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Broadfoot CK, Lenell C, Kelm-Nelson CA, Ciucci MR. Effects of social isolation on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, affective state, cognition, and neurotransmitter concentrations in the ventral tegmental and locus coeruleus of adult rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114157. [PMID: 36241070 PMCID: PMC9829432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Vocal communication, cognition, and affective state are key features of sustained health and wellness, and because vocalizations are often socially-motivated, social experience likely plays a role in these behaviors. The monoaminergic systems of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC) are associated with social and reward processing, vocalization production, and neurotransmitter changes in response to environmental stressors. The effect of social isolation on these complex behaviors and the underlying neural mechanisms is relatively unknown. To add to this body of literature, we randomized adult male Long-Evans rats to control (housed with a cagemate) or isolated (housed individually) conditions and assayed ultrasonic vocalizations, cognition (novel object recognition test), anxiety (elevated plus maze) and anhedonia (sucrose preference test) at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 months of age. At 10 months, VTA and LC samples were assayed for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin using high performance liquid chromatography. We tested the hypotheses that isolation 1) diminishes vocalizations and cognition, 2) increases anxiety and depression, and 3) increases levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the VTA and LC. Results showed isolation significantly reduced vocalization tonality (signal-to-noise ratio) and increased maximum frequency. There were no significant findings for cognition, anxiety, or anhedonia. Dopamine and serotonin and their respective metabolites were significantly increased in the VTA in isolated rats. These findings suggest chronic changes to social condition such as isolation affects vocalization production and levels of VTA neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K Broadfoot
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
| | - Charles Lenell
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 1400 Gunter Hall, Greenly, CO 80639, USA
| | - Cynthia A Kelm-Nelson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Michelle R Ciucci
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 9531 MIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Kołosowska K, Lehner M, Skórzewska A, Gawryluk A, Tomczuk F, Sobolewska A, Turzyńska D, Liguz-Lęcznar M, Bednarska-Makaruk M, Maciejak P, Wisłowska-Stanek A. Molecular pattern of a decrease in the rewarding effect of cocaine after an escalating-dose drug regimen. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:85-98. [PMID: 36586075 PMCID: PMC9889529 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00443-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term cocaine exposure leads to dysregulation of the reward system and initiates processes that ultimately weaken its rewarding effects. Here, we studied the influence of an escalating-dose cocaine regimen on drug-associated appetitive behavior after a withdrawal period, along with corresponding molecular changes in plasma and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). METHODS We applied a 5 day escalating-dose cocaine regimen in rats. We assessed anxiety-like behavior at the beginning of the withdrawal period in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. The reinforcement properties of cocaine were evaluated in the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test along with ultrasonic vocalization (USV) in the appetitive range in a drug-associated context. We assessed corticosterone, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), β-endorphin, CART 55-102 levels in plasma (by ELISA), along with mRNA levels for D2 dopaminergic receptor (D2R), κ-receptor (KOR), orexin 1 receptor (OX1R), CART 55-102, and potential markers of cocaine abuse: miRNA-124 and miRNA-137 levels in the PFC (by PCR). RESULTS Rats subjected to the escalating-dose cocaine binge regimen spent less time in the cocaine-paired compartment, and presented a lower number of appetitive USV episodes. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in corticosterone and CART levels, an increase in POMC and β-endorphin levels in plasma, and an increase in the mRNA for D2R and miRNA-124 levels, but a decrease in the mRNA levels for KOR, OX1R, and CART 55-102 in the PFC. CONCLUSIONS The presented data reflect a part of a bigger picture of a multilevel interplay between neurotransmitter systems and neuromodulators underlying processes associated with cocaine abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kołosowska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lehner
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Gawryluk
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Filip Tomczuk
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Sobolewska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Danuta Turzyńska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Liguz-Lęcznar
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Bednarska-Makaruk
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Maciejak
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek
- grid.13339.3b0000000113287408Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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3
