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Fanelli G, Robinson J, Fabbri C, Bralten J, Roth Mota N, Arenella M, Sprooten E, Franke B, Kas M, Andlauer TFM, Serretti A. Shared genetics linking sociability with the brain's default mode network. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.24.24307883. [PMID: 38826220 PMCID: PMC11142265 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.24307883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The brain's default mode network (DMN) plays a role in social cognition, with altered DMN function being associated with social impairments across various neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, we examined the genetic relationship between sociability and DMN-related resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) traits. To this end, we used genome-wide association summary statistics for sociability and 31 activity and 64 connectivity DMN-related rs-fMRI traits (N=34,691-342,461). First, we examined global and local genetic correlations between sociability and the rs-fMRI traits. Second, to assess putatively causal relationships between the traits, we conducted bi-directional Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses. Finally, we prioritised genes influencing both sociability and rs-fMRI traits by combining three methods: gene-expression eQTL MR analyses, the CELLECT framework using single-nucleus RNA-seq data, and network propagation in the context of a protein-protein interaction network. Significant local genetic correlations were found between sociability and two rs-fMRI traits, one representing spontaneous activity within the temporal cortex, the other representing connectivity between the frontal/cingulate and angular/temporal cortices. Sociability affected 12 rs-fMRI traits when allowing for weakly correlated genetic instruments. Combing all three methods for gene prioritisation, we defined 17 highly prioritised genes, with DRD2 and LINGO1 showing the most robust evidence across all analyses. By integrating genetic and transcriptomics data, our gene prioritisation strategy may serve as a blueprint for future studies. The prioritised genes could be explored as potential biomarkers for social dysfunction in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders and as drug target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Fanelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jamie Robinson
- Global Computational Biology and Data Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Chiara Fabbri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Janita Bralten
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nina Roth Mota
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martina Arenella
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College, London, UK
| | - Emma Sprooten
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martien Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Till FM Andlauer
- Global Computational Biology and Data Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Italy
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2
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Peng Q, Gilder DA, Bernert RA, Karriker-Jaffe KJ, Ehlers CL. Genetic factors associated with suicidal behaviors and alcohol use disorders in an American Indian population. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:902-913. [PMID: 38177348 PMCID: PMC11176067 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02379-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
American Indians (AI) demonstrate the highest rates of both suicidal behaviors (SB) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) among all ethnic groups in the US. Rates of suicide and AUD vary substantially between tribal groups and across different geographical regions, underscoring a need to delineate more specific risk and resilience factors. Using data from over 740 AI living within eight contiguous reservations, we assessed genetic risk factors for SB by investigating: (1) possible genetic overlap with AUD, and (2) impacts of rare and low-frequency genomic variants. Suicidal behaviors included lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and acts, including verified suicide deaths, scored using a ranking variable for the SB phenotype (range 0-4). We identified five loci significantly associated with SB and AUD, two of which are intergenic and three intronic on genes AACSP1, ANK1, and FBXO11. Nonsynonymous rare and low-frequency mutations in four genes including SERPINF1 (PEDF), ZNF30, CD34, and SLC5A9, and non-intronic rare and low-frequency mutations in genes OPRD1, HSD17B3 and one lincRNA were significantly associated with SB. One identified pathway related to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) regulation, whose 83 nonsynonymous rare and low-frequency variants on 10 genes were significantly linked to SB as well. Four additional genes, and two pathways related to vasopressin-regulated water metabolism and cellular hexose transport, also were strongly associated with SB. This study represents the first investigation of genetic factors for SB in an American Indian population that has high risk for suicide. Our study suggests that bivariate association analysis between comorbid disorders can increase statistical power; and rare and low-frequency variant analysis in a high-risk population enabled by whole-genome sequencing has the potential to identify novel genetic factors. Although such findings may be population specific, rare functional mutations relating to PEDF and HIF regulation align with past reports and suggest a biological mechanism for suicide risk and a potential therapeutic target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Peng
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - David A Gilder
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Bernert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Cindy L Ehlers
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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3
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Gilder D, Bernert R, Karriker-Jaffe K, Ehlers C, Peng Q. Genetic Factors Associated with Suicidal Behaviors and Alcohol Use Disorders in an American Indian Population. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2950284. [PMID: 37398076 PMCID: PMC10312956 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2950284/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
American Indians (AI) demonstrate the highest rates of both suicidal behaviors (SB) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) among all ethnic groups in the US. Rates of suicide and AUD vary substantially between tribal groups and across different geographical regions, underscoring a need to delineate more specific risk and resilience factors. Using data from over 740 AI living within eight contiguous reservations, we assessed genetic risk factors for SB by investigating: (1) possible genetic overlap with AUD, and (2) impacts of rare and low frequency genomic variants. Suicidal behaviors included lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and acts, including verified suicide deaths, scored using a ranking variable for the SB phenotype (range 0-4). We identified five loci significantly associated with SB and AUD, two of which are intergenic and three intronic on genes AACSP1, ANK1, and FBXO11. Nonsynonymous rare mutations in four genes including SERPINF1 (PEDF), ZNF30, CD34, and SLC5A9, and non-intronic rare mutations in genes OPRD1, HSD17B3 and one lincRNA were significantly associated with SB. One identified pathway related to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) regulation, whose 83 nonsynonymous rare variants on 10 genes were significantly linked to SB as well. Four additional genes, and two pathways related to vasopressin-regulated water metabolism and cellular hexose transport, also were strongly associated with SB. This study represents the first investigation of genetic factors for SB in an American Indian population that has high risk for suicide. Our study suggests that bivariate association analysis between comorbid disorders can increase statistical power; and rare variant analysis in a high-risk population enabled by whole-genome sequencing has the potential to identify novel genetic factors. Although such findings may be population specific, rare functional mutations relating to PEDF and HIF regulation align with past reports and suggest a biological mechanism for suicide risk and a potential therapeutic target for intervention.
