1
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Bahi A. Serotonin transporter knockdown relieves depression-like behavior and ethanol-induced CPP in mice after chronic social defeat stress. Behav Brain Res 2024; 466:114998. [PMID: 38614210 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114998] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Patients with stress-triggered major depression disorders (MDD) can often seek comfort or temporary relief through alcohol consumption, as they may turn to it as a means of self-medication or coping with overwhelming emotions. The use of alcohol as a coping mechanism for stressful events can escalate, fostering a cycle where the temporary relief it provides from depression can deepen into alcohol dependence, exacerbating both conditions. Although, the specific mechanisms involved in stress-triggered alcohol dependence and MDD comorbidities are not well understood, a large body of literature suggests that the serotonin transporter (SERT) plays a critical role in these abnormalities. To further investigate this hypothesis, we used a lentiviral-mediated knockdown approach to examine the role of hippocampal SERT knockdown in social defeat stress-elicited depression like behavior and ethanol-induced place preference (CPP). The results showed that social defeat stress-pro depressant effects were reversed following SERT knockdown demonstrated by increased sucrose preference, shorter latency to feed in the novelty suppressed feeding test, and decreased immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swim tests. Moreover, and most importantly, social stress-induced ethanol-CPP acquisition and reinstatement were significantly reduced following hippocampal SERT knockdown using short hairpin RNA shRNA-expressing lentiviral vectors. Finally, we confirmed that SERT hippocampal mRNA expression correlated with measures of depression- and ethanol-related behaviors by Pearson's correlation analysis. Taken together, our data suggest that hippocampal serotoninergic system is involved in social stress-triggered mood disorders as well as in the acquisition and retrieval of ethanol contextual memory and that blockade of this transporter can decrease ethanol rewarding properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, CMHS, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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2
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van Ingelgom T, Didone V, Godefroid L, Quertemont É. Effects of social housing conditions on ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in Swiss mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:987-1000. [PMID: 38206359 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06527-7] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE In previous animal model studies, it was shown that drug sensitization is dependent upon physical environmental conditions. However, the effects of social housing conditions on drug sensitization is much less known. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of social conditions, through the size of housing groups, on ethanol stimulant effects and ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male and female Swiss mice were housed in groups of different sizes (isolated mice, two mice per cage, four mice per cage and eight mice per cage) during a six-week period. A standard paradigm of ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization was then started with one daily injection of 2.5 g/kg ethanol for 8 consecutive days. RESULTS The results show that social housing conditions affect the acute stimulant effects of ethanol. The highest stimulant effects were observed in socially isolated mice and then gradually decreased as the size of the group increased. Although the rate of ethanol sensitization did not differ between groups, the ultimate sensitized levels of ethanol-induced stimulant effects were significantly reduced in mice housed in groups of eight. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with the idea that higher levels of acute and sensitized ethanol stimulant effects are observed in mice housed in stressful housing conditions, such as social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo van Ingelgom
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Vincent Didone
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Leeloo Godefroid
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Étienne Quertemont
- Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitive (PsyNCog), Psychologie Quantitative, Université de Liège, Place des Orateurs 2 (B32), Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
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3
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Liu L, Wang C, Wang H, Miao L, Xie T, Tian Y, Li X, Huang Y, Zeng X, Zhu B. Identification of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network for treating methamphetamine-induced relapse and behavioral sensitization with cannabidiol. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14737. [PMID: 38702929 PMCID: PMC11069028 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aims to investigate the pharmacological effects and the underlying mechanism of cannabidiol (CBD) on methamphetamine (METH)-induced relapse and behavioral sensitization in male mice. METHODS The conditioned place preference (CPP) test with a biased paradigm and open-field test were used to assess the effects of CBD on METH-induced relapse and behavioral sensitization in male mice. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify differential expressed (DE) circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice, and the interaction among them was predicted using competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network analysis. RESULTS Chronic administration of CBD (40 mg/kg) during the METH withdrawal phase alleviated METH (2 mg/kg)-induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization in mice, as well as mood and cognitive impairments following behavioral sensitization. Furthermore, 42 DEcircRNAs, 11 DEmiRNAs, and 40 DEmRNAs were identified in the NAc of mice. The circMeis2-miR-183-5p-Kcnj5 network in the NAc of mice is involved in the effects of CBD on METH-induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization. CONCLUSIONS This study constructed the ceRNAs network for the first time, revealing the potential mechanism of CBD in treating METH-induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization, thus advancing the application of CBD in METH use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi‐Omics for Precision IdentificationSchool of Forensic MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Chan Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Haowei Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Lin Miao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Tong Xie
