to it were more profound in the mPFC during forced abstinence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noah L. Steiner
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; (N.L.S.)
| | | | - Casey M. Tiefenthaler
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Chitra D. Mandyam
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; (N.L.S.)
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA;
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Singh S, Topolnik L. Inhibitory circuits in fear memory and fear-related disorders. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1122314. [PMID: 37035504 PMCID: PMC10076544 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1122314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear learning and memory rely on dynamic interactions between the excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations that make up the prefrontal cortical, amygdala, and hippocampal circuits. Whereas inhibition of excitatory principal cells (PCs) by GABAergic neurons restrains their excitation, inhibition of GABAergic neurons promotes the excitation of PCs through a process called disinhibition. Specifically, GABAergic interneurons that express parvalbumin (PV+) and somatostatin (SOM+) provide inhibition to different subcellular domains of PCs, whereas those that express the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP+) facilitate disinhibition of PCs by inhibiting PV+ and SOM+ interneurons. Importantly, although the main connectivity motifs and the underlying network functions of PV+, SOM+, and VIP+ interneurons are replicated across cortical and limbic areas, these inhibitory populations play region-specific roles in fear learning and memory. Here, we provide an overview of the fear processing in the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex based on the evidence obtained in human and animal studies. Moreover, focusing on recent findings obtained using genetically defined imaging and intervention strategies, we discuss the population-specific functions of PV+, SOM+, and VIP+ interneurons in fear circuits. Last, we review current insights that integrate the region-specific inhibitory and disinhibitory network patterns into fear memory acquisition and fear-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-informatics, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Neuroscience Axis, CRCHUQ, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa Topolnik
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-informatics, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Neuroscience Axis, CRCHUQ, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Lisa Topolnik
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Miller LN, Weiss C, Disterhoft JF. Learning-related changes in cellular activity within mouse dentate gyrus during trace eyeblink conditioning. Hippocampus 2022; 32:776-794. [PMID: 36018285 PMCID: PMC9489639 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23468] [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: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Because the dentate gyrus serves as the first site for information processing in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit, it an important structure for the formation of associative memories. Previous findings in rabbit had recorded populations of cells within dentate gyrus that may bridge the temporal gap between stimuli to support memory formation during trace eyeblink conditioning, an associative learning task. However, this previous work was unable to identify the types of cells demonstrating this type of activity. To explore these changes further, we did in vivo single-neuron recording in conjunction with physiological determination of cell types to investigate the functional role of granule cells, mossy cells, and interneurons in dentate gyrus during learning. Tetrode recordings were performed in young-adult mice during training on trace eyeblink conditioning, a hippocampal-dependent temporal associative memory task. Conditioned mice were able to successfully learn the task, with male mice learning at a faster rate than female mice. In the conditioned group, granule cells tended to show an increase in firing rate during conditioned stimulus presentation while mossy cells showed a decrease in firing rate during the trace interval and the unconditioned stimulus. Interestingly, populations of interneurons demonstrated learning-related increases and decreases in activity that began at onset of the conditioned stimulus and persisted through the trace interval. The current study also found a significant increase in theta power during stimuli presentation in conditioned animals, and this change in theta decreased over time. Ultimately, these data suggest unique involvement of granule cells, mossy cells, and interneurons in dentate gyrus in the formation of a trace associative memory. This work expands our knowledge of dentate gyrus function, helping to discern how aging and disease might disrupt this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N. Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Craig Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - John F. Disterhoft
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Differential Effects of Lateral and Medial Entorhinal Cortex Lesions on Trace, Delay and Contextual Fear Memories. Brain Sci 2021; 12:brainsci12010034. [PMID: 35053778 PMCID: PMC8773659 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The entorhinal cortex (EC), with connections to the hippocampus, amygdala, and neocortex, is a critical, yet still underexplored, contributor to fear memory. Previous research suggests possible heterogeneity of function among its lateral (LEC) and medial (MEC) subregions. However, it is not well established what unique roles these subregions serve as the literature has shown mixed results depending on target of manipulation and type of conditioning used. Few studies have manipulated both the LEC and MEC within the same experiment. The present experiment systematically manipulated LEC and MEC function to examine their potential roles in fear memory expression. Long-Evans rats were trained using either trace or delay fear conditioning. The following day, rats received an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced lesion to the LEC or MEC or received a sham surgery. Following recovery, rats were given an 8-min context test in the original context. The next day, rats were tested for tone freezing in a novel context with three discrete tone presentations. Further, rats were tested for hyperactivity in an open field under both dark and bright light gradient conditions. Results: Following either LEC or MEC lesion, freezing to context was significantly reduced in both trace and delay conditioned rats. LEC-lesioned rats consistently showed significantly less freezing following tone-offset (trace interval, or equivalent, and intertrial interval) in both trace and delay fear conditioned rats. Conclusions: These data suggest that the LEC may play a role in the expression of a conjunctive representation between the tone and context that mediates the maintenance of post-tone freezing.
