1
|
Brudzynski SM, Burgdorf JS, Moskal JR. From emotional arousal to executive action. Role of the prefrontal cortex. Brain Struct Funct 2024:10.1007/s00429-024-02837-w. [PMID: 39096390 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02837-w] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Emotional arousal is caused by the activity of two parallel ascending systems targeting mostly the subcortical limbic regions and the prefrontal cortex. The aversive, negative arousal system is initiated by the activity of the mesolimbic cholinergic system and the hedonic, appetitive, arousal is initiated by the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Both ascending projections have a diffused nature and arise from the rostral, tegmental part of the brain reticular activating system. The mesolimbic cholinergic system originates in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in the ventral tegmental area. Cholinergic and dopaminergic arousal systems have converging input to the medial prefrontal cortex. The arousal system can modulate cortical EEG with alpha rhythms, which enhance synaptic strength as shown by an increase in long-term potentiation (LTP), whereas delta frequencies are associated with decreased arousal and a decrease in synaptic strength as shown by an increase in long-term depotentiation (LTD). It is postulated that the medial prefrontal cortex is an adaptable node with decision making capability and may control the switch between positive and negative affect and is responsible for modifying or changing emotional state and its expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey S Burgdorf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Joseph R Moskal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rial RV, Akaârir M, Canellas F, Barceló P, Rubiño JA, Martín-Reina A, Gamundí A, Nicolau MC. Mammalian NREM and REM sleep: Why, when and how. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105041. [PMID: 36646258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105041] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
This report proposes that fish use the spinal-rhombencephalic regions of their brain to support their activities while awake. Instead, the brainstem-diencephalic regions support the wakefulness in amphibians and reptiles. Lastly, mammals developed the telencephalic cortex to attain the highest degree of wakefulness, the cortical wakefulness. However, a paralyzed form of spinal-rhombencephalic wakefulness remains in mammals in the form of REMS, whose phasic signs are highly efficient in promoting maternal care to mammalian litter. Therefore, the phasic REMS is highly adaptive. However, their importance is low for singletons, in which it is a neutral trait, devoid of adaptive value for adults, and is mal-adaptive for marine mammals. Therefore, they lost it. The spinal-rhombencephalic and cortical wakeful states disregard the homeostasis: animals only attend their most immediate needs: foraging defense and reproduction. However, these activities generate allostatic loads that must be recovered during NREMS, that is a paralyzed form of the amphibian-reptilian subcortical wakefulness. Regarding the regulation of tonic REMS, it depends on a hypothalamic switch. Instead, the phasic REMS depends on an independent proportional pontine control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rubén V Rial
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| | - Mourad Akaârir
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| | - Francesca Canellas
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut; Hospital Son Espases, 07120, Palma de Mallorca (España).
| | - Pere Barceló
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| | - José A Rubiño
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut; Hospital Son Espases, 07120, Palma de Mallorca (España).
| | - Aida Martín-Reina
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| | - Antoni Gamundí
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| | - M Cristina Nicolau
- Laboratori de Fisiologia del son i els ritmes biologics. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca (España); IDISBA. Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria de les Illes Balears; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Water Drinking Behavior Associated with Aversive Arousal in Rats: An Integrative Approach. Brain Sci 2022; 13:brainsci13010060. [PMID: 36672042 PMCID: PMC9857118 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010060] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic muscarinic stimulation of vast areas of the limbic brain induced a well-documented polydipsia in laboratory rats. This excessive water-drinking behavior has not received any convincing biological and physiological interpretation for the last 50 years. This review offers such an interpretation and suggests that cholinergically induced drinking response, mostly by carbachol, is associated with activation of the ascending mesolimbic cholinergic system that serves for initiation of emotional aversive arousal of the organism. The ascending cholinergic system originates from the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, has a diffuse nature, and affects numerous subcortical limbic structures. It is proposed that the carbachol-induced drinking response is related to the state of anxiety and does not serve the regulation of thirst. Instead, the response is anxiety-induced polydipsia that might occur as a soothing procedure that decreases the aversiveness of the negative emotional state induced by carbachol. It is concluded that carbachol-induced water-drinking behavior is a rewarding process that contributes to alleviating the feeling of anxiety by bringing some relief from the cholinergically induced aversive state, and it is a homologue to anxiety-driven polydipsia in humans.