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi‐Omics for Precision IdentificationSchool of Forensic MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yunqing Tian
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Xiaodong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Yizhen Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Xiaofeng Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, School of Forensic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Bofeng Zhu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi‐Omics for Precision IdentificationSchool of Forensic MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
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Chen G, Zhang Y, Li R, Jin L, Hao K, Rong J, Duan H, Du Y, Yao L, Xiang D, Liu Z. Environmental enrichment attenuates depressive-like behavior in maternal rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation and apoptosis and promoting neuroplasticity. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100624. [PMID: 38524250 PMCID: PMC10958482 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Gestational stress can exacerbate postpartum depression (PPD), for which treatment options remain limited. Environmental enrichment (EE) may be a therapeutic intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, but the specific mechanisms by which EE might impact PPD remain unknown. Here we examined the behavioral, molecular, and cellular impact of EE in a stable PPD model in rats developed through maternal separation (MS). Maternal rats subjected to MS developed depression-like behavior and cognitive dysfunction together with evidence of significant neuroinflammation including microglia activation, neuronal apoptosis, and impaired synaptic plasticity. Expanding the duration of EE to throughout pregnancy and lactation, we observed an EE-associated reversal of MS-induced depressive phenotypes, inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, and improvement in synaptic plasticity in maternal rats. Thus, EE effectively alleviates neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, damage to synaptic plasticity, and consequent depression-like behavior in mother rats experiencing MS-induced PPD, paving the way for new preventive and therapeutic strategies for PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guopeng Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yuhui Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ruiling Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Liuyin Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Keke Hao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jingtong Rong
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Hao Duan
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yiwei Du
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lihua Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Dan Xiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhongchun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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Bahi A. Gestational environmental enrichment prevents chronic social stress induced anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in offspring. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 234:173679. [PMID: 37977553 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173679] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological surveys have shown a strong relationship between maternal stress and offspring's mood disorders. Growing evidence suggested that environmental enrichment (EE) improves cognitive function in models of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the potential protective effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited mood disorders in offspring have not been studied. Knowing that the undeveloped brain is more sensitive to gestational environmental stimuli, we hypothesized that initiating cognitive stimulation, during gestation, would protect against social stress-induced behavioral alterations in adulthood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in adult offspring. EE consisted of free access, of dams, to tubular devices of different shapes, colors, and sizes that were changed regularly. After birth and weaning, young adult offspring were exposed to 19 days of social stress and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by elevated plus maze, open field, and marbles burying tests. The two-bottle choice (TBC) drinking paradigm was used to assess stress-induced ethanol intake. Results showed that gestational EE prevented social stress-elicited anxiogenic-like effects with no differences in spontaneous locomotor activity. Moreover, in the TBC paradigm, mice pre-exposed to EE consistently showed a significantly decreased consumption and preference for ethanol with no effects on tastants' intakes. Interestingly, gestational EE increased serum BDNF levels, which showed a correlation with measures of anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors. These findings indicate that some neurodevelopmental changes associated with prenatal EE may counteract adult social stress-induced behavioral alterations through a BDNF mechanism. Therefore, we propose that gestational EE has significant protective and beneficial effects on social stress-induced