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King C, Rogers LG, Jansen J, Sivayokan B, Neyhard J, Warnes E, Hall SE, Plakke B. Adolescent treadmill exercise enhances hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and improves cognition in autism-modeled rats. Physiol Behav 2024; 284:114638. [PMID: 39004196 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and altered communication abilities. Exercise is a low-cost intervention that could improve cognitive function and improve brain plasticity mechanisms. Here, the valproic acid (VPA) model was utilized to induce ASD-like phenotypes in rodents. Animals were exercised on a treadmill and performance was evaluated on a cognitive flexibility task. Biomarkers related to exercise and plasticity regulation were quantified from the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and skeletal muscle. Exercised VPA animals had higher levels of hippocampal BDNF compared to sedentary VPA animals and upregulated antioxidant enzyme expression in skeletal muscle. Cognitive improvements were demonstrated in both sexes, but in different domains of cognitive flexibility. This research demonstrates the benefits of exercise and provides evidence that molecular responses to exercise occur in both the central nervous system and in the periphery. These results suggest that improving regulation of BDNF via exercise, even at low intensity, could provide better synaptic regulation and cognitive benefits for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole King
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Liza G Rogers
- Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jeremy Jansen
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Bhavana Sivayokan
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jenna Neyhard
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Ellie Warnes
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Stephanie E Hall
- Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Bethany Plakke
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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Sivayokan B, King C, Mali I, Payne M, Strating H, Warnes E, Bossmann SH, Plakke B. Aerobic exercise improves cognitive flexibility and modulates regional volume changes in a rat model of autism. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115136. [PMID: 38971431 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Gestational exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Rodents exposed to VPA in utero display common features of ASD, including volumetric dysregulation in higher-order cognitive regions like the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the hippocampus. Exercise has been shown in elderly populations to boost cognition and to buffer against brain volume losses with age. This study employed an adolescent treadmill exercise intervention to facilitate cognitive flexibility and regional brain volume regulation in rats exposed to VPA during gestation. It was found that exercise improved performance on extra-dimensional shifts of attention on a set-shifting task, which is indicative of improved cognitive flexibility. Exercise decreased frontal cortex volume in females, whereas in males exercise increased the ventral hippocampus. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise may be an effective intervention to counteract the altered development of prefrontal and hippocampal regions often observed in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavana Sivayokan
- Kansas State University, Psychological Sciences, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Cole King
- Kansas State University, Psychological Sciences, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Ivina Mali
- Kansas State University, Department of Chemistry, 1212 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Macy Payne
- Kansas State University, Department of Chemistry, 1212 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Hunter Strating
- Kansas State University, Psychological Sciences, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Ellie Warnes
- Kansas State University, Psychological Sciences, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Stefan H Bossmann
- Kansas State University, Department of Chemistry, 1212 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States
| | - Bethany Plakke
- Kansas State University, Psychological Sciences, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr. N, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
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Qiu F, Huang Y, Dziegielewska KM, Habgood MD, Saunders NR. Effects of co-administration of lamotrigine on valproate transfer across the placenta and its brain entry in developing Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS). Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:4536-4551. [PMID: 38978299 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
During development, embryos and foetuses may be exposed to maternally ingested antiseizure medications (ASM), valproate and lamotrigine, essential in some patients to control their epilepsy symptoms. Often, the two drugs are co-administered to reduce required doses of valproate, a known potential teratogen. This study used Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rat from Strasbourg to evaluate transfer of valproate and lamotrigine across late gestation placenta and their entry into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain of developing rats, in mono- and combination therapies. Animals at embryonic day (E) 19, postnatal day (P) 0, 4 and 21, and adults were administered valproate (30 mg/kg) or lamotrigine (6 mg/kg) with their respective [3H]-tracers, either alone or in combination. In chronic experiments, females consumed valproate-containing diet from 2 weeks prior to mating until offspring were used at E19 and P0. Drugs were injected 30 min before blood, CSF and brain samples were collected from terminally anaesthetised animals. Radioactivity in samples was measured. In acute monotherapy brain entry of valproate was higher in foetal than postnatal animals, correlating with its plasma protein binding. Brain entry of lamotrigine was not age-dependent. Combination therapy enhanced entry of lamotrigine into the adult brain but had no effects on brain and CSF entry of valproate. Following chronic valproate exposure, placental transfer of valproate decreased in combination therapy; however, foetal brain entry increased. Results suggest that during pregnancy, the use of combination therapy of valproate and lamotrigine may mitigate overall foetal exposure to valproate but potential risks to foetal brain development are less clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Qiu
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yifan Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katarzyna M Dziegielewska
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark D Habgood
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Norman R Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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King C, Maze T, Plakke B. Altered prefrontal and cerebellar parvalbumin neuron counts are associated with cognitive changes in male rats. Exp Brain Res 2024:10.1007/s00221-024-06902-y. [PMID: 39085433 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06902-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a common anti-seizure medication, in utero is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People with ASD often display changes in the cerebellum, including volume changes, altered circuitry, and changes in Purkinje cell populations. ASD is also characterized by changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where excitatory/inhibitory balance is often altered. This study exposed rats to a high dose of VPA during gestation and assessed cognition and anxiety-like behaviors during young adulthood using a set-shifting task and the elevated plus maze. Inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing (PV +) neuron counts were assessed in the mPFC and cerebellar lobules VI and VII (Purkinje cell layers), which are known to modulate cognition. VPA males had increased PV + counts in crus I and II of lobule VII. VPA males also had decreased parvalbumin-expressing neuron counts in the mPFC. It was also found that VPA-exposed rats, regardless of sex, had increased parvalbumin-expressing Purkinje cell counts in lobule VI. In males, this was associated with impaired intra-dimensional shifting on a set-shifting task. Purkinje cell over proliferation may be contributing to the previously observed increase in volume of Lobule VI. These findings suggest that altered inhibitory signaling in cerebellar-frontal circuits may contribute to the cognitive deficits that occur within ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole King
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Tessa Maze
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Bethany Plakke
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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Barzegari A, Mahdirejei HA, Hanani M, Esmaeili MH, Salari AA. Adolescent swimming exercise following maternal valproic acid treatment improves cognition and reduces stress-related symptoms in offspring mice: Role of sex and brain cytokines. Physiol Behav 2023; 269:114264. [PMID: 37295664 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) treatment during pregnancy is a risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder, cognitive deficits, and stress-related disorders in children. No effective therapeutic strategies are currently approved to treat or manage core symptoms of autism. Active lifestyles and physical activity are closely associated with health and quality of life during childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate whether swimming exercise during adolescence can prevent the development of cognitive dysfunction and stress-related disorders in prenatally VPA-exposed mice offspring. Pregnant mice received VPA, afterwards, offspring were subjected to swimming exercise. We assessed neurobehavioral performances and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-(IL)6, tumor-necrosis-factor-(TNF)α, interferon-(IFN)γ, and IL-17A) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of offspring. Prenatal VPA treatment increased anxiety-and anhedonia-like behavior and decreased social behavior in male and female offspring. Prenatal VPA exposure also increased behavioral despair and reduced working and recognition memory in male offspring. Although prenatal VPA increased hippocampal IL-6 and IFN-γ, and prefrontal IFN-γ and IL-17 in males, it only increased hippocampal TNF-α and IFN-γ in female offspring. Adolescent exercise made VPA-treated male and female offspring resistant to anxiety-and anhedonia-like behavior in adulthood, whereas it only made VPA-exposed male offspring resistant to behavioral despair, social and cognitive deficits in adulthood. Exercise reduced hippocampal IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17, and prefrontal IFN-γ and IL-17 in VPA-treated male offspring, whereas it reduced hippocampal TNF-α and IFN-γ in VPA-treated female offspring. This study suggests that adolescent exercise may prevents the development of stress-related symptoms, cognitive deficits, and neuroinflammation in prenatally VPA-exposed offspring mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Barzegari
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Masoumeh Hanani
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran
| | | | - Ali-Akbar Salari
- Salari Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders (SICBD), Karaj, Alborz, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Hussein AM, Mahmoud SA, Elazab KM, Abouelnaga AF, Abass M, Mosa AAH, Hussein MAM, Elsayed MEG. Possible Mechanisms of the Neuroprotective Actions of Date Palm Fruits Aqueous Extracts against Valproic Acid-Induced Autism in Rats. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:1627-1643. [PMID: 36826050 PMCID: PMC9954972 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45020105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study aimed to determine how palm date aqueous fruit extracts (AFE) affected the autistic-like behaviors brought on by valproic acid (VPA) injection, as well as any potential contributions from Sirt-1, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. The pregnant Sprague Dawley females were treated with VPA at 12.5th gestation day and pregnant females and their offspring were treated with AFE orally at doses of 4 mg/Kg by gastric gavage for 45 days after birth. The elevated plus-T maze, water maze, and rotarod tests were used to examine autism-like behaviors. At the end of the study, the expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase (HO-1), Sirt-1, caspase-3 (a marker of apoptosis), LC3 (a marker of autophagy), and NFκB (inflammatory cytokines) were evaluated along with the oxidative stress in brain tissues and the histological changes in the cerebellum and hippocampus. The neurobehavioral assessments significantly declined due to VPA, which also significantly increased oxidative stress in the brain tissues and significantly decreased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. Additionally, VPA administration caused significant increase in the expression of caspase-3 in the cerebellar cortex, not in the hippocampus; LC3 and NFκB in the hippocampus, not in the cerebellar cortex; and significant reduction in the expression of Sirt-1 in the hippocampus, not in the cerebellum. On the other hand, AFE treatment significantly improved the neurobehavioral changes as well as it improved significantly the oxidative stress and the expression of LC3, NFκB, NrF2, HO-1, and Sirt-1 in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Conclusions: AFE administration might improve the autistic-like symptoms induced by VPA in rats via attenuation of the oxidative stress, upregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1, Sirt-1 and LC3 expression with downregulation of caspase-3, and NFκB expression in the cerebellum and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelaziz M. Hussein
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +20-10-02421140; Fax: +20-5-02263717
| | | | | | - Ahmed F. Abouelnaga
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Development of Animal Wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Marwa Abass
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. H. Mosa
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa 11152, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed E. G. Elsayed
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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Lee K, Mills Z, Cheung P, Cheyne JE, Montgomery JM. The Role of Zinc and NMDA Receptors in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:ph16010001. [PMID: 36678498 PMCID: PMC9866730 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA-type glutamate receptors are critical for synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Their unique properties and age-dependent arrangement of subunit types underpin their role as a coincidence detector of pre- and postsynaptic activity during brain development and maturation. NMDAR function is highly modulated by zinc, which is co-released with glutamate and concentrates in postsynaptic spines. Both NMDARs and zinc have been strongly linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), suggesting that NMDARs are an important player in the beneficial effects observed with zinc in both animal models and children with ASDs. Significant evidence is emerging that these beneficial effects occur via zinc-dependent regulation of SHANK proteins, which form the backbone of the postsynaptic density. For example, dietary zinc supplementation enhances SHANK2 or SHANK3 synaptic recruitment and rescues NMDAR deficits and hypofunction in Shank3ex13-16-/- and Tbr1+/- ASD mice. Across multiple studies, synaptic changes occur in parallel with a reversal of ASD-associated behaviours, highlighting the zinc-dependent regulation of NMDARs and glutamatergic synapses as therapeutic targets for severe forms of ASDs, either pre- or postnatally. The data from rodent models set a strong foundation for future translational studies in human cells and people affected by ASDs.
