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Aukema RJ, Petrie GN, Matarasso AK, Baglot SL, Molina LA, Füzesi T, Kadhim S, Nastase AS, Rodriguez Reyes I, Bains JS, Morena M, Bruchas MR, Hill MN. Identification of a stress-responsive subregion of the basolateral amygdala in male rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01927-x. [PMID: 39117904 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01927-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is reliably activated by psychological stress and hyperactive in conditions of pathological stress or trauma; however, subsets of BLA neurons are also readily activated by rewarding stimuli and can suppress fear and avoidance behaviours. The BLA is highly heterogeneous anatomically, exhibiting continuous molecular and connectivity gradients throughout the entire structure. A critical gap remains in understanding the anatomical specificity of amygdala subregions, circuits, and cell types explicitly activated by acute stress and how they are dynamically activated throughout stimulus exposure. Using a combination of topographical mapping for the activity-responsive protein FOS and fiber photometry to measure calcium transients in real-time, we sought to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of BLA activation in response to a range of novel stressors (shock, swim, restraint, predator odour) and non-aversive, but novel stimuli (crackers, citral odour). We report four main findings: (1) the BLA exhibits clear spatial activation gradients in response to novel stimuli throughout the medial-lateral and dorsal-ventral axes, with aversive stimuli strongly biasing activation towards medial aspects of the BLA; (2) novel stimuli elicit distinct temporal activation patterns, with stressful stimuli exhibiting particularly enhanced or prolonged temporal activation patterns; (3) changes in BLA activity are associated with changes in behavioural state; and (4) norepinephrine enhances stress-induced activation of BLA neurons via the ß-noradrenergic receptor. Moving forward, it will be imperative to combine our understanding of activation gradients with molecular and circuit-specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Aukema
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Gavin N Petrie
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Avi K Matarasso
- Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Samantha L Baglot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Leonardo A Molina
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tamás Füzesi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sandra Kadhim
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Andrei S Nastase
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Itzel Rodriguez Reyes
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, European Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- UW Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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2
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Nechyporenko K, Voliotis M, Li XF, Hollings O, Ivanova D, Walker JJ, O'Byrne KT, Tsaneva-Atanasova K. Neuronal network dynamics in the posterodorsal amygdala: shaping reproductive hormone pulsatility. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20240143. [PMID: 39193642 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Normal reproductive function and fertility rely on the rhythmic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is driven by the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. A key regulator of the GnRH pulse generator is the posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD), a brain region that is involved in processing external environmental cues, including the effect of stress. However, the neuronal pathways enabling the dynamic, stress-triggered modulation of GnRH secretion remain largely unknown. Here, we employ in silico modelling in order to explore the impact of dynamic inputs on GnRH pulse generator activity. We introduce and analyse a mathematical model representing MePD neuronal circuits composed of GABAergic and glutamatergic neuronal populations, integrating it with our GnRH pulse generator model. Our analysis dissects the influence of excitatory and inhibitory MePD projections' outputs on the GnRH pulse generator's activity and reveals a functionally relevant MePD glutamatergic projection to the GnRH pulse generator, which we probe with in vivo optogenetics. Our study sheds light on how MePD neuronal dynamics affect the GnRH pulse generator activity and offers insights into stress-related dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Nechyporenko
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
| | - Xiao Feng Li
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Owen Hollings
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Deyana Ivanova
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie J Walker
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
| | - Kevin T O'Byrne
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
- EPSRC Hub for Quantitative Modelling in Healthcare, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
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3