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Wisłowska-Stanek A, Lehner M, Tomczuk F, Gawryluk A, Kołosowska K, Sułek A, Krząśnik P, Sobolewska A, Wawer A, Płaźnik A, Skórzewska A. The effects of the recurrent social isolation stress on fear extinction and dopamine D 2 receptors in the amygdala and the hippocampus. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:119-127. [PMID: 36385611 PMCID: PMC9889440 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study assessed the influence of recurrent social isolation stress on the aversive memory extinction and dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) expression in the amygdala and the hippocampus subnuclei. We also analyzed the expression of epigenetic factors potentially associated with fear extinction: miRNA-128 and miRNA-142 in the amygdala. METHODS Male adult fear-conditioned rats had three episodes of 48 h social isolation stress before each fear extinction session in weeks intervals. Ninety minutes after the last extinction session, the D2R expression in the nuclei of the amygdala and the hippocampus (immunocytochemical technique), and mRNA levels for D2R in the amygdala were assessed (PCR). Moreover, we evaluated the levels of miRNA-128 and miRNA-142 in the amygdala. RESULTS It was found that recurrent social isolation stress decreased the fear extinction rate. The extinguished isolated rats were characterized by higher expression of D2R in the CA1 area of the hippocampus compared to the extinguished and the control rats. In turn, the isolated group presented higher D2R immunoreactivity in the CA1 area compared to the extinguished, the control, and the extinguished isolated animals. Moreover, the extinguished animals had higher expression of D2R in the central amygdala than the control and the extinguished isolated rats. These changes were accompanied by the increase in miRNA-128 level in the amygdala in the extinguished isolated rats compared to the control, the extinguished, and the isolated rats. Moreover, the extinguished rats had lower expression of miRNA-128 compared to the control and the isolated animals. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that social isolation stress impairs aversive memory extinction and coexists with changes in the D2R expression in the amygdala and hippocampus and increased expression of miRNA-128 in the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek
- grid.13339.3b0000000113287408Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lehner
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Filip Tomczuk
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Gawryluk
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Neuroplasticity, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Kołosowska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Sułek
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Krząśnik
- grid.13339.3b0000000113287408Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Sobolewska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adriana Wawer
- grid.13339.3b0000000113287408Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Płaźnik
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- grid.418955.40000 0001 2237 2890Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
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Karwicka W, Wiatrowska M, Kondrakiewicz K, Knapska E, Kursa MB, Hamed A. Relaying Aversive Ultrasonic Alarm Calls Depends on Previous Experience. Empathy, Social Buffering, or Panic? Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060759. [PMID: 34201037 PMCID: PMC8227955 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations are among the oldest evolutionarily forms of animal communication. In order to study the communication patterns in an aversive social situation, we used a behavioral model in which one animal, the observer, is witnessing as his cagemate, the demonstrator, is experiencing a series of mild electrical foot shocks. We studied the effect of the foot shock experience on the observer and the influence of a warning sound (emitted shortly before the shock) on USV communication. These experiments revealed that such a warning seems to increase the arousal level, which differentiates the responses depending on previous experience. This can be identified by the emission of characteristic, short 22 kHz calls of a duration below 100 ms. Two rats emitted calls that overlapped in time. Analysis of these overlaps revealed that in ‘warned’ pairs with a naive observer, 22 kHz calls were mixed with 50 kHz calls. This fact, combined with a high fraction of very high-pitched 50 kHz calls (over 75 kHz), suggests the presence of the phenomenon of social buffering. Pure 22 kHz overlaps were mostly found in ‘warned’ pairs with an experienced observer, suggesting a possible fear contagion with distress sharing. The results show the importance of dividing 22 kHz calls into long and short categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Karwicka
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Marta Wiatrowska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Kacper Kondrakiewicz
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Miron Bartosz Kursa
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling, University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Adam Hamed
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence:
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5
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Yamauchi T, Yoshioka T, Yamada D, Hamano T, Ohashi M, Matsumoto M, Iio K, Ikeda M, Kamei M, Otsuki T, Sato Y, Nii K, Suzuki M, Ichikawa H, Nagase H, Iriyama S, Yoshizawa K, Nishino S, Miyazaki S, Saitoh A. Cold-restraint stress–induced ultrasonic vocalization as a novel tool to measure anxiety in mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2021; 45:268-275. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-00776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tsugumi Yamauchi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Toshinori Yoshioka
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Daisuke Yamada
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Takumi Hamano
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Misaki Ohashi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Maki Matsumoto
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Keita Iio
