1
|
Svalina MN, Sullivan R, Restrepo D, Huntsman MM. From circuits to behavior: Amygdala dysfunction in fragile X syndrome. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1128529. [PMID: 36969493 PMCID: PMC10034113 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1128529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a repeat expansion mutation in the promotor region of the FMR1 gene resulting in transcriptional silencing and loss of function of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 protein (FMRP). FMRP has a well-defined role in the early development of the brain. Thus, loss of the FMRP has well-known consequences for normal cellular and synaptic development leading to a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including an increased prevalence of amygdala-based disorders. Despite our detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of FXS, the precise cellular and circuit-level underpinnings of amygdala-based disorders is incompletely understood. In this review, we discuss the development of the amygdala, the role of neuromodulation in the critical period plasticity, and recent advances in our understanding of how synaptic and circuit-level changes in the basolateral amygdala contribute to the behavioral manifestations seen in FXS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N. Svalina
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Regina Sullivan
- Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Diego Restrepo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Molly M. Huntsman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: Molly M. Huntsman,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Clinton SM, Unroe KA, Shupe EA, McCoy CR, Glover ME. Resilience to Stress: Lessons from Rodents about Nature versus Nurture. Neuroscientist 2022; 28:283-298. [PMID: 33567987 PMCID: PMC11092422 DOI: 10.1177/1073858421989357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Individual differences in human temperament influence how we respond to stress and can confer vulnerability (or resilience) to emotional disorders. For example, high levels of behavioral inhibition in children predict increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders in later life. The biological underpinnings of temperament are unknown, although improved understanding can offer insight into the pathogenesis of emotional disorders. Our laboratory has used a rat model of temperamental differences to study neurodevelopmental factors that lead to a highly inhibited, stress vulnerable phenotype. Selective breeding for high versus low behavioral response to novelty created two rat strains that exhibit dramatic behavior differences over multiple domains relevant to emotional disorders. Low novelty responder (bLR) rats exhibit high levels of behavioral inhibition, passive stress coping, anhedonia, decreased sociability and vulnerability to chronic stress compared to high novelty responders (bHRs). On the other hand, bHRs exhibit high levels of behavioral dis-inhibition, active coping, and aggression. This review article summarizes our work with the bHR/bLR model showing the developmental emergence of the bHR/bLR phenotypes, the role the environment plays in shaping it, and the involvement of epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation that mediate differences in emotionality and stress reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Clinton
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Keaton A. Unroe
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Shupe
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Chelsea R. McCoy
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Matthew E. Glover
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Guily P, Lassalle O, Chavis P, Manzoni OJ. Sex-specific divergent maturational trajectories in the postnatal rat basolateral amygdala. iScience 2022; 25:103815. [PMID: 35198880 PMCID: PMC8841815 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In rodents and humans, the basolateral amygdala (BLA), essential for emotional behaviors, is profoundly reorganized during adolescence. We compared in both sexes the morphology, neuronal, and synaptic properties of BLA neurons in rats at puberty and adulthood. BLA neurons were more excitable in males than in females at adulthood. At pubescence, male action potentials were smaller and shorter than females’ while fast afterhyperpolarizations were larger in males. During postnatal maturation, spine length increased and decreased in females and males, respectively, while there was a reduction in spine head size in females. Excitatory synaptic properties, estimated from stimuli-response relationships, spontaneous post-synaptic currents, and AMPA/NMDA ratio also displayed sex-specific maturational differences. Finally, the developmental courses of long-term potentiation and depression were sexually dimorphic. These data reveal divergent maturational trajectories in the BLA of male and female rats and suggest sex-specific substrates to the BLA linked behaviors at adolescence and adulthood. The BLA is immature at puberty and its development toward adulthood is sex-specific At adulthood, neuronal excitability is lower in females than in males The maturation of spine morphology is more pronounced in females The developmental courses of LTP and LTD are sexually divergent
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Guily
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Olivier Lassalle
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Pascale Chavis
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Olivier J. Manzoni
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nakashima M, Morikawa S, Ikegaya Y. Genetic labeling of axo-axonic cells in the basolateral amygdala. Neurosci Res 2022; 178:33-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
5
|
Late-Onset Behavioral and Synaptic Consequences of L-Type Ca 2+ Channel Activation in the Basolateral Amygdala of Developing Rats. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0282-21.2022. [PMID: 35064022 PMCID: PMC8868026 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0282-21.2022] [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: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Postnatal CNS development is fine-tuned to drive the functional needs of succeeding life stages; accordingly, the emergence of sensory and motor functions, behavioral patterns and cognitive abilities relies on a complex interplay of signaling pathways. Strictly regulated Ca2+ signaling mediated by L-type channels (LTCCs) is crucial in neural circuit development and aberrant increases in neuronal LTCC activity are linked to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. In the amygdala, a brain region that integrates signals associated with aversive and rewarding stimuli, LTCCs contribute to NMDA-independent long-term potentiation (LTP) and are required for the consolidation and extinction of fear memory. In vitro studies have elucidated distinct electrophysiological and synaptic properties characterizing the transition from immature to functionally mature basolateral subdivision of the amygdala (BLA) principal neurons. Further, acute increase of LTCC activity selectively regulates excitability and spontaneous synaptic activity in immature BLA neurons, suggesting an age-dependent regulation of BLA circuitry by LTCCs. This study aimed to elucidate whether early life alterations in LTCC activity subsequently affect synaptic strength and amygdala-dependent behaviors in early adulthood. In vivo intra-amygdala injection of an LTCC agonist at a critical period of postnatal neurodevelopment in male rat pups was used to examine synaptic plasticity of BLA excitatory inputs, expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) and glutamate receptors, as well as anxiety and social affiliation behaviors at a juvenile age. Results indicate that enhanced LTCC activity in immature BLA principal neurons trigger persistent changes in the developmental trajectory to modify membrane properties and synaptic LTP at later stages, concomitant with alterations in amygdala-related behavioral patterns.