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4
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King'uyu DN, Edgar EL, Figueroa C, Kirkland JM, Kopec AM. Morphine exposure during adolescence induces enduring social changes dependent on adolescent stage of exposure, sex, and social test. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.21.537856. [PMID: 37131669 PMCID: PMC10153224 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.21.537856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Drug exposure during adolescence, when the 'reward' circuitry of the brain is developing, can permanently impact reward-related behavior. Epidemiological studies show that opioid treatment during adolescence, such as pain management for a dental procedure or surgery, increases the incidence of psychiatric illness including substance use disorders. Moreover, the opioid epidemic currently in the United States is affecting younger individuals raising the impetus to understand the pathogenesis of the negative effects of opioids. One reward-related behavior that develops during adolescence is social behavior. We previously demonstrated that social development occurs in rats during sex-specific adolescent periods: early to mid-adolescence in males (postnatal day (P)30-40) and pre-early adolescence in females (P20-30). We thus hypothesized that morphine exposure during the female critical period would result in adult sociability deficits in females, but not males, and morphine administered during the male critical period would result in adult sociability deficits in males, but not females. We found that morphine exposure during the female critical period primarily resulted in deficits in sociability in females, while morphine exposure during the male critical period primarily resulted in deficits in sociability primarily in males. However, depending on the test performed and the social parameter measured, social alterations could be found in both sexes that received morphine exposure at either adolescent stage. These data indicate that when drug exposure occurs during adolescence, and how the endpoint data are measured, will play a large role in determining the effects of drug exposures on social development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N King'uyu
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
| | - Erin L Edgar
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
| | - Christopher Figueroa
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
| | - J M Kirkland
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
| | - Ashley M Kopec
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
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Bienboire-Frosini C, Marcet-Rius M, Orihuela A, Domínguez-Oliva A, Mora-Medina P, Olmos-Hernández A, Casas-Alvarado A, Mota-Rojas D. Mother-Young Bonding: Neurobiological Aspects and Maternal Biochemical Signaling in Altricial Domesticated Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030532. [PMID: 36766424 PMCID: PMC9913798 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mother-young bonding is a type of early learning where the female and their newborn recognize each other through a series of neurobiological mechanisms and neurotransmitters that establish a behavioral preference for filial individuals. This process is essential to promote their welfare by providing maternal care, particularly in altricial species, animals that require extended parental care due to their limited neurodevelopment at birth. Olfactory, auditory, tactile, and visual stimuli trigger the neural integration of multimodal sensory and conditioned affective associations in mammals. This review aims to discuss the neurobiological aspects of bonding processes in altricial mammals, with a focus on the brain structures and neurotransmitters involved and how these influence the signaling during the first days of the life of newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Míriam Marcet-Rius
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Department, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Agustín Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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SRF depletion in early life contributes to social interaction deficits in the adulthood. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:278. [PMID: 35505150 PMCID: PMC9064851 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04291-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in social behavior are core symptoms of major developmental neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism spectrum disorders or schizophrenia. Hence, understanding their molecular and cellular underpinnings constitutes the major research task. Dysregulation of the global gene expression program in the developing brain leads to modifications in a number of neuronal connections, synaptic strength and shape, causing unbalanced neuronal plasticity, which may be important substrate in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, contributing to their clinical outcome. Serum response factor (SRF) is a major transcription factor in the brain. The behavioral influence of SRF deletion during neuronal differentiation and maturation has never been studied because previous attempts to knock-out the gene caused premature death. Herein, we generated mice that lacked SRF from early postnatal development to precisely investigate the role of SRF starting in the specific time window before maturation of excitatory synapses that are located on dendritic spine occurs. We show that the time-controlled loss of SRF in neurons alters specific aspects of social behaviors in SRF knock-out mice, and causes deficits in developmental spine maturation at both the structural and functional levels, including downregulated expression of the AMPARs subunits GluA1 and GluA2, and increases the percentage of filopodial/immature dendritic spines. In aggregate, our study uncovers the consequences of postnatal SRF elimination for spine maturation and social interactions revealing novel mechanisms underlying developmental neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Orihuela A, Mota-Rojas D, Strappini A, Serrapica F, Braghieri A, Mora-Medina P, Napolitano F. Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Mother-Young Bonding in Buffalo and Other Farm Animals. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071968. [PMID: 34209286 PMCID: PMC8300112 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The present paper reviews the importance of bonding for the survival and well-being in the cow–calf relationship. The review focuses on buffaloes and information from other species is used for comparison or to find more general patterns in the absence of specific sources. Differences between several farm species are also described, focusing on the role played by the sensory stimuli during the sensitive period after birth. How bonding can be classified according to the predominant senses used by different species, the importance of learning (i.e., imprinting) in the development of mother–young relationship, and the neurobiological mechanisms involved are also delineated. Finally, some examples of the main factors that can affect the mother–young relationship in the field are given. By understanding the imprinting at brain level, as well as the relationship with behavior, we gain a deeper insight into the critical role that experience, and environmental factors play in shaping the development of the mother–offspring bond. Abstract In buffaloes and other mammalian farm species, the mother provides food and protection to the young, but she is also the main source of behavioral and social learning for the offspring. It is important that mother and young establish a bond based on a learning mechanism defined as “imprinting” early after parturition during the sensitive period, on which the welfare and survival of the offspring will depend. This review aims to summarize and discuss current knowledge regarding the imprinting process, the neurobiological pathways that are triggered during this sensitive period, and the development of the cow–calf bond. Touch, hearing, vision, and smell seem to be the predominant senses involved during imprinting in buffaloes and other mammalian farm species. In buffalo, bonding is very particular due to the expression of specific behaviors, such as allo-suckling and communal rearing. In general, imprinting and the subsequent bond may be affected by the lack of experience of the mothers or dystocic parturitions, which occur most frequently with male calves and in primiparous dams. The main problems in the development of this process include lack of seeking a protected and isolated place to give birth; moving from the birth-site after parturition; insufficient postpartum care; aversion or aggressiveness towards the newborn, or abandonment of the newborn. The process can develop differently according to the species. However, the correct development of the cow–calf relationship represents, regardless of the species, a key factor for their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico;
| | - Ana Strappini
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Animal Science Institute, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Francesco Serrapica
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Universitàdi Napoli Federico II, Via Università100, 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Ada Braghieri
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (F.N.)
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Livestock Science Department, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 54714, Mexico;
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (F.N.)