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Molina P, Andero R, Armario A. Restraint or immobilization: a comparison of methodologies for restricting free movement in rodents and their potential impact on physiology and behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 151:105224. [PMID: 37156310 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Restriction of free movement has historically been used as a model for inducing acute and chronic stress in laboratory animals. This paradigm is one of the most widely employed experimental procedures for basic research studies of stress-related disorders. It is easy to implement, and it rarely involves any physical harm to the animal. Many different restraint methods have been developed with variations in the apparatuses used and the degree of limitation of movement. Unfortunately, very few studies directly compare the differential impact of the distinct protocols. Additionally, restraint and immobilization terms are not differentiated and are sometimes used interchangeably in the literature. This review offers evidence of great physiological differences in the impact of distinct restraint procedures in rats and mice and emphasizes the need for a standardized language on this topic. Moreover, it illustrates the necessity of additional systematic studies that compare the effects of the distinct restraint methodologies, which would help to decide better which procedure should be used depending on the objectives of each particular study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Molina
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raül Andero
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Deparment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, School of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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McIntyre C, Li XF, de Burgh R, Ivanova D, Lass G, O’Byrne KT. GABA Signaling in the Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Mediates Stress-induced Suppression of LH Pulsatility in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 164:6855642. [PMID: 36453253 PMCID: PMC9757692 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Psychological stress is linked to infertility by suppressing the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. The posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream regulator of GnRH pulse generator activity and displays increased neuronal activation during psychological stress. The MePD is primarily a GABAergic nucleus with a strong GABAergic projection to hypothalamic reproductive centers; however, their functional significance has not been determined. We hypothesize that MePD GABAergic signalling mediates psychological stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion. We selectively inhibited MePD GABA neurons during psychological stress in ovariectomized (OVX) Vgat-cre-tdTomato mice to determine the effect on stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion. MePD GABA neurons were virally infected with inhibitory hM4DGi-designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) to selectively inhibit MePD GABA neurons. Furthermore, we optogenetically stimulated potential MePD GABAergic projection terminals in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) and determined the effect on pulsatile LH secretion. MePD GABA neurons in OVX female Vgat-cre-tdTomato mice were virally infected to express channelrhodopsin-2 and MePD GABAergic terminals in the ARC were selectively stimulated by blue light via an optic fiber implanted in the ARC. DREADD-mediated inhibition of MePD GABA neurons blocked predator odor and restraint stress-induced suppression of LH pulse frequency. Furthermore, sustained optogenetic stimulation at 10 and 20 Hz of MePD GABAergic terminals in the ARC suppressed pulsatile LH secretion. These results show for the first time that GABAergic signalling in the MePD mediates psychological stress-induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion and suggest a functionally significant MePD GABAergic projection to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kevin T O’Byrne
- Correspondence: Kevin T. O’Byrne, PhD, Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Guy's Campus, King's College London, 2.92W Hodgkin Building, London, SE1 1UL, UK. kevin.o'
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5
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Markov DD, Novosadova EV. Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model of Depression: Possible Sources of Poor Reproducibility and Latent Variables. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1621. [PMID: 36358321 PMCID: PMC9687170 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mood disorders worldwide. A lack of understanding of the exact neurobiological mechanisms of depression complicates the search for new effective drugs. Animal models are an important tool in the search for new approaches to the treatment of this disorder. All animal models of depression have certain advantages and disadvantages. We often hear that the main drawback of the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression is its poor reproducibility, but rarely does anyone try to find the real causes and sources of such poor reproducibility. Analyzing the articles available in the PubMed database, we tried to identify the factors that may be the sources of the poor reproducibility of CUMS. Among such factors, there may be chronic sleep deprivation, painful stressors, social stress, the difference in sex and age of animals, different stress susceptibility of different animal strains, handling quality, habituation to stressful factors, various combinations of physical and psychological stressors in the CUMS protocol, the influence of olfactory and auditory stimuli on animals, as well as the possible influence of various other factors that are rarely taken into account by researchers. We assume that careful inspection of these factors will increase the reproducibility of the CUMS model between laboratories and allow to make the interpretation of the obtained results and their comparison between laboratories to be more adequate.