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Iezzi D, Curti L, Ranieri G, Gerace E, Costa A, Ilari A, La Rocca A, Luceri C, D'Ambrosio M, Silvestri L, Scardigli M, Mannaioni G, Masi A. Acute rapamycin rescues the hyperexcitable phenotype of accumbal medium spiny neurons in the valproic acid rat model of autism spectrum disorder. Pharmacol Res 2022; 183:106401. [PMID: 35987482 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an environmental model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), leads to a hyperexcitable phenotype associated with downregulation of inward-rectifying potassium currents in nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of adolescent rats. Aberrant mTOR pathway function has been associated with autistic-like phenotypes in multiple animal models, including gestational exposure to VPA. The purpose of this work was to probe the involvement of the mTOR pathway in VPA-induced alterations of striatal excitability. Adolescent male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to VPA were treated acutely with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and used for behavioral tests, ex vivo brain slice electrophysiology, single-neuron morphometric analysis, synaptic protein quantification and gene expression analysis in the NAc. We report that postnatal rapamycin ameliorates the social deficit and reverts the abnormal excitability, but not the inward-rectifying potassium current defect, of accumbal MSNs. Synaptic transmission and neuronal morphology were largely unaffected by prenatal VPA exposure or postnatal rapamycin treatment. Transcriptome analysis revealed extensive deregulation of genes implied in neurodevelopmental disorders and ionic mechanisms exerted by prenatal VPA, which was partially reverted by postnatal rapamycin. The results of this work support the existence of antagonistic interaction between mTOR and VPA-induced pathways on social behavior, neurophysiological phenotype and gene expression profile, thus prompting further investigation of the mTOR pathway in the quest for specific therapeutic targets in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Iezzi
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy; Institut de Neurobiologie de la MEDiterranée - INMED, 163, Avenue de Luminy - Parc Scientifique, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - L Curti
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - G Ranieri
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - E Gerace
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - A Costa
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - A Ilari
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - A La Rocca
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - C Luceri
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - M D'Ambrosio
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - L Silvestri
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Via Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - M Scardigli
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Via Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - G Mannaioni
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - A Masi
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino - NEUROFARBA, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
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Shahrbabaki SV, Jonaidi H, Sheibani V, Bashiri H. Early postnatal handling alters social behavior, learning, and memory of pre- and post-natal VPA-induced rat models of autism in a context-based manner. Physiol Behav 2022; 249:113739. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Epilepsy in Pregnancy—Management Principles and Focus on Valproate. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031369. [PMID: 35163292 PMCID: PMC8836209 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An estimated 60 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, half of whom are women. About one-third of women with epilepsy are of childbearing age. The childbirth rate in women with epilepsy is about 20–40% lower compared to that of the general population, which may be partly due to a lower number of these women being in relationships. Lower fertility in women with epilepsy may be linked to the disease itself, but it is mainly a result of the treatment provided. Valproate, as an antiepileptic drug inhibiting histone deacetylases, may affect the expression of genes associated with cell cycle control and cellular differentiation. Evidently, this drug is associated with the risk of malformations although other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may also trigger birth defects, however, to a lower degree. Valproate (and to a certain degree other AEDs) may induce autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The main mechanism responsible for all negative effects of prenatal exposure to valproate seems inhibition of histone deacetylases. Animal studies show a reduction in the expression of genes involved in social behavior and an increase in hippocampal cytokines. Valproate-induced oxidative stress may also contribute to neural tube defects. Interestingly, paternal exposure to this AED in mice may trigger neurodevelopmental disorders as well although a population-based cohort study does not confirm this effect. To lower the risk of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders, a single AED at the optimal dose and supplementation with folic acid is recommended. VPA should be avoided in women of childbearing age and especially during pregnancy.
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Shafaghi A, Vakili Shahrbabaki SS, Aminzadeh A, Heidari MR, Shamsi Meymandi M, Bashiri H. The effect of early handling on anxiety-like behaviors of rats exposed to valproic acid pre-and post-natally. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 89:107050. [PMID: 34801733 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, behaviorally defined disorder of the immature brain as a result of genetic and environmental risk factors, such as prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). This syndrome is known for its high prevalence. On the other hand, postnatal manipulations have been shown to affect brain development, cortical neuroscience, and pituitary-adrenal activity. In early handling (EH) procedure, pups are removed from their mother on a daily basis from birth to lactation, are physically touched, and exposed to the (a) new environment. In the present study, the effect of EH on anxiety-like behaviors in rats exposed pre- and post-natally to valproic acid was investigated. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly separated into six groups which are prenatal saline, Prenatal VPA, Prenatal VPA + EH and postnatal saline, Postnatal VPA, Postnatal VPA + EH. VPA administration was performed either on ED12.5 (600 mg/kg, i.p.) or PD 2-4 (400 mg/kg, s.c.). In the groups receiving EH, pups underwent physical handling from PD 1 to 21. On postnatal day 21 all offspring were weaned and the behavioral tests were performed on 30 and 31 days of age. Elevated plus maze and open field tests were used to investigate anxiety-like behaviors. RESULTS The results revealed that intraperitoneal injection of valrpoic acid (600 mg.kg) during pregnancy significantly reduced OAT% in males (p < 0.01) and females in a non-significant manner (p > 0.05). In comparison, rearing counts of prenatal VPA groups significantly increased in female sex (p < 0.05) in the EPM test. Following postnatal VPA administration (400 mg/kg), decrease in the time spent in central zone occurred in female rats in the open filed (p < 0.05), as well as a significant increase in the number of grooming of the male sex (p < 0.05). Applying Early Handling to male and female Wistar rats receiving prenatal VPA significantly reversed the OAT% fall (p < 0.05). EH in postnatally VPA exposed animals significantly decreased the OAT% and OAE% criteria, while increasing the locomotor activity of the female sex (p < 0.05). Compared with the postnatal VPA group, no significant change was reported in the EPM performance of postnatal VPA + EH group in neither of sexes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that injections of valproic acid during pregnancy lead to anxiety-like behaviors in male offspring, which EH can improve (attenuate) to some extent. VPA injections on the second to the fourth day of infancy did not have a profound effect on anxiety level. Further behavioral studies need to be performed using other devices to investigate anxiety-like behaviors and to determine the mechanisms involved in these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abouzar Shafaghi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyyed Sajjad Vakili Shahrbabaki
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Azadeh Aminzadeh
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Mahmoud Reza Heidari
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Pharmaceutical Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Manzumeh Shamsi Meymandi
- Pathology and Stem Cells Research Center, Kerman Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran..
| | - Hamideh Bashiri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.; Sirjan Faculty of Medical Science, Sirjan, Iran..
