1
|
Colombel N, Ferreira G, Sullivan RM, Coureaud G. Dynamic developmental changes in neurotransmitters supporting infant attachment learning. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 151:105249. [PMID: 37257712 PMCID: PMC10754360 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105249] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Infant survival relies on rapid identification, remembering and behavioral responsiveness to caregivers' sensory cues. While neural circuits supporting infant attachment learning have largely remained elusive in children, use of invasive techniques has uncovered some of its features in rodents. During a 10-day sensitive period from birth, newborn rodents associate maternal odors with maternal pleasant or noxious thermo-tactile stimulation, which gives rise to a preference and approach behavior towards these odors, and blockade of avoidance learning. Here we review the neural circuitry supporting this neonatal odor learning, unique compared to adults, focusing specifically on the early roles of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, GABA (Gamma-AminoButyric Acid), serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the olfactory bulb, the anterior piriform cortex and amygdala. The review highlights the importance of deepening our knowledge of age-specific infant brain neurotransmitters and behavioral functioning that can be translated to improve the well-being of children during typical development and aid in treatment during atypical development in childhood clinical practice, and the care during rearing of domestic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Colombel
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 1 Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France
| | - Guillaume Ferreira
- FoodCircus group, NutriNeuro Lab, INRAE 1286, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, The Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Gérard Coureaud
- Sensory NeuroEthology Group, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Lyon 1 University, Jean-Monnet University, Bron, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gaztañaga M, Angulo-Alcalde A, Spear NE, Chotro MG. The Role of Acetaldehyde in the Increased Acceptance of Ethanol after Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:14. [PMID: 28197082 PMCID: PMC5281627 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies show that acetaldehyde, the first metabolite in the oxidation of ethanol, can be responsible for both, the appetitive and the aversive effects produced by ethanol intoxication. More specifically, it has been hypothesized that acetaldehyde produced in the periphery by the liver is responsible for the aversive effects of ethanol, while the appetitive effects relate to the acetaldehyde produced centrally through the catalase system. On the other hand, from studies in our and other laboratories, it is known that ethanol exposure during the last gestational days (GD) consistently enhances the postnatal acceptance of ethanol when measured during early ontogeny in the rat. This increased liking of ethanol is a conditioned appetitive response acquired by the fetus by the association of ethanol’s flavor and an appetitive reinforcer. Although this reinforcer has not yet been fully identified, one possibility points to acetaldehyde produced centrally in the fetus as a likely candidate. This hypothesis is supported by data showing that very early in the rat’s ontogeny brain catalases are functional, while the liver’s enzymatic system is still immature. In this study, rat dams were administered on GD 17–20 with water or ethanol, together with an acetaldehyde-sequestering agent (D-penicillamine). The offspring’s responses to ethanol was then assessed at different postnatal stages with procedures adequate for each developmental stage: on day 1, using the “odor crawling locomotion test” to measure ethanol’s odor attractiveness; on day 5, in an operant conditioning procedure with ethanol as the reinforcer; and on day 14 in an ethanol intake test. Results show that the absence of acetaldehyde during prenatal ethanol exposure impeded the observation of the increased acceptance of ethanol at any age. This seems to confirm the crucial role of acetaldehyde as a reinforcer in the appetitive learning occurring during prenatal ethanol exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirari Gaztañaga
- Departamento de Procesos Psicológicos Básicos y su Desarrollo, Facultad de Psicología, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Asier Angulo-Alcalde
- Departamento de Procesos Psicológicos Básicos y su Desarrollo, Facultad de Psicología, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Norman E Spear
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - M Gabriela Chotro