Collapse
|
4
|
Carli G, Farabollini F. Neuromediators and defensive responses including tonic immobility (TI): Brain areas and circuits involved. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2022; 271:167-189. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
5
|
Shahrier MA, Wada H. Effects of Ethanol Exposure during Lactation on Ultrasonic Vocalizations of Rat Pups upon Their Isolation: Increase in Pup Distress Calls. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091249. [PMID: 34573268 PMCID: PMC8471517 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recording ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is a highly sensitive tool to study the dam-pup social relationships, and USV recordings have been used to study the effects of ethanol on pups. Gestational effects of ethanol on the emission of USVs in rat pups have been studied in our previous research. In the present study, the effects of ethanol given to dams during lactation on the acoustic parameters of USVs emitted by isolated pups were examined. Ethanol was administered to dams from postnatal days (PNDs) 5-21. From PNDs 11-21, the high- and low-ethanol-treated dams were exposed to ethanol-containing water (v/v) at concentrations of 30% and 15%, respectively. Tap water without ethanol (0%) was provided to the control dams. The pups in all three ethanol-treated groups were separated from the dam and littermates on PNDs 4, 8, 12, and 16, and USVs produced by the pups were recorded for 5 min. It was found that elevated distress USVs with longer duration and higher percentage of frequency modulations were displayed by the pups from the high-ethanol dams. Alterations in USVs were particularly evident in the pups with a reduced body weight at PND 12. This effect might be because high-ethanol dams showed significantly lower intake of higher ethanol-containing water, and consequently, produced lower amount of milk, as well as exhibited poor maternal care. Insufficient maternal care and malnutrition resulted in pup growth retardation and increased mortality rate in the high-ethanol group, which were not observed in the low-ethanol or control pups. Accordingly, the pups in the high-ethanol group experienced elevated negative emotionality during isolation from their dam and increased emission of USVs. Longer duration and increased frequency modulation of pup USVs are expected to be noticed by the dam and to initiate/increase proper maternal care. It is concluded that ethanol given to lactating mothers has more serious consequences on pup development than the gestational ethanol exposure, and has more harmful effects on pups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohd. Ashik Shahrier
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
- Correspondence:
| | - Hiromi Wada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 7, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Effect of Neuropeptide S Administration on Ultrasonic Vocalizations and Behaviour in Rats with Low vs. High Exploratory Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060524. [PMID: 34070724 PMCID: PMC8229755 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a peptide neurotransmitter that in animal studies promotes wakefulness and arousal with simultaneous anxiety reduction, in some inconsistency with results in humans. We examined the effect of NPS on rat ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) as an index of affective state and on behaviour in novel environments in rats with persistent inter-individual differences in exploratory activity. Adult male Wistar rats were categorised as of high (HE) or low (LE) exploratory activity and NPS was administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at a dose of 1.0 nmol/5 µL, after which USVs were recorded in the home-cage and a novel standard housing cage, and behaviour evaluated in exploration/anxiety tests. NPS induced a massive production of long and short 22 kHz USVs in the home cage that continued later in the novel environment; no effect on 50 kHz USVs were found. In LE-rats, the long 22 kHz calls were emitted at lower frequencies and were louder. The effects of NPS on behaviour appeared novelty- and test-dependent. NPS had an anxiolytic-like effect in LE-rats only in the elevated zero-maze, whereas in HE-rats, locomotor activity in the zero-maze and in a novel standard cage was increased. Thus NPS appears as a psychostimulant peptide but with a complex effect on dimensions of affect.