Collapse
|
5
|
Staples MC, Herman MA, Lockner JW, Avchalumov Y, Kharidia KM, Janda KD, Roberto M, Mandyam CD. Isoxazole-9 reduces enhanced fear responses and retrieval in ethanol-dependent male rats. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:3047-3065. [PMID: 34496069 PMCID: PMC10112848 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plasticity in the dentate gyrus (DG) is strongly influenced by ethanol, and ethanol experience alters long-term memory consolidation dependent on the DG. However, it is unclear if DG plasticity plays a role in dysregulation of long-term memory consolidation during abstinence from chronic ethanol experience. Outbred male Wistar rats experienced 7 weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE). Seventy-two hours after CIE cessation, CIE and age-matched ethanol-naïve Air controls experienced auditory trace fear conditioning (TFC). Rats were tested for cue-mediated retrieval in the fear context either twenty-four hours (24 hr), ten days (10 days), or twenty-one days (21 days) later. CIE rats showed enhanced freezing behavior during TFC acquisition compared to Air rats. Air rats showed significant fear retrieval, and this behavior did not differ at the three time points. In CIE rats, fear retrieval increased over time during abstinence, indicating an incubation in fear responses. Enhanced retrieval at 21 days was associated with reduced structural and functional plasticity of ventral granule cell neurons (GCNs) and reduced expression of synaptic proteins important for neuronal plasticity. Systemic treatment with the drug Isoxazole-9 (Isx-9; small molecule that stimulates DG plasticity) during the last week and a half of CIE blocked altered acquisition and retrieval of fear memories in CIE rats during abstinence. Concurrently, Isx-9 modulated the structural and functional plasticity of ventral GCNs and the expression of synaptic proteins in the ventral DG. These findings identify that abstinence-induced disruption of fear memory consolidation occurs via altered plasticity within the ventral DG, and that Isx-9 prevented these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa A Herman
- Department of Pharmacology, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan W Lockner
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Kim D Janda
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chitra D Mandyam
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Immediate and cumulative effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cognition and neuronal excitability in mice. Neurosci Res 2021; 173:90-98. [PMID: 34111441 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
This study primarily explored the potential effects of high-frequency (20 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with different intervention protocols on cognition and neuronal excitability in mice. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group that received sham stimulation, an rTMS in vitro group whose acute brain slices received high-frequency stimulation, an rTMS 1 d group that received high-frequency stimulation for only 1 d, and an rTMS 15 d group that received high-frequency stimulation for 15 d. The novel object recognition and step-down tests were used to assess cognitive ability. The patch-clamp technique was used to record the membrane potentials and neural discharges of dentate gyrus granule cells to evaluate neuronal excitability. Results revealed that cognition and neuronal excitability in the rTMS 15 d group were significantly increased than that in the control and rTMS 1 d groups. The neuronal excitability in the rTMS in vitro group was also significantly increased than that in the control and rTMS 1 d groups. No significant changes were observed between the control and rTMS 1 d groups. These results suggested that high-frequency rTMS applied to the acute brain slices of mice in vitro exerted an immediate effect on increasing neuronal excitability. Chronic high-frequency rTMS applied to the brain of mice in vivo exerted a cumulative effect in improving cognition and increasing neuronal excitability.