- Departamento de Procesos Psicológicos Básicos y su Desarrollo, Facultad de Psicología, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián Gipuzkoa, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gaztañaga M, Aranda-Fernández PE, Chotro MG. Prenatal exposure to vanilla or alcohol induces crawling after these odors in the neonate rat: The role of mu and kappa opioid receptor systems. Physiol Behav 2014; 148:58-64. [PMID: 25554482 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Rat fetuses can perceive chemosensory stimuli derived from their mother's diet, and they may learn about those stimuli. In previous studies we have observed that prenatal exposure to alcohol during the last days of gestation increases the acceptance and liking of an alcohol flavor in infant and adolescent rats. While these results were not found after prenatal exposure to vanilla, cineole or anise, suggesting that the pharmacological properties of alcohol, mediated by the opioid system, underlie the effects observed with this drug. Considering that other studies report enhanced acceptance of non-alcohol flavors experienced prenatally when subjects were tested before infancy, we explore the possibility of observing similar results if testing 1-day old rats exposed prenatally to vanilla. Using an "odor-induced crawling" testing procedure, it was observed that neonates exposed prenatally to vanilla or alcohol crawl for a longer distance towards the experienced odor than to other odors or than control pups. Blocking mu, but not kappa opioid receptors, reduced the attraction of vanilla odor to neonates exposed to vanilla in utero, while the response to alcohol in pups exposed prenatally to this drug was affected by both antagonists. Results confirm that exposure to a non-alcohol odor enhances postnatal responses to it, observable soon after birth, while also suggesting that the mu opioid receptor system plays an important role in generating this effect. The results also imply that with alcohol exposure, the prenatal opioid system is wholly involved, which could explain the longer retention of the enhanced attraction to alcohol following prenatal experience with the drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirari Gaztañaga
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - P Ezequiel Aranda-Fernández
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - M Gabriela Chotro
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Díaz-Cenzano E, Gaztañaga M, Gabriela Chotro M. Exposure to ethanol on prenatal days 19-20 increases ethanol intake and palatability in the infant rat: involvement of kappa and mu opioid receptors. Dev Psychobiol 2013; 56:1167-78. [PMID: 24037591 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to ethanol on gestation Days 19-20, but not 17-18, increases ethanol acceptance in infant rats. This effect seems to be a conditioned response acquired prenatally, mediated by the opioid system, which could be stimulated by ethanol's pharmacological properties (mu-opioid receptors) or by a component of the amniotic fluid from gestation-day 20 (kappa-inducing factor). The latter option was evaluated administering non-ethanol chemosensory stimuli on gestation Days 19-20 and testing postnatal intake and palatability. However, prenatal exposure to anise or vanilla increased neither intake nor palatability of these tastants on postnatal Day 14. In experiment 2, the role of ethanol's pharmacological effect was tested by administering ethanol and selective antagonists of mu and kappa opioid receptors prenatally. Blocking the mu-opioid receptor system completely reversed the effects on intake and palatability, while antagonizing kappa receptors only partially reduced the effects on palatability. This suggests that the pharmacological effect of ethanol on the fetal mu opioid system is the appetitive reinforcer, which induces the prenatally conditioned preference detected in the preweanling period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Díaz-Cenzano
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. de Tolosa, 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tarozzo G, Cappello P, De Andrea M, Walters E, Margolis FL, Oestreicher B, Fasolo A. Prenatal differentiation of mouse vomeronasal neurones. Eur J Neurosci 1998; 10:392-6. [PMID: 9753148 DOI: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1998.00004.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) subserves basic chemosensory functions in rodents, mainly related to sexual behaviour. In order to understand early stages of the VNO structural maturation, we have undertaken an immunocytochemical analysis of the VNO of fetal mice. Our results demonstrate that Olfactory Marker Protein (OMP), a marker of differentiated chemosensory cells, is already expressed in vomeronasal neurones and their fibres projecting to the accessory olfactory bulb during the last week of gestation. However, in contrast to the adult, where its expression is restricted to the medial sensory neuronal component of the VNO, during fetal development OMP is also present in cells located in the lateral non-sensory epithelial component. Some other markers of nasal chemosensory neurones, such as GAP-43/B-50, Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and carnosine are also transiently expressed in this ectopic site. These results indicate that (i) significant morphological and biochemical maturation of the VNO is achieved before birth; (ii) transient cell populations, sharing the biochemical profile of the vomeronasal chemosensory receptors, occur in ectopic areas during fetal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Tarozzo