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Madrigal MP, Jurado S. Specification of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic circuits in the developing mouse brain. Commun Biol 2021; 4:586. [PMID: 33990685 PMCID: PMC8121848 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02110-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) support a broad range of behaviors and homeostatic functions including sex-specific and context-appropriate social behaviors. Although the alterations of these systems have been linked with social-related disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, their formation and developmental dynamics remain largely unknown. Using novel brain clearing techniques and 3D imaging, we have reconstructed the specification of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic circuits in the developing mouse brain with unprecedented cellular resolution. A systematic quantification indicates that OXT and AVP neurons in the hypothalamus display distinctive developmental dynamics and high cellular plasticity from embryonic to early postnatal stages. Our findings reveal new insights into the specification and consolidation of neuropeptidergic systems in the developing CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pilar Madrigal
- grid.466805.90000 0004 1759 6875Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Sandra Jurado
- grid.466805.90000 0004 1759 6875Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Castroflorio E, den Hoed J, Svistunova D, Finelli MJ, Cebrian-Serrano A, Corrochano S, Bassett AR, Davies B, Oliver PL. The Ncoa7 locus regulates V-ATPase formation and function, neurodevelopment and behaviour. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3503-3524. [PMID: 33340069 PMCID: PMC8038996 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03721-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Members of the Tre2/Bub2/Cdc16 (TBC), lysin motif (LysM), domain catalytic (TLDc) protein family are associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, although their exact roles in disease remain unclear. For example, nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) has been associated with autism, although almost nothing is known regarding the mode-of-action of this TLDc protein in the nervous system. Here we investigated the molecular function of NCOA7 in neurons and generated a novel mouse model to determine the consequences of deleting this locus in vivo. We show that NCOA7 interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of the vacuolar (V)-ATPase in the brain and demonstrate that this protein is required for normal assembly and activity of this critical proton pump. Neurons lacking Ncoa7 exhibit altered development alongside defective lysosomal formation and function; accordingly, Ncoa7 deletion animals exhibited abnormal neuronal patterning defects and a reduced expression of lysosomal markers. Furthermore, behavioural assessment revealed anxiety and social defects in mice lacking Ncoa7. In summary, we demonstrate that NCOA7 is an important V-ATPase regulatory protein in the brain, modulating lysosomal function, neuronal connectivity and behaviour; thus our study reveals a molecular mechanism controlling endolysosomal homeostasis that is essential for neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joery den Hoed
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Daria Svistunova
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Mattéa J Finelli
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
| | | | - Silvia Corrochano
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
- Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Calle del Prof Martín Lagos s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew R Bassett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Benjamin Davies
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Peter L Oliver
- MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK.
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López-Tobón A, Trattaro S, Testa G. The sociability spectrum: evidence from reciprocal genetic copy number variations. Mol Autism 2020; 11:50. [PMID: 32546261 PMCID: PMC7298749 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00347-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociability entails some of the most complex behaviors processed by the central nervous system. It includes the detection, integration, and interpretation of social cues and elaboration of context-specific responses that are quintessentially species-specific. There is an ever-growing accumulation of molecular associations to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), from causative genes to endophenotypes across multiple functional layers; these however, have rarely been put in context with the opposite manifestation featured in hypersociability syndromes. Genetic copy number variations (CNVs) allow to investigate the relationships between gene dosage and its corresponding phenotypes. In particular, CNVs of the 7q11.23 locus, which manifest diametrically opposite social behaviors, offer a privileged window to look into the molecular substrates underlying the developmental trajectories of the social brain. As by definition sociability is studied in humans postnatally, the developmental fluctuations causing social impairments have thus far remained a black box. Here, we review key evidence of molecular players involved at both ends of the sociability spectrum, focusing on genetic and functional associations of neuroendocrine regulators and synaptic transmission pathways. We then proceed to propose the existence of a molecular axis centered around the paradigmatic dosage imbalances at the 7q11.23 locus, regulating networks responsible for the development of social behavior in humans and highlight the key role that neurodevelopmental models from reprogrammed pluripotent cells will play for its understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro López-Tobón
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sebastiano Trattaro
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- Human Technopole, Via Cristina Belgioioso 171, Milan, Italy.
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Boswell N, Cao J, Torres WJ, Beier M, Sabharwal A, Moukaddam N. A review and preview of developments in the measurement of sociability. Bull Menninger Clin 2020; 84:79-101. [PMID: 31967509 DOI: 10.1521/bumc_2020_84_05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sociability is a complex, multifactorial trait. Its importance is underscored by a multitude of negative physical and mental health effects related to loneliness and social isolation. However, current measures of sociability primarily rely on subjective recall and self- report, which have inherent weaknesses and limitations. Although objective and automatic measurements could help to avoid some of these issues, they are still in early stages of development. In this article, the authors review past and present methods of measuring sociability and social interactions. This encompasses both subjective and objective subsets of qualitative and quantitative measurement modalities to gain a broader, more accurate perspective on sociability. Through an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of measurement methods within these categories, a foundational knowledge of sociability measurement can be understood. Utilizing current technology and research methods holds promise to more accurately represent individuals' social networks and social patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jian Cao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Margaret Beier
- Associate professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University
| | - Ashutosh Sabharwal
- Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
| | - Nidal Moukaddam
- Associate professor, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine
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12
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Martínez-Torres S, Gomis-González M, Navarro-Romero A, Maldonado R, Ozaita A. Use of the Vsoc-maze to Study Sociability and Preference for Social Novelty in Rodents. Bio Protoc 2019; 9:e3393. [PMID: 33654894 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying social behavior in mouse models empowers the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved, which are affected in neuropsychiatric disorders, allowing the evaluation of therapeutic strategies. Behavioral methods available are time-consuming and reducing the length of behavioral sessions may render more manageable experiments and reduce animal stress. We validated a new reliable and sensitive method to study two features of social behavior (sociability and preference for social novelty) in two strains of male mice, the C57BL/6J inbreed strain and the CD1 (ICR) outbreed strain, using a modified version of the V-shaped maze (Vsoc-maze). The Vsoc-maze for sociability and preference for social novelty improves time performance by shortening the length of the sessions, and reduces variability compared to the classical approach performed in the three-chamber apparatus. Altogether, the Vsoc-maze allows evaluating the specific alterations of social behavior in mice in a time-efficient and reproducible manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Martínez-Torres
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Gomis-González
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Navarro-Romero
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Ozaita
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Chow CHT, Rizwan A, Xu R, Poulin L, Bhardwaj V, Van Lieshout RJ, Buckley N, Schmidt LA. Association of Temperament With Preoperative Anxiety in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2:e195614. [PMID: 31173131 PMCID: PMC6563582 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.5614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Preoperative anxiety is associated with poor behavioral adherence during anesthetic induction and adverse postoperative outcomes. Research suggests that temperament can affect preoperative anxiety and influence its short- and long-term effects, but these associations have not been systematically examined. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of temperament with preoperative anxiety in young patients undergoing surgery. DATA SOURCES Studies from MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched from database inception to June 2018. STUDY SELECTION All prospective studies reporting associations of temperament with preoperative anxiety were included. Overall, 43 of 5451 identified studies met selection criteria. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Using the PRISMA guidelines, reviewers independently read 43 full-text articles, extracted data on eligible studies, and assessed the quality of each study. Data were pooled using the Lipsey and Wilson random-effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary outcome was the association of temperament with preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing surgery. RESULTS A total of 23 studies, with 4527 participants aged 1 to 18 years, were included in this review. Meta-analysis of 12 studies including 1064 participants revealed that emotionality (r = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.19), intensity of reaction (r = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.46), and withdrawal (r = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.55) were positively associated with preoperative anxiety, whereas activity level (r = -0.23; 95% CI, -0.31 to -0.16) was negatively correlated with preoperative anxiety. Impulsivity was not significantly associated with preoperative anxiety. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This systematic review and meta-analysis provided evidence suggesting that temperament may help identify pediatric patients at risk of preoperative anxiety and guide the design of prevention and intervention strategies. Future studies should continue to explore temperament and other factors influencing preoperative anxiety and their transactional effects to guide the development of precision treatment approaches and to optimize perioperative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl H. T. Chow