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Velasco ER, Florido A, Flores Á, Senabre E, Gomez-Gomez A, Torres A, Roca A, Norrholm S, Newman EL, Das P, Ross RA, Lori A, Pozo OJ, Ressler KJ, Garcia-Esteve LL, Jovanovic T, Andero R. PACAP-PAC1R modulates fear extinction via the ventromedial hypothalamus. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4374. [PMID: 35902577 PMCID: PMC9334354 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31442-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to traumatic stress can lead to fear dysregulation, which has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work showed that a polymorphism in the PACAP-PAC1R (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) system is associated with PTSD risk in women, and PACAP (ADCYAP1)-PAC1R (ADCYAP1R1) are highly expressed in the hypothalamus. Here, we show that female mice subjected to acute stress immobilization (IMO) have fear extinction impairments related to Adcyap1 and Adcyap1r1 mRNA upregulation in the hypothalamus, PACAP-c-Fos downregulation in the Medial Amygdala (MeA), and PACAP-FosB/ΔFosB upregulation in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus dorsomedial part (VMHdm). DREADD-mediated inhibition of MeA neurons projecting to the VMHdm during IMO rescues both PACAP upregulation in VMHdm and the fear extinction impairment. We also found that women with the risk genotype of ADCYAP1R1 rs2267735 polymorphism have impaired fear extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Velasco
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Florido
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Á Flores
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Senabre
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Gomez-Gomez
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Torres
- Perinatal Mental health Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Programme for the Prevention and Treatment of Psychic Effects in Sexually Assaulted Women. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Roca
- Perinatal Mental health Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - E L Newman
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - P Das
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Psychiatry Research Institute of Montefiore and Einstein, New York, NY, USA
| | - R A Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Psychiatry Research Institute of Montefiore and Einstein, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Lori
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - O J Pozo
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - K J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - L L Garcia-Esteve
- Perinatal Mental health Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Programme for the Prevention and Treatment of Psychic Effects in Sexually Assaulted Women. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - T Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - R Andero
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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l-Menthol increases extracellular dopamine and c-Fos-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal striatum, and promotes ambulatory activity in mice. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260713. [PMID: 34847183 PMCID: PMC8631625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar to psychostimulants, the peripheral administration of menthol promotes mouse motor activity, and the neurotransmitter dopamine has been suggested to be involved in this effect. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of l-menthol on parts of the central nervous system that are involved in motor effects. The subcutaneous administration of l-menthol significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive nuclei in the dorsal striatum of the mice, and motor activity was promoted. It also increased the extracellular dopamine level in the dorsal striatum of the mice. These observations indicated that after subcutaneous administration, l-menthol enhances dopamine-mediated neurotransmission, and activates neuronal activity in the dorsal striatum, thereby promoting motor activity in mice.
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8
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Felippe RM, Oliveira GM, Barbosa RS, Esteves BD, Gonzaga BMS, Horita SIM, Garzoni LR, Beghini DG, Araújo-Jorge TC, Fragoso VMS. Experimental Social Stress: Dopaminergic Receptors, Oxidative Stress, and c-Fos Protein Are Involved in Highly Aggressive Behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:696834. [PMID: 34489642 PMCID: PMC8418094 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.696834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is defined as hostile behavior that results in psychological damage, injury and even death among individuals. When aggression presents itself in an exacerbated and constant way, it can be considered escalating or pathological. The association between social stress and the emergence of exacerbated aggressiveness is common and is suggested to be interconnected through very complex neurobiological factors. For example, alterations in the expression of the dopaminergic receptors D1 and D2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the c-Fos protein in the cortex have been observed. Our objective was to analyze which factors are involved at the neurobiological level in the highly aggressive response of Swiss Webster adult male mice in a vivarium. In this work, we investigated the relationship among dopaminergic receptors, the production of ROS and the expression of c-Fos. Mice with exacerbated aggression were identified by the model of spontaneous aggression (MSA) based on the grouping of young mice and the regrouping of the same animals in adulthood. During the regrouping, we observed different categories of behavior resulting from social stress, such as (i) highly aggressive animals, (ii) defeated animals, and (iii) harmonic groups. To evaluate the dopaminergic system and the c-Fos protein, we quantified the expression of D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors by Western blotting and fluorescence immunohistochemistry and that of the c-Fos protein by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. The possible production of ROS was also evaluated through the dihydroethidium (DHE) assay. The results showed that aggressive and subordinate mice showed a reduction in the expression of the D1 receptor, and no significant difference in the expression of the D2 receptor was observed between the groups. In addition, aggressive mice exhibited increased production of ROS and c-Fos protein. Based on our results, we suggest that exacerbated aggression is associated with social stress, dysregulation of the dopaminergic system and exacerbated ROS production, which leads to a state of cellular oxidative stress. The overexpression of c-Fos due to social stress suggests an attempt by the cell to produce antioxidant agents to reduce the toxic cellular concentration of ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata M Felippe
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel M Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Barbosa
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Betina D Esteves
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz M S Gonzaga
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Samuel I M Horita
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratory on Thymus Research, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana R Garzoni
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela G Beghini
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tânia C Araújo-Jorge
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Viviane M S Fragoso
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Masuo Y, Satou T, Takemoto H, Koike K. Smell and Stress Response in the Brain: Review of the Connection between Chemistry and Neuropharmacology. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092571. [PMID: 33924992 PMCID: PMC8124235 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The stress response in the brain is not fully understood, although stress is one of the risk factors for developing mental disorders. On the other hand, the stimulation of the olfactory system can influence stress levels, and a certain smell has been empirically known to have a stress-suppressing effect, indeed. In this review, we first outline what stress is and previous studies on stress-responsive biomarkers (stress markers) in the brain. Subsequently, we confirm the olfactory system and review previous studies on the relationship between smell and stress response by species, such as humans, rats, and mice. Numerous studies demonstrated the stress-suppressing effects of aroma. There are also investigations showing the effects of odor that induce stress in experimental animals. In addition, we introduce recent studies on the effects of aroma of coffee beans and essential oils, such as lavender, cypress, α-pinene, and thyme linalool on the behavior and the expression of stress marker candidates in the brain. The transfer of volatile components into the brain is also discussed while using the results of thyme linalool as an example. These studies may provide a good opportunity to connect chemical research at the molecular level with neuropharmacological approaches in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Masuo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-47-472-5257
| | - Tadaaki Satou
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan;
| | - Hiroaki Takemoto
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan; (H.T.); (K.K.)