Collapse
|
6
|
Michaelson SD, Müller TM, Bompolaki M, Miranda Tapia AP, Villarroel HS, Mackay JP, Balogun PJ, Urban JH, Colmers WF. Long-Lived Organotypic Slice Culture Model of the Rat Basolateral Amygdala. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e267. [PMID: 34670009 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Organotypic slice cultures (OTCs) have been employed in the laboratory since the early 1980s and have proved to be useful for the study of a number of neural systems. Our recent work focuses on the development of behavioral stress resilience induced by repeated daily injections of neuropeptide Y into the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Resilience develops over weeks, persisting to 8 weeks. To unravel the cellular mechanisms underlying neuropeptide Y-induced stress resilience we developed in vitro OTCs of the BLA. Here, we provide an optimized protocol that consistently yields viable and healthy OTCs containing the BLA and surrounding tissue using the interface method, prepared with slices taken from postnatal (P) day 14 rats. We explain key points to optimizing tissue viability and discuss mitigation or avoidance of pitfalls that can arise to aid in successful implementation of this technique. We show that principal neurons in BLA OTCs (8 weeks in vitro = equivalent postnatal day 70) develop into networks that are electrophysiologically very similar to those from acute slices obtained from older rats (P70) and respond to pharmacological treatments in a comparable way. Furthermore, we highlight how these cultures be used to further understand the molecular, cellular, and circuit-level neuropathophysiological changes underlying stress disorders. BLA OTCs provide long-term physiological and pharmacological results whose predictions were borne out in vivo, supporting the validity of the BLA OTC as a model to unravel BLA neurocircuitry. Recent preliminary results also support the successful application of this approach to preparing long-lived OTCs of BLA and neocortex from mice. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Organotypic slice culture Support Protocol 1: Changing medium Support Protocol 2: Drug incubations Basic Protocol 2: Excision of OTC slices from inserts Support Protocol 3: Fixation of slices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheldon D Michaelson
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Taylor M Müller
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maria Bompolaki
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ana Pamela Miranda Tapia
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heika Silveira Villarroel
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - James P Mackay
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pauline J Balogun
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Janice H Urban
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - William F Colmers
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Guadagno A, Belliveau C, Mechawar N, Walker CD. Effects of Early Life Stress on the Developing Basolateral Amygdala-Prefrontal Cortex Circuit: The Emerging Role of Local Inhibition and Perineuronal Nets. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:669120. [PMID: 34512291 PMCID: PMC8426628 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.669120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The links between early life stress (ELS) and the emergence of psychopathology such as increased anxiety and depression are now well established, although the specific neurobiological and developmental mechanisms that translate ELS into poor health outcomes are still unclear. The consequences of ELS are complex because they depend on the form and severity of early stress, duration, and age of exposure as well as co-occurrence with other forms of physical or psychological trauma. The long term effects of ELS on the corticolimbic circuit underlying emotional and social behavior are particularly salient because ELS occurs during critical developmental periods in the establishment of this circuit, its local balance of inhibition:excitation and its connections with other neuronal pathways. Using examples drawn from the human and rodent literature, we review some of the consequences of ELS on the development of the corticolimbic circuit and how it might impact fear regulation in a sex- and hemispheric-dependent manner in both humans and rodents. We explore the effects of ELS on local inhibitory neurons and the formation of perineuronal nets (PNNs) that terminate critical periods of plasticity and promote the formation of stable local networks. Overall, the bulk of ELS studies report transient and/or long lasting alterations in both glutamatergic circuits and local inhibitory interneurons (INs) and their associated PNNs. Since the activity of INs plays a key role in the maturation of cortical regions and the formation of local field potentials, alterations in these INs triggered by ELS might critically participate in the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood, including impaired fear extinction and anxiety behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Guadagno
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia Belliveau
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Claire-Dominique Walker
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Postnatal development of inner lamina II interneurons of the rat medullary dorsal horn. Pain 2021; 163:984-998. [PMID: 34433770 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pain processing in young mammals is immature. Despite the central role of the medullary dorsal horn (MDH) in processing orofacial sensory information, the maturation of the neurons within the MDH has been largely overlooked. Combining in vitro electrophysiological recordings and 3D morphological analysis over the first postnatal month in rats, we investigated the age-dependent development of the neurons within the inner lamina II (IIi) of the MDH. We show the lamina IIi neuronal population transition into a more hyperpolarized state, with modification of the action potential waveform, and a shift from single spiking, at early postnatal ages, to tonic firing and initial bursting at later stages. These physiological changes are associated with a strong structural remodelling of the neuronal morphology with most of the modifications occurring after the third postnatal week. Among the lamina IIi neuronal population, the subpopulation of interneurons expressing the γ isoform of the protein kinase C (PKCγ+) are key elements for the circuits underlying facial mechanical allodynia. How do they develop from the rest of the lamina IIi constitute an important question that remained to be addressed. Here, we show that PKCγ+ interneurons display electrophysiological changes over time comparable with the PKCγ- population. However, they show a distinctive increase of the soma volume and primary branches length, as opposed to the PKCγ- population. Together, our data demonstrate a novel pattern of late postnatal maturation of lamina IIi interneurons, with a spotlight on PKCγ+ interneurons, that may be relevant for the development of orofacial sensitivity.
Collapse
|
9
|
Ryazantseva M, Englund J, Shintyapina A, Huupponen J, Shteinikov V, Pitkänen A, Partanen JM, Lauri SE. Kainate receptors regulate development of glutamatergic synaptic circuitry in the rodent amygdala. eLife 2020; 9:52798. [PMID: 32202495 PMCID: PMC7117908 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbed information processing in the amygdala has been implicated in developmentally originating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, little is known on the mechanisms that guide formation and refinement of intrinsic connections between amygdaloid nuclei. We demonstrate that in rodents the glutamatergic connection from basolateral to central amygdala (BLA-CeA) develops rapidly during the first 10 postnatal days, before external inputs underlying amygdala-dependent behaviors emerge. During this restricted period of synaptic development, kainate-type of ionotropic glutamate receptors (KARs) are highly expressed in the BLA and tonically activated to regulate glutamate release via a G-protein-dependent mechanism. Genetic manipulation of this endogenous KAR activity locally in the newborn LA perturbed development of glutamatergic input to CeA, identifying KARs as a physiological mechanism regulating formation of the glutamatergic circuitry in the amygdala.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ryazantseva
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonas Englund
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alexandra Shintyapina
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Huupponen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vasilii Shteinikov
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Asla Pitkänen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juha M Partanen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sari E Lauri
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Raineki C, Morgan EJ, Ellis L, Weinberg J. Glucocorticoid receptor expression in the stress-limbic circuitry is differentially affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and adolescent stress. Brain Res 2019; 1718:242-251. [PMID: 31102593 PMCID: PMC6579044 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The dense expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) within the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) mediates many aspects of emotional and stress regulation. Importantly, both prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and adolescent stress are known to induce emotional and stress dysregulation. Little is known, however, about how PAE and/or adolescent stress may alter the expression of GR in the amygdala, mPFC, and PVN. To fill this gap, we exposed PAE and control adolescent male and female rats to chronic mild stress (CMS) and assessed GR mRNA expression in the amygdala, mPFC, and PVN immediately following stress or in adulthood. We found that the effects of PAE on GR expression were more prevalent in the amygdala, while effects of adolescent stress on GR expression were more prevalent in the mPFC. Moreover, PAE effects in the amygdala were more pronounced during adolescence and adolescent stress effects in the mPFC were more pronounced in adulthood. GR expression in the PVN was affected by both PAE and adolescent stress. Finally, PAE and/or adolescent stress effects were distinct between males and females. Together, these results suggest that PAE and adolescent CMS induce dynamic alterations in GR expression in the amygdala, mPFC, and PVN, which manifest differently depending on the brain area, age, and sex of the animal. Additionally, these data indicate that PAE-induced hyperresponsiveness to stress and increased vulnerability to mental health problems may be mediated by different neural mechanisms depending on the sex and age of the animal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlis Raineki