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang Y, Wang Z, Ju J, Liao J, Zhou Q. Elevated activity in the dorsal dentate gyrus reduces expression of fear memory after fear extinction training. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2021; 46:E390-E401. [PMID: 34077148 PMCID: PMC8327976 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.200151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effectively reducing the expression of certain aversive memories (fear or trauma memories) with extinction training is generally viewed to be therapeutically important. A deeper understanding of the biological basis for a more effective extinction process is also of high scientific importance. METHODS Our study involved intraventricular injection or local injection into the dorsal dentate gyrus of anti-neuregulin 1 antibodies (anti-NRG1) before fear extinction training, followed by testing the expression of fear memory 24 hours afterward or 9 days later. We used local injection of chemogenetic or optogenetic viruses into the dorsal dentate gyrus to manipulate the activity of the dorsal dentate gyrus and test the expression of fear memory. We also examined the effect of deep brain stimulation in the dorsal dentate gyrus on the expression of fear memory. RESULTS Mice that received intraventricular injection with anti-NRG1 antibodies exhibited lower expression of fear memory and increased density of activated excitatory neurons in the dorsal dentate gyrus. Injection of anti-NRG1 antibodies directly into the dorsal dentate gyrus also led to lower expression of fear memory and more activated neurons in the dorsal dentate gyrus. Inhibiting the activity of dorsal dentate gyrus excitatory neurons using an inhibitory designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) eliminated the effects of the anti-NRG1 antibodies. Enhancing the activity of the dorsal dentate gyrus with an excitatory DREADD or optogenetic stimulation resulted in lower expression of fear memory in mice that did not receive infusion of anti-NRG1 antibodies. Deep brain stimulation in the dorsal dentate gyrus effectively suppressed expression of fear memory, both during and after fear extinction training. LIMITATIONS The mechanism for the contribution of the dorsal dentate gyrus to the expression of fear memory needs further exploration. CONCLUSION Activation of the dorsal dentate gyrus may play an important role in modulating the expression of fear memory; its potential use in fear memory extinction is worthy of further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhang
- From the Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China (Zhang, Wang, Zhou); the Precision Medicine Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China (Ju); and the Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518038, China (Zhang, Liao)
| | - Zongliang Wang
- From the Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China (Zhang, Wang, Zhou); the Precision Medicine Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China (Ju); and the Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518038, China (Zhang, Liao)
| | - Jun Ju
- From the Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China (Zhang, Wang, Zhou); the Precision Medicine Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China (Ju); and the Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518038, China (Zhang, Liao)
| | - Jianxiang Liao
- From the Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China (Zhang, Wang, Zhou); the Precision Medicine Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China (Ju); and the Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518038, China (Zhang, Liao)
| | - Qiang Zhou
- From the Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China (Zhang, Wang, Zhou); the Precision Medicine Centre, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China (Ju); and the Pediatric Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518038, China (Zhang, Liao)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rule L, Yang J, Watkin H, Hall J, Brydges NM. Environmental enrichment rescues survival and function of adult-born neurons following early life stress. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1898-1908. [PMID: 32286496 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0718-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adverse experiences early in life are associated with the development of psychiatric illnesses. The hippocampus is likely to play pivotal role in generating these effects: it undergoes significant development during childhood and is extremely reactive to stress. In rodent models, stress in the pre-pubertal period impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and behaviours which rely on this process. In normal adult animals, environmental enrichment (EE) is a potent promoter of AHN and hippocampal function. Whether exposure to EE during adolescence can restore normal hippocampal function and AHN following pre-pubertal stress (PPS) is unknown. We investigated EE as a treatment for reduced AHN and hippocampal function following PPS in a rodent model. Stress was administered between post-natal days (PND) 25-27, EE from PND 35 to early adulthood, when behavioural testing and assessment of AHN took place. PPS enhanced fear reactions to a conditioned stimulus (CS) following a trace fear protocol and reduced the survival of 4-week-old adult-born neurons throughout the adult hippocampus. Furthermore, we show that fewer adult-born neurons were active during recall of the CS stimulus following PPS. All effects were reversed by EE. Our results demonstrate lasting effects of PPS on the hippocampus and highlight the utility of EE during adolescence for restoring normal hippocampal function. EE during adolescence is a promising method of enhancing impaired hippocampal function resulting from early life stress, and due to multiple benefits (low cost, few side effects, widespread availability) should be more thoroughly explored as a treatment option in human sufferers of childhood adversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lowenna Rule