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hiroko Ichikawa
- Laboratory of Psychology, Noda Division, Institute of Arts and Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Hiroshi Nagase
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba
| | - Satoshi Iriyama
- Laboratory of Quantum information dynamics, Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Kazumi Yoshizawa
- Laboratory of Disease Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | | | - Satoru Miyazaki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Akiyoshi Saitoh
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
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6
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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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7
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Hamed A, Kursa MB. Social deprivation substantially changes multi-structural neurotransmitter signature of social interaction: Glutamate concentration in amygdala and VTA as a key factor in social encounter-induced 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 37:82-99. [PMID: 32651127 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations are important for coordinating social behavior in rats. Examination of the neurochemical mechanisms that govern social behavior and ultrasonic vocalization emission is crucial for understanding the social impairments that occur in many neuropsychiatric disorders. To elucidate neurochemical changes in the brain structures related to social behavior and their mutual relationships, we conducted three-phase experiment. Neurochemicals were measured in the following behavioral situations: without social encounter, with short social encounter, with long social encounter in isolated and non-isolated rats. The aims of this study were to: (1) extract the most important neurotransmitters and their metabolites that are involved in social encounter-induced emission of 50 kHz calls; (2) to elucidate mutual relationships among the neurochemical changes in the selected, six brain structures, and analyze compound relationships by step analysis; (3) create a model of all-to-all neurotransmitter correlations; (4) find the neurochemical basis of 50-kHz USVs emission during social encounter. Our behavioral and neurochemical analysis indicated that social encounter was a triggering factor of the glutamatergic neurotransmission in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), hippocampus, and amygdala; serotonergic neurotransmission in the NAcc, CPu, and amygdala; the dopaminergic neurotransmission in the caudate putamen (CPu) and hippocampus; GABAergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus and VTA. Social encounter-induced 50-kHz USVs were bound up with changes in glutamate in amygdala and VTA, glycine in the amygdala, VTA, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and CPu, and dopamine metabolites in VTA and CPu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hamed
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, Warsaw 02-093, Poland.
| | - Miron Bartosz Kursa
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling, University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Kołosowska K, Gawryluk A, Wisłowska-Stanek A, Liguz-Lęcznar M, Hetmańczyk K, Ługowska A, Sobolewska A, Skórzewska A, Gryz M, Lehner M. Stress changes amphetamine response, D2 receptor expression and epigenetic regulation in low-anxiety rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 93:256-268. [PMID: 31022425 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the influence of chronic restraint stress on amphetamine (AMPH)-related appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) in rats differing in freezing duration in a contextual fear test (CFT), i.e. HR (high-anxiety responsive) and LR (low-anxiety responsive) rats. The LR and the HR rats, previously exposed to an AMPH binge experience, differed in sensitivity to AMPH's rewarding effects, measured as appetitive vocalisations. Moreover, chronic restraint stress attenuated AMPH-related appetitive vocalisations in the LR rats but had no influence on the HR rats' behaviour. To specify, the restraint LR rats vocalised appetitively less in the AMPH-associated context and after an AMPH challenge than the control LR rats. This phenomenon was associated with a decrease in the mRNA level for D2 dopamine receptor in the amygdala and its protein expression in the basal amygdala (BA) and opposite changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) - an increase in the mRNA level for D2 dopamine receptor and its protein expression in the NAc shell, compared to control conditions. Moreover, we observed that chronic restraint stress influenced epigenetic regulation in the LR and the HR rats differently. The contrasting changes were observed in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus - the LR rats presented a decrease, but the HR rats showed an increase in H3K9 trimethylation. The restraint LR rats also showed higher miR-494 and miR-34c levels in the NAc than the control LR group. Our study provides behavioural and biochemical data concerning the role of differences in fear-conditioned response in stress vulnerability and AMPH-associated appetitive behaviour. The LR rats were less sensitive to the rewarding effects of AMPH when previously exposed to chronic stress that was accompanied by changes in D2 dopamine receptor expression and epigenetic regulation in mesolimbic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kołosowska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Gawryluk
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre For Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Liguz-Lęcznar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Hetmańczyk
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ługowska
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Sobolewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Gryz