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Erin J Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Linda Ellis
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yang SC, Liu JJ, Wang CK, Lin YT, Tsai SY, Chen WJ, Huang WK, Tu PWA, Lin YC, Chang CF, Cheng CL, Lin H, Lai CY, Lin CY, Lee YH, Chiu YC, Hsu CC, Hsu SC, Hsiao M, Schuyler SC, Lu FL, Lu J. Down-regulation of ATF1 leads to early neuroectoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells by increasing the expression level of SOX2. FASEB J 2019; 33:10577-10592. [PMID: 31242772 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800220rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We reveal by high-throughput screening that activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) is a novel pluripotent regulator in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The knockdown of ATF1 expression significantly up-regulated neuroectoderm (NE) genes but not mesoderm, endoderm, and trophectoderm genes. Of note, down-regulation or knockout of ATF1 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) was sufficient to up-regulate sex-determining region Y-box (SOX)2 and paired box 6 (PAX6) expression under the undifferentiated or differentiated conditions, whereas overexpression of ATF1 suppressed NE differentiation. Endogenous ATF1 was spontaneously down-regulated after d 1-3 of neural induction. By double-knockdown experiments, up-regulation of SOX2 was critical for the increase of PAX6 and SOX1 expression in shRNA targeting Atf1 hESCs. Using the luciferase reporter assay, we identified ATF1 as a negative transcriptional regulator of Sox2 gene expression. A novel function of ATF1 was discovered, and these findings contribute to a broader understanding of the very first steps in regulating NE differentiation in hESCs.-Yang, S.-C., Liu, J.-J., Wang, C.-K., Lin, Y.-T., Tsai, S.-Y., Chen, W.-J., Huang, W.-K., Tu, P.-W. A., Lin, Y.-C., Chang, C.-F., Cheng, C.-L., Lin, H., Lai, C.-Y., Lin, C.-Y., Lee, Y.-H., Chiu, Y.-C., Hsu, C.-C., Hsu, S.-C., Hsiao, M., Schuyler, S. C., Lu, F. L., Lu, J. Down-regulation of ATF1 leads to early neuroectoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells by increasing the expression level of SOX2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Chih Yang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jan-Jan Liu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Kai Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tsen Lin
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Su-Yi Tsai
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ju Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Kai Huang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Wen A Tu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Chih-Lun Cheng
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan Lin
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ying Lai
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Lin
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Lee
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Chun Chiu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Shu-Ching Hsu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Zhunan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Scott C Schuyler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Frank Leigh Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jean Lu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,RNAi Core, National Core Facility, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lugarà E, De Fusco A, Lignani G, Benfenati F, Humeau Y. Synapsin I Controls Synaptic Maturation of Long-Range Projections in the Lateral Amygdala in a Targeted Selective Fashion. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:220. [PMID: 31164805 PMCID: PMC6536628 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala, and more precisely its lateral nucleus, is thought to attribute emotional valence to external stimuli by generating long-term plasticity changes at long-range projections to principal cells. Aversive experience has also been shown to modify pre- and post-synaptic markers in the amygdala, suggesting their possible role in the structural organization of adult amygdala networks. Here, we focused on how the maturation of cortical and thalamic long-range projections occurs on principal neurons and interneurons in the lateral amygdala (LA). We performed dual electrophysiological recordings of identified cells in juvenile and adult GAD67-GFP mice after independent stimulation of cortical and thalamic afferent systems. The results demonstrate that synaptic strengthening occurs during development at synapses projecting to LA principal neurons, but not interneurons. As synaptic strengthening underlies fear conditioning which depends, in turn, on presence and increasing expression of synapsin I, we tested if synapsin I contributes to synaptic strengthening during development. Interestingly, the physiological synaptic strengthening of cortical and thalamic synapses projecting to LA principal neurons was virtually abolished in synapsin I knockout mice, but not differences were observed in the excitatory projections to interneurons. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the presence of synapsin I is restricted to excitatory contacts projecting to principal neurons in LA of adult mice. These results indicate that synapsin I is a key regulator of the maturation of synaptic connectivity in this brain region and that is expression is dependent on postsynaptic identity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Lugarà
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonio De Fusco
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Yann Humeau
- Team Synapse in Cognition, Institut Interdisciplinaire de Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS UMR5297, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
McCoy CR, Glover ME, Flynn LT, Simmons RK, Cohen JL, Ptacek T, Lefkowitz EJ, Jackson NL, Akil H, Wu X, Clinton SM. Altered DNA Methylation in the Developing Brains of Rats Genetically Prone to High versus Low Anxiety. J Neurosci 2019; 39:3144-3158. [PMID: 30683683 PMCID: PMC6468100 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1157-15.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence of abnormal epigenetic processes playing a role in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, although the precise nature of these anomalies remains largely unknown. To study neurobiological (including epigenetic) factors that influence emotionality, we use rats bred for distinct behavioral responses to novelty. Rats bred for low novelty response (low responder [LR]) exhibit high levels of anxiety- and depressive-like behavior compared with high novelty responder (HR) rats. Prior work revealed distinct limbic brain development in HR versus LR rats, including altered expression of genes involved in DNA methylation. This led us to hypothesize that DNA methylation differences in the developing brain drive the disparate HR/LR neurobehavioral phenotypes. Here we report altered DNA methylation markers (altered DNA methyltransferase protein levels and increased global DNA methylation levels) in the early postnatal amygdala of LR versus HR male rats. Next-generation sequencing methylome profiling identified numerous differentially methylated regions across the genome in the early postnatal HR/LR amygdala. We also contrasted methylation profiles of male HRs and LRs with a control rat strain that displays an intermediate behavioral phenotype relative to the HR/LR extremes; this revealed that the LR amygdalar methylome was abnormal, with the HR profile more closely resembling that of the control group. Finally, through two methylation manipulations in early life, we found that decreasing DNA methylation in the developing male and female amygdala improves adult anxiety- and depression-like behavior. These findings suggest that inborn DNA methylation differences play important roles in shaping brain development and lifelong emotional behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Epigenetic changes are biological mechanisms that regulate the expression and function of genes throughout the brain and body. DNA methylation, one type of epigenetic mechanism, is known to be altered in brains of psychiatric patients, which suggests a role for DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The present study examines brains of rats that display high versus low levels of anxiety- and depression-like behavior to investigate how neural DNA methylation levels differ in these animals and how such differences shape their emotional behavioral differences. Studying how epigenetic processes affect emotional behavior may improve our understanding of the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders and lead to improved treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rebecca K Simmons
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | | | - Travis Ptacek
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Department of Microbiology
| | - Elliot J Lefkowitz
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Department of Microbiology
| | - Nateka L Jackson
- Department of Cellular, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, and