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Jessica Yang
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Holly Watkin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Nichola Marie Brydges
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ehlers VL, Smies CW, Moyer JR. Apoaequorin differentially modulates fear memory in adult and aged rats. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01832. [PMID: 32945630 PMCID: PMC7667302 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cognitive deficits during aging are pervasive across species and learning paradigms. One of the major mechanisms thought to play a role in age-related memory decline is dysregulated calcium (Ca2+ ) homeostasis. Aging is associated with impaired function of several calcium-regulatory mechanisms, including calcium-binding proteins that normally support intracellular Ca2+ regulation. This age-related calcium-binding protein dysfunction and changes in expression lead to disrupted maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ , thus contributing to memory decline. Other work has found that age-related cognitive deficits can be mitigated by either blocking Ca2+ entry into the cytosol or preventing its release from intracellular Ca2+ stores. However, the effect of calcium-binding protein administration on cognitive function during aging is not well-understood. Our laboratory has previously shown that the calcium-binding protein apoaequorin (AQ) is neuroprotective during oxygen-glucose deprivation, a model of in vitro ischemia characterized by calcium-induced excitotoxicity. The current experiments assessed the effect of direct dorsal hippocampal AQ infusion on trace and context fear memory in adult and aged rats. METHODS Adult (3-6 months) and aged (22-26 months) male F344 rats were randomly assigned to different experimental infusion groups before undergoing trace fear conditioning and testing. In experiment 1, rats received bilateral dorsal hippocampal infusions of either vehicle or AQ (4% w/v) 24 hr before trace fear conditioning. In experiment 2, rats received bilateral dorsal hippocampal infusions of either vehicle or 4% AQ 1 hr before trace fear conditioning and 1 hr before testing. RESULTS Aged rats displayed impaired trace and context fear memory. While a single AQ infusion 24 hr before trace fear conditioning was insufficient to rescue age-related trace fear memory deficits, AQ infusion 1 hr before both conditioning and testing abolished age-related context fear memory deficits. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that intrahippocampal infusion of AQ may reverse aging-related deficits in hippocampus-dependent context fear memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L Ehlers
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Chad W Smies
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - James R Moyer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Opalka AN, Wang DV. Hippocampal efferents to retrosplenial cortex and lateral septum are required for memory acquisition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:310-318. [PMID: 32669386 PMCID: PMC7365017 DOI: 10.1101/lm.051797.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Learning and memory involves a large neural network of many brain regions, including the notable hippocampus along with the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and lateral septum (LS). Previous studies have established that the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) plays a critical role during the acquisition and retrieval/expression of episodic memories. However, the role of downstream circuitry from the dHPC, including the dHPC-to-RSC and dHPC-to-LS pathways, has come under scrutiny only recently. Here, we used an optogenetic approach with contextual fear conditioning in mice to determine whether the above two pathways are involved in acquisition and expression of contextual fear memory. We found that a selective inhibition of the dHPC neuronal terminals in either the RSC or LS during acquisition impaired subsequent memory performance, suggesting that both the dHPC-to-RSC and dHPC-to-LS pathways play a critical role in memory acquisition. We also selectively inhibited the two dHPC efferent pathways during memory retrieval and found a differential effect on memory performance. These results indicate the intricacies of memory processing and that hippocampal efferents to cortical and subcortical regions may be differentially involved in aspects of physiological and cognitive memory processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Opalka
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA
| | - Dong V Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Chaaya N, Jacques A, Belmer A, Beecher K, Ali SA, Chehrehasa F, Battle AR, Johnson LR, Bartlett SE. Contextual Fear Conditioning Alter Microglia Number and Morphology in the Rat Dorsal Hippocampus. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:214. [PMID: 31139053 PMCID: PMC6527886 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Contextual fear conditioning is a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm capable of rapidly creating fear memories to contexts, such as rooms or chambers. Contextual fear conditioning protocols have long been utilized to evaluate how fear memories are consolidated, maintained, expressed, recalled, and extinguished within the brain. These studies have identified the lateral portion of the amygdala and the dorsal portion of the hippocampus as essential for contextual fear memory consolidation. The current study was designed to evaluate how two different contextual fear memories alter amygdala and hippocampus microglia, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response element binding (pCREB). We find rats provided with standard contextual fear conditioning to have more microglia and more cells expressing BDNF in the dentate gyrus as compared to a context only control