Collapse
|
7
|
Okabe S, Takayanagi Y, Yoshida M, Onaka T. Post-weaning stroking stimuli induce affiliative behavior toward humans and influence brain activity in female rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3805. [PMID: 33589709 PMCID: PMC7884793 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83314-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Gentle touch contributes to affiliative interactions. We investigated the effects of gentle stroking in female rats on the development of affiliative behaviors toward humans and we exploratively examined brain regions in which activity was influenced by stroking. Rats that had received stroking stimuli repeatedly after weaning emitted 50-kHz calls, an index of positive emotion, and showed affiliative behaviors toward the experimenter. Hypothalamic paraventricular oxytocin neurons were activated in the rats after stroking. The septohypothalamic nucleus (SHy) in the post-weaningly stroked rats showed decreased activity in response to stroking stimuli compared with that in the non-stroked control group. There were negative correlations of neural activity in hypothalamic regions including the SHy with the number of 50-kHz calls. These findings revealed that post-weaning stroking induces an affiliative relationship between female rats and humans, possibly via activation of oxytocin neurons and suppression of the activity of hypothalamic neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shota Okabe
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Yuki Takayanagi
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Masahide Yoshida
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mulvihill KG, Brudzynski SM. Association of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetamine-induced emission of 50 kHz vocalizations as studied by Zif-268 expression in the rat brain. Brain Res 2020; 1726:146505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
|
9
|
Bueno D, Lima LB, Souza R, Gonçalves L, Leite F, Souza S, Furigo IC, Donato J, Metzger M. Connections of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus with the habenular‐interpeduncular‐raphe system. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:3046-3072. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Debora Bueno
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Leandro B. Lima
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Rudieri Souza
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Luciano Gonçalves
- Department of Human AnatomyFederal University of the Triângulo Mineiro Uberaba Brazil
| | - Fernanda Leite
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Stefani Souza
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Isadora C. Furigo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Martin Metzger
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Silkstone M, Brudzynski SM. The antagonistic relationship between aversive and appetitive emotional states in rats as studied by pharmacologically-induced ultrasonic vocalization from the nucleus accumbens and lateral septum. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 181:77-85. [PMID: 31034853 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Rats can emit 22-kHz or 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in negative, as well as positive contexts which index their emotional state. 22-kHz USVs are emitted during aversive contexts and can be initiated by activation of the ascending cholinergic pathways originating from the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus or initiated pharmacologically by injection of cholinergic agonists into target areas of these pathways (medial cholinoceptive vocalization strip). Conversely, 50-kHz USVs are emitted during positive pro-social contexts and can be initiated by stimulation of ascending dopaminergic pathways originating from the ventral tegmental area or by injection of dopamine agonists into target areas of these pathways (nucleus accumbens shell). Recently, we have shown an inhibitory effect a positive emotional state has on the emission of carbachol-induced 22-kHz USVs from the anterior hypothalamic/medial preoptic area. However, this structure is a fragment of that cholinoceptive vocalization strip. We wanted to examine if we could observe similar effect when the aversive state is induced from the lateral septum, the most rostral division of the cholinoceptive vocalization strip. The results supported previous findings. First, microinjection of the dopamine agonist R-(-)-apomorphine into the nucleus accumbens shell resulted in increased emission of frequency modulated (FM) 50-kHz USVs that are regarded as signals expressing a positive emotional state in rats. Second, FM 50-kHz USVs and not flat (F) 50-kHz USVs were able to decrease 22-kHz USVs induced by microinjections of carbachol into the lateral septum. This research provides further support to the hypothesis that the initiation of a positive emotional state functionally antagonizes initiation of a negative emotional state in rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Silkstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Stefan M Brudzynski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Intracerebral injection of R-(-)-Apomorphine into the nucleus accumbens decreased carbachol-induced 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 364:264-273. [PMID: 30690109 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Rats can produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in a variety of different contexts that signal their emotional state to conspecifics. Under distress, rats can emit 22-kHz USVs, while during positive pro-social interactions rats can emit frequency-modulated (FM) 50-kHz USVs. It has been previously reported that rats with increasing emission of FM 50-kHz USVs in anticipation of rewarding electrical stimulation or positive pro-social interaction decrease the number of emitted 22-kHz USVs. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine, in a pharmacological-behavioural experiment, if the positive emotional arousal of the rat indexed by the number of emitted FM 50-kHz USVs can decrease the magnitude of a subsequent negative emotional state indexed by the emission of 22-kHz USVs. To induce a positive emotional state, an intracerebral injection of a known D1/D2 agonist R-(-)-apomorphine (3.0 μg/0.3 μl) into the medial nucleus accumbens shell was used, while a negative emotional state was induced by intracerebral injection of carbachol (1.0 μg/0.3 μl), a known broad-spectrum muscarinic agonist, into the anterior hypothalamic-medial preoptic area. Our results demonstrated that initiation of a positive emotional state was able to significantly decrease the magnitude of subsequently expressed negative emotional state measured by the number of emitted 22-kHz USVs. The results suggest the neurobiological substrates that initiate positive emotional state indirectly antagonize the brain regions that initiate negative emotional states.
Collapse
|
12
|
Shahrier MA, Wada H. Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on acoustic characteristics of ultrasonic vocalizations in rat pups. Neurotoxicology 2018; 69:29-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
13
|
Simola N, Brudzynski SM. Rat 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations as a tool in studying neurochemical mechanisms that regulate positive emotional states. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 310:33-44. [PMID: 29959002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent and adult rats emit 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate the appetitive arousal and the presence of positive emotional states to conspecifics. NEW METHOD