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12
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Hughes EM, Calcagno P, Sanchez C, Smith K, Kelly JP, Finn DP, Roche M. Mu-opioid receptor agonism differentially alters social behaviour and immediate early gene expression in male adolescent rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid versus controls. Brain Res Bull 2021; 174:260-267. [PMID: 34197938 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mu-opioid receptors (MOPs) mediate and modulate social reward and social interaction. However, few studies have examined the functionality of this system in rodent models of social impairment. Deficits in social motivation and cognition are observed in rodents following pre-natal exposure to the anti-epileptic valproic acid (VPA), however it is not known whether MOP functionality is altered in these animals. The present study examined the effects of acute administration of the prototypical MOP agonist morphine (1 mg/kg) on social behavioural responding in the 3-chamber test and immediate early gene expression in adolescent rats (postnatal day 28-43) prenatally exposed to VPA vs saline-exposed controls. Pharmacokinetic analysis of morphine concentration, MOP binding and expression were also examined. The data revealed that sociability and social novelty preference in the 3-chamber test were reduced in rats prenatally exposed to VPA compared to saline-exposed control counterparts. Morphine reduced both sociability and social novelty preference behaviour in saline-, but not VPA-, exposed rats. Analysis of immediate early gene expression revealed that morphine reduced the expression of cfos in the prefrontal cortex of both saline- and VPA-exposed rats and reduced expression of cfos and junb in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed rats only. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed similar concentrations of morphine in the plasma and brain of both saline- and VPA-exposed rats and similar thalamic MOP occupancy levels. Gene and protein expression of MOP in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus did not differ between saline and VPA-exposed rats. These data indicate differential effects of morphine on social responding and immediate early gene expression in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed rats compared with saline-exposed controls. This study provides support for altered MOP functionality in rats prenatally exposed to VPA, which may underlie the social deficits observed in the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edel M Hughes
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Patricia Calcagno
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - John P Kelly
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - David P Finn
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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13
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Adjimann TS, Argañaraz CV, Soiza-Reilly M. Serotonin-related rodent models of early-life exposure relevant for neurodevelopmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:280. [PMID: 33976122 PMCID: PMC8113523 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01388-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are continuously rising their prevalence across the globe. Early-life experience of individuals emerges as a main risk factor contributing to the developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. That is, perturbing environmental conditions during neurodevelopmental stages can have detrimental effects on adult mood and emotional responses. However, the possible maladaptive neural mechanisms contributing to such psychopathological phenomenon still remain poorly understood. In this review, we explore preclinical rodent models of developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, focusing on the impact of early-life environmental perturbations on behavioral aspects relevant to stress-related and psychiatric disorders. We limit our analysis to well-established models in which alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) system appear to have a crucial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms. We analyze long-term behavioral outcomes produced by early-life exposures to stress and psychotropic drugs such as the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or the anticonvulsant valproic acid (VPA). We perform a comparative analysis, identifying differences and commonalities in the behavioral effects produced in these models. Furthermore, this review discusses recent advances on neurodevelopmental substrates engaged in these behavioral effects, emphasizing the possible existence of maladaptive mechanisms that could be shared by the different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S. Adjimann
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla V. Argañaraz
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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14
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Gillentine MA, Wang T, Hoekzema K, Rosenfeld J, Liu P, Guo H, Kim CN, De Vries BBA, Vissers LELM, Nordenskjold M, Kvarnung M, Lindstrand A, Nordgren A, Gecz J, Iascone M, Cereda A, Scatigno A, Maitz S, Zanni G, Bertini E, Zweier C, Schuhmann S, Wiesener A, Pepper M, Panjwani H, Torti E, Abid F, Anselm I, Srivastava S, Atwal P, Bacino CA, Bhat G, Cobian K, Bird LM, Friedman J, Wright MS, Callewaert B, Petit F, Mathieu S, Afenjar A, Christensen CK, White KM, Elpeleg O, Berger I, Espineli EJ, Fagerberg C, Brasch-Andersen C, Hansen LK, Feyma T, Hughes S, Thiffault I, Sullivan B, Yan S, Keller K, Keren B, Mignot C, Kooy F, Meuwissen M, Basinger A, Kukolich M, Philips M, Ortega L, Drummond-Borg M, Lauridsen M, Sorensen K, Lehman A, Lopez-Rangel E, Levy P, Lessel D, Lotze T, Madan-Khetarpal S, Sebastian J, Vento J, Vats D, Benman LM, Mckee S, Mirzaa GM, Muss C, Pappas J, Peeters H, Romano C, Elia M, Galesi O, Simon MEH, van Gassen KLI, Simpson K, Stratton R, Syed S, Thevenon J, Palafoll IV, Vitobello A, Bournez M, Faivre L, Xia K, Earl RK, Nowakowski T, Bernier RA, Eichler EE. Rare deleterious mutations of HNRNP genes result in shared neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Med 2021; 13:63. [PMID: 33874999 PMCID: PMC8056596 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00870-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the increasing number of genomic sequencing studies, hundreds of genes have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The rate of gene discovery far outpaces our understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations, with clinical characterization remaining a bottleneck for understanding NDDs. Most disease-associated Mendelian genes are members of gene families, and we hypothesize that those with related molecular function share clinical presentations. METHODS We tested our hypothesis by considering gene families that have multiple members with an enrichment of de novo variants among NDDs, as determined by previous meta-analyses. One of these gene families is the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), which has 33 members, five of which have been recently identified as NDD genes (HNRNPK, HNRNPU, HNRNPH1, HNRNPH2, and HNRNPR) and two of which have significant enrichment in our previous meta-analysis of probands with NDDs (HNRNPU and SYNCRIP). Utilizing protein homology, mutation analyses, gene expression analyses, and phenotypic characterization, we provide evidence for variation in 12 HNRNP genes as candidates for NDDs. Seven are potentially novel while the remaining genes in the family likely do not significantly contribute to NDD risk. RESULTS We report 119 new NDD cases (64 de novo variants) through sequencing and international collaborations and combined with published clinical case reports. We consider 235 cases with gene-disruptive single-nucleotide variants or indels and 15 cases with small copy number variants. Three hnRNP-encoding genes reach nominal or exome-wide significance for de novo variant enrichment, while nine are candidates for pathogenic mutations. Comparison of HNRNP gene expression shows a pattern consistent with a role in cerebral cortical development with enriched expression among radial glial progenitors. Clinical assessment of probands (n = 188-221) expands the phenotypes associated with HNRNP rare variants, and phenotypes associated with variation in the HNRNP genes distinguishes them as a subgroup of NDDs. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our novel approach of exploiting gene families in NDDs identifies new HNRNP-related disorders, expands the phenotypes of known HNRNP-related disorders, strongly implicates disruption of the hnRNPs as a whole in NDDs, and supports that NDD subtypes likely have shared molecular pathogenesis. To date, this is the first study to identify novel genetic disorders based on the presence of disorders in related genes. We also perform the first phenotypic analyses focusing on related genes. Finally, we show that radial glial expression of these genes is likely critical during neurodevelopment. This is important for diagnostics, as well as developing strategies to best study these genes for the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelyn A Gillentine
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 3720 15th Ave NE S413A, Box 355065, Seattle, WA, 981095-5065, USA
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 3720 15th Ave NE S413A, Box 355065, Seattle, WA, 981095-5065, USA
| | - Kendra Hoekzema
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 3720 15th Ave NE S413A, Box 355065, Seattle, WA, 981095-5065, USA
| | - Jill Rosenfeld
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 3720 15th Ave NE S413A, Box 355065, Seattle, WA, 981095-5065, USA.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chang N Kim
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bert B A De Vries
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisenka E L M Vissers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Magnus Nordenskjold
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Kvarnung
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Lindstrand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Nordgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jozef Gecz
- School of Medicine and the Robinson Research Institute, the University of Adelaide at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Maria Iascone
- Laboratorio di Genetica Medica - ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Anna Cereda
- Department of Pediatrics, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Agnese Scatigno
- Department of Pediatrics, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Silvia Maitz
- Genetic Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione MBBM S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Ginevra Zanni
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sarah Schuhmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antje Wiesener
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Micah Pepper
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heena Panjwani
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Farida Abid
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irina Anselm
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Siddharth Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paldeep Atwal
- The Atwal Clinic: Genomic & Personalized Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Carlos A Bacino
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gifty Bhat
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katherine Cobian
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lynne M Bird
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Genetics/Dysmorphology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Meredith S Wright
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bert Callewaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Florence Petit
- Clinique de Génétique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Bâtiment Modulaire, CHU, 59037, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Sophie Mathieu
- Sorbonne Universités, Centre de Référence déficiences intellectuelles de causes rares, département de génétique et embryologie médicale, Hôpital Trousseau, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Afenjar
- Sorbonne Universités, Centre de Référence déficiences intellectuelles de causes rares, département de génétique et embryologie médicale, Hôpital Trousseau, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Celenie K Christensen
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kerry M White
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, IU Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Orly Elpeleg
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah, Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Itai Berger
- Pediatric Neurology, Assuta-Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel.,Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Edward J Espineli
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christina Fagerberg
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | - Timothy Feyma
- Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Susan Hughes
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.,The University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Isabelle Thiffault
- The University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.,Children's Mercy Kansas City, Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Bonnie Sullivan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Shuang Yan
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Kory Keller
- Oregon Health & Science University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Boris Keren
- Department of Genetics, Hópital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Cyril Mignot
- Department of Genetics, Hópital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Frank Kooy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marije Meuwissen
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alice Basinger
- Genetics Department, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Mary Kukolich
- Genetics Department, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Meredith Philips
- Genetics Department, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Lucia Ortega
- Genetics Department, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | | | - Mathilde Lauridsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kristina Sorensen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anna Lehman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Elena Lopez-Rangel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paul Levy
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Davor Lessel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Timothy Lotze
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Suneeta Madan-Khetarpal
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessica Sebastian
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jodie Vento
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Divya Vats
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shane Mckee
- Northern Ireland Regional Genetics Service, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
| | - Ghayda M Mirzaa
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Candace Muss
- Al Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - John Pappas
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetic Services, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven and Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Marleen E H Simon
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Koen L I van Gassen
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kara Simpson
- Rare Disease Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert Stratton
- Department of Genetics, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | - Sabeen Syed
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | - Julien Thevenon
- Àrea de Genètica Clínica i Molecular, Hospital Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Vitobello
- UF Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, FHU-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne and INSERM UMR1231 GAD, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000, Dijon, France.,INSERM UMR 1231 Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Marie Bournez
- Centre de Référence Maladies Rares « déficience intellectuelle », Centre de Génétique, FHU-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France.,Centre de Référence Maladies Rares « Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes malformatifs » Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Laurence Faivre
- INSERM UMR 1231 Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.,Centre de Référence Maladies Rares « Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes malformatifs » Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Kun Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | | | - Rachel K Earl
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tomasz Nowakowski
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 3720 15th Ave NE S413A, Box 355065, Seattle, WA, 981095-5065, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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15
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Chaliha D, Albrecht M, Vaccarezza M, Takechi R, Lam V, Al-Salami H, Mamo J. A Systematic Review of the Valproic-Acid-Induced Rodent Model of Autism. Dev Neurosci 2020; 42:12-48. [DOI: 10.1159/000509109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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16
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Hughes EM, Thornton AM, Kerr DM, Smith K, Sanchez C, Kelly JP, Finn DP, Roche M. Kappa Opioid Receptor-mediated Modulation of Social Responding in Adolescent Rats and in Rats Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid. Neuroscience 2020; 444:9-18. [PMID: 32763285 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.07.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The kappa opioid receptor (KOP) system modulates social play responding, however a paucity of studies have examined effects on social motivation and cognition in the absence of play. Prenatal exposure to the anti-epileptic and mood stabiliser valproic acid (VPA) is associated with impaired social responding and altered gene expression of KOP (oprk1) and dynorphin (pdyn) in several brain regions. The present study examined if pharmacological modulation of KOP altered social motivation and cognition, immediate early gene (IEG) and oprk1-pdyn expression in adolescent male rats and rats prenatally exposed to VPA. In control rats, the KOP antagonist DIPPA enhanced sociability, while both DIPPA and the KOP agonist U50488 decreased social novelty preference. In rats exposed prenatally to VPA, neither U50488 nor DIPPA altered sociability or social novelty preference. Analysis of IEG expression revealed that DIPPA reduced expression of egr-1 expression in the prefrontal cortex of control rats and U50488 increased junb expression in the PFC of both control and VPA-exposed rats. VPA-exposed rats exhibited increased expression of oprk1 and pdyn in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala compared with control rats. DIPPA and U50488 increased oprk1 expression in the amygdala of control rats and decreased oprk1 expression in the prefrontal cortex of VPA-exposed rats. Taken together, these data demonstrate that pharmacological modulation of the KOP system alters social motivation and cognition in control rats, an effect not observed in rats prenatally exposed to VPA. These data provide support that prenatal exposure to VPA is associated with alterations in the expression and functionality of KOP system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edel M Hughes
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Aoife M Thornton
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Daniel M Kerr
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - John P Kelly
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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17
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The early overgrowth theory of autism spectrum disorder: Insight into convergent mechanisms from valproic acid exposure and translational models. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020. [PMID: 32711813 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The development of new approaches for the clinical management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can only be realized through a better understanding of the neurobiological changes associated with ASD. One strategy for gaining deeper insight into the neurobiological mechanisms associated with ASD is to identify converging pathogenic processes associated with human idiopathic clinicopathology that are conserved in translational models of ASD. In this chapter, we first present the early overgrowth theory of ASD. Second, we introduce valproic acid (VPA), one of the most robust and well-known environmental risk factors associated with ASD, and we summarize the rapidly growing body of animal research literature using VPA as an ASD translational model. Lastly, we will detail the mechanisms of action of VPA and its impact on functional neural systems, as well as discuss future research directions that could have a lasting impact on the field.
