1
|
Nunes F, Lotufo Denucci B, Velho Martins Lages Y, Maisonnette S, Eichenberg Krahe T, Pedro Mello Cruz A, Landeira-Fernandez J. Increased hippocampal CREB phosphorylation after retrieval of remote contextual fear memories in Carioca high-conditioned freezing rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 205:107828. [PMID: 37730100 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The participation of the hippocampal formation in consolidation and reconsolidation of contextual fear memories has been widely recognized and known to be dependent on the activation of the cAMP response element (CRE) binding protein (CREB) pathway. Recent findings have challenged the prevailing view that over time contextual fear memories migrate to neocortical circuits and no longer require the hippocampus for retrieval of remote fearful memories. It has also recently been found that this brain structure is important for the maintenance and recall of remote fear memories associated with aversive events, a common trait in stress-related disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In view of these findings, here we examined the putative role of CREB in the hippocampus of an animal model of GAD during the retrieval of remote contextual fear memories. Specifically, we evaluated CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus of male Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats (CHF and CLF, respectively) upon re-exposure of animals to contextual cues associated to footshocks weeks after fear conditioning. Age-matched male rats from a randomized crossbreeding population served as controls (CTL). Adrenal catecholamine levels were also measured as a biological marker of stress response. Seven weeks after contextual fear conditioning, half of the sample of CHF (n = 9), CLF (n = 10) and CTL (n = 10) rats were randomly assigned to return to the same context chamber where footshocks were previously administrated (Context condition), while the remaining animals were individually placed in standard housing cages (Control condition). Western blot results indicated that pCREB levels were significantly increased in the hippocampus of CHF rats for both Context and Control conditions when compared to the other experimental groups. CHF rats in the Context condition also exhibited significant more freezing than that observed for both CLF and CTL rats. Lastly, CHF animals in the Context condition displayed significantly higher adrenal catecholamine levels than those in the Control condition, whereas no differences in catecholamine levels were observed between Context and Control conditions for CLF and CTL rats. These findings are discussed from a perspective in which the hippocampus plays a role in the maintenance and recall of remote contextual fear memories via the CREB pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Nunes
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruna Lotufo Denucci
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Sílvia Maisonnette
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Felsenberg J, Dyck Y, Feige J, Ludwig J, Plath JA, Froese A, Karrenbrock M, Nölle A, Heufelder K, Eisenhardt D. Differences in long-term memory stability and AmCREB level between forward and backward conditioned honeybees (Apis mellifera). Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:91. [PMID: 25964749 PMCID: PMC4410603 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In classical conditioning a predictive relationship between a neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus; CS) and a meaningful stimulus (unconditioned stimulus; US) is learned when the CS precedes the US. In backward conditioning the sequence of the stimuli is reversed. In this situation animals might learn that the CS signals the end or the absence of the US. In honeybees 30 min and 24 h following backward conditioning a memory for the excitatory and inhibitory properties of the CS could be retrieved, but it remains unclear whether a late long-term memory is formed that can be retrieved 72 h following backward conditioning. Here we examine this question by studying late long-term memory formation in forward and backward conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER). We report a difference in the stability of memory formed upon forward and backward conditioning with the same number of conditioning trials. We demonstrate a transcription-dependent memory 72 h after forward conditioning but do not observe a 72 h memory after backward conditioning. Moreover we find that protein degradation is differentially involved in memory formation following these two conditioning protocols. We report differences in the level of a transcription factor, the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) known to induce transcription underlying long-term memory formation, following forward and backward conditioning. Our results suggest that these alterations in CREB levels might be regulated by the proteasome. We propose that the differences observed are due to the sequence of stimulus presentation between forward and backward conditioning and not to differences in the strength of the association of both stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Felsenberg
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Yan Dyck
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Janina Feige
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Ludwig
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Aino Plath
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Froese
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie Karrenbrock
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Nölle
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin Heufelder
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorothea Eisenhardt
- FB Biologie, Pharmazie, Chemie, Institut für Biologie, Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nonaka M, Kim R, Sharry S, Matsushima A, Takemoto-Kimura S, Bito H. Towards a better understanding of cognitive behaviors regulated by gene expression downstream of activity-dependent transcription factors. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2014; 115:21-9. [PMID: 25173698 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the field of molecular and cellular neuroscience, it is not a trivial task to see the forest for the trees, where numerous, and seemingly independent, molecules often work in concert to control critical steps of synaptic plasticity and signalling. Here, we will first summarize our current knowledge on essential activity-dependent transcription factors (TFs) such as CREB, MEF2, Npas4 and SRF, then examine how various transcription cofactors (TcoFs) also contribute to defining the transcriptional outputs during learning and memory. This review finally attempts a provisory synthesis that sheds new light on some of the emerging principles of neuronal circuit dynamics driven by activity-regulated gene transcription to help better understand the intricate relationship between activity-dependent gene expression and cognitive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mio Nonaka
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ryang Kim
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; CREST-Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Stuart Sharry
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ayano Matsushima
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; CREST-Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Sayaka Takemoto-Kimura
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; CREST-Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Barco A, Marie H. Genetic approaches to investigate the role of CREB in neuronal plasticity and memory. Mol Neurobiol 2011; 44:330-49. [PMID: 21948060 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-011-8209-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In neurons, the convergence of multiple intracellular signaling cascades leading to cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) activation suggests that this transcription factor plays a critical role in integrating different inputs and mediating appropriate neuronal responses. The nature of this transcriptional response depends on both the type and strength of the stimulus and the cellular context. CREB-dependent gene expression has been involved in many different aspects of nervous system function, from embryonic development to neuronal survival, and synaptic, structural, and intrinsic plasticity. Here, we first review the different methodological approaches used to genetically manipulate CREB activity and levels in neurons in vivo in the adult brain, including recombinant viral vectors, mouse transgenesis, and gene-targeting techniques. We then discuss the impact of these approaches on our understanding of CREB's roles in neuronal plasticity and memory in rodents. Studies combining these genetic approaches with electrophysiology and behavior provide strong evidence that CREB is critically involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and long-term memory formation. These findings pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat memory disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angel Barco
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Sant Joan, Apt. 18, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain.
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Marchetti C, Tafi E, Marie H. Viral-mediated expression of a constitutively active form of cAMP response element binding protein in the dentate gyrus increases long term synaptic plasticity. Neuroscience 2011; 190:21-6. [PMID: 21712073 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Revised: 06/10/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is a key player in synaptic plasticity and learning. Phosphorylation of CREB induced by neuronal activity leads to gene transcription, a process thought to contribute to memory formation. We have previously reported that increasing CREB activity in glutamatergic CA1 pyramidal neurons or in dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells is sufficient to enhance hippocampal-dependent memory formation. This enhancement correlates with an increase in CA1 glutamatergic synaptic plasticity. However, the effects of increasing CREB activity on DG glutamatergic plasticity have not been investigated. To address this issue, we boosted CREB-dependent transcription in DG granule cells in vivo via viral mediated expression of a constitutively active form of CREB (CREBCA). Using in vitro extracellular field recordings of infected slices, we observed an increase in long-term potentiation (LTP) while short-term plasticity and basic synaptic transmission remained unaffected. These data demonstrate that boosting CREB activity in DG granule cells is sufficient to enhance LTP and suggest that this enhancement participates in the formation of better memories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Marchetti
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research Institute, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|