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Raber J, Arzy S, Bertolus JB, Depue B, Haas HE, Hofmann SG, Kangas M, Kensinger E, Lowry CA, Marusak HA, Minnier J, Mouly AM, Mühlberger A, Norrholm SD, Peltonen K, Pinna G, Rabinak C, Shiban Y, Soreq H, van der Kooij MA, Lowe L, Weingast LT, Yamashita P, Boutros SW. Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:136-177. [PMID: 30970272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that serves as a driving factor in how organisms move through the world. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the subjective experience of fear and the related biological processes involved in fear learning and memory. We first provide an overview of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models, encompassing the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, the influence of genetic and environmental factors, and how fear learning paradigms have contributed to treatments for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Current treatments as well as novel strategies, such as targeting the perisynaptic environment and use of virtual reality, are addressed. We review research on the subjective experience of fear and the role of autobiographical memory in fear-related disorders. We also discuss the gaps in our understanding of fear learning and memory, and the degree of consensus in the field. Lastly, the development of linguistic tools for assessments and treatment of fear learning and memory disorders is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Shahar Arzy
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Brendan Depue
- Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Haley E Haas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Kangas
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Minnier
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS-UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seth Davin Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christine Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hermona Soreq
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science and The Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael A van der Kooij
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitatsmedizin der Johannes Guttenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paula Yamashita
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sydney Weber Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Selleck RA, Zhang W, Mercier HD, Padival M, Rosenkranz JA. Limited prefrontal cortical regulation over the basolateral amygdala in adolescent rats. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17171. [PMID: 30464293 PMCID: PMC6249319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35649-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive regulation of emotion develops from childhood into adulthood. This occurs in parallel with maturation of prefrontal cortical (PFC) regulation over the amygdala. The cellular substrates for this regulation may include PFC activation of inhibitory GABAergic elements in the amygdala. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PFC regulation over basolateral amygdala area (BLA) in vivo is immature in adolescence, and if this is due to immaturity of GABAergic elements or PFC excitatory inputs. Using in vivo extracellular electrophysiological recordings from anesthetized male rats we found that in vivo summation of PFC inputs to the BLA was less regulated by GABAergic inhibition in adolescents (postnatal day 39) than adults (postnatal day 72-75). In addition, stimulation of either prelimbic or infralimbic PFC evokes weaker inhibition over basal (BA) and lateral (LAT) nuclei of the BLA in adolescents. This was dictated by both weak recruitment of inhibition in LAT and weak excitatory effects of PFC in BA. The current results may contribute to differences in adolescent cognitive regulation of emotion. These findings identify specific elements that undergo adolescent maturation and may therefore be sensitive to environmental disruptions that increase risk for psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Selleck
- 0000 0004 0388 7807grid.262641.5Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- 0000 0004 0388 7807grid.262641.5Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| | - Hannah D. Mercier
- 0000 0004 0388 7807grid.262641.5Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| | - Mallika Padival
- 0000 0004 0388 7807grid.262641.5Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| | - J. Amiel Rosenkranz
- 0000 0004 0388 7807grid.262641.5Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hennessey T, Andari E, Rainnie DG. RDoC-based categorization of amygdala functions and its implications in autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 90:115-129. [PMID: 29660417 PMCID: PMC6250055 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Confusion endures as to the exact role of the amygdala in relation to autism. To help resolve this we turned to the NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) which provides a classification schema that identifies different categories of behaviors that can turn pathologic in mental health disorders, e.g. autism. While RDoC incorporates all the known neurobiological substrates for each domain, this review will focus primarily on the amygdala. We first consider the amygdala from an anatomical, historical, and developmental perspective. Next, we examine the different domains and constructs of RDoC that the amygdala is involved in: Negative Valence Systems, Positive Valence Systems, Cognitive Systems, Social Processes, and Arousal and Regulatory Systems. Then the evidence for a dysfunctional amygdala in autism is presented with a focus on alterations in development, prenatal valproic acid exposure as a model for ASD, and changes in the oxytocin system therein. Finally, a synthesis of RDoC, the amygdala, and autism is offered, emphasizing the task of disambiguation and suggestions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hennessey
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States
| | - Elissar Andari
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Guadagno A, Wong TP, Walker CD. Morphological and functional changes in the preweaning basolateral amygdala induced by early chronic stress associate with anxiety and fear behavior in adult male, but not female rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 81:25-37. [PMID: 28963066 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Suboptimal maternal care is a form of chronic early-life stress (ELS) and a risk factor for mental illness and behavioral impairments throughout the life span. The amygdala, particularly the basolateral amygdala (BLA), exhibits exquisite sensitivity to ELS and could promote dysregulation of stress reactivity and anxiety-related disorders. While ELS has profound impacts on the adult or adolescent amygdala, less is known regarding the sensitivity of the preweaning BLA to ELS. We employed a naturalistic rodent model of chronic ELS that limits the amount of bedding/nesting material (LB) available to the mother between postnatal day (PND) 1-9 and examined the morphological and functional effects in the preweaning BLA on PND10 and 18-22. BLA neurons displayed dendritic hypertrophy and increased spine numbers in male, but not female, LB pups already by PND10 and BLA volume tended to increase after LB exposure in preweaning rats, suggesting an accelerated and long-lasting recruitment of the amygdala. Morphological changes seen in male LB pups were paralleled with increased evoked synaptic responses recorded from BLA neurons in vitro, suggesting enhanced excitatory inputs to these neurons. Interestingly, morphological and functional changes in the preweaning BLA were not associated with basal hypercorticosteronemia or enhanced stress responsiveness in LB pups, perhaps due to a differential sensitivity of the neuroendocrine stress axis to the effects of LB exposure. Early changes in the synaptic organization and excitability of the neonatal amygdala might contribute to the increased anxiety-like and fear behavior observed in adulthood, specifically in male offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Guadagno
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tak Pan Wong
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claire-Dominique Walker
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Klenowski PM, Wright SE, Mu EWH, Noakes PG, Lavidis NA, Bartlett SE, Bellingham MC, Fogarty MJ. Investigating Methodological Differences in the Assessment of Dendritic Morphology of Basolateral Amygdala Principal Neurons-A Comparison of Golgi-Cox and Neurobiotin Electroporation Techniques. Brain Sci 2017; 7:brainsci7120165. [PMID: 29257086 PMCID: PMC5742768 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7120165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative assessments of neuronal subtypes in numerous brain regions show large variations in dendritic arbor size. A critical experimental factor is the method used to visualize neurons. We chose to investigate quantitative differences in basolateral amygdala (BLA) principal neuron morphology using two of the most common visualization methods: Golgi–Cox staining and neurobiotin (NB) filling. We show in 8-week-old Wistar rats that NB-filling reveals significantly larger dendritic arbors and different spine densities, compared to Golgi–Cox-stained BLA neurons. Our results demonstrate important differences and provide methodological insights into quantitative disparities of BLA principal neuron morphology reported in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Klenowski
- Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4102, Australia.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Sophie E Wright
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Erica W H Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Peter G Noakes
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Nickolas A Lavidis
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Selena E Bartlett
- Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4102, Australia.