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Norton SA, Gifford JJ, Pawlak AP, Derbaly A, Sherman SL, Zhang H, Wagner GC, Kusnecov AW. Long-lasting Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Effects of Postnatal Valproic Acid Treatment. Neuroscience 2020; 434:8-21. [PMID: 32112916 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) administered to mice during the early postnatal period causes social, cognitive, and motor deficits similar to those observed in humans with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous studies on the effects of early exposure to VPA have largely focused on behavioral deficits occurring before or during the juvenile period of life. Given that ASD is a life-long condition, the present study ought to extend our understanding of the behavioral profile following early postnatal VPA into adulthood. Male mice treated with VPA on postnatal day 14 (P14) displayed increased aggression, decreased avoidance of the open arms in the elevated plus maze, and impaired reversal learning in the Y maze. This may indicate a disinhibited or impulsive phenotype in male, but not female, mice treated with VPA during the second week of postnatal life. Decreased dendritic spine density and dendritic spine morphological abnormalities in the mPFC of VPA-treated mice may be indicative of PFC hypofunction, consistent with the observed behavioral differences. Since these types of long-lasting deficits are not exclusively found in ASD, early life exposure to VPA may reflect dysfunction of a neurobiological domain common to several developmental disorders, including ASD, ADHD, and conduct disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Norton
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Janace J Gifford
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Anthony P Pawlak
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Anna Derbaly
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Sara L Sherman
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Huaye Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - George C Wagner
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Alexander W Kusnecov
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States.
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Hughes EM, Calcagno P, Clarke M, Sanchez C, Smith K, Kelly JP, Finn DP, Roche M. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid reduces social responses and alters mRNA levels of opioid receptor and pre-pro-peptide in discrete brain regions of adolescent and adult male rats. Brain Res 2020; 1732:146675. [PMID: 31978376 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Altered social behaviours are a hallmark of several psychiatric and developmental disorders. Clinical and preclinical data have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an anti-epileptic and mood stabiliser, is associated with impaired social responses, and thus provides a useful model for the evaluation of neurobiological mechanisms underlying altered social behaviours. The opioid system is widely recognised to regulate and modulate social behaviours, however few studies have examined if the endogenous opioid system is altered in animal models of social impairment. The present study examined social behavioural responses of adolescent and adult male rats prenatally exposed to VPA, and the expression of mRNA encoding opioid receptors and pre-pro-peptides in discrete brain regions. Adolescent and adult rats prenatally exposed to VPA spent less time engaging in social behaviours in the direct social interaction test and exhibited reduced sociability and social novelty preference in the 3-chamber sociability test, compared to saline-treated counterparts. The VPA-exposed adolescent rats exhibited significantly reduced kappa opioid receptor (oprk1) and pre-pro-dynorphin (pdyn) mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex, and reduced oprk1 and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (oprl1) mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Adult rats prenatally exposed to VPA exhibited decreased mRNA expression of oprk1 and pdyn in hypothalamus, reduced pro-opiomelanocortin(pomc) in the striatum and an increase in delta opioid receptor (oprd1) mRNA in the amygdaloid cortex, when compared to saline-treated counterparts. Mu opioid receptor (oprm1) mRNA expression did not differ between saline and VPA-exposed rats in any region examined. The data demonstrate that impaired social behaviours in adolescent and adult rats prenatally exposed to VPA is accompanied by altered mRNA expression of opioid receptors and pre-pro-peptides in a region specific manner. In particular, both adolescent and adult VPA-exposed rats exhibit reduced oprk1-pdyn mRNA expression in several brain regions, which are associated with deficits in social behavioural responding in the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edel M Hughes
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Patricia Calcagno
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Morgane Clarke
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - John P Kelly
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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Hirsch MM, Deckmann I, Santos-Terra J, Staevie GZ, Fontes-Dutra M, Carello-Collar G, Körbes-Rockenbach M, Brum Schwingel G, Bauer-Negrini G, Rabelo B, Gonçalves MCB, Corrêa-Velloso J, Naaldijk Y, Castillo ARG, Schneider T, Bambini-Junior V, Ulrich H, Gottfried C. Effects of single-dose antipurinergic therapy on behavioral and molecular alterations in the valproic acid-induced animal model of autism. Neuropharmacology 2020; 167:107930. [PMID: 31904357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction, restricted interests, and stereotyped behavior. Environmental factors, such as prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), may contribute to the increased risk of ASD. Since disturbed functioning of the purinergic signaling system has been associated with the onset of ASD and used as a potential therapeutic target for ASD in both clinical and preclinical studies, we analyzed the effects of suramin, a non-selective purinergic antagonist, on behavioral, molecular and immunological in an animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to VPA. Treatment with suramin (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) restored sociability in the three-chamber apparatus and decreased anxiety measured by elevated plus maze apparatus, but had no impact on decreased reciprocal social interactions or higher nociceptive threshold in VPA rats. Suramin treatment did not affect VPA-induced upregulation of P2X4 and P2Y2 receptor expression in the hippocampus, and P2X4 receptor expression in the medial prefrontal cortex, but normalized an increased level of interleukin 6 (IL-6). Our results suggest an important role of purinergic signaling modulation in behavioral, molecular, and immunological aberrations described in VPA model, and indicate that the purinergic signaling system might be a potential target for pharmacotherapy in preclinical studies of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Mozael Hirsch
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Iohanna Deckmann
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Júlio Santos-Terra
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Zanotto Staevie
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mellanie Fontes-Dutra
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Carello-Collar
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marília Körbes-Rockenbach
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Brum Schwingel
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Bauer-Negrini
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruna Rabelo
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Bittencourt Gonçalves
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes , 748, 05508-000, Vila Universitãria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Corrêa-Velloso
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes , 748, 05508-000, Vila Universitãria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yahaira Naaldijk
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes , 748, 05508-000, Vila Universitãria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Regina Geciauskas Castillo
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes , 748, 05508-000, Vila Universitãria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tomasz Schneider
- School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University, Durham, DH1, UK
| | - Victorio Bambini-Junior
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, Preston, England, UK; Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, Preston, England, UK
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes , 748, 05508-000, Vila Universitãria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, Preston, England, UK
| | - Carmem Gottfried
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders-GETTEA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, Preston, England, UK.