| | - Kazuo Koike
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan; (H.T.); (K.K.)
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10
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Hokenson RE, Short AK, Chen Y, Pham AL, Adams ET, Bolton JL, Swarup V, Gall CM, Baram TZ. Unexpected Role of Physiological Estrogen in Acute Stress-Induced Memory Deficits. J Neurosci 2021; 41:648-662. [PMID: 33262247 PMCID: PMC7842761 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2146-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress may promote emotional and cognitive disturbances, which differ by sex. Adverse outcomes, including memory disturbances, are typically observed following chronic stress, but are now being recognized also after short events, including mass shootings, assault, or natural disasters, events that consist of concurrent multiple acute stresses (MAS). Prior work has established profound and enduring effects of MAS on memory in males. Here we examined the effects of MAS on female mice and probed the role of hormonal fluctuations during the estrous cycle on MAS-induced memory problems and the underlying brain network and cellular mechanisms. Female mice were impacted by MAS in an estrous cycle-dependent manner: MAS impaired hippocampus-dependent spatial memory in early-proestrous mice, characterized by high levels of estradiol, whereas memory of mice stressed during estrus (low estradiol) was spared. As spatial memory requires an intact dorsal hippocampal CA1, we examined synaptic integrity in mice stressed at different cycle phases and found a congruence of dendritic spine density and spatial memory deficits, with reduced spine density only in mice stressed during high estradiol cycle phases. Assessing MAS-induced activation of brain networks interconnected with hippocampus, we identified differential estrous cycle-dependent activation of memory- and stress-related regions, including the amygdala. Network analyses of the cross-correlation of fos expression among these regions uncovered functional connectivity that differentiated impaired mice from those not impaired by MAS. In conclusion, the estrous cycle modulates the impact of MAS on spatial memory, and fluctuating physiological levels of sex hormones may contribute to this effect.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Effects of stress on brain functions, including memory, are profound and sex-dependent. Acute stressors occurring simultaneously result in spatial memory impairments in males, but effects on females are unknown. Here we identified estrous cycle-dependent effects of such stresses on memory in females. Surprisingly, females with higher physiological estradiol experienced stress-induced memory impairment and a loss of underlying synapses. Memory- and stress-responsive brain regions interconnected with hippocampus were differentially activated across high and low estradiol mice, and predicted memory impairment. Thus, at functional, network, and cellular levels, physiological estradiol influences the effects of stress on memory in females, providing insight into mechanisms of prominent sex differences in stress-related memory disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christine M Gall
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Neurobiology and Behavior
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Pediatrics
- Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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11
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Cohodes EM, Kitt ER, Baskin-Sommers A, Gee DG. Influences of early-life stress on frontolimbic circuitry: Harnessing a dimensional approach to elucidate the effects of heterogeneity in stress exposure. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 63:153-172. [PMID: 32227350 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Early-life stress confers profound and lasting risk for developing cognitive, social, emotional, and physical health problems. The effects of stress on the developing brain contribute to this risk, with frontolimbic circuitry particularly susceptible to early experiences, possibly due to its innervation with glucocorticoid receptors and the timing of frontolimbic circuit maturation. To date, the majority of studies on stress and frontolimbic circuitry have employed a categorical approach, comparing stress-exposed versus non-stress-exposed youth. However, there is vast heterogeneity in the nature of stress exposure and in outcomes. Recent forays into understanding the psychobiological effects of stress have employed a dimensional approach focused on experiential, environmental, and temporal factors that influence the association between stress and subsequent vulnerability. This review highlights empirical findings that inform a dimensional approach to understanding the effects of stress on frontolimbic circuitry. We identify the timing, type, severity, controllability, and predictability of stress, and the degree to which a caregiver is involved, as specific features of stress that may play a substantial role in differential outcomes. We propose a framework for the effects of these features of stress on frontolimbic development that may partially determine how heterogeneity in stress exposure influences this circuitry and, ultimately, mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Cohodes
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Dylan G Gee
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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12