cognitive impairment. It can also alleviate anxiety-like behavior and subsequent excessive alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, CMHS, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Dandi Ε, Spandou E, Dalla C, Tata DA. Τhe neuroprotective role of environmental enrichment against behavioral, morphological, neuroendocrine and molecular changes following chronic unpredictable mild stress: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:3003-3025. [PMID: 37461295 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors interact with biological and genetic factors influencing the development and well-being of an organism. The interest in better understanding the role of environment on behavior and physiology led to the development of animal models of environmental manipulations. Environmental enrichment (EE), an environmental condition that allows cognitive and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction, improves cognitive function, reduces anxiety and depressive-like behavior and promotes neuroplasticity. In addition, it exerts protection against neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive aging and deficits aggravated by stressful experiences. Given the beneficial effects of EE on the brain and behavior, preclinical studies have focused on its protective role as an alternative, non-invasive manipulation, to help an organism to cope better with stress. A valid, reliable and effective animal model of chronic stress that enhances anxiety and depression-like behavior is the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The variety of stressors and the unpredictability in the time and sequence of exposure to prevent habituation, render CUMS an ethologically relevant model. CUMS has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, elevation in the basal levels of stress hormones, reduction in brain volume, dendritic atrophy and alterations in markers of synaptic plasticity. Although numerous studies have underlined the compensatory role of EE against the negative effects of various chronic stress regimens (e.g. restraint and social isolation), research concerning the interaction between EE and CUMS is sparse. The purpose of the current systematic review is to present up-to-date research findings regarding the protective role of EE against the negative effects of CUMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Εvgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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7
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. Effects of chronic psychosocial stress on 'binge-like' sucrose intake in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 120:110625. [PMID: 36055562 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Binge eating episodes are persistent and are essential features of numerous eating disorders (EDs). Susceptibility to EDs is largely presumed to be associated with early life stress. In fact, converging evidence from preclinical animal studies have implicated stress as a driver of binge eating. Still, literature examination indicates that vulnerability to EDs may depend on factors such as severity, time, and the type of stressor. Therefore, we aimed at exploring the link between chronic psychosocial stress and 'binge-like' sucrose intake in adolescent mice. To this aim, intruders' experimental mice were exposed to the chronic subordinate colony (CSC) housing, in the presence of a resident aggressive mouse for 2 weeks. At the end of the stress period, mice were tested for anxiety-like behavior then assessed for 'binge-like' intake of sucrose using a long-term drinking in the dark (DID) method that successfully replicates binge eating in humans. As expected, and compared to single housed colony controls (SHC), CSC exposure elicited an anxiogenic-like response in the open field (OF) and elevated-plus maze (EPM) tests and reduced weight gain. Most importantly, we report here for the first time, that mice exposed to chronic psychosocial stress displayed a 'binge-like' consumption of sucrose. However, neither quinine (bitter) nor saccharin (sweet) intakes were affected by CSC exposure. Finally, using Pearson's correlation, results showed a strong correlation between anxiety-like behavior parameters and sucrose intake. Overall these findings support the validity of our chronic psychosocial stress to model binge EDs and establish the long-term consequences of stress on 'binge-like' eating in male mice. These data suggest that chronic psychosocial stress is a risk factor for developing anxiety-associated EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Jean-Luc Dreyer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Dandi E, Spandou E, Tata DA. Investigating the role of environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence against the detrimental effects of chronic unpredictable stress in adulthood: Sex-specific differences in behavioral and neuroendocrinological findings. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104707. [PMID: 35842198 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104707] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Environmental Enrichment (EE) improves cognitive function and enhances brain plasticity, while chronic stress increases emotionality, impairs learning and memory, and has adverse effects on brain anatomy and biochemistry. We explored the beneficial role of environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence against the negative outcomes of Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) during adulthood on emotional behavior, cognitive function, as well as somatic and neuroendocrine markers in both sexes. Adolescent Wistar rats housed either in enriched or standard housing conditions for 10 weeks. On postnatal day 66, a subgroup from each housing condition was daily exposed to a 4-week stress protocol. Following stress, adult rats underwent behavioral testing to evaluate anxiety, exploration/locomotor activity, depressive-like behavior and spatial learning/memory. Upon completion of behavioral testing, animals were exposed to a 10-m stressful event to test the neuroendocrine response to acute stress. CUS decreased body weight gain and increased adrenal weight. Some stress-induced behavioral adverse effects were sex-specific since learning impairments were limited to males while depressive-like behavior to females. EE housing protected against CUS-related behavioral deficits and body weight loss. Exposure to CUS affected the neuroendocrine response of males to acute stress as revealed by the increased corticosterone levels. Our findings highlight the significant role of EE in adolescence as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress and underline the importance of inclusion of both sexes in animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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9