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ayesha Rizwan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Xu
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Poulin
- Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Varun Bhardwaj
- Bachelor of Health Sciences Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan J. Van Lieshout
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norman Buckley
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Louis A. Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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14
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Two ancient neuropeptides, PACAP and AVP, modulate motivated behavior at synapses in the extrahypothalamic brain: a study in contrast. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:103-122. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2958-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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15
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Oksman E, Rosenström T, Hintsanen M, Pulkki-Råback L, Viikari J, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari OT, Keltikangas-Järvinen L. A Longitudinal Multilevel Study of the "Social" Genotype and Diversity of the Phenotype. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2034. [PMID: 30405505 PMCID: PMC6207617 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sociability and social domain-related behaviors have been associated with better well-being and endogenous oxytocin levels. Inspection of the literature, however, reveals that the effects between sociability and health outcomes, or between sociability and genotype, are often weak or inconsistent. In the field of personality psychology, the social phenotype is often measured by error-prone assessments based on different theoretical frameworks, which can partly explain the inconsistency of the previous findings. In this study, we evaluated the generalizability of “sociability” measures by partitioning the population variance in adulthood sociability using five indicators from three personality inventories and assessed in two to four follow-ups over a 15-year period (n = 1,573 participants, 28,323 person-observations; age range 20–50 years). Furthermore, we tested whether this variance partition would shed more light to the inconsistencies surrounding the “social” genotype, by using four genetic variants (rs1042778, rs2254298, rs53576, rs3796863) previously associated with a wide range of human social functions. Based on our results, trait (between-individual) variance explained 23% of the variance in overall sociability, differences between sociability indicators explained 41%, state (within-individual) variance explained 5% and measurement errors explained 32%. The genotype was associated only with the sociability indicator variance, suggesting it has specific effects on sentimentality and emotional sharing instead of reflecting general sociability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Oksman
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tom Rosenström
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mirka Hintsanen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Unit of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Laura Pulkki-Råback
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jorma Viikari
- Departments of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center-Tampere, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Olli Tuomas Raitakari
- Departments of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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16
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Zerbi V, Ielacqua GD, Markicevic M, Haberl MG, Ellisman MH, A-Bhaskaran A, Frick A, Rudin M, Wenderoth N. Dysfunctional Autism Risk Genes Cause Circuit-Specific Connectivity Deficits With Distinct Developmental Trajectories. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:2495-2506. [PMID: 29901787 PMCID: PMC5998961 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a set of complex neurodevelopmental disorders for which there is currently no targeted therapeutic approach. It is thought that alterations of genes regulating migration and synapse formation during development affect neural circuit formation and result in aberrant connectivity within distinct circuits that underlie abnormal behaviors. However, it is unknown whether deviant developmental trajectories are circuit-specific for a given autism risk-gene. We used MRI to probe changes in functional and structural connectivity from childhood to adulthood in Fragile-X (Fmr1-/y) and contactin-associated (CNTNAP2-/-) knockout mice. Young Fmr1-/y mice (30 days postnatal) presented with a robust hypoconnectivity phenotype in corticocortico and corticostriatal circuits in areas associated with sensory information processing, which was maintained until adulthood. Conversely, only small differences in hippocampal and striatal areas were present during early postnatal development in CNTNAP2-/- mice, while major connectivity deficits in prefrontal and limbic pathways developed between adolescence and adulthood. These findings are supported by viral tracing and electron micrograph approaches and define 2 clearly distinct connectivity endophenotypes within the autism spectrum. We conclude that the genetic background of ASD strongly influences which circuits are most affected, the nature of the phenotype, and the developmental time course of the associated changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Zerbi
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna D Ielacqua
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marija Markicevic
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Georg Haberl
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark H Ellisman
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Arjun A-Bhaskaran
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Andreas Frick
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Markus Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Mitra S, Mucha M, Owen S, Bult-Ito A. Postpartum Lactation-Mediated Behavioral Outcomes and Drug Responses in a Spontaneous Mouse Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2683-2697. [PMID: 28945961 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Using a spontaneous mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the current study evaluated the influence of postpartum lactation on the expression of compulsive-like behaviors, SSRI effectiveness, and the putative role of oxytocin and dopamine in mediating these lactation specific behavioral outcomes. Compulsive-like lactating mice were less compulsive-like in nest building and marble burying and showed enhanced responsiveness to fluoxetine (50 mg/kg) in comparison to compulsive-like nonlactating and nulliparous females. Lactating mice exhibited more anxiety-like behavior in the open field test compared to the nulliparous females, while chronic fluoxetine reduced anxiety-like behaviors. Blocking the oxytocin receptor with L368-899 (5 mg/kg) in the lactating mice exacerbated the compulsive-like and depression-like behaviors. The dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) agonist bromocriptine (10 mg/kg) suppressed marble burying, nest building, and central entries in the open field, but because it also suppressed overall locomotion in the open field, activation of the D2R receptor may have inhibited overall activity nonspecifically. Lactation- and fluoxetine-mediated behavioral outcomes in compulsive-like mice, therefore, appear to be partly regulated by oxytocinergic mechanisms. Serotonin immunoreactivity and serum levels were higher in lactating compulsive-like mice compared to nonlactating and nulliparous compulsive-like females. Together, these results suggest behavioral modulation, serotonergic alterations, and changes in SSRI effectiveness during lactation in compulsive-like mice. This warrants further investigation of postpartum events in OCD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarup Mitra
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
- IDeA
Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
| | - McKenzie Mucha
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
| | - Savanah Owen
- Department of Biology & Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
| | - Abel Bult-Ito
- Department of Biology & Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
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18
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Sabihi S, Dong SM, Maurer SD, Post C, Leuner B. Oxytocin in the medial prefrontal cortex attenuates anxiety: Anatomical and receptor specificity and mechanism of action. Neuropharmacology 2017; 125:1-12. [PMID: 28655609 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies in animals and humans have established that oxytocin (OT) reduces anxiety. In rats, the prelimbic (PL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is among the brain areas implicated in the anxiolytic actions of OT. However, questions remain about the anatomical and receptor specificity of OT and its mechanism of action. Here we assessed whether the regulation of anxiety by mPFC OT is restricted to the PL subregion and evaluated whether oxytocin receptor (OTR) activation is required for OT to have an anxiolytic effect. We also examined whether OT interacts with GABA in the mPFC to reduce anxiety and investigated the extent to which OT in the mPFC affects activation of mPFC GABA neurons as well as neuronal activation in the amygdala, a primary target of the mPFC which is part of the neural network regulating anxiety. We found that OT reduced anxiety-like behavior when delivered to the PL, but not infralimbic or anterior cingulate subregions of the mPFC. The anxiolytic effect of OT in the PL mPFC was blocked by pretreatment with an OTR, but not a vasopressin receptor, antagonist as well as with a GABAA receptor antagonist. Lastly, administration of OT to the PL mPFC was accompanied by increased activation of GABA neurons in the PL mPFC and altered neuronal activation of the amygdala following anxiety testing. These results demonstrate that OT in the PL mPFC attenuates anxiety-related behavior and may do so by engaging GABAergic neurons which ultimately modulate downstream brain regions implicated in anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sabihi
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Shirley M Dong
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Skyler D Maurer
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Caitlin Post
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; The Ohio State University, Department of Neuroscience, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; The Ohio State University, Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Group, Columbus, OH 43210, United States.