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Prenatal valproate in rodents as a tool to understand the neural underpinnings of social dysfunctions in autism spectrum disorder. Neuropharmacology 2019; 159:107477. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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22
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Melancia F, Schiavi S, Servadio M, Cartocci V, Campolongo P, Palmery M, Pallottini V, Trezza V. Sex-specific autistic endophenotypes induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid involve anandamide signalling. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:3699-3712. [PMID: 29968249 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more commonly diagnosed in males than in females. Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is an environmental risk factor of ASD. Male rats prenatally exposed to VPA show socio-emotional autistic-like dysfunctions that have been related to changes in the activity of the endocannabinoid anandamide. Here, we have investigated if prenatal VPA induced sex-specific autistic endophenotypes involving anandamide signalling. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We studied sex-specific differences in the ASD-like socio-emotional, cognitive and repetitive symptoms displayed during development of Wistar rats of both sexes, prenatally exposed to VPA. The involvement of anandamide was followed by Western blotting of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and by inhibiting its metabolism. KEY RESULTS Female rats were less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of prenatal VPA exposure on social communication, emotional reactivity and cognitive performance than male rats. Conversely, as observed in male rats, prenatal VPA exposure induced selective deficits in social play behaviour and stereotypies in the female rat offspring. At the neurochemical level, prenatal VPA exposure altered phosphorylation of CB1 receptors in a sex-specific, age-specific and tissue-specific manner. Enhancing anandamide signalling through inhibition of its degradation reversed the behavioural deficits displayed by VPA-exposed animals of both sexes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings highlight sexually dimorphic consequences of prenatal VPA exposure that may be related to sex-specific effects of VPA on endocannabinoid neurotransmission in the course of development and introduce a new therapeutic target for reversing autistic-like symptoms in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Melancia
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Servadio
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Cartocci
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'V. Erspamer', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maura Palmery
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'V. Erspamer', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Pallottini
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy
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Lauber E, Filice F, Schwaller B. Dysregulation of Parvalbumin Expression in the Cntnap2-/- Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:262. [PMID: 30116174 PMCID: PMC6082962 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the complex and heterogeneous etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), identification of convergent pathways and/or common molecular endpoints in the pathophysiological processes of ASD development are highly needed in order to facilitate treatment approaches targeted at the core symptoms. We recently reported on decreased expression of the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in three well-characterized ASD mouse models, Shank1-/-, Shank3B-/- and in utero VPA-exposed mice. Moreover, PV-deficient mice (PV+/- and PV-/-) were found to show behavioral impairments and neuroanatomical changes closely resembling those frequently found in human ASD individuals. Here, we combined a stereology-based approach with molecular biology methods to assess changes in the subpopulation of PV-expressing (Pvalb) interneurons in the recently characterized contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2-/-) knockout mouse model of ASD. The CNTNAP2 gene codes for a synaptic cell adhesion molecule involved in neurodevelopmental processes; mutations affecting the human CNTNAP2 locus are associated with human ASD core symptoms, in particular speech and language problems. We demonstrate that in Cntnap2-/- mice, no loss of Pvalb neurons is evident in ASD-associated brain regions including the striatum, somatosensory cortex (SSC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), shown by the unaltered number of Pvalb neurons ensheathed by VVA-positive perineuronal nets. However, the number of PV-immunoreactive (PV+) neurons and also PV protein levels were decreased in the striatum of Cntnap2-/- mice indicating that PV expression levels in some striatal Pvalb neurons dropped below the detection limit, yet without a loss of Pvalb neurons. No changes in PV+ neuron numbers were detected in the cortical regions investigated and also cortical PV expression levels were unaltered. Considering that Cntnap2 shows high expression levels in the striatum during human and mouse embryonic development and that the cortico-striato-thalamic circuitry is important for speech and language development, alterations in striatal PV expression and associated (homeostatic) adaptations are likely to play an important role in Cntnap2-/- mice and, assumingly, in human ASD patients with known Cntnap2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Lauber
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Federica Filice
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy Unit, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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24
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Nicolini C, Fahnestock M. The valproic acid-induced rodent model of autism. Exp Neurol 2018; 299:217-227. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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25
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Motivational wheel running reverses cueing behavioural inflexibility in rodents. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 124:1635-1640. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1790-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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26
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Barrett CE, Hennessey TM, Gordon KM, Ryan SJ, McNair ML, Ressler KJ, Rainnie DG. Developmental disruption of amygdala transcriptome and socioemotional behavior in rats exposed to valproic acid prenatally. Mol Autism 2017; 8:42. [PMID: 28775827 PMCID: PMC5539636 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0160-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The amygdala controls socioemotional behavior and has consistently been implicated in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Precocious amygdala development is commonly reported in ASD youth with the degree of overgrowth positively correlated to the severity of ASD symptoms. Prenatal exposure to VPA leads to an ASD phenotype in both humans and rats and has become a commonly used tool to model the complexity of ASD symptoms in the laboratory. Here, we examined abnormalities in gene expression in the amygdala and socioemotional behavior across development in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. Methods Rat dams received oral gavage of VPA (500 mg/kg) or saline daily between E11 and 13. Socioemotional behavior was tracked across development in both sexes. RNA sequencing and proteomics were performed on amygdala samples from male rats across development. Results Effects of VPA on time spent in social proximity and anxiety-like behavior were sex dependent, with social abnormalities presenting in males and heightened anxiety in females. Across time VPA stunted developmental and immune, but enhanced cellular death and disorder, pathways in the amygdala relative to saline controls. At postnatal day 10, gene pathways involved in nervous system and cellular development displayed predicted activations in prenatally exposed VPA amygdala samples. By juvenile age, however, transcriptomic and proteomic pathways displayed reductions in cellular growth and neural development. Alterations in immune pathways, calcium signaling, Rho GTPases, and protein kinase A signaling were also observed. Conclusions As behavioral, developmental, and genomic alterations are similar to those reported in ASD, these results lend support to prenatal exposure to VPA as a useful tool for understanding how developmental insults to molecular pathways in the amygdala give rise to ASD-related syndromes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-017-0160-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Barrett
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Thomas M Hennessey
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Katelyn M Gordon
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Steve J Ryan
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Morgan L McNair
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478 USA
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
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Lauber E, Filice F, Schwaller B. Prenatal Valproate Exposure Differentially Affects Parvalbumin-Expressing Neurons and Related Circuits in the Cortex and Striatum of Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2016; 9:150. [PMID: 28066177 PMCID: PMC5174119 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise a number of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by core behavioral symptoms in the domains of social interaction, language/communication and repetitive or stereotyped patterns of behavior. In utero exposure to valproic acid (VPA) has evolved as a highly recognized rodent ASD model due to the robust behavioral phenotype observed in the offspring and the proven construct-, face- and predictive validity of the model. The number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) GABAergic interneurons has been consistently reported to be decreased in human ASD subjects and in ASD animal models. The presumed loss of this neuron subpopulation hereafter termed Pvalb neurons and/or PV deficits were proposed to result in an excitation/inhibition imbalance often observed in ASD. Importantly, loss of Pvalb neurons and decreased/absent PV protein levels have two fundamentally different consequences. Thus, Pvalb neurons were investigated in in utero VPA-exposed male ("VPA") mice in the striatum, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and somatosensory cortex (SSC), three ASD-associated brain regions. Unbiased stereology of PV+ neurons and Vicia Villosa Agglutinin-positive (VVA+) perineuronal nets, which specifically enwrap Pvalb neurons, was carried out. Analyses of PV protein expression and mRNA levels for Pvalb, Gad67, Kcnc1, Kcnc2, Kcns3, Hcn1, Hcn2, and Hcn4 were performed. We found a ∼15% reduction in the number of PV+ cells and decreased Pvalb mRNA and PV protein levels in the striatum of VPA mice compared to controls, while the number of VVA+ cells was unchanged, indicating that Pvalb neurons were affected at the level of the transcriptome. In selected cortical regions (mPFC, SSC) of VPA mice, no quantitative loss/decrease of PV+ cells was observed. However, expression of Kcnc1, coding for the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv3.1 specifically expressed in Pvalb neurons, was decreased by ∼40% in forebrain lysates of VPA mice. Moreover, hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN) 1 expression was increased by ∼40% in the same samples from VPA mice. We conclude that VPA leads to alterations that are brain region- and gene-specific including Pvalb, Kcnc1, and Hcn1 possibly linked to homeostatic mechanisms. Striatal PV down-regulation appears as a common feature in a subset of genetic (Shank3B-/-) and environmental ASD models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy, Department of Medicine, University of FribourgFribourg, Switzerland
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Pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase attenuates social behavioural deficits in male rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid. Pharmacol Res 2016; 113:228-235. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Liu X, Zhang Y, Lin J, Xia Q, Guo N, Li Q. Social Preference Deficits in Juvenile Zebrafish Induced by Early Chronic Exposure to Sodium Valproate. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:201. [PMID: 27812327 PMCID: PMC5071328 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate (VPA), a widely used anti-epileptic drug, is related to a series of dysfunctions, such as deficits in language and communication. Clinical and animal studies have indicated that the effects of VPA are related to the concentration and to the exposure window, while the neurobehavioral effects of VPA have received limited research attention. In the current study, to analyze the neurobehavioral effects of VPA, zebrafish at 24 h post-fertilization (hpf) were treated with early chronic exposure to 20 μM VPA for 7 h per day for 6 days or with early acute exposure to 100 μM VPA for 7 h. A battery of behavioral screenings was conducted at 1 month of age to investigate social preference, locomotor activity, anxiety, and behavioral response to light change. A social preference deficit was only observed in animals with chronic VPA exposure. Acute VPA exposure induced a change in the locomotor activity, while chronic VPA exposure did not affect locomotor activity. Neither exposure procedure influenced anxiety or the behavioral response to light change. These results suggested that VPA has the potential to affect some behaviors in zebrafish, such as social behavior and the locomotor activity, and that the effects were closely related to the concentration and the exposure window. Additionally, social preference seemed to be independent from other simple behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuyun Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Yinglan Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Qiaoxi Xia
- Department of Life Sciences, Anhui Science and Technology University Anhui, China
| | - Ning Guo
- Center for Chinese Medical Therapy and Systems Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
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Perez-Pouchoulen M, Miquel M, Saft P, Brug B, Toledo R, Hernandez ME, Manzo J. Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate alters androgen receptor expression in the developing cerebellum in a region and age specific manner in male and female rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2016; 53:46-52. [PMID: 27423376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) is an anti-epileptic drug with teratogenicity activity that has been related to autism. In rodents, exposure to VPA in utero leads to brain abnormalities similar than those reported in the autistic brain. Particularly, VPA reduces the number of Purkinje neurons in the rat cerebellum parallel to cerebellar abnormalities found in autism. Thus, we injected pregnant females on embryonic day 12 either with VPA (600mg/kg, i.p.) or 0.9% saline solution and obtained the cerebellum from their offspring at different postnatal time points. Testosterone has been linked to autism and plays an important role during brain development. Therefore, we identified and analyzed the androgen receptor (AR) by immunohistochemistry and densitometry, respectively. We found VPA decreases AR density in the superficial Purkinje layer only in cerebellar lobule 8 at PN7, but increased it at PN14 compared to control in males. In females, VPA decreased AR density in the superficial Purkinje layer in cerebellar lobule 6 at PN14, but increased it in lobule 9 at the same time point. No differences were found in the deep Purkinje layer of any cerebellar lobule in terms of AR density neither in males nor females. We additionally found a particular AR density decreasing in both superficial and deep regions across development in the majority of cerebellar lobules in males, but in all cerebellar lobules in females. Thus, our results indicate that VPA disrupts the AR ontogeny in the developing cerebellum in an age and region specific manner in male and female rats. Future epigenetic studies including the evaluation of histone deacetylases (HDAC's) might shed light these results as HDAC's are expressed by Purkinje neurons, interact with the AR and are VPA targets. This work contributes to the understanding of the cerebellar development and it might help to understand the role of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Miquel
- Area de Psicobiologia, Universidad Jaume I, Castellon de la Plana, Spain.
| | - Paul Saft
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico.
| | - Brenda Brug
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico.
| | - Rebeca Toledo
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico.
| | | | - Jorge Manzo
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico.