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lehner
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
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9
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Wisłowska-Stanek A, Płaźnik A, Kołosowska K, Skórzewska A, Turzyńska D, Liguz-Lęcznar M, Krząścik P, Gryz M, Szyndler J, Sobolewska A, Lehner M. Differences in the dopaminergic reward system in rats that passively and actively behave in the Porsolt test. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:181-189. [PMID: 30366032 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess appetitive responses and central dopaminergic neurotransmission in passive and active rats divided according to their immobility time in the Porsolt swim test and exposed to restraint stress. Passive rats had more episodes of appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization (USV) during rat encounter after social isolation and spent significantly more time in the amphetamine-associated context in conditioned place preference test, compared to active rats. Restraint stress decreased sucrose preference, but increased appetitive vocalization and reinforced the conditioned place preference only in passive animals that was associated with increased dopamine concentration in the amygdala. Restraint stress increased also the level of Cocaine- and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART) peptide, a neuromodulator linked to dopamine neurotransmission, in the central nucleus of amygdala, while decreasing it the nucleus accumbens shell in passive rats. In the parvocellular region of paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus passive animals had a higher expression of CART compared to passive restraint rats and active control rats. The obtained results show that active and passive rats in the Porsolt test differ significantly in response to appetitive stimuli, which can be additionally changed under stress conditions. The underlying mechanisms are probably associated with differences in dopaminergic activity and CART signaling in reward system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre For Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Adam Płaźnik
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre For Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Kołosowska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Danuta Turzyńska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Liguz-Lęcznar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Krząścik
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre For Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Gryz
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Janusz Szyndler
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre For Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), 1B Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Sobolewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lehner
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland
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Hamed A, Kursa MB. Inter-individual differences in serotonin and glutamate co-transmission reflect differentiation in context-induced conditioned 50-kHz USVs response after morphine withdrawal. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:3149-3167. [PMID: 29774428 PMCID: PMC6132671 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1683-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of research provides compelling evidence that in rats 50-kHz USVs are a form of expression of positive emotions. Context-induced 50-kHz USVs emission is variable among rats, indicating individual differences in contextual response bound up with pharmacological reward. The aims of this study were to: extract the most important neurotransmitters related to context-induced conditioned 50-kHz USVs response; find biological basis of existing inter-individual differences in context-induced conditioned 50-kHz USVs response; create a model of all-to-all neurotransmitters correlations. The data collected here confirms that re-exposure to the context of morphine administration after the withdrawal period increases the level of 50-kHz USVs and this contextual response is associated with elevated serotonin concentrations in amygdala, hippocampus and mPFC and with increased Glu/Gln ratio in nucleus accumbens. The concentration of serotonin increases simultaneously in amygdala, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Moreover, 5-HT concentration in amygdala is bound up with glutamate level in this structure as well as in hippocampus. Furthermore, Glu/Gln ratio in nucleus accumbens has strong associations with Glu/Gln ratio simultaneously in VTA, amygdala, striatum and hippocampus. All-to-all-analysis indicate that concentration of glutamate in hippocampus is proportional to glutamate in VTA and GABA concentration in the hippocampus. We have also demonstrated that Glu/GABA ratio in VTA and amygdala was elevated after post withdrawal re-exposure to the pharmacological reward paired context. Presented analysis indicates a strong correlation between serotonergic and glutamatergic systems in context-induced conditioned response. The strength of this co-transmission correlates with the number of 50-kHz USVs emitted in response to morphine-paired context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hamed
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Miron Bartosz Kursa
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling, University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
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11