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19
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Oxytocin effects in schizophrenia: Reconciling mixed findings and moving forward. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 80:36-56. [PMID: 28506922 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that causes major functional impairment. Current pharmacologic treatments are inadequate, particularly for addressing negative and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide known to moderate social behaviors, has been investigated as a potential therapeutic for schizophrenia in recent years. Results have been decidedly mixed, leading to controversy regarding oxytocin's utility. In this review, we outline several considerations for interpreting the extant literature and propose a focused agenda for future work that builds on the most compelling findings regarding oxytocin effects in schizophrenia to date. Specifically, we examine underlying causes of heterogeneity in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted thus far and highlight the complexity of the human oxytocin system. We then review evidence of oxytocin's effects on specific deficits in schizophrenia, arguing for further study using objective, precise outcome measures in order to determine whether oxytocin has the potential to improve functional impairment in schizophrenia.
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20
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Witchey SK, Stevenson EL, Caldwell HK. Genotypic differences in intruder-evoked immediate early gene activation in male, but not female, vasopressin 1b receptor knockout mice. BMC Neurosci 2016; 17:75. [PMID: 27881080 PMCID: PMC5122005 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-016-0310-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (Avp) modulates social behaviors via its two centrally expressed receptors, the Avp 1a receptor and the Avp 1b receptor (Avpr1b). Recent work suggests that, at least in mice, Avp signaling through Avpr1b within the CA2 region of the hippocampus is critical for normal aggressive behaviors and social recognition memory. However, this brain area is just one part of a larger neural circuit that is likely to be impacted in Avpr1b knockout (−/−) mice. To identify other brain areas that are affected by altered Avpr1b signaling, genotypic differences in immediate early gene activation, i.e. c-FOS and early growth response factor 1 (EGR-1), were quantified using immunocytochemistry following a single exposure to an intruder. Results In females, no genotypic differences in intruder-evoked c-FOS or EGR-1 immunoreactivity were observed in any of the brain areas measured. In males, while there were no intruder-evoked genotypic differences in c-FOS immunoreactivity, genotypic differences were observed in EGR-1 immunoreactivity within the ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the anterior hypothalamus; with Avpr1b −/− males having less EGR-1 immunoreactivity in these regions than controls. Conclusions These data are the first to identify specific brain areas that may be a part of a neural circuit that includes Avpr1b-expressing cells in the CA2 region of the hippocampus. It is thought that this circuit, when working properly, plays a role in how an animal evaluates its social context. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12868-016-0310-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannah K Witchey
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Erica L Stevenson
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Heather K Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA. .,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
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21
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Namba T, Taniguchi M, Murata Y, Tong J, Wang Y, Okutani F, Yamaguchi M, Kaba H. Activation of arginine vasopressin receptor 1a facilitates the induction of long-term potentiation in the accessory olfactory bulb of male mice. Neurosci Lett 2016; 634:107-113. [PMID: 27697521 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction plays an important role in social recognition in most mammals. Central arginine vasopressin (AVP) plays a role in this olfaction-based recognition. The high level of expression of AVP receptors in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) at the first relay of the vomeronasal system highlights the importance of AVP signaling at this stage. We therefore analyzed the effects of AVP on the synaptic plasticity of glutamatergic transmission from mitral cells to granule cells in AOB slices from male mice. To monitor the strength of the glutamatergic transmission, we measured the maximal initial slope of the lateral olfactory tract-evoked field potential, which represents the granule cell response to mitral cell activation. AVP paired with 100-Hz stimulation that only produced short-term potentiation enhanced the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in a dose-dependent manner. AVP-paired LTP was blocked by the selective AVP receptor 1a (AVPR1a) antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]AVP (Manning compound), but not by the AVPR1b antagonist SSR149415, and it was mimicked by the selective AVPR1a agonist [Phe2, Ile3, Orn8]-vasopressin. We further examined the effect of AVP on the reciprocal transmission between mitral and granule cells by stimulating a mitral cell and recording the evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) from the same cell using conventional whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. AVP reduced the reciprocal IPSCs triggered by endogenous glutamate release from the excited mitral cell. These results suggest that AVP promotes the induction of LTP at the mitral-to-granule cell synapse via the activation of AVPR1a through an as-yet-to-be-determined mechanism in the AOB of male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiharu Namba
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Mutsuo Taniguchi
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Murata
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Jia Tong
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan; Department of Occupational Health, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Fumino Okutani
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan; Department of Occupational Health, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamaguchi
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Hideto Kaba
- Department of Physiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
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22
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LoParo D, Johansson A, Walum H, Westberg L, Santtila P, Waldman I. Rigorous tests of gene-environment interactions in a lab study of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), alcohol exposure, and aggression. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171:589-602. [PMID: 26250573 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Naturalistic studies of gene-environment interactions (G X E) have been plagued by several limitations, including difficulty isolating specific environmental risk factors from other correlated aspects of the environment, gene-environment correlation (rGE ), and the use of a single genetic variant to represent the influence of a gene. We present results from 235 Finnish young men in two lab studies of aggression and alcohol challenge that attempt to redress these limitations of the extant G X E literature. Specifically, we use a latent variable modeling approach in an attempt to more fully account for genetic variation across the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and to robustly test its main effects on aggression and its interaction with alcohol exposure. We also modeled aggression as a latent variable comprising various indices, including the average and maximum levels of aggression, the earliest trial on which aggression was expressed, and the proportion of trials on which the minimum and maximum levels of aggression were expressed. The best fitting model for the genetic variation across OXTR included six factors derived from an exploratory factor analysis, roughly corresponding to six haplotype blocks. Aggression levels were higher on trials in which participants were administered alcohol, won, or were provoked. There was a significant main effect of OXTR on aggression across studies after controlling for covariates. The interaction of OXTR and alcohol was also significant across studies, such that OXTR had stronger effects on aggression in the alcohol administration condition. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon LoParo
- Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ada Johansson
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Walum
- Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pekka Santtila
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Irwin Waldman
- Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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23
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Tamborski S, Mintz EM, Caldwell HK. Sex Differences in the Embryonic Development of the Central Oxytocin System in Mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2016; 28. [PMID: 26763721 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that oxytocin (OXT) may be important for organising the neural circuitry that underlies adult social behaviour. Although most of the work exploring these effects has focused on early postnatal development, there is evidence that OXT may also be important during foetal development. However, without an understanding of how the OXT system develops, the ability to functionally link OXT in foetal life to adult behaviour is limited. To understand where and when OXT could be acting during embryonic development to affect the organisation of neural substrates, we examined the development of the mouse OXT system from embryonic day (E) 12.5 through postnatal day (PND) 2 using OXT receptor (OXTR) binding and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In both males and females, OXTR binding was observed by E16.5 in the ventricular and subventricular zones, as well as the developing amygdala. In males, OXT mRNA was not detectable until PND2, whereas it was detectable by E16.5 in females. OXTR mRNA was detected by E12.5 in both sexes, although females appear to have more OXTR mRNA during foetal development than males. The present study is significant because it is the first to reveal an unexpected sex difference in the development of the OXT system and supports the possibility that OXT during foetal development may contribute to sex differences in adult behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tamborski
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - E M Mintz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - H K Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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Harrison AJ, Gamsiz ED, Berkowitz IC, Nagpal S, Jerskey BA. Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with a social phenotype in autism spectrum disorders. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2015; 168:720-9. [PMID: 26365303 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin regulates social behavior in animal models. Research supports an association between genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this study, we examine the association between the OXTR gene and a specific social phenotype within ASD. This genotype-phenotype investigation may provide insight into how OXTR conveys risk for social impairment. The current study investigated 10 SNPS in the OXTR gene that have been previously shown to be associated with ASD. We examine the association of these SNPs with both a social phenotype and a repetitive behavior phenotype comprised of behaviors commonly impaired in ASD in the Simons simplex collection (SSC). Using a large sample to examine the association between OXTR and ASD (n = range: 485-1002), we find evidence to support a relation between two OXTR SNPs and the examined social phenotype among children diagnosed with ASD. Greater impairment on the social responsiveness scale standardized total score and on several subdomains was observed among individuals with one or more copies of the minor frequency allele in both rs7632287 and rs237884. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping suggests that these two SNPs are in LD within and overlapping the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the OXTR gene. These two SNPs were also associated with greater impairment on the repetitive behavior scale. Results of this study indicate that social impairment and repetitive behaviors in ASD are associated with genomic variation in the 3'UTR of the OXTR gene. These variants may be linked to an allele that alters stability of the mRNA message although further work is necessary to test this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J Harrison
- Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Ece D Gamsiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.,Developmental Disorders Genetics Research Program, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Riverside, Rhode Island
| | - Isaac C Berkowitz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry and Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Shailender Nagpal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry and Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Beth A Jerskey
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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Smith CJW, Wilkins KB, Mogavero JN, Veenema AH. Social Novelty Investigation in the Juvenile Rat: Modulation by the μ-Opioid System. J Neuroendocrinol 2015. [PMID: 26212131 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The drive to approach and explore novel conspecifics is inherent to social animals and may promote optimal social functioning. Juvenile animals seek out interactions with novel peers more frequently and find these interactions to be more rewarding than their adult counterparts. In the present study, we aimed to establish a behavioural paradigm to measure social novelty-seeking in juvenile rats and to determine the involvement of the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin systems in this behaviour. To this end, we developed the social novelty preference test to assess the preference of a juvenile rat to investigate a novel over a familiar (cage mate) conspecific. We show that across the juvenile period both male and female rats spend more time investigating a novel conspecific than a cage mate, independent of subject sex or repeated exposure to the test. We hypothesised that brain systems subserving social information processing and social motivation/reward (i.e. the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin systems) might support social novelty preference. To test this, receptor antagonists of each of these systems were administered i.c.v. prior to exposure to the social novelty preference test and, subsequently, to the social preference test, to examine the specificity of these effects. We find that μ-opioid receptor antagonism reduces novel social investigation in both the social novelty preference and social preference tests while leaving the investigation of a cage mate (social novelty preference test) or an object (social preference test) unaffected. In contrast, central blockade of dopamine D2 receptors (with eticlopride), oxytocin receptors (with des-Gly-NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT) or vasopressin V1a receptors [with (CH2)5Tyr(Me2)AVP] failed to alter social novelty preference or social preference. Overall, we have established a new behavioural test to study social novelty-seeking behaviour in the juvenile rat and show that the μ-opioid system facilitates this behaviour, possibly by reducing risk avoidance and enhancing the hedonic and/or motivational value of social novelty.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J W Smith
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - K B Wilkins
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - J N Mogavero
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - A H Veenema
- Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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van Wingerden M, van den Bos W. Can You Trust a Rat? Using Animal Models to Investigate the Neural Basis of Trust Like Behavior. SOCIAL COGNITION 2015. [DOI: 10.1521/soco.2015.33.5.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Mesic I, Guzman YF, Guedea AL, Jovasevic V, Corcoran KA, Leaderbrand K, Nishimori K, Contractor A, Radulovic J. Double Dissociation of the Roles of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Oxytocin Receptor in Discrete Social Behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:2337-46. [PMID: 25824423 PMCID: PMC4538348 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions in vertebrates are complex phenomena based on affective and cognitive processes. Multiple brain regions and neurotransmitter systems are involved in the expression of social behaviors, but their individual roles in specific aspects of social interactions are not well understood. Here we investigated how Gq-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) affect social affiliation and social memory. We used conditional genetic approaches in which the genes coding for these receptors were knocked out in the lateral septum by infusion of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors containing Cre recombinase (AAV-Cre). Social behavior was assessed 2 weeks later using a three-chamber paradigm for sociability and preference for social novelty. Septal deletion of mGluR5 abolished sociability while leaving preference for social novelty intact. In contrast, deletion of Oxtr did not affect sociability but significantly impaired preference for social novelty. Nonsocial behaviors or memories, including novel object recognition or fear conditioning, were not affected by these genetic manipulations. Immunohistochemical analyses of the distribution of mGluR5 and Oxtr revealed non-overlapping localization of these receptors within the lateral septum, suggesting that not only different neurotransmitters but also different neuronal types contribute to sociability versus preference for social novelty. Our findings identify highly specialized roles of lateral septal mGluR5 and Oxtr in the the regulation of discrete social behaviors, and suggest that deficits in social interactions, which accompany many mental illnesses, would benefit from comprehensive treatments targeting different components of social functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Mesic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yomayra F Guzman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anita L Guedea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vladimir Jovasevic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin A Corcoran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katherine Leaderbrand