| | - Mark C Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Matthew J Fogarty
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Repeated shock stress facilitates basolateral amygdala synaptic plasticity through decreased cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE4) expression. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 223:1731-1745. [PMID: 29204911 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that exposure to stressful events can enhance fear memory and anxiety-like behavior as well as increase synaptic plasticity in the rat basolateral amygdala (BLA). We have evidence that repeated unpredictable shock stress (USS) elicits a long-lasting increase in anxiety-like behavior in rats, but the cellular mechanisms mediating this response remain unclear. Evidence from recent morphological studies suggests that alterations in the dendritic arbor or spine density of BLA principal neurons may underlie stress-induced anxiety behavior. Recently, we have shown that the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in BLA principal neurons is dependent on activation of postsynaptic D1 dopamine receptors and the subsequent activation of the cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling cascade. Here, we have used in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recording from BLA principal neurons to investigate the long-term consequences of USS on their morphological properties and synaptic plasticity. We provided evidence that the enhanced anxiety-like behavior in response to USS was not associated with any significant change in the morphological properties of BLA principal neurons, but was associated with a changed frequency dependence of synaptic plasticity, lowered LTP induction threshold, and reduced expression of phosphodiesterase type 4 enzymes (PDE4s). Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of PDE4 activity with rolipram mimics the effects of chronic stress on LTP induction threshold and baseline startle. Our results provide the first evidence that stress both enhances anxiety-like behavior and facilitates synaptic plasticity in the amygdala through a common mechanism of PDE4-mediated disinhibition of cAMP-PKA signaling.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cowan CSM, Hoban AE, Ventura-Silva AP, Dinan TG, Clarke G, Cryan JF. Gutsy Moves: The Amygdala as a Critical Node in Microbiota to Brain Signaling. Bioessays 2017; 40. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan E. Hoban
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
| | | | - Timothy G. Dinan
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
| | - John F. Cryan
- APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork; Cork Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Raineki C, Bodnar TS, Holman PJ, Baglot SL, Lan N, Weinberg J. Effects of early-life adversity on immune function are mediated by prenatal environment: Role of prenatal alcohol exposure. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 66:210-220. [PMID: 28698116 PMCID: PMC5650917 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The contribution of the early postnatal environment to the pervasive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is poorly understood. Moreover, PAE often carries increased risk of exposure to adversity/stress during early life. Dysregulation of immune function may play a role in how pre- and/or postnatal adversity/stress alters brain development. Here, we combine two animal models to examine whether PAE differentially increases vulnerability to immune dysregulation in response to early-life adversity. PAE and control litters were exposed to either limited bedding (postnatal day [PN] 8-12) to model early-life adversity or normal bedding, and maternal behavior and pup vocalizations were recorded. Peripheral (serum) and central (amygdala) immune (cytokines and C-reactive protein - CRP) responses of PAE animals to early-life adversity were evaluated at PN12. Insufficient bedding increased negative maternal behavior in both groups. Early-life adversity increased vocalization in all animals; however, PAE pups vocalized less than controls. Early-life adversity reduced serum TNF-α, KC/GRO, and IL-10 levels in control but not PAE animals. PAE increased serum CRP, and levels were even higher in pups exposed to adversity. Finally, PAE reduced KC/GRO and increased IL-10 levels in the amygdala. Our results indicate that PAE alters immune system development and both behavioral and immune responses to early-life adversity, which could have subsequent consequences for brain development and later life health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlis Raineki
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Tamara S Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Parker J Holman
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Samantha L Baglot
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ni Lan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shariff M, Klenowski P, Morgan M, Patkar O, Mu E, Bellingham M, Belmer A, Bartlett SE. Binge-like sucrose consumption reduces the dendritic length and complexity of principal neurons in the adolescent rat basolateral amygdala. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183063. [PMID: 28813474 PMCID: PMC5558950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A compelling body of evidence suggests that the worldwide obesity epidemic is underpinned by excessive sugar consumption, typified by the modern western diet. Furthermore, evidence is beginning to emerge of maladaptive changes in the mesolimbic reward pathway of the brain in relation to excess sugar consumption that highlights the importance of examining this neural circuitry in an attempt to understand and subsequently mitigate the associated morbidities with obesity. While the basolateral amygdala (BLA) has been shown to mediate the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse, it has also been shown to play an important role in affective and motivated behaviours and has been shown to undergo maladaptive changes in response to drugs of abuse and stress. Given the overlap in neural circuitry affected by drugs of abuse and sucrose, we sought to examine the effect of short- and long-term binge-like sucrose consumption on the morphology of the BLA principal neurons using an intermittent-access two-bottle choice paradigm. We used Golgi-Cox staining to impregnate principal neurons from the BLA of short- (4 week) and long-term (12 week) sucrose consuming adolescent rats and compared these to age-matched water controls. Our results indicate possibly maladaptive changes to the dendritic architecture of BLA principal neurons, particularly on apical dendrites following long-term sucrose consumption. Specifically, our results show reduced total dendritic arbor length of BLA principal neurons following short- and long-term sucrose consumption. Additionally, we found that long-term binge-like sucrose consumption caused a significant reduction in the length and complexity of apical dendrites. Taken together, our results highlight the differences between short- and long-term binge-like sucrose consumption on BLA principal neuron morphology and are suggestive of a perturbation in the diverse synaptic inputs to these neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masroor Shariff
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Klenowski
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Omkar Patkar
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Erica Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arnauld Belmer
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Selena E. Bartlett