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Grant LM, Barth KJ, Muslu C, Kelm-Nelson CA, Bakshi VP, Ciucci MR. Noradrenergic receptor modulation influences the acoustic parameters of pro-social rat ultrasonic vocalizations. Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:269-283. [PMID: 29985007 PMCID: PMC6062469 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Rats produce high rates of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in social situations; these vocalizations are influenced by multiple neurotransmitter systems. Norepinephrine (NE) plays a significant role in vocalization biology; however, the contribution of NE to normal, prosocial vocal control has not been well established in the rat. To address this, we used NE adrenoceptor agonists (Cirazoline, Clonidine) and antagonists (Prozasin, Atipamezole, Propranolol) to quantify the contribution of specific alpha-1, alpha-2, and beta NE receptors to USV parameters in male Long Evans rats during seminaturalistic calling. We found that multiple USV acoustic variables (intensity, bandwidth, duration, peak frequency, and call profile) are modified by alterations in NE signaling. Very generally, agents that increased NE neurotransmission (Atipamezole) or activated alpha-1 receptors (Cirazoline), led to an increase in intensity and duration, respectively. Agents that decreased NE neurotransmission (Clonidine) or blocked alpha-1 receptors (Prazosin) reduced call rate, intensity, and bandwidth. However, the beta-receptor antagonist, Propranolol, was associated with increased call rate, duration, and intensity. Limb motor behaviors were largely unaffected by any drug, with the exception of Clonidine. Higher doses of Clonidine significantly reduced gross motor, grooming, and feeding behavior. These results confirm the involvement of NE transmission in vocal control in the rat, and suggest that this USV model is useful for studying the neuropharmacology of behavioral measures that may have implications for disease states, such as Parkinson's disease. (PsycINFO Database Record
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12
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Simola N, Brudzynski SM. Rat 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations as a tool in studying neurochemical mechanisms that regulate positive emotional states. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 310:33-44. [PMID: 29959002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent and adult rats emit 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate the appetitive arousal and the presence of positive emotional states to conspecifics. NEW METHOD Based on its communicative function, emission of 50-kHz USVs is increasingly being evaluated in preclinical studies of affective behavior, motivation and social behavior. RESULTS Emission of 50-kHz USVs is initiated by the activation of dopamine receptors in the shell subregion of the nucleus accumbens. However, several lines of evidence show that non-dopaminergic receptors may influence the numbers of 50-kHz USVs that are emitted, as well as the acoustic parameters of calls. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Emission of 50-kHz USVs is a non-invasive method that may be used to study reward and motivation without the need for extensive training and complex animal manipulations. Moreover, emission of 50-kHz USVs can be used alone or combined with other well-standardized behavioral paradigms (e.g., conditioned place preference, self-administration). CONCLUSIONS This review summarizes the current evidence concerning molecular mechanisms that regulate the emission of 50-kHz USVs. Moreover, the review discusses the usefulness of 50-kHz USVs as an experimental tool to investigate how different neurotransmitter systems regulate the manifestations of positive emotional states, and also use of this tool in preclinical modeling of psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuropsychopharmacology Division, University of Cagliari, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Stefan M Brudzynski
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L3 3A1 Canada
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13
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Simmons SJ, Gregg RA, Tran FH, Mo L, von Weltin E, Barker DJ, Gentile TA, Watterson LR, Rawls SM, Muschamp JW. Comparing rewarding and reinforcing properties between 'bath salt' 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and cocaine using ultrasonic vocalizations in rats. Addict Biol 2018; 23:102-110. [PMID: 27910188 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Abuse of synthetic psychostimulants like synthetic cathinones has risen in recent years. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is one such synthetic cathinone that demonstrates a mechanism of action similar to cocaine. Compared to cocaine, MDPV is more potent at blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake and is readily self-administered by rodents. The present study compared the rewarding and reinforcing properties of MDPV and cocaine using systemic injection dose-response and self-administration models. Fifty kilohertz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded as an index of positive affect throughout experiments. In Experiment 1, MDPV and cocaine dose-dependently elicited 50-kHz USVs upon systemic injection, but MDPV increased USVs at greater rates and with greater persistence relative to cocaine. In Experiment 2, latency to begin MDPV self-administration was shorter than latency to begin cocaine self-administration, and self-administered MDPV elicited greater and more persistent rates of 50-kHz USVs versus cocaine. MDPV-elicited 50-kHz USVs were sustained over the course of drug load-up whereas cocaine-elicited USVs waned following initial infusions. Notably, we observed a robust presence of context-elicited 50-kHz USVs from both MDPV and cocaine self-administering rats. Collectively, these data suggest that MDPV has powerfully rewarding and reinforcing effects relative to cocaine at one-tenth doses. Consistent with prior work, we additionally interpret these data in supporting that MDPV has significant abuse risk based on its potency and subjectively positive effects. Future studies will be needed to better refine therapeutic strategies targeted at reducing the rewarding effects of cathinone analogs in efforts to ultimately reduce abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Simmons