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Salvi SS, Pati S, Chaudhari PR, Tiwari P, Banerjee T, Vaidya VA. Acute Chemogenetic Activation of CamKIIα-Positive Forebrain Excitatory Neurons Regulates Anxiety-Like Behaviour in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:249. [PMID: 31736725 PMCID: PMC6828652 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are amongst the most prevalent mental health disorders. Several lines of evidence have implicated cortical regions such as the medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and insular cortex along with the hippocampus in the top–down modulation of anxiety-like behaviour in animal models. Both rodent models of anxiety, as well as treatment with anxiolytic drugs, result in the concomitant activation of multiple forebrain regions. Here, we sought to examine the effects of chemogenetic activation or inhibition of forebrain principal neurons on anxiety and despair-like behaviour. We acutely activated or inhibited Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CamKIIα)-positive forebrain excitatory neurons using the hM3Dq or the hM4Di Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug (DREADD) respectively. Circuit activation was confirmed via an increase in expression of the immediate early gene, c-Fos, within both the hippocampus and the neocortex. We then examined the influence of DREADD-mediated activation of forebrain excitatory neurons on behavioural tests for anxiety and despair-like behaviour. Our results indicate that acute hM3Dq DREADD activation of forebrain excitatory neurons resulted in a significant decline in anxiety-like behaviour on the open field, light–dark avoidance, and the elevated plus maze test. In contrast, hM3Dq DREADD activation of forebrain excitatory neurons did not alter despair-like behaviour on either the tail suspension or forced swim tests. Acute hM4Di DREADD inhibition of CamKIIα-positive forebrain excitatory neurons did not modify either anxiety or despair-like behaviour. Taken together, our results demonstrate that chemogenetic activation of excitatory neurons in the forebrain decreases anxiety-like behaviour in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali S Salvi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Sthitapranjya Pati
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Pratik R Chaudhari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Praachi Tiwari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Toshali Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Vidita A Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
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13
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Dopfel D, Perez PD, Verbitsky A, Bravo-Rivera H, Ma Y, Quirk GJ, Zhang N. Individual variability in behavior and functional networks predicts vulnerability using an animal model of PTSD. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2372. [PMID: 31147546 PMCID: PMC6543038 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Only a minority of individuals experiencing trauma subsequently develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, whether differences in vulnerability to PTSD result from a predisposition or trauma exposure remains unclear. A major challenge in differentiating these possibilities is that clinical studies focus on individuals already exposed to trauma without pre-trauma conditions. Here, using the predator scent model of PTSD in rats and a longitudinal design, we measure pre-trauma brain-wide neural circuit functional connectivity, behavioral and corticosterone responses to trauma exposure, and post-trauma anxiety. Freezing during predator scent exposure correlates with functional connectivity in a set of neural circuits, indicating pre-existing circuit function can predispose animals to differential fearful responses to threats. Counterintuitively, rats with lower freezing show more avoidance of the predator scent, a prolonged corticosterone response, and higher anxiety long after exposure. This study provides a framework of pre-existing circuit function that determines threat responses, which might directly relate to PTSD-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dopfel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Pablo D Perez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Alexander Verbitsky
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Hector Bravo-Rivera
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, 00936, Puerto Rico
| | - Yuncong Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gregory J Quirk
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, 00936, Puerto Rico
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, 00936, Puerto Rico
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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Effect of Acute Stress on the Expression of BDNF, trkB, and PSA-NCAM in the Hippocampus of the Roman Rats: A Genetic Model of Vulnerability/Resistance to Stress-Induced Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123745. [PMID: 30477252 PMCID: PMC6320970 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Roman High-Avoidance (RHA) and the Roman Low-Avoidance (RLA) rats, represent two psychogenetically-selected lines that are, respectively, resistant and prone to displaying depression-like behavior, induced by stressors. In the view of the key role played by the neurotrophic factors and neuronal plasticity, in the pathophysiology of depression, we aimed at assessing the effects of acute stress, i.e., forced swimming (FS), on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), its trkB receptor, and the Polysialilated-Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (PSA-NCAM), in the dorsal (dHC) and ventral (vHC) hippocampus of the RHA and the RLA rats, by means of western blot and immunohistochemical assays. A 15 min session of FS elicited different changes in the expression of BDNF in the dHC and the vHC. In RLA rats, an increment in the CA2 and CA3 subfields of the dHC, and a decrease in the CA1 and CA3 subfields and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the vHC, was observed. On the other hand, in the RHA rats, no significant changes in the BDNF levels was seen in the dHC and there was a decrease in the CA1, CA3, and DG of the vHC. Line-related changes were also observed in the expression of trkB and PSA-NCAM. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the differences in the BDNF/trkB signaling and neuroplastic mechanisms are involved in the susceptibility of RLA rats and resistance of RHA rats to stress-induced depression.