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Barrett CE, Hennessey TM, Gordon KM, Ryan SJ, McNair ML, Ressler KJ, Rainnie DG. Developmental disruption of amygdala transcriptome and socioemotional behavior in rats exposed to valproic acid prenatally. Mol Autism 2017; 8:42. [PMID: 28775827 PMCID: PMC5539636 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0160-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The amygdala controls socioemotional behavior and has consistently been implicated in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Precocious amygdala development is commonly reported in ASD youth with the degree of overgrowth positively correlated to the severity of ASD symptoms. Prenatal exposure to VPA leads to an ASD phenotype in both humans and rats and has become a commonly used tool to model the complexity of ASD symptoms in the laboratory. Here, we examined abnormalities in gene expression in the amygdala and socioemotional behavior across development in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. Methods Rat dams received oral gavage of VPA (500 mg/kg) or saline daily between E11 and 13. Socioemotional behavior was tracked across development in both sexes. RNA sequencing and proteomics were performed on amygdala samples from male rats across development. Results Effects of VPA on time spent in social proximity and anxiety-like behavior were sex dependent, with social abnormalities presenting in males and heightened anxiety in females. Across time VPA stunted developmental and immune, but enhanced cellular death and disorder, pathways in the amygdala relative to saline controls. At postnatal day 10, gene pathways involved in nervous system and cellular development displayed predicted activations in prenatally exposed VPA amygdala samples. By juvenile age, however, transcriptomic and proteomic pathways displayed reductions in cellular growth and neural development. Alterations in immune pathways, calcium signaling, Rho GTPases, and protein kinase A signaling were also observed. Conclusions As behavioral, developmental, and genomic alterations are similar to those reported in ASD, these results lend support to prenatal exposure to VPA as a useful tool for understanding how developmental insults to molecular pathways in the amygdala give rise to ASD-related syndromes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-017-0160-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Barrett
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Thomas M Hennessey
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Katelyn M Gordon
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Steve J Ryan
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Morgan L McNair
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478 USA
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 30329 Atlanta, GA USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Enduring Neural and Behavioral Effects of Early Life Adversity in Infancy: Consequences of Maternal Abuse and Neglect, Trauma and Fear. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-017-0112-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
25
|
van Bodegom M, Homberg JR, Henckens MJAG. Modulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis by Early Life Stress Exposure. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:87. [PMID: 28469557 PMCID: PMC5395581 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 315] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress during critical periods in development can have severe long-term consequences, increasing overall risk on psychopathology. One of the key stress response systems mediating these long-term effects of stress is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; a cascade of central and peripheral events resulting in the release of corticosteroids from the adrenal glands. Activation of the HPA-axis affects brain functioning to ensure a proper behavioral response to the stressor, but stress-induced (mal)adaptation of the HPA-axis' functional maturation may provide a mechanistic basis for the altered stress susceptibility later in life. Development of the HPA-axis and the brain regions involved in its regulation starts prenatally and continues after birth, and is protected by several mechanisms preventing corticosteroid over-exposure to the maturing brain. Nevertheless, early life stress (ELS) exposure has been reported to have numerous consequences on HPA-axis function in adulthood, affecting both its basal and stress-induced activity. According to the match/mismatch theory, encountering ELS prepares an organism for similar ("matching") adversities during adulthood, while a mismatching environment results in an increased susceptibility to psychopathology, indicating that ELS can exert either beneficial or disadvantageous effects depending on the environmental context. Here, we review studies investigating the mechanistic underpinnings of the ELS-induced alterations in the structural and functional development of the HPA-axis and its key external regulators (amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex). The effects of ELS appear highly dependent on the developmental time window affected, the sex of the offspring, and the developmental stage at which effects are assessed. Albeit by distinct mechanisms, ELS induced by prenatal stressors, maternal separation, or the limited nesting model inducing fragmented maternal care, typically results in HPA-axis hyper-reactivity in adulthood, as also found in major depression. This hyper-activity is related to increased corticotrophin-releasing hormone signaling and impaired glucocorticoid receptor-mediated negative feedback. In contrast, initial evidence for HPA-axis hypo-reactivity is observed for early social deprivation, potentially reflecting the abnormal HPA-axis function as observed in post-traumatic stress disorder, and future studies should investigate its neural/neuroendocrine foundation in further detail. Interestingly, experiencing additional (chronic) stress in adulthood seems to normalize these alterations in HPA-axis function, supporting the match/mismatch theory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marloes J. A. G. Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Daniel SE, Guo J, Rainnie DG. A comparative analysis of the physiological properties of neurons in the anterolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Macaca mulatta. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:2235-2248. [PMID: 28295315 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The anterolateral group of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTALG ) is a critical modulator of a variety of rodent and primate behaviors spanning anxiety behavior and drug addiction. Three distinct neuronal cell types have been previously defined in the rat BNSTALG based on differences in the voltage-response to hyperpolarizing and depolarizing current injection. Differences in genetic expression profile between these three cell types suggest electrophysiological cell type may be an indicator for functional differences in the circuit of the rat BNSTALG . Although the behavioral role of the BNST is conserved across species, it is unknown if the same electrophysiological cell types exist in the BNSTALG of the mouse and nonhuman primate. Here, we used whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology and neuronal reconstructions of biocytin-filled neurons to compare and contrast the electrophysiological and morphological properties of neurons in the BNSTALG from the mouse, rat, and rhesus macaque. We provide evidence that the BNSTALG of all three species contains neurons that match the three defined cell types found in the rat; however, there are intriguing differences in the relative frequency of these cell types as well as electrophysiological and morphological properties of the BNSTALG neurons across species. This study suggests that the overall landscape of the BNSTALG in the primate and mouse may be similar to that of the rat in some aspects but perhaps significantly different in others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Daniel
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jidong Guo
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Growth hormone biases amygdala network activation after fear learning. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e960. [PMID: 27898076 PMCID: PMC5290350 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged stress exposure is a risk factor for developing posttraumatic stress disorder, a disorder characterized by the 'over-encoding' of a traumatic experience. A potential mechanism by which this occurs is through upregulation of growth hormone (GH) in the amygdala. Here we test the hypotheses that GH promotes the over-encoding of fearful memories by increasing the number of neurons activated during memory encoding and biasing the allocation of neuronal activation, one aspect of the process by which neurons compete to encode memories, to favor neurons that have stronger inputs. Viral overexpression of GH in the amygdala increased the number of amygdala cells activated by fear memory formation. GH-overexpressing cells were especially biased to express the immediate early gene c-Fos after fear conditioning, revealing strong autocrine actions of GH in the amygdala. In addition, we observed dramatically enhanced dendritic spine density in GH-overexpressing neurons. These data elucidate a previously unrecognized autocrine role for GH in the regulation of amygdala neuron function and identify specific mechanisms by which chronic stress, by enhancing GH in the amygdala, may predispose an individual to excessive fear memory formation.