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Anis Contractor
- Department of Physiology and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jelena Radulovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Ward 13-130, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Tel: +1 312 503 4627, Fax: +1 312 503 0466, E-mail:
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Haram M, Tesli M, Dieset I, Steen NE, Røssberg JI, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA, Melle I. An attempt to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms contributing to possible relationships between personality traits and oxytocin-related genes. Neuropsychobiology 2015; 69:25-30. [PMID: 24458227 DOI: 10.1159/000356965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin play a central role in social behavior. Trials with intranasal oxytocin have been conducted and many indicate that the hormone facilitates affiliative behavior and trust. Intranasal oxytocin administration is suggested as a treatment option for psychiatric illnesses with altered sociability as a core symptom and the effects may be due to differences in variants of oxytocin- and vasopressin-related genes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the endogenous oxytocin system by exploring the relationship between variants in the oxytocin gene factors and personality traits closely related to trust, anxiety and social behavior. METHODS 72 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for oxytocin (OXT), vasopressin (AVP), the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 (CD38), including polymorphisms reported earlier to be related to social phenotypes and novel SNPs, were investigated in 196 healthy subjects. Association analysis between these variants and 3 personality traits (agreeableness, neuroticism and extraversion) measured by the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory was performed. RESULTS We found 7 nominally significant associations for personality traits: agreeableness [rs857240 (AVP, p = 0.0075), rs2270463 (OXTR, p = 0.047)], neuroticism [rs3756242 (CD38, p = 0.024), rs13104011 (CD38, p = 0.024), rs6816486 (CD38, p = 0.024), rs7655635 (CD38, p = 0.034)] and extraversion [rs237878 (OXTR, p = 0.019)]. None of these associations remained significant after the Bonferroni correction (p threshold = 2.31 × 10(-4)). CONCLUSION Our results do not contradict the hypothesis of associations between personality traits and oxytocin-related gene variants; however, there are no statistically significant associations after correcting for multiple testing, warranting replication in larger samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit Haram
- KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Oslo, Norway
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Miller TV, Caldwell HK. Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:76. [PMID: 26042087 PMCID: PMC4437049 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (Oxt) is a neurohormone known for its physiological roles associated with lactation and parturition in mammals. Oxt can also profoundly influence mammalian social behaviors such as affiliative, parental, and aggressive behaviors. While the acute effects of Oxt signaling on adult behavior have been heavily researched in many species, including humans, the developmental effects of Oxt on the brain and behavior are just beginning to be explored. There is evidence that Oxt in early postnatal and peripubertal development, and perhaps during prenatal life, affects adult behavior by altering neural structure and function. However, the specific mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown. Thus, this review will detail what is known about how developmental Oxt impacts behavior as well as explore the specific neurochemicals and neural substrates that are important to these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis V. Miller
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Heather K. Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- *Correspondence: Heather K. Caldwell, Kent State University, PO Box 5190, 121 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA,
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Rich ME, Caldwell HK. A Role for Oxytocin in the Etiology and Treatment of Schizophrenia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:90. [PMID: 26089815 PMCID: PMC4453483 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder estimated to affect 51 million people worldwide. Several symptom domains characterize schizophrenia, including negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and anhedonia, cognitive impairments, such as disorganized thinking and impaired memory, and positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. While schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with no single "cause," there is evidence that the oxytocin (Oxt) system may be dysregulated in some individuals. Further, treatment with intranasal Oxt reduces some of the heterogeneous symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Since Oxt is known for its modulatory effects on a variety of social and non-social behaviors, it is perhaps not surprising that it may contribute to some aspects of schizophrenia and could also be a useful therapeutic agent. In this review, we highlight what is known about Oxt's contributions to schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related behaviors and discuss its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Elizabeth Rich
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Heather Kingsley Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- *Correspondence: Heather Kingsley Caldwell, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, PO Box 5190, 121 Cunningham Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA,
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Looking for prosocial genes: ITRAQ analysis of proteins involved in MDMA-induced sociability in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 24:1773-83. [PMID: 25241352 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social behavior plays a fundamental role in life of many animal species, allowing the interaction between individuals and sharing of experiences, needs, and goals across them. In humans, some neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and autism spectrum disorders, are often characterized by impaired sociability. Here we report that N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") at low dose (3mg/kg) has differential effects on mouse social behavior. In some animals, MDMA promotes sociability without hyperlocomotion, whereas in other mice it elevates locomotor activity without affecting sociability. Both WAY-100635, a selective antagonist of 5-HT1A receptor, and L-368899, a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist, abolish prosocial effects of MDMA. Differential quantitative analysis of brain proteome by isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification technology (iTRAQ) revealed 21 specific proteins that were highly correlated with sociability, and allowed to distinguish between entactogenic prosocial and hyperlocomotor effects of MDMA on proteome level. Our data suggest particular relevance of neurotransmission mediated by GABA B receptor, as well as proteins involved in energy maintenance for MDMA-induced sociability. Functional association network for differentially expressed proteins in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala were identified. These results provide new information for understanding the neurobiological substrate of sociability and may help to discover new therapeutic approaches to modulate social behavior in patients suffering from social fear and low sociability.