group. Additionally, standard contextual fear conditioning altered microglia morphology to become amoeboid in shape – a common response to central nervous system insult, such as traumatic brain injury, infection, ischemia, and more. The unpaired fear conditioning procedure (whereby non-reinforced and non-overlapping auditory tones were provided at random intervals during conditioning), despite producing equivalent levels of fear as the standard procedure, did not alter microglia, BDNF or pCREB number in any dorsal hippocampus or lateral amygdala brain regions. Despite this, the unpaired fear conditioning protocol produced some alterations in microglia morphology, but less compared to rats provided with standard contextual fear conditioning. Results from this study demonstrate that contextual fear conditioning is capable of producing large alterations to dentate gyrus plasticity and microglia, whereas unpaired fear conditioning only produces minor changes to microglia morphology. These data show, for the first time, that Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols can induce similar responses as trauma, infection or other insults within the central nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chaaya
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Syed A Ali
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Chehrehasa
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew R Battle
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lander SS, Khan U, Lewandowski N, Chakraborty D, Provenzano FA, Mingote S, Chornyy S, Frigerio F, Maechler P, Kaphzan H, Small SA, Rayport S, Gaisler-Salomon I. Glutamate Dehydrogenase-Deficient Mice Display Schizophrenia-Like Behavioral Abnormalities and CA1-Specific Hippocampal Dysfunction. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:127-137. [PMID: 29471549 PMCID: PMC6293228 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain imaging has revealed that the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus is hyperactive in prodromal and diagnosed patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), and that glutamate is a driver of this hyperactivity. Strikingly, mice deficient in the glutamate synthetic enzyme glutaminase have CA1 hypoactivity and a SCZ-resilience profile, implicating glutamate-metabolizing enzymes. To address this further, we examined mice with a brain-wide deficit in the glutamate-metabolizing enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), encoded by Glud1, which should lead to glutamate excess due to reduced glutamate metabolism in astrocytes. We found that Glud1-deficient mice have behavioral abnormalities in the 3 SCZ symptom domains, with increased baseline and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion as a positive symptom proxy, nest building and social preference as a negative symptom proxy, and reversal/extradimensional set shifting in the water T-maze and contextual fear conditioning as a cognitive symptom proxy. Neuroimaging of cerebral blood volume revealed hippocampal hyperactivity in CA1, which was associated with volume reduction. Parameters of hippocampal synaptic function revealed excess glutamate release and an elevated excitatory/inhibitory balance in CA1. Finally, in a direct clinical correlation using imaging-guided microarray, we found a significant SCZ-associated postmortem reduction in GLUD1 expression in CA1. These findings advance GLUD1 deficiency as a driver of excess hippocampal excitatory transmission and SCZ symptoms, and identify GDH as a target for glutamate modulation pharmacotherapy for SCZ. More broadly, these findings point to the likely involvement of alterations in glutamate metabolism in the pathophysiology of SCZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon S Lander
- Department of Psychology or Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Usman Khan
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Nicole Lewandowski
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Darpan Chakraborty
- Department of Psychology or Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Frank A Provenzano
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Susana Mingote
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY,Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | - Sergiy Chornyy
- Department of Psychology or Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Francesca Frigerio
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Geneva University Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerl
| | - Pierre Maechler
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Geneva University Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerl
| | - Hanoch Kaphzan
- Department of Psychology or Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Scott A Small
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Stephen Rayport
- Department of Neurology or Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY,Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | - Inna Gaisler-Salomon
- Department of Psychology or Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,To whom correspondence should be addressed; 199 Abba Khoushi Ave, Haifa, Israel; tel: +972-4-8249674, fax +972-4-8240966, email