Collapse
|
28
|
Boulanger Bertolus J, Mouly AM, Sullivan RM. Ecologically relevant neurobehavioral assessment of the development of threat learning. Learn Mem 2016; 23:556-66. [PMID: 27634146 PMCID: PMC5026204 DOI: 10.1101/lm.042218.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As altricial infants gradually transition to adults, their proximate environment changes. In three short weeks, pups transition from a small world with the caregiver and siblings to a complex milieu rich in dangers as their environment expands. Such contrasting environments require different learning abilities and lead to distinct responses throughout development. Here, we will review some of the learned fear conditioned responses to threats in rats during their ontogeny, including behavioral and physiological measures that permit the assessment of learning and its supporting neurobiology from infancy through adulthood. In adulthood, odor-shock conditioning produces robust fear learning to the odor that depends upon the amygdala and related circuitry. Paradoxically, this conditioning in young pups fails to support fear learning and supports approach learning to the odor previously paired with shock. This approach learning is mediated by the infant attachment network that does not include the amygdala. During the age range when pups transition from the infant to the adult circuit (10-15 d old), pups have access to both networks: odor-shock conditioning in maternal presence uses the attachment circuit but the adult amygdala-dependent circuit when alone. However, throughout development (as young as 5 d old) the attachment associated learning can be overridden and amygdala-dependent fear learning supported, if the mother expresses fear in the presence of the pup. This social modulation of the fear permits the expression of defense reactions in life threatening situations informed by the caregiver but prevents the learning of the caregiver itself as a threat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028; CNRS UMR5292; University Lyon1, Lyon, France
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10010, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Olivo D, Caba M, Gonzalez-Lima F, Rodríguez-Landa JF, Corona-Morales AA. Metabolic activation of amygdala, lateral septum and accumbens circuits during food anticipatory behavior. Behav Brain Res 2016; 316:261-270. [PMID: 27618763 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
When food is restricted to a brief fixed period every day, animals show an increase in temperature, corticosterone concentration and locomotor activity for 2-3h before feeding time, termed food anticipatory activity. Mechanisms and neuroanatomical circuits responsible for food anticipatory activity remain unclear, and may involve both oscillators and networks related to temporal conditioning. Rabbit pups are nursed once-a-day so they represent a natural model of circadian food anticipatory activity. Food anticipatory behavior in pups may be associated with neural circuits that temporally anticipate feeding, while the nursing event may produce consummatory effects. Therefore, we used New Zealand white rabbit pups entrained to circadian feeding to investigate the hypothesis that structures related to reward expectation and conditioned emotional responses would show a metabolic rhythm anticipatory of the nursing event, different from that shown by structures related to reward delivery. Quantitative cytochrome oxidase histochemistry was used to measure regional brain metabolic activity at eight different times during the day. We found that neural metabolism peaked before nursing, during food anticipatory behavior, in nuclei of the extended amygdala (basolateral, medial and central nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis), lateral septum and accumbens core. After pups were fed, however, maximal metabolic activity was expressed in the accumbens shell, caudate, putamen and cortical amygdala. Neural and behavioral activation persisted when animals were fasted by two cycles, at the time of expected nursing. These findings suggest that metabolic activation of amygdala-septal-accumbens circuits involved in temporal conditioning may contribute to food anticipatory activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Olivo
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz 91190, Mexico.
| | - Mario Caba
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz 91190, Mexico.
| | - Francisco Gonzalez-Lima
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Juan F Rodríguez-Landa
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz 91190, Mexico.
| | - Aleph A Corona-Morales
- Laboratorio de Investigación Genómica y Fisiológica, Facultad de Nutrición, Médicos y odontólogos s/n, Col. Unidad del Bosque, 91010, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
McCoy CR, Golf SR, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Glover ME, Jackson NL, Stringfellow SA, Pugh PC, Fant AD, Clinton SM. Altered metabolic activity in the developing brain of rats predisposed to high versus low depression-like behavior. Neuroscience 2016; 324:469-484. [PMID: 26979051 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Individual differences in human temperament can increase the risk of psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Our laboratory utilized a rat model of temperamental differences to assess neurodevelopmental factors underlying emotional behavior differences. Rats selectively bred for low novelty exploration (Low Responders, LR) display high levels of anxiety- and depression-like behavior compared to High Novelty Responder (HR) rats. Using transcriptome profiling, the present study uncovered vast gene expression differences in the early postnatal HR versus LR limbic brain, including changes in genes involved in cellular metabolism. These data led us to hypothesize that rats prone to high (versus low) anxiety/depression-like behavior exhibit distinct patterns of brain metabolism during the first weeks of life, which may reflect disparate patterns of synaptogenesis and brain circuit development. Thus, in a second experiment we examined activity of cytochrome C oxidase (COX), an enzyme responsible for ATP production and a correlate of metabolic activity, to explore functional energetic differences in the HR/LR early postnatal brain. We found that HR rats display higher COX activity in the amygdala and specific hippocampal subregions compared to LRs during the first 2 weeks of life. Correlational analysis examining COX levels across several brain regions and multiple early postnatal time points suggested desynchronization in the developmental timeline of the limbic HR versus LR brain during the first two postnatal weeks. These early divergent COX activity levels may reflect altered circuitry or synaptic activity in the early postnatal HR/LR brain, which could contribute to the emergence of their distinct behavioral phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea R McCoy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Samantha R Golf
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Miguel Melendez-Ferro
- Department of Surgery, 1600 7 Ave S., ACC300, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Emma Perez-Costas
- Department of Pediatrics, 1600 7 Ave S., ACC502, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Matthew E Glover
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Nateka L Jackson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Sara A Stringfellow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Phyllis C Pugh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Andrew D Fant
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599, USA
| | - Sarah M Clinton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, 1720 7th Ave S., SC 745, University of Alabama-Birmingham AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Vereczki VK, Veres JM, Müller K, Nagy GA, Rácz B, Barsy B, Hájos N. Synaptic Organization of Perisomatic GABAergic Inputs onto the Principal Cells of the Mouse Basolateral Amygdala. Front Neuroanat 2016; 10:20. [PMID: 27013983 PMCID: PMC4779893 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2016.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spike generation is most effectively controlled by inhibitory inputs that target the perisomatic region of neurons. Despite the critical importance of this functional domain, very little is known about the organization of the GABAergic inputs contacting the perisomatic region of principal cells (PCs) in the basolateral amygdala. Using immunocytochemistry combined with in vitro single-cell labeling we determined the number and sources of GABAergic inputs of PCs at light and electron microscopic levels in mice. We found that the soma and proximal dendrites of PCs were innervated primarily by two neurochemically distinct basket cell types expressing parvalbumin (PVBC) or cholecystokinin and CB1 cannabinoid receptors (CCK/CB1BC). The innervation of the initial segment of PC axons was found to be parceled out by PVBCs and axo-axonic cells (AAC), as the majority of GABAergic inputs onto the region nearest to the soma (between 0 and 10 μm) originated from PVBCs, while the largest portion of the axon initial segment was innervated by AACs. Detailed morphological investigations revealed that the three perisomatic region-targeting interneuron types significantly differed in dendritic and axonal arborization properties. We found that, although individual PVBCs targeted PCs via more terminals than CCK/CB1BCs, similar numbers (15–17) of the two BC types converge onto single PCs, whereas fewer (6–7) AACs innervate the axon initial segment of single PCs. Furthermore, we estimated that a PVBC and a CCK/CB1BC may target 800–900 and 700–800 PCs, respectively, while an AAC can innervate 600–650 PCs. Thus, BCs and AACs innervate ~10 and 20% of PC population, respectively, within their axonal cloud. Our results collectively suggest, that these interneuron types may be differently affiliated within the local amygdalar microcircuits in order to fulfill specific functions in network operation during various brain states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktória K Vereczki