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Ryan A. Gregg
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Fionya H. Tran
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Lili Mo
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Eva von Weltin
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - David J. Barker
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Neuronal Networks Section; National Institutes of Health; USA
| | - Taylor A. Gentile
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Lucas R. Watterson
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - Scott M. Rawls
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
| | - John W. Muschamp
- Center for Substance Abuse Research; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; USA
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14
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Wöhr M, van Gaalen MM. Pharmacological Studies on the Role of Serotonin in Regulating Socioemotional Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats. HANDBOOK OF ULTRASONIC VOCALIZATION - A WINDOW INTO THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-809600-0.00028-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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15
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Simola N, Paci E, Serra M, Costa G, Morelli M. Modulation of Rat 50-kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations by Glucocorticoid Signaling: Possible Relevance to Reward and Motivation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 21:73-83. [PMID: 29182715 PMCID: PMC5795343 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyx106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rats emit 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate positive emotional states, and these USVs are increasingly being investigated in preclinical studies on reward and motivation. Although it is the activation of dopamine receptors that initiates the emission of 50-kHz USVs, non-dopaminergic mechanisms may modulate calling in the 50 kHz frequency band. To further elucidate these mechanisms, the present study investigated whether the pharmacological manipulation of glucocorticoid signaling influenced calling. METHODS Rats were administered corticosterone (1-5 mg/kg, s.c.), the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (40 or 100 mg/kg, s.c.), or the corticosterone synthesis inhibitor metyrapone (50 or 100 mg/kg, i.p.). The effects of these drugs on calling initiation and on calling recorded during nonaggressive social contacts or after the administration of amphetamine (0.25 or 1 mg/kg, i.p.) were then evaluated. RESULTS Corticosterone failed to initiate the emission of 50-kHz USVs and did not influence pro-social and amphetamine-stimulated calling. Similarly, mifepristone and metyrapone did not initiate calling. However, metyrapone suppressed pro-social calling and calling stimulated by a moderate dose (1 mg/kg, i.p.) of amphetamine. Conversely, mifepristone attenuated calling stimulated by a low (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.), but not moderate (1 mg/kg, i.p.), dose of amphetamine and had no influence on pro-social calling. CONCLUSIONS The present results demonstrate that glucocorticoid signaling modulates calling in the 50 kHz frequency band only in certain conditions and suggest that mechanisms different from the inhibition of corticosterone synthesis may participate in the suppression of calling by metyrapone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy,National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy,Correspondence: Nicola Simola, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale, 72, 09124, Cagliari, Italy ()
| | - Elena Paci
- Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom,Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Marcello Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Costa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Micaela Morelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy,National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy,NCR, National Research Council of Italy, Neuroscience Institute, Cagliari, Italy
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-eighth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2015 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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Wöhr M, Engelhardt KA, Seffer D, Sungur AÖ, Schwarting RKW. Acoustic Communication in Rats: Effects of Social Experiences on Ultrasonic Vocalizations as Socio-affective Signals. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2017; 30:67-89. [PMID: 26577915 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) serve important communicative functions as socio-affective signals in rats. In aversive situations, such as inter-male aggression and predator exposure, 22-kHz USV are emitted. They likely function as appeasement signals during fighting and/or as alarm calls to warn conspecifics. In appetitive situations, 50-kHz USV are uttered, most notably during social interactions, such as rough-and-tumble play and mating. It is believed that they fulfill an affiliative function as social contact calls. Social experiences or their lack, such as social isolation, can have profound impact on the emission of 22- and 50-kHz USV by the sender in later life, albeit direction and strength of observed effects vary, with time point of occurrence and duration being critical determinants. Little, however, is known about how social experiences affect the behavioral responses evoked by 22- and 50-kHz USV in the recipient. By means of our 50-kHz USV radial maze playback paradigm, we recently showed that the behavioral response elicited in the recipient is affected by post-weaning social isolation. Rats exposed to four weeks of isolation during the rough-and-tumble play period did not display social approach behavior toward 50-kHz USV but some signs of social avoidance. We further found that physical environmental enrichment providing minimal opportunities for social interactions has similar detrimental effects. Together, this indicates that social experiences can affect socio-affective communication in rodents, both at the level of sender and recipient. Deficits seen following post-weaning social isolation or physical environmental enrichment might be useful to model aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social and communication deficits, such as autism and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