- Department of Animal and Human Biology, University of Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Parental behavior denotes a variety of genetically programmed activities in which parents help their young to survive to maturity. A highly successful research has been devoted to the psychoneuroendocrine bases of parenting in two species, rat and sheep. As a result empirical data along with conceptual formulations have been obtained which provide a model for generating hypothesis for the study of other species. This review was written to draw the attention to this research because of its enormous potential significance for problems pertaining to human infant care. It discusses the current status of research on the physiological bases of parental behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Larsson
- Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Young mammals come to approach the odor of their mother, a response that facilitates their survival during early life. Young rats induce a cascade of events in their mother to induce the emission of her odor. The pups increase circulating prolactin levels, which increases food intake and the emission of large quantities of cecotrophe containing the maternal odor. This odor is synthesized by the action of cecal microorganisms and changes with maternal diet. The diet-dependence of the odor requires the pups to acquire their attraction to the odor postnatally. The acquisition of this preference occurs when an odor is paired with the tactile stimulation that pups receive during maternal care. The action of the tactile stimulation appears to be mediated by noradrenaline. The development of this type of olfactory attraction is accompanied by changes in the regions of the olfactory bulb that are responsive to the attractive odor. Metabolic, anatomical, and neurophysiological changes in response to the attractive odor emerge in such regions of the bulb after early olfactory preference training.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Leon
- Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine 92717
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Paternostro MA, Meisami E. Lack of thyroid hormones but not their excess affects the maturation of olfactory receptor neurons: a quantitative morphologic study in the postnatal rat. Int J Dev Neurosci 1991; 9:439-52. [PMID: 1781303 DOI: 10.1016/0736-5748(91)90030-p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
To study quantitatively actions of thyroid hormones on maturation of olfactory receptor neurons (ORN), surface density and total number of receptor knobs (1 knob/ORN) were measured in 1 mu sections from septal olfactory epithelium of newborn, 12- and 25 day normal, hypo- and hyperthyroid rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by adding to drinking water n-propylthiouracil (0.1% w/v) from birth. Hyperthyroidism was induced by daily injection of pups with T4 (1-thyroxine, 0.3 microgram/g b.w., s.c.). Experimental pups showed all the signs of hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Between days 1-25, normal pups showed marked increase in surface area of septal olfactory epithelium (6x), total number (12x) and surface density (#/mm2, 2x) of mature ORNs. Thyroid deficient rats showed, by day 12, marked reductions in epithelial surface area and total number of mature ORNs; these and the surface density deficits became very pronounced by 25 day (30% area, 27% density, 47% # mature ORNs). Hyperthyroid rats, however, did not show an increase in any of these parameters over controls. Although total number of ORNs (mature and immature), as measured by number of nuclei, was also reduced in hypothyroid pups, surface density was not altered, indicating that maturation of ORNs, but not their local accretion is altered in thyroid deficiency. The results indicate that thyroid hormones are essential for normal proliferative expansion of olfactory epithelium and for maturation of ORNs postnatally. These actions of thyroid hormones are not increased or accelerated by excess T4 suggesting saturation of the hormone receptor system at the normal plasma level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Paternostro
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Blass EM, Shide DJ, Weller A. Stress-reducing effects of ingesting milk, sugars, and fats. A developmental perspective. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1989; 575:292-305; discussion 305-6. [PMID: 2699193 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1989.tb53251.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A developmental approach to the study of feeding is proposed that considers social complexity and its biological mediation as core determinants of later ingestive patterns. Evidence is presented for opioid-mediated influences of milk and its major constituents and for nonopioid-mediated channels for contact comfort. Consideration of these factors might help us better understand some of the determinants of human feeding disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E M Blass
- Department of Psychology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Book review. Anim Behav 1988. [DOI: 10.1016/s0003-3472(88)80188-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|