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Olexová L, Štefánik P, Kršková L. Increased anxiety-like behaviour and altered GABAergic system in the amygdala and cerebellum of VPA rats - An animal model of autism. Neurosci Lett 2016; 629:9-14. [PMID: 27353514 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety is one of the associated symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. According to the literature, increases in anxiety are accompanied by GABAergic system deregulation. The aim of our study, performed using an animal model of autism in the form of rats prenatally treated with valproic acid (VPA rats), was to investigate changes in anxiety-like behaviour and the gene expression of molecules that control levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Anxiety-like behaviours were investigated using zone preferences in the open field test. The levels of the 65 and 67kDa enzymes of l-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNAs and type 1 GABA transporter (GAT1) were evaluated in the amygdala, as well as GABA producing enzymes in the cortex layer of the cerebellum. Our research showed that adult VPA rats spent less time in the inner zone of the testing chamber and more time in the outer zone of the testing chamber in the open field test. We also found that adult VPA rats had increased expression of GAT1 in the amygdala, as well as decreased levels of GAD65 and GAD67 mRNA in the cerebellum compared to control animals. These findings support the existence of a relationship between increased anxiety-like behaviour and changes in the regulation of the GABAergic system in VPA rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Olexová
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Peter Štefánik
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Kršková
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
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Effects of developmental alcohol and valproic acid exposure on play behavior of ferrets. Int J Dev Neurosci 2016; 52:75-81. [PMID: 27208641 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol and valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and fetal valproate syndrome, respectively. Altered social behavior is a hallmark of both these conditions and there is ample evidence showing that developmental exposure to alcohol and VPA affect social behavior in rodents. However, results from rodent models are somewhat difficult to translate to humans owing to the substantial differences in brain development, morphology, and connectivity. Since the cortex folding pattern is closely related to its specialization and that social behavior is strongly influenced by cortical structures, here we studied the effects of developmental alcohol and VPA exposure on the play behavior of the ferret, a gyrencephalic animal known for its playful nature. Animals were injected with alcohol (3.5g/kg, i.p.), VPA (200mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (i.p) every other day during the brain growth spurt period, between postnatal days 10 and 30. The play behavior of pairs of the same experimental group was evaluated 3 weeks later. Both treatments induced significant behavioral differences compared to controls. Alcohol and VPA exposed ferrets played less than saline treated ones, but while animals from the alcohol group displayed a delay in start playing with each other, VPA treated ones spent most of the time close to one another without playing. These findings not only extend previous results on the effects of developmental exposure to alcohol and VPA on social behavior, but make the ferret a great model to study the underlying mechanisms of social interaction.
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Banerjee A, Luong JA, Ho A, Saib AO, Ploski JE. Overexpression of Homer1a in the basal and lateral amygdala impairs fear conditioning and induces an autism-like social impairment. Mol Autism 2016; 7:16. [PMID: 26929812 PMCID: PMC4770673 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-016-0077-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders with a wide range of behavioral impairments including social and communication deficits. Apart from these core symptoms, a significant number of ASD individuals display higher levels of anxiety, and some studies indicate that a subset of ASD individuals have a reduced ability to be fear conditioned. Deciphering the molecular basis of ASD has been considerably challenging and it currently remains poorly understood. In this study we examined the molecular basis of autism-like impairments in an environmentally induced animal model of ASD, where pregnant rats are exposed to the known teratogen, valproic acid (VPA), on day 12.5 of gestation and the subsequent progeny exhibit ASD-like symptoms. We focused our analysis on the basal and lateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA), a region of the brain found to be associated with ASD pathology. Methods We performed whole genome gene expression analysis on the BLA using DNA microarrays to examine differences in gene expression within the amygdala of VPA-exposed animals. We validated one VPA-dysregulated candidate gene (Homer1a) using both quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Finally, we overexpressed Homer1a within the basal and lateral amygdala of naïve animals utilizing adeno-associated viruses (AAV) and subsequently examined these animals in a battery of behavioral tests associated with ASD, including auditory fear conditioning, social interaction and open field. Results Our microarray data indicated that Homer1a was one of the genes which exhibited a significant upregulation within the amygdala. We observed an increase in Homer1a messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in multiple cohorts of VPA-exposed animals indicating that dysregulation of Homer1a levels might underlie some of the symptoms exhibited by VPA-exposed animals. To test this hypothesis, we overexpressed Homer1a within BLA neurons utilizing a viral-mediated approach and found that overexpression of Homer1a impaired auditory fear conditioning and reduced social interaction, while having no influence on open-field behavior. Conclusions This study indicates that dysregulation of amygdala Homer1a might contribute to some autism-like symptoms induced by VPA exposure. These findings are interesting in part because Homer1a influences the functioning of Shank3, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5), and Homer1, and these proteins have previously been associated with ASD, indicating that these differing models of ASD may have a similar molecular basis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-016-0077-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Banerjee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, 615 Michael St. WBRB #415, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Jonathan A Luong
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell road, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Anthony Ho
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell road, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Aeshah O Saib
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell road, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Jonathan E Ploski
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell road, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
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34
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Effects of prenatal exposure to valproic acid on the development of juvenile-typical social play in rats. Behav Pharmacol 2015; 26:707-19. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kang J, Kim E. Suppression of NMDA receptor function in mice prenatally exposed to valproic acid improves social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:17. [PMID: 26074764 PMCID: PMC4444740 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic agent, have been used as a model for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Previous studies have identified enhanced NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function in the brain of VPA rats, and demonstrated that pharmacological suppression of NMDAR function normalizes social deficits in these animals. However, whether repetitive behavior, another key feature of ASDs, can be rescued by NMDAR inhibition remains unknown. We report here that memantine, an NMDAR antagonist, administered to VPA mice rescues both social deficits and repetitive behaviors such as self-grooming and jumping. These results suggest that suppression of elevated NMDAR function in VPA animals normalizes repetitive behaviors in addition to social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseung Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Daejeon, Korea ; Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science Daejeon, Korea
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36
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Raza S, Harker A, Richards S, Kolb B, Gibb R. Tactile stimulation improves neuroanatomical pathology but not behavior in rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid. Behav Brain Res 2014; 282:25-36. [PMID: 25557797 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.12.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with a population prevalence of 1 in 68, and dramatically increasing. While no single pharmacologic intervention has successfully targeted the core symptoms of autism, emerging evidence suggests that postnatal environmental manipulations may offer greater therapeutic efficacy. Massage therapy, or tactile stimulation (TS), early in life has repeatedly been shown to be an effective, low-cost, therapeutic approach in ameliorating the cognitive, social, and emotional symptoms of autism. While early TS treatment attenuates many of the behavioral aberrations among children with autism, the neuroanatomical correlates driving such changes are unknown. The present study assessed the therapeutic effects of early TS treatment on behavior and neuroanatomy using the valproic acid (VPA) rodent model of autism. Rats were prenatally exposed to VPA on gestational day 12.5 and received TS shortly following birth. Whereas TS reversed almost all the VPA-induced alterations in neuroanatomy, it failed to do so behaviorally. The TS VPA animals, when compared to VPA animals, did not exhibit altered or improved behavior in the delayed non-match-to-sample T-maze, Whishaw tray reaching, activity box, or elevated plus maze tasks. Anatomically, however, there were significant increases in dendritic branching and spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex, orbital frontal cortex, and amygdala in VPA animals following early TS treatment, suggesting a complete reversal or remediation of the VPA-induced effects in these regions. The results suggest that postnatal TS, during a critical period in development, acts as a powerful reorganization tool that can ameliorate the neuroanatomical consequences of prenatal VPA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Raza
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
| | - A Harker
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada
| | - S Richards
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada
| | - B Kolb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Program in Child Brain Development, Canada
| | - R Gibb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada