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chaaya N, Jacques A, Belmer A, Richard DJ, Bartlett SE, Battle AR, Johnson LR. Localization of Contextual and Context Removed Auditory Fear Memory within the Basolateral Amygdala Complex. Neuroscience 2018; 398:231-251. [PMID: 30552931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Debilitating and persistent fear memories can rapidly form in humans following exposure to traumatic events. Fear memories can also be generated and studied in animals via Pavlovian fear conditioning. The current study was designed to evaluate basolateral amygdala complex (BLC) involvement following the formation of different fear memories (two contextual fear memories and one adjusted auditory fear memory). Fear memories were created in the same context with five 1.0 mA (0.50 s) foot-shocks and, where necessary, five auditory tones (5 kHz, 75 dB, 20 s). The adjusted auditory fear conditioning protocol was employed to remove background contextual fear and produce isolated auditory fear memories. Immunofluorescent labeling was utilized to identify neurons expressing immediate early genes (IEGs). We found the two contextual fear conditioning (CFC) procedures to produce similar levels of fear-related freezing to context. Contextual fear memories produced increases in BLC IEG expression with distinct and separate patterns of expression. These data suggest contextual fear memories created in slightly altered contexts, can produce unique patterns of amygdala activation. The adjusted auditory fear conditioning procedure produced memories to a tone, but not to a context. This group, where no contextual fear was present, had a significant reduction in BLC IEG expression. These data suggest background contextual fear memories, created in standard auditory fear conditioning protocols, contribute significantly to increases in amygdala activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Chaaya
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A Jacques
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A Belmer
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - D J Richard
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - S E Bartlett
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A R Battle
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - L R Johnson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, USU School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Brydges NM, Moon A, Rule L, Watkin H, Thomas KL, Hall J. Sex specific effects of pre-pubertal stress on hippocampal neurogenesis and behaviour. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:271. [PMID: 30531788 PMCID: PMC6288078 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0322-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Experience of traumatic events in childhood is linked to an elevated risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not fully understood. The limbic system, particularly the hippocampus, is significantly impacted by childhood trauma. In particular, it has been hypothesised that childhood stress may impact adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and related behaviours, conferring increased risk for later mental illness. Stress in utero can lead to impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and stress in the first 2-3 weeks of life reduces AHN in animal models. Less is known about the effects of stress in the post-weaning, pre-pubertal phase, a developmental time-point more akin to human childhood. Therefore, we investigated persistent effects of pre-pubertal stress (PPS) on functional and molecular aspects of the hippocampus. AHN was altered following PPS in male rats only. Specifically males showed reduced production of new neurons following PPS, but increased survival in the ventral dentate gyrus. In adult males, but not females, pattern separation and trace fear conditioning, behaviours that rely heavily on AHN, were also impaired after PPS. PPS also increased the expression of parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in the ventral dentate gyrus and increased glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 expression in the ventral hilus, in males only. Our results demonstrate the lasting effects of PPS on the hippocampus in a sex- and time-dependent manner, provide a potential mechanistic link between PPS and later behavioural impairments, and highlight sex differences in vulnerability to neuropsychiatric conditions after early-life stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nichola Marie Brydges
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Anna Moon
- 0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Lowenna Rule
- 0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Holly Watkin
- 0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Kerrie L. Thomas
- 0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK ,0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- 0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK ,0000 0001 0807 5670grid.5600.3MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hippocampal neural progenitor cells play a distinct role in fear memory retrieval in male and female CIE rats. Neuropharmacology 2018; 143:239-249. [PMID: 30273595 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Adult male and female GFAP-TK transgenic rats experienced six weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor inhalation (CIE). During the last week of CIE, a subset of male and female TK rats were fed with Valcyte to ablate neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Seventy-two hours after CIE cessation, all CIE and age-matched ethanol naïve controls experienced auditory trace fear conditioning (TFC). Twenty-four hours later all animals were tested for cue-mediated retrieval in the fear context. Adult male CIE rats showed a significant burst in NPCs paralleled by reduction in fear retrieval compared to naïve controls and Valcyte treated CIE rats. Adult female CIE rats did not show a burst in NPCs and showed similar fear retrieval compared to naïve controls and Valcyte treated CIE rats, indicating that CIE-mediated impairment in fear memory and its regulation by NPCs was sex dependent. Valcyte significantly reduced Ki-67 and NeuroD labeled cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) in both sexes, demonstrating a role for NPCs in reduced fear retrieval in males. Valcyte prevented adaptations in GluN2A receptor expression and synaptoporin density in the DG in males, indicating that NPCs contributed to alterations in plasticity-related proteins and mossy fiber projections that were associated with reduced fear retrieval. These data suggest that DG NPCs born during withdrawal and early abstinence from CIE are aberrant, and could play a role in weakening long-term memory consolidation dependent on the hippocampus.