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Wu XM, Ji MH, Yin XY, Gu HW, Zhu TT, Wang RZ, Yang JJ, Shen JC. Reduced inhibition underlies early life LPS exposure induced-cognitive impairment: Prevention by environmental enrichment. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 108:108724. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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10
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Richard Y, Tazi N, Frydecka D, Hamid MS, Moustafa AA. A systematic review of neural, cognitive, and clinical studies of anger and aggression. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-13. [PMID: 35693838 PMCID: PMC9174026 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03143-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Anger and aggression have large impact on people's safety and the society at large. In order to provide an intervention to minimise aggressive behaviours, it is important to understand the neural and cognitive aspects of anger and aggression. In this systematic review, we investigate the cognitive and neural aspects of anger-related processes, including anger-related behaviours and anger reduction. Using this information, we then review prior existing methods on the treatment of anger-related disorders as well as anger management, including mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. At the cognitive level, our review that anger is associated with excessive attention to anger-related stimuli and impulsivity. At the neural level, anger is associated with abnormal functioning of the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In conclusions, based on cognitive and neural studies, we here argue that mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy may be better at reducing anger and aggression than other behavioural treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness alone. We provide key information on future research work and best ways to manage anger and reduce aggression. Importantly, future research should investigate how anger related behaviours is acquired and how stress impacts the development of anger.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Tazi
- Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
- Universite Med 5th, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteur Street 10, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Ahmed A. Moustafa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD Australia
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Maccioni P, Bratzu J, Lobina C, Acciaro C, Corrias G, Capra A, Carai MAM, Agabio R, Muntoni AL, Gessa GL, Colombo G. Exposure to an enriched environment reduces alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 249:113771. [PMID: 35247441 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Living in an enriched environment (EE) produces a notable impact on several rodent behaviors, including those motivated by drugs of abuse. This picture is somewhat less clear when referring to alcohol-motivated behaviors. With the intent of contributing to this research field with data from one of the few rat lines selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, the present study investigated the effect of EE on operant oral alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Starting from Postnatal Day (PND) 21, male sP rats were kept under 3 different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing in shoebox-like cages with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; small colony cages with 3 rats and no environmental enrichment); EE (large colony cages with 6 rats and multiple elements of environmental enrichment, including 2 floors, ladders, maze, running wheels, and shelter). From PND 60, rats were exposed to different phases of shaping and training of alcohol self-administration. IE, SE, and EE rats were then compared under (i) fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of alcohol reinforcement for 20 daily sessions and (ii) progressive ratio (PR) schedule of alcohol reinforcement in a final single session. Acquisition of the lever-responding task (shaping) was slower in EE than IE and SE rats, as the likely consequence of a "devaluation" of the novel stimuli provided by the operant chamber in comparison to those to which EE rats were continuously exposed in their homecage or an alteration, induced by EE, of the rat "emotionality" state when facing the novel environment represented by the operant chamber. Training of alcohol self-administration was slower in EE than IE rats, with SE rats displaying intermediate values. A similar ranking order (IE>SE>EE) was also observed in number of lever-responses for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol under FR4 and PR schedules of reinforcement. These data suggest that living in a complex environment reduced the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in sP rats. These results are interpreted in terms of the reinforcing and motivational properties of the main components of EE (i.e., social interactions, physical activities, exploration, novelty) substituting, at least partially, for those of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Jessica Bratzu
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Carla Acciaro