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Banerjee A, Engineer CT, Sauls BL, Morales AA, Kilgard MP, Ploski JE. Abnormal emotional learning in a rat model of autism exposed to valproic acid in utero. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:387. [PMID: 25429264 PMCID: PMC4228846 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by repetitive behavior and impaired social communication and interactions. Apart from these core symptoms, a significant number of ASD individuals display higher levels of anxiety and some ASD individuals exhibit impaired emotional learning. We therefore sought to further examine anxiety and emotional learning in an environmentally induced animal model of ASD that utilizes the administration of the known teratogen, valproic acid (VPA) during gestation. Specifically we exposed dams to one of two different doses of VPA (500 and 600 mg/kg) or vehicle on day 12.5 of gestation and examined the resultant progeny. Our data indicate that animals exposed to VPA in utero exhibit enhanced anxiety in the open field test and normal object recognition memory compared to control animals. Animals exposed to 500 mg/kg of VPA displayed normal acquisition of auditory fear conditioning, and exhibited reduced extinction of fear memory and normal litter survival rates as compared to control animals. We observed that animals exposed to 600 mg/kg of VPA exhibited a significant reduction in the acquisition of fear conditioning, a significant reduction in social interaction and a significant reduction in litter survival rates as compared to control animals. VPA (600 mg/kg) exposed animals exhibited similar shock sensitivity and hearing as compared to control animals indicating the fear conditioning deficit observed in these animals was not likely due to sensory deficits, but rather due to deficits in learning or memory retrieval. In conclusion, considering that progeny from dams exposed to rather similar doses of VPA exhibit striking differences in emotional learning, the VPA model may serve as a useful tool to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to not only ASD, but also emotional learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Banerjee
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Crystal T Engineer
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Bethany L Sauls
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Anna A Morales
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan E Ploski
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
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Choi CS, Hong M, Kim KC, Kim JW, Yang SM, Seung H, Ko MJ, Choi DH, You JS, Shin CY, Bahn GH. Effects of atomoxetine on hyper-locomotive activity of the prenatally valproate-exposed rat offspring. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2014; 22:406-13. [PMID: 25414770 PMCID: PMC4201219 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2014.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display hyperactivity as a comorbid symptom. Exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy produces ASD-like core behavioral phenotypes as well as hyperactivity in offspring both in human and experimental animals, which makes it a plausible model to study ASD-related neurobiological processes. In this study, we examined the effects of two of currently available attention defecit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) targeting dopamine and norepinephrine transporters (DAT and NET), respectively, on hyperactive behavior of prenatally VPA-exposed rat offspring. In the prefrontal cortex of VPA exposed rat offspring, both mRNA and protein expression of DAT was increased as compared with control. VPA function as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the acetylation of histone bound to DAT gene promoter was increased in VPA-exposed rat offspring suggesting epigenetic mechanism of DAT regulation. Similarly, the expression of NET was increased, possibly via increased histone acetylation in prefrontal cortex of VPA-exposed rat offspring. When we treated the VPA-exposed rat offspring with ATX, a NET selective inhibitor, hyperactivity was reversed to control level. In contrast, MPH that inhibits both DAT and NET, did not produce inhibitory effects against hyperactivity. The results suggest that NET abnormalities may underlie the hyperactive phenotype in VPA animal model of ASD. Profiling the pharmacological responsiveness as well as investigating underlying mechanism in multiple models of ASD and ADHD may provide more insights into the neurobiological correlates regulating the behavioral abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Soon Choi
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Minha Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan 330-715 ; Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-702, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Chan Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742
| | - Ji-Woon Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Sung Min Yang
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Hana Seung
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Mee Jung Ko
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Dong-Hee Choi
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701
| | - Jueng Soo You
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience Research, SMART Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Seoul 143-701 ; Department of Advanced Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701
| | - Geon Ho Bahn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-702, Republic of Korea
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Cusmano DM, Mong JA. In utero exposure to valproic acid changes sleep in juvenile rats: a model for sleep disturbances in autism. Sleep 2014; 37:1489-99. [PMID: 25142574 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.3998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine whether sleep disturbances are found in the valproic acid model of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). DESIGN Comparative study for sleep behavior, sleep architecture, electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral analysis, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65/67 protein expression in juvenile rats exposed to valproic acid (VPA), sodium salt, or saline in utero. SETTING N/A. PARTICIPANTS Juvenile (postnatal day 32) male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS In utero exposure to either saline or 400 mg/kg VPA administered intraperitoneally to the dams on gestational day 12.5. On postnatal days 22-24, all rats were implanted with transmitters to record EEG and electromyogram (EMG) activity. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS During the light phase, when nocturnal animals are typically quiescent, the VPA-exposed animals spent significantly more time in wake (∼35 min) and significantly less time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (∼26 min) compared to the saline controls. Furthermore, spectral analysis of the EEG revelled that VPA-exposed animals exhibited increased high-frequency activity during wake and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and reduced theta power across all vigilance states. Interestingly, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system, which modulates the induction and maintenance of sleep states, was also disrupted, with reduced levels of both GAD 65 and GAD67 in the cortical tissue of VPA-exposed animals compared to saline controls. CONCLUSIONS To date, the current animal models of ASD have been underutilized in the investigation of associated sleep disturbances. The VPA animal model recapitulates aspects of sleep disruptions reported clinically, providing a tool to investigate cellular and molecular dysregulation contributing to sleep disruptions in ASD.
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Engineer CT, Centanni TM, Im KW, Kilgard MP. Speech sound discrimination training improves auditory cortex responses in a rat model of autism. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:137. [PMID: 25140133 PMCID: PMC4122159 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with autism often have language impairments and degraded cortical responses to speech. Extensive behavioral interventions can improve language outcomes and cortical responses. Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) increases the risk for autism and language impairment. Prenatal exposure to VPA also causes weaker and delayed auditory cortex responses in rats. In this study, we document speech sound discrimination ability in VPA exposed rats and document the effect of extensive speech training on auditory cortex responses. VPA exposed rats were significantly impaired at consonant, but not vowel, discrimination. Extensive speech training resulted in both stronger and faster anterior auditory field (AAF) responses compared to untrained VPA exposed rats, and restored responses to control levels. This neural response improvement generalized to non-trained sounds. The rodent VPA model of autism may be used to improve the understanding of speech processing in autism and contribute to improving language outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal T Engineer
- Cortical Plasticity Laboratory, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Tracy M Centanni
- Cortical Plasticity Laboratory, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Kwok W Im
- Cortical Plasticity Laboratory, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- Cortical Plasticity Laboratory, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX, USA
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Pragnya B, Kameshwari JSL, Veeresh B. Ameliorating effect of piperine on behavioral abnormalities and oxidative markers in sodium valproate induced autism in BALB/C mice. Behav Brain Res 2014; 270:86-94. [PMID: 24803211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Post natal exposure to VPA (valproic acid) in mice induces behavioral deficits, abnormal sensitivity to sensory stimuli and self-injurious behavior, observed in autism. Piperine has been reported to have protective effect on brain. The present study aimed at evaluating effect of piperine on VPA induced neurobehavioral and biochemical alterations in BALB/c mice. Young BALB/c mice 13 days old were procured from five different litters and segregated into five groups (n=6; 3 male, 3 female) i.e., Group I served as control group, received physiological saline on PND (Post natal day) 14 & Tween 80 p.o. from PND13-40. Group II served as normal treated group and received piperine (20mg/kg p.o.) from PND 13-40 and saline s.c. on PND 14. Group III served as valproate treated group received VPA (400mg/kg s.c.) on PND 14 and Tween 80 p.o. from PND 13-40. Group IV & V served as disease treated group received VPA (400mg/kg s.c.) on PND 14 & piperine (5 & 20mg/kg p.o.) from PND 13-40 respectively. BALB/c mice pups were subjected to behavioral testing to assess motor skill development, nociceptive response, locomotion, anxiety, and cognition on various postnatal days up to PND 40. At the end of behavioral evaluation, mice were sacrificed; brain was isolated for biochemical estimations (serotonin, glutathione, MDA and nitric oxide) and histopathological examination. Our study revealed that treatment with piperine significantly improved behavioral alterations, lowered oxidative stress markers, and restored histoarchitecture of cerebellum. This ameliorating effect of piperine is attributed to its anti-oxidant activity, cognition enhancing and neuroprotective activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Pragnya
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India.