Collapse
|
16
|
Pehrson AL, Pedersen CS, Tølbøl KS, Sanchez C. Vortioxetine Treatment Reverses Subchronic PCP Treatment-Induced Cognitive Impairments: A Potential Role for Serotonin Receptor-Mediated Regulation of GABA Neurotransmission. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:162. [PMID: 29559911 PMCID: PMC5845537 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with cognitive impairments that may contribute to poor functional outcomes. Clinical data suggests that the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine attenuates some cognitive impairments in MDD patients, but the mechanistic basis for these improvements is unclear. One theory suggests that vortioxetine improves cognition by suppressing γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission, thereby increasing glutamatergic activation. Vortioxetine’s effects on cognition, GABA and glutamate neurotransmission have been supported in separate experiments, but no empirical work has directly connected vortioxetine’s cognitive effects to those on GABA and glutamate neurotransmission. In this paper, we attempt to bridge this gap by evaluating vortioxetine’s effects in the subchronic PCP (subPCP) model, which induces impaired cognitive function and altered GABA and glutamate neurotransmission. We demonstrate that acute or subchronic vortioxetine treatment attenuated subPCP-induced deficits in attentional set shifting (AST) performance, and that the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron or the 5-HT reuptake inhibitor escitalopram could mimic this effect. Furthermore, acute vortioxetine treatment reversed subPCP-induced object recognition (OR) deficits in rats, while subchronic vortioxetine reversed subPCP-induced Object Recognition and object placement impairments in mice. Finally, subPCP treatment reduced GABAB receptor expression in a manner that was insensitive to vortioxetine treatment, and subchronic vortioxetine treatment alone, but not in combination with subPCP, significantly increased GABA’s affinity for the GABAA receptor. These data suggest that vortioxetine reverses cognitive impairments in a model associated with altered GABA and glutamate neurotransmission, further supporting the hypothesis that vortioxetine’s GABAergic and glutamatergic effects are relevant for cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan L Pehrson
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Connie Sanchez
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Heise C, Taha E, Murru L, Ponzoni L, Cattaneo A, Guarnieri FC, Montani C, Mossa A, Vezzoli E, Ippolito G, Zapata J, Barrera I, Ryazanov AG, Cook J, Poe M, Stephen MR, Kopanitsa M, Benfante R, Rusconi F, Braida D, Francolini M, Proud CG, Valtorta F, Passafaro M, Sala M, Bachi A, Verpelli C, Rosenblum K, Sala C. eEF2K/eEF2 Pathway Controls the Excitation/Inhibition Balance and Susceptibility to Epileptic Seizures. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:2226-2248. [PMID: 27005990 PMCID: PMC5963824 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the balance of inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders such as epilepsy. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a highly regulated, ubiquitous kinase involved in the control of protein translation. Here, we show that eEF2K activity negatively regulates GABAergic synaptic transmission. Indeed, loss of eEF2K increases GABAergic synaptic transmission by upregulating the presynaptic protein Synapsin 2b and α5-containing GABAA receptors and thus interferes with the excitation/inhibition balance. This cellular phenotype is accompanied by an increased resistance to epilepsy and an impairment of only a specific hippocampal-dependent fear conditioning. From a clinical perspective, our results identify eEF2K as a potential novel target for antiepileptic drugs, since pharmacological and genetic inhibition of eEF2K can revert the epileptic phenotype in a mouse model of human epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elham Taha
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology and
- Center for Gene Manipulation in the Brain, Natural Science Faculty, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Luca Murru
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Ponzoni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizia C. Guarnieri
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Elena Vezzoli
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Iliana Barrera
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology and
- Center for Gene Manipulation in the Brain, Natural Science Faculty, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alexey G. Ryazanov
- The Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - James Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Michael Poe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Michael Rajesh Stephen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Maksym Kopanitsa