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Mielnik CA, Horsfall W, Ramsey AJ. Diazepam improves aspects of social behaviour and neuron activation in NMDA receptor-deficient mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2014; 13:592-602. [PMID: 25040071 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
NR1 knockdown (NR1KD) mice are genetically modified to express low levels of the NR1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and show deficits in affiliative social behaviour. In this study, we determined which brain regions were selectively activated in response to social stimulation and asked whether differences in neuronal activation could be observed in mice with reduced sociability. Furthermore, we aimed to determine whether brain activation patterns correlated with the amelioration of social deficits through pharmacological intervention. The cingulate cortex, lateral septal nuclei, hypothalamus, thalamus and amygdala showed an increase in c-Fos immunoreactivity that was selective for exposure to social stimuli. NR1KD mice displayed a reduction in social behaviour and a reduction in c-Fos immunoreactivity in the cingulate cortex and septal nuclei. Acute clozapine did not significantly alter sociability; however, diazepam treatment did increase sociability and neuronal activation in the lateral septal region. This study has identified the lateral septal region as a neural substrate of social behaviour and the GABA system as a potential therapeutic target for social dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Mielnik
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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33
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Rich ME, deCárdenas EJ, Lee HJ, Caldwell HK. Impairments in the initiation of maternal behavior in oxytocin receptor knockout mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98839. [PMID: 24892749 PMCID: PMC4044031 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (Oxt) acting through its single receptor subtype, the Oxtr, is important for the coordination of physiology and behavior associated with parturition and maternal care. Knockout mouse models have been helpful in exploring the contributions of Oxt to maternal behavior, including total body Oxt knockout (Oxt −/−) mice, forebrain conditional Oxtr knockout (Oxtr FB/FB) mice, and total body Oxtr knockout (Oxtr −/−) mice. Since Oxtr −/− mice are unable to lactate, maternal behavior has only been examined in virgin females, or in dams within a few hours of parturition, and there have been no studies that have examined their anxiety-like and depression-like behavior following parturition. To improve our understanding of how the absence of Oxt signaling affects maternal behavior, mood and anxiety, we designed a study using Oxtr −/− mice that separated nursing behavior from other aspects of maternal care, such as licking and grooming by thelectomizing (i.e. removing the nipples) of Oxtr +/+ mice and sham-thelectomizing Oxtr −/− mice, and pairing both genotypes with a wet nurse. We then measured pup abandonment, maternal behavior, and postpartum anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. We hypothesized that genetic disruption of the Oxtr would impact maternal care, mood and anxiety. Specifically, we predicted that Oxtr −/− dams would have impaired maternal care and increased anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in the postpartum period. We found that Oxtr −/− dams had significantly higher levels of pup abandonment compared to controls, which is consistent with previous work in Oxtr FB/FB mice. Interestingly, Oxtr −/− dams that initiated maternal care did not differ from wildtype controls in measures of maternal behavior. We also did not find any evidence of altered anxiety-like or depressive-like behavior in the postpartum period of Oxtr −/− dams. Thus, our data suggest that Oxt lowers the threshold for the initiation of maternal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Rich
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Emily J. deCárdenas
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Heon-Jin Lee
- Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry and the Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Heather K. Caldwell
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Won H, Mah W, Kim E. Autism spectrum disorder causes, mechanisms, and treatments: focus on neuronal synapses. Front Mol Neurosci 2013; 6:19. [PMID: 23935565 PMCID: PMC3733014 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2013.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors. Advances in human genomics have identified a large number of genetic variations associated with ASD. These associations are being rapidly verified by a growing number of studies using a variety of approaches, including mouse genetics. These studies have also identified key mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ASD, many of which involve synaptic dysfunctions, and have investigated novel, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. This review will try to integrate these three key aspects of ASD research: human genetics, animal models, and potential treatments. Continued efforts in this direction should ultimately reveal core mechanisms that account for a larger fraction of ASD cases and identify neural mechanisms associated with specific ASD symptoms, providing important clues to efficient ASD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejung Won
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Won Mah
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic ScienceDaejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic ScienceDaejeon, South Korea
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Oddi D, Crusio WE, D'Amato FR, Pietropaolo S. Monogenic mouse models of social dysfunction: implications for autism. Behav Brain Res 2013; 251:75-84. [PMID: 23327738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2012] [Revised: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a pervasive disorder characterized by a complex symptomatology, based principally on social dysfunction. The disorder has a highly complex, largely genetic etiology, involving an impressive variety of genes, the precise contributions of which still remain to be determined. For this reason, a reductionist approach to the study of autism has been proposed, employing monogenic animal models of social dysfunction, either by targeting a candidate gene, or by mimicking a single-gene disorder characterized by autistic symptoms. In the present review, we discuss this monogenic approach by comparing examples of each strategy: the mu opioid receptor knock-out (KO) mouse line, which targets the opioid system (known to be involved in the control of social behaviors); and the Fmr1-KO mouse, a model for Fragile X syndrome (a neurodevelopmental syndrome that includes autistic symptoms). The autistic-relevant behavioral phenotypes of the mu-opioid and Fmr1-KO mouse lines are described here, summarizing previous work by our research group and others, but also providing novel experimental evidence. Relevant factors influencing the validity of the two models, such as sex differences and age at testing, are also addressed, permitting an extensive evaluation of the advantages and limits of monogenic mouse models for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Oddi
- CNR, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy; IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Baranowski T, Baranowski J, O'Connor T, Lu AS, Thompson D. Is Enhanced Physical Activity Possible Using Active Videogames? Games Health J 2012; 1:228-232. [PMID: 24416640 DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2012.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Our research indicated that 10-12-year-old children receiving two active Wii™ (Nintendo®; Nintendo of America, Inc., Redmond, WA) console videogames were no more physically active than children receiving two inactive videogames. Research is needed on how active videogames may increase physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Baranowski
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center , Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Janice Baranowski
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center , Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Teresia O'Connor
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center , Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amy Shirong Lu
- Department of Communication Studies, School of Communication, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois
| | - Debbe Thompson
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center , Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Dhakar MB, Rich ME, Reno EL, Lee HJ, Caldwell HK. Heightened aggressive behavior in mice with lifelong versus postweaning knockout of the oxytocin receptor. Horm Behav 2012; 62:86-92. [PMID: 22609339 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Revised: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous work implicating the neuropeptide oxytocin (Oxt) in the neural regulation of aggression in males has been limited. However, there are reports of heightened aggression in Oxt knockout and Oxt receptor (Oxtr) knockout male mice when they are born to null mutant mothers; suggesting that intrauterine exposure to Oxt may be important to normal aggression in adulthood. To explore this, we examined aggression in two lines of Oxtr mice, a total knockout (Oxtr-/-), in which the Oxtr gene is absent from the time of conception, and a predominantly forebrain specific knockout (Oxtr FB/FB), in which the Oxtr gene is not excised until approximately 21-28days postnatally. Aggression was measured in males from both lines, as well as control littermates, using a resident-intruder behavioral test. Consistent with previous reports, male Oxtr-/- mice had elevated levels of aggression relative to controls. Oxtr FB/FB mice on the other hand displayed levels of aggression similar to control animals. In addition, following a resident-intruder test, Oxtr+/+ mice that displayed aggression had less c-fos immunoreactivity in the ventral portion of the lateral septum than those that did not. Further, Oxtr-/- mice had increased c-fos immunoreactivity in the medial amygdala relative to controls. These data suggest that Oxt may play an important role during development in the organization of the neural circuits that underlie aggressive behavior in adulthood, with its absence resulting in heightened aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica B Dhakar
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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