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Fluoxetine and stress inversely modify lateral septal nucleus-mpfc neuronal responsivity. Behav Brain Res 2018; 351:114-120. [PMID: 29885850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Several clinically effective antidepressants increase the neuronal firing rate in the lateral septal nucleus (LSN), a forebrain structure that is anatomically related to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regions. mPFC function is related to depression and the regulation of fear. However, unknown is whether antidepressant treatment or chronic stress modifies the responsivity of neuronal LSN-mPFC connections. We performed single-unit extracellular recordings in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) regions of the mPFC during stimulation of the LSN in anesthetized male Wistar rats that received fluoxetine (1 mg/kg, 21 days) or were subjected to chronic mild stress (5 weeks). The results were compared with a control group (saline treatment, devoid of behavioral manipulations). Stimulation of the LSN produced an initial excitatory paucisynaptic response, followed by an afterdischarge, characterized by an increase in the neuronal firing rate. Opposite changes were induced by fluoxetine treatment and chronic stress exposure. Peristimulus histograms and unit-activity ratio analyses indicated that LSN-mPFC responsivity differed between fluoxetine treatment and chronic stress exposure. Fluoxetine reduced neuronal responsivity in the LSN-PL and LSN-IL, and stress increased neuronal responsivity in the same regions. In both cases, the changes were more pronounced in the IL region. The lower responsivity of LSN-PL and LSN-IL connections that was produced by fluoxetine may reflect a higher threshold for fear, and lower responsivity of this connection may be related to states of fear. The LSN and mPFC comprise a portion of a limbic-cortical circuit where neuronal responses depend on specific conditions.
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16
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Lawther AJ, Flavell A, Ma S, Kent S, Lowry CA, Gundlach AL, Hale MW. Involvement of Serotonergic and Relaxin-3 Neuropeptide Systems in the Expression of Anxiety-like Behavior. Neuroscience 2018; 390:88-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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What does the Fos say? Using Fos-based approaches to understand the contribution of stress to substance use disorders. Neurobiol Stress 2018; 9:271-285. [PMID: 30450391 PMCID: PMC6234265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research efforts, drug addiction persists as a largely unmet medical need. Perhaps the biggest challenge for treating addiction is the high rate of recidivism. While many factors can promote relapse in abstinent drug users, the contribution of stress is particularly problematic, as stress is uncontrollable and pervasive in the lives of those struggling with addiction. Thus, understanding the neurocircuitry that underlies the influence of stress on drug seeking is critical for guiding treatment. Preclinical research aimed at defining this neurocircuitry has, in part, relied upon the use of experimental approaches that allow visualization of cellular and circuit activity that corresponds to stressor-induced drug seeking in rodent relapse models. Much of what we have learned about the mechanisms that mediate stressor-induced relapse has been informed by studies that have used the expression of the immediate early gene, cfos, or its protein product, Fos, as post-mortem activity markers. In this review we provide an overview of the rodent models used to study stressor-induced relapse and briefly summarize what is known about the underlying neurocircuitry before describing the use of cfos/Fos-based approaches. In addition to reviewing findings obtained using this approach, its advantages and limitations are considered. Moreover, new techniques that leverage the expression profile of cfos to tag and manipulate cells based on their activity patterns are discussed. The intent of the review is to guide the interpretation of old and design of new studies that utilize cfos/Fos-based strategies to study the neurocircuitry that contributes to stress-related drug use.
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