- Synome, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Charles River Discovery Research Services, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Roberta Benfante
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Rusconi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Braida
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Francolini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Christopher G. Proud
- University of Southampton, Centre for Biological Sciences, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Flavia Valtorta
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Passafaro
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariaelvina Sala
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Bachi
- IFOM-FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Verpelli
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Kobi Rosenblum
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology and
- Center for Gene Manipulation in the Brain, Natural Science Faculty, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Carlo Sala
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Connor DA, Gould TJ. The role of working memory and declarative memory in trace conditioning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 134 Pt B:193-209. [PMID: 27422017 PMCID: PMC5755400 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Translational assays of cognition that are similarly implemented in both lower and higher-order species, such as rodents and primates, provide a means to reconcile preclinical modeling of psychiatric neuropathology and clinical research. To this end, Pavlovian conditioning has provided a useful tool for investigating cognitive processes in both lab animal models and humans. This review focuses on trace conditioning, a form of Pavlovian conditioning typified by the insertion of a temporal gap (i.e., trace interval) between presentations of a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US). This review aims to discuss pre-clinical and clinical work investigating the mnemonic processes recruited for trace conditioning. Much work suggests that trace conditioning involves unique neurocognitive mechanisms to facilitate formation of trace memories in contrast to standard Pavlovian conditioning. For example, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) appear to play critical roles in trace conditioning. Moreover, cognitive mechanistic accounts in human studies suggest that working memory and declarative memory processes are engaged to facilitate formation of trace memories. The aim of this review is to integrate cognitive and neurobiological accounts of trace conditioning from preclinical and clinical studies to examine involvement of working and declarative memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Connor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Thomas J Gould
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
Fear memory is the best-studied form of memory. It was thoroughly investigated in the past 60 years mostly using two classical conditioning procedures (contextual fear conditioning and fear conditioning to a tone) and one instrumental procedure (one-trial inhibitory avoidance). Fear memory is formed in the hippocampus (contextual conditioning and inhibitory avoidance), in the basolateral amygdala (inhibitory avoidance), and in the lateral amygdala (conditioning to a tone). The circuitry involves, in addition, the pre- and infralimbic ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the central amygdala subnuclei, and the dentate gyrus. Fear learning models, notably inhibitory avoidance, have also been very useful for the analysis of the biochemical mechanisms of memory consolidation as a whole. These studies have capitalized on in vitro observations on long-term potentiation and other kinds of plasticity. The effect of a very large number of drugs on fear learning has been intensively studied, often as a prelude to the investigation of effects on anxiety. The extinction of fear learning involves to an extent a reversal of the flow of information in the mentioned structures and is used in the therapy of posttraumatic stress disorder and fear memories in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Izquierdo
- National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, National Research Council of Brazil, and Memory Center, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristiane R. G. Furini
- National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, National Research Council of Brazil, and Memory Center, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Jociane C. Myskiw
- National Institute of Translational Neuroscience, National Research Council of Brazil, and Memory Center, Brain Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hippocampal Somatostatin Interneurons Control the Size of Neuronal Memory Ensembles. Neuron 2016; 89:1074-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|