| | - J S L Kameshwari
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India
| | - B Veeresh
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India
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Petrinovic MM, Künnecke B. Neuroimaging endophenotypes in animal models of autism spectrum disorders: lost or found in translation? Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:1167-89. [PMID: 23852013 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3200-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Autism spectrum disorder(s) (ASDs) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by stereotyped behaviours and impairments in communication and social interactions. This heterogeneity has been a major obstacle in uncovering the aetiology and biomarkers of ASDs. Rodent models with genetic modifications or environmental insults have been created to study particular endophenotypes and bridge the gap between genetics and behavioural phenotypes. Translational neuroimaging modalities with their ability to screen the brain noninvasively and yield structural, biochemical and functional information provide a unique platform for discovery and evaluation of such endophenotypes in preclinical and clinical research. OBJECTIVES We reviewed literature on translational neuroimaging in rodent models of ASDs. The most prominent models will be described and the respective neuroimaging endophenotypes will be discussed with reference to human data. A perspective on future directions of translational neuroimaging in animal models of ASDs will be given. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS To date, we experience a proliferation of rodent models which recapitulate specific liabilities identified in ASDs patients. Translational neuroimaging in these models is emerging but is skewed towards magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities. Volumetric and structural assessments of the brain are dominating and a host of endophenotypes have been reported that allude to findings in ASDs patients but with only few to converge among the models. Caveats of current studies are the diverging biological conditions related to genetic background and age of the animals. It is anticipated that longitudinal and functional assessments will gain much importance and will help elucidating mechanistic relationship between behavioural and structural endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija M Petrinovic
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, pRED, Pharma Research and Early Development, DTA Neuroscience, Building 68, Room 327A, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
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Oguchi-Katayama A, Monma A, Sekino Y, Moriguchi T, Sato K. Comparative gene expression analysis of the amygdala in autistic rat models produced by pre- and post-natal exposures to valproic acid. J Toxicol Sci 2013; 38:391-402. [PMID: 23665938 DOI: 10.2131/jts.38.391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression profiles in the amygdala of juvenile rats were compared between the two autistic rat models for mechanistic insights into impaired social behavior and enhanced anxiety in autism. The rats exposed to VPA by intraperitoneal administration to their dams at embryonic day (E) 12 were used as a model for autism (E2IP), and those by subcutaneous administration at postnatal day (P) 14 (P14SC) were used as a model for regressive autism; both of the models show impaired social behavior and enhanced anxiety as symptoms. Gene expression profiles in the amygdala of the rats (E12IP and P14SC) were analyzed by microarray and compared to each other. Only two genes, Neu2 and Mt2a, showed significant changes in the same direction in both of the rat models, and there were little similarities in the overall gene expression profiles between them. It was considered that gene expression changes per se in the amygdala might be an important cause for impaired social behavior and enhanced anxiety, rather than expression changes of particular genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuko Oguchi-Katayama
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
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Favre MR, Barkat TR, LaMendola D, Khazen G, Markram H, Markram K. General developmental health in the VPA-rat model of autism. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:88. [PMID: 23898245 PMCID: PMC3721005 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition diagnosed by impaired social interaction, abnormal communication and, stereotyped behaviors. While post-mortem and imaging studies have provided good insights into the neurobiological symptomology of autism, animal models can be used to study the neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and molecular mediators in more detail and in a more controlled environment. The valproic acid (VPA) rat model is an environmentally triggered model with strong construct and clinical validity. It is based on VPA teratogenicity in humans, where mothers who are medicated with VPA during early pregnancy show an increased risk for giving birth to an autistic child. In rats, early embryonic exposure, around the time of neural tube closure, leads to autism-like anatomical and behavioral abnormalities in the offspring. Considering the increasing use of the VPA rat model, we present our observations of the general health of Wistar dams treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 500 or, 600 mg/kg VPA on embryonic day E12.5, as well as their male and female offspring, in comparison to saline-exposed controls. We report increased rates of complete fetal reabsorption after both VPA doses. VPA 500 mg/kg showed no effect on dam body weight during pregnancy or, on litter size. Offspring exposed to VPA 500 mg/kg showed smaller brain mass on postnatal days 1 (P1) and 14 (P14), in addition to abnormal nest seeking behavior at P10 in the olfactory discrimination test, relative to controls. We also report increased rates of physical malformations in the offspring, rare occurrences of chromodacryorrhea and, developmentally similar body mass gain. Further documentation of developmental health may guide sub-grouping of individuals in a way to better predict core symptom severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mônica R. Favre
- Laboratory of Neural Microcircuits, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tania R. Barkat
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Copenhagen UniversityCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Deborah LaMendola
- Laboratory of Neural Microcircuits, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne, Switzerland
| | - Georges Khazen
- Computer Science and Mathematics Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American UniversityByblos, Lebanon
| | - Henry Markram
- Laboratory of Neural Microcircuits, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kamila Markram
- Laboratory of Neural Microcircuits, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne, Switzerland
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Impairment of cortical GABAergic synaptic transmission in an environmental rat model of autism. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 16:1309-18. [PMID: 23228615 PMCID: PMC3674140 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145712001216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The biological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are largely unknown in spite of extensive research. ASD is characterized by altered function of multiple brain areas including the temporal cortex and by an increased synaptic excitation:inhibition ratio. While numerous studies searched for evidence of increased excitation in ASD, fewer have investigated the possibility of reduced inhibition. We characterized the cortical γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic system in the rat temporal cortex of an ASD model [offspring of mothers prenatally injected with valproic acid (VPA)], by monitoring inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSCs) with patch-clamp. We found that numerous features of inhibition were severely altered in VPA animals compared to controls. Among them were the frequency of miniature IPSCs, the rise time and decay time of electrically-evoked IPSCs, the slope and saturation of their input/output curves, as well as their modulation by adrenergic and muscarinic agonists and by the synaptic GABAA receptor allosteric modulator zolpidem (but not by the extra-synaptic modulator gaboxadol). Our data suggest that both pre- and post-synaptic, but not extra-synaptic, inhibitory transmission is impaired in the offspring of VPA-injected mothers. We speculate that impairment in the GABAergic system critically contributes to an increase in the ratio between synaptic excitation and inhibition, which in genetically predisposed individuals may alter cortical circuits responsible for emotional, communication and social impairments at the core of ASD.
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Kinast K, Peeters D, Kolk SM, Schubert D, Homberg JR. Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of the serotonergic system in early life: neurodevelopmental underpinnings of autism-related behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:72. [PMID: 23781172 PMCID: PMC3679613 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin, in its function as neurotransmitter, is well-known for its role in depression, autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders, however, less known as a neurodevelopmental factor. The serotonergic system is one of the earliest to develop during embryogenesis and early changes in serotonin levels can have large consequences for the correct development of specific brain areas. The regulation and functioning of serotonin is influenced by genetic risk factors, such as the serotonin transporter polymorphism in humans. This polymorphism is associated with anxiety-related symptoms, changes in social behavior, and cortical gray and white matter changes also seen in patients suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The human polymorphism can be mimicked by the knockout of the serotonin transporter in rodents, which are as a model system therefore vital to explore the precise neurobiological mechanisms. Moreover, there are pharmacological challenges influencing serotonin in early life, like prenatal/neonatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in depressed pregnant women. There is accumulating evidence that this dysregulation of serotonin during critical phases of brain development can lead to ASD-related symptoms in children, and reduced social behavior and increased anxiety in rodents. Furthermore, prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure, a mood stabilizing drug which is also thought to interfere with serotonin levels, has the potency to induce ASD-like symptoms and to affect the development of the serotonergic system. Here, we review and compare the neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences of serotonin transporter gene variation, and prenatal SSRI and VPA exposure in the context of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Kinast
- Behavioural Neurogenetics, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Bringas M, Carvajal-Flores F, López-Ramírez T, Atzori M, Flores G. Rearrangement of the dendritic morphology in limbic regions and altered exploratory behavior in a rat model of autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience 2013; 241:170-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Kerr DM, Downey L, Conboy M, Finn DP, Roche M. Alterations in the endocannabinoid system in the rat valproic acid model of autism. Behav Brain Res 2013; 249:124-32. [PMID: 23643692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating emotionality and social behaviour, however it is unknown whether this system plays a role in symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders. The current study evaluated if alterations in the endocannabinoid system accompany behavioural changes in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. Adolescent rats prenatally exposed to VPA exhibited impaired social investigatory behaviour, hypoalgesia and reduced lococmotor activity on exposure to a novel aversive arena. Levels of the endocananbinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) in the hippocampus, frontal cortex or cerebellum were not altered in VPA- versus saline-exposed animals. However, the expression of mRNA for diacylglycerol lipase α, the enzyme primarily responsible for the synthesis of 2-AG, was reduced in the cerebellum of VPA-exposed rats. Furthermore, while the expression of mRNA for the 2-AG-catabolising enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase was reduced, the activity of this enzyme was increased, in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed animals. CB1 or CB2 receptor expression was not altered in any of the regions examined, however VPA-exposed rats exhibited reduced PPARα and GPR55 expression in the frontal cortex and PPARγ and GPR55 expression in the hippocampus, additional receptor targets of the endocannabinoids. Furthermore, tissue levels of the fatty acid amide hydrolase substrates, AEA, oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide, were higher in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed rats immediately following social exposure. These data indicate that prenatal VPA exposure is associated with alterations in the brain's endocannabinoid system and support the hypothesis that endocannabinoid dysfunction may underlie behavioural abnormalities observed in autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Kerr
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
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Lin HC, Gean PW, Wang CC, Chan YH, Chen PS. The amygdala excitatory/inhibitory balance in a valproate-induced rat autism model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55248. [PMID: 23383124 PMCID: PMC3558482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is an important structure contributing to socio-emotional behavior. However, the role of the amygdala in autism remains inconclusive. In this study, we used the 28-35 days valproate (VPA)-induced rat model of autism to observe the autistic phenotypes and evaluate their synaptic characteristics in the lateral nucleus (LA) of the amygdala. The VPA-treated offspring demonstrated less social interaction, increased anxiety, enhanced fear learning and impaired fear memory extinction. Slice preparation and electrophysiological recordings of the amygdala showed significantly enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) while stimulating the thalamic-amygdala pathway of the LA. In addition, the pair pulse facilitation (PPF) at 30- and 60-ms intervals decreased significantly. Whole-cell recordings of the LA pyramidal neurons showed an increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) frequency and amplitude. The relative contributions of the AMPA receptor and NMDA receptor to the EPSCs did not differ significantly between groups. These results suggested that the enhancement of the presynaptic efficiency of excitatory synaptic transmission might be associated with hyperexcitibility and enhanced LTP in LA pyramidal neurons. Disruption of the synaptic excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in the LA of VPA-treated rats might play certain roles in the development of behaviors in the rat that may be relevant to autism. Further experiments to demonstrate the direct link are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ching Lin
- Department and Institute of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Wu Gean
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chuan Wang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Han Chan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Center for Drug Evaluation, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po See Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Exploring the enkephalinergic differentiation potential in adult stem cells for cell therapy and drug screening implications. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2012; 48:562-9. [PMID: 23054438 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-012-9546-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising treatments in neuroregenerative medicine. Considering the role of the endogenous opioid system in controlling the pathophysiology of neurological disorders and behavioral aberrations, current studies have focused on enkephalins as a part of the opioid system. Due to high capability of unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for cell therapy and transplantation; here, we examined their enkephalinergic differentiation potential through Ikaros-related pathways in order to develop in vitro models to help drug screening and stem cell therapy for the opioid-related disorders. The authenticity of the stem cells was verified by differentiation experiments along with flow cytometry for surface markers. Later, we confirmed their neurogenic differentiation with semiquantitative and quantitative transcriptional and translational evaluations of the enkephalinergic-related genes such as proenkephalin, CREBZF, Ikaros, and prodynorphin. Our findings supported the enkephalinergic differentiation of these stem cells. Noteworthy, USSCs showed higher potential for differentiating into enkephalinergic neurons under Ikaros activation than hMSCs, which makes them appropriate for neurological therapeutic applications. In conclusion, this study suggests a powerful in vitro model for neurogenesis that may help clarification of enkephalinergic differentiation and related signaling networks along with neural drug screening. Such investigations may be beneficial to ameliorate the neural-related therapeutic approaches.
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