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gianluigi Corrias
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alessandro Capra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mauro A M Carai
- Cagliari Pharmacological Research, I-09127 Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Roberta Agabio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Muntoni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
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12
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Reguilón MD, Ferrer-Pérez C, Manzanedo C, Miñarro J, Rodríguez-Arias M. Ethanol intake in male mice exposed to social defeat: Environmental enrichment potentiates resilience. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100413. [PMID: 34815986 PMCID: PMC8591477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Large preclinical evidence shows that exposure to social defeat (SD) increases vulnerability to drug abuse, increasing the consumption of ethanol. However, not all subjects are equally affected by the changes induced by stress. Previous reports have evidenced that the resilient phenotype to depressive-like behaviors after SD is associated with the resistant phenotype to cocaine-increased rewarding effects and the smaller neuroinflammatory response. The aim of the present study was to further clarify whether the resilient profile to depressive-like behavior also predicts a protection against the increase in ethanol intake induced by SD. The neuroinflammatory profile was studied after the end of the oral ethanol self-administration (SA) procedure, measuring levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the chemokine CX3CL1 or fractalkine in the striatum and prefrontal cortex. Previous studies have shown that environmental enrichment (EE) is an effective mechanism to dimish the detrimental effects of social stress. In a second study, we aimed to evaluate if EE housing before exposure to SD could potentiate resilience. Our results showed that mice with a phenotype susceptible to SD-induced depressive-like behaviors showed increased ethanol consumption and increased neuroinflammatory signaling. In contrast, despite the lack of effect on depressive-like behaviors, defeated mice previously housed under EE conditions did not show an increase in ethanol SA or an increase in immune response. To sum up, the resilient phenotype to SD develops at different levels, such as depressive-like behaviors, ethanol consumption and the neuroinflammatory response. Our results also point to the protective role of EE in potentiating resilience to SD effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina D Reguilón
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Ferrer-Pérez
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, C/ Ciudad Escolar s/n, 44003, Teruel, Spain
| | - Carmen Manzanedo
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Miñarro
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Rodríguez-Arias
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
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Lguensat A, Boudjafad Z, Giorla E, Bennis M, Baunez C, Garcia R, Ba-M'hamed S. Repeated ethanol exposure following avoidance conditioning impairs avoidance extinction and modifies conditioning-associated prefrontal dendritic changes in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:7710-7732. [PMID: 34670326 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15499] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is complicated by the presence of alcohol use disorder comorbidity. Little is known about the underlying brain mechanisms. We have recently shown, in mice, that the post-traumatic stress disorder-like phenotype is characterised by the increase and decrease in total dendritic number and length in the prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the medial prefrontal cortex, respectively. Here, we examined whether repeated ethanol exposure would exacerbate these changes and whether this would be associated with difficulty to extinguish passive avoidance behaviour, as an indicator of treatment resistance. We also analysed whether other known trauma-associated changes, like increased or decreased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, would also be exacerbated. Male mice underwent trauma exposure (1.5-mA footshock), followed, 8 days later, by a conditioned place preference training with ethanol. Tests for fear sensitization, passive avoidance, anxiety-like behaviour, extinction acquisition and relapse susceptibility were used to assess behaviour changes. Plasma corticosterone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and prefrontal dendritic changes were subsequently measured. Trauma-susceptible mice exposed to ethanol acquired a strong place preference and behaved differently from those not exposed to ethanol, with delayed avoidance extinction and higher avoidance relapse vulnerability. Ethanol potentiated trauma-associated dendritic changes in the prelimbic area and suppressed trauma-associated dendritic changes in the infralimbic area. However, ethanol had no effect on trauma-induced increased corticosterone and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. These data suggest that the modification of prefrontal trauma-related changes, due to alcohol use, can characterise, and probably support, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmae Lguensat
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Zineb Boudjafad
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Elodie Giorla
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Bennis
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Christelle Baunez
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - René Garcia
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.,Graduate School of Life and Health Sciences, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Saadia Ba-M'hamed
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Neurobiologie, Anthropologie et Environnement, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
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