| | - K Alexander Engelhardt
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Seffer
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - A Özge Sungur
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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Riters LV, Cordes MA, Stevenson SA. Prodynorphin and kappa opioid receptor mRNA expression in the brain relates to social status and behavior in male European starlings. Behav Brain Res 2016; 320:37-47. [PMID: 27913257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Numerous animal species display behavioral changes in response to changes in social status or territory possession. For example, in male European starlings only males that acquire nesting sites display high rates of sexual and agonistic behavior. Past studies show that mu and delta opioid receptors regulate behaviors associated with social ascension or defeat. Opioids also act at kappa receptors, with dynorphin binding with the highest affinity; however, the role of these opioids in social behavior has not been well studied. We observed flocks of male starlings during the breeding season and ran quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure expression of kappa opioid receptors (OPRK1) and prodynorphin (PDYN) in brain regions involved in social behavior and motivation (ventral tegmental area [VTA], medial preoptic nucleus [mPOA]) and vocal behavior (Area X). Males with nesting territories displayed more sexual/agonistic behavior than males without nesting territories. They also had lower OPRK1 expression in VTA and mPOA. OPRK1 expression in VTA correlated negatively with sexual/agonistic behaviors, consistent with past studies showing kappa receptors in VTA to inhibit sociosexual behaviors. PDYN in mPOA correlated negatively with a measure of nesting behavior that may also reflect sexual motivation. PDYN in Area X related positively to song. Distinct patterns of OPRK1 and PDYN expression in VTA, mPOA, and Area X related to gonad volume, suggesting that breeding condition may modify (or be modified by) OPRK1 and PDYN expression. Studies are now needed to further characterize the role of OPRK1 and PDYN in status-appropriate social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren V Riters
- Department of Zoology, 428 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Melissa A Cordes
- Department of Zoology, 428 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sharon A Stevenson
- Department of Zoology, 428 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Hamed A, Daszczuk P, Kursa MB, Turzyńska D, Sobolewska A, Lehner M, Boguszewski PM, Szyndler J. Non-parametric analysis of neurochemical effects and Arc expression in amphetamine-induced 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization. Behav Brain Res 2016; 312:174-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Costa G, Morelli M, Simola N. Involvement of Glutamate NMDA Receptors in the Acute, Long-Term, and Conditioned Effects of Amphetamine on Rat 50 kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyv057. [PMID: 25991653 PMCID: PMC4756726 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rats emit 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to either natural or pharmacological pleasurable stimuli, and these USVs have emerged as a new behavioral measure for investigating the motivational properties of drugs. Earlier studies have indicated that activation of the dopaminergic system is critically involved in 50 kHz USV emissions. However, evidence also exists that non-dopaminergic neurotransmitters participate in this behavioral response. METHODS To ascertain whether glutamate transmission plays a role in 50 kHz USV emissions stimulated by amphetamine, rats received five amphetamine (1-2mg/kg, i.p.) administrations on alternate days in a test cage, either alone or combined with the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.1-0.5mg/kg, i.p.). Seven days after treatment discontinuation, rats were re-exposed to the test cage to assess drug conditioning, and afterwards received a drug challenge. USVs and locomotor activity were evaluated, along with immunofluorescence for Zif-268 in various brain regions and spontaneous alternation in a Y maze. RESULTS Amphetamine-treated rats displayed higher 50 kHz USV emissions and locomotor activity than vehicle-treated rats, and emitted conditioned vocalizations on test cage re-exposure. Rats co-administered amphetamine and MK-801 displayed lower and dose-dependent 50 kHz USV emissions, but not lower locomotor activity, during repeated treatment and challenge, and scarce conditioned vocalization compared with amphetamine-treated rats. These effects were associated with lower levels of Zif-268 after amphetamine challenge and spontaneous alternation deficits. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that glutamate transmission participates in the acute, long-term, and conditioned effects of amphetamine on 50 kHz USVs, possibly by influencing amphetamine-induced long-term neuronal changes and/or amphetamine-associated memories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Italy (Drs Costa, Morelli, and Simola); CNR, National Research Council of Italy, Neuroscience Institute, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Morelli).
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