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of SciencesBudapest, Hungary; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis UniversityBudapest, Hungary
| | - Judit M Veres
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of SciencesBudapest, Hungary; János Szentágothai School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis UniversityBudapest, Hungary
| | - Kinga Müller
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergö A Nagy
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bence Rácz
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Szent István UniversityBudapest, Hungary; Electronmicroscopy Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István UniversityBudapest, Hungary
| | - Boglárka Barsy
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary
| | - Norbert Hájos
- Lendület' Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Maren S, Holmes A. Stress and Fear Extinction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:58-79. [PMID: 26105142 PMCID: PMC4677122 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stress has a critical role in the development and expression of many psychiatric disorders, and is a defining feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress also limits the efficacy of behavioral therapies aimed at limiting pathological fear, such as exposure therapy. Here we examine emerging evidence that stress impairs recovery from trauma by impairing fear extinction, a form of learning thought to underlie the suppression of trauma-related fear memories. We describe the major structural and functional abnormalities in brain regions that are particularly vulnerable to stress, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, which may underlie stress-induced impairments in extinction. We also discuss some of the stress-induced neurochemical and molecular alterations in these brain regions that are associated with extinction deficits, and the potential for targeting these changes to prevent or reverse impaired extinction. A better understanding of the neurobiological basis of stress effects on extinction promises to yield novel approaches to improving therapeutic outcomes for PTSD and other anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ehrlich DE, Josselyn SA. Plasticity-related genes in brain development and amygdala-dependent learning. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2015; 15:125-43. [PMID: 26419764 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Learning about motivationally important stimuli involves plasticity in the amygdala, a temporal lobe structure. Amygdala-dependent learning involves a growing number of plasticity-related signaling pathways also implicated in brain development, suggesting that learning-related signaling in juveniles may simultaneously influence development. Here, we review the pleiotropic functions in nervous system development and amygdala-dependent learning of a signaling pathway that includes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), extracellular signaling-related kinases (ERKs) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB). Using these canonical, plasticity-related genes as an example, we discuss the intersection of learning-related and developmental plasticity in the immature amygdala, when aversive and appetitive learning may influence the developmental trajectory of amygdala function. We propose that learning-dependent activation of BDNF, ERK and CREB signaling in the immature amygdala exaggerates and accelerates neural development, promoting amygdala excitability and environmental sensitivity later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D E Ehrlich
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - S A Josselyn
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Bosch D, Ehrlich I. Postnatal maturation of GABAergic modulation of sensory inputs onto lateral amygdala principal neurons. J Physiol 2015; 593:4387-409. [PMID: 26227545 DOI: 10.1113/jp270645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Throughout life, fear learning is indispensable for survival and neural plasticity in the lateral amygdala underlies this learning and storage of fear memories. During development, properties of fear learning continue to change into adulthood, but currently little is known about changes in amygdala circuits that enable these behavioural transitions. In recordings from neurons in lateral amygdala brain slices from infant up to adult mice, we show that spontaneous and evoked excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmissions mature into adolescence. At this time, increased inhibitory activity and signalling has the ability to restrict the function of excitation by presynaptic modulation, and may thus enable precise stimulus associations to limit fear generalization from adolescence onward. Our results provide a basis for addressing plasticity mechanisms that underlie altered fear behaviour in young animals. ABSTRACT Convergent evidence suggests that plasticity in the lateral amygdala (LA) participates in acquisition and storage of fear memory. Sensory inputs from thalamic and cortical areas activate principal neurons and local GABAergic interneurons, which provide feed-forward inhibition that tightly controls LA activity and plasticity via pre- and postsynaptic GABAA and GABAB receptors. GABAergic control is also critical during fear expression, generalization and extinction in adult animals. During rodent development, properties of fear and extinction learning continue to change into early adulthood. Currently, few studies have assessed physiological changes in amygdala circuits that may enable these behavioural transitions. To obtain first insights, we investigated changes in spontaneous and sensory input-evoked inhibition onto LA principal neurons and then focused on GABAB receptor-mediated modulation of excitatory sensory inputs in infant, juvenile, adolescent and young adult mice. We found that spontaneous and sensory-evoked inhibition increased during development. Physiological changes were accompanied by changes in dendritic morphology. While GABAB heteroreceptors were functionally expressed on sensory afferents already early in development, they could only be physiologically recruited by sensory-evoked GABA release to mediate heterosynaptic inhibition from adolescence onward. Furthermore, we found GABAB -mediated tonic inhibition of sensory inputs by ambient GABA that also emerged in adolescence. The observed increase in GABAergic drive may be a substrate for providing modulatory GABA. Our data suggest that GABAB -mediated tonic and evoked presynaptic inhibition can suppress sensory input-driven excitation in the LA to enable precise stimulus associations and limit generalization of conditioned fear from adolescence onward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bosch
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ingrid Ehrlich
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 25, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ehrlich DE, Rainnie DG. Prenatal Stress Alters the Development of Socioemotional Behavior and Amygdala Neuron Excitability in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:2135-45. [PMID: 25716930 PMCID: PMC4613602 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal stress (PS) is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse ages of onset and socioemotional symptoms. Some PS-linked disorders involve characteristic social deficits, such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, but PS also promotes anxiety disorders. We propose the diversity of symptoms following PS arises from perturbations to early brain development. To this end, we characterized the effects of PS on the developmental trajectory of physiology of the amygdala, a late-developing center for socioemotional control. We found that PS dampened socioemotional behavior and reduced amygdala neuron excitability in offspring during infancy (at postnatal days (P)10, 14, 17 and 21), preadolescence (day 28), and adulthood (day 60). PS offspring in infancy produced fewer isolation-induced vocalizations and in adulthood exhibited less anxiety-like behavior and deficits in social interaction. PS neurons had a more hyperpolarized resting membrane potential from infancy to adulthood and produced fewer action potentials. Moreover, adult amygdala neurons from PS animals expressed larger action potential afterhyperpolarizations and H-current relative to controls, further limiting excitability. Our results suggest that PS can suppress socioemotional behavior throughout development and produce age-specific alterations to amygdala physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David E Ehrlich
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA,Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA, Tel: +404 712 9714, Fax: +404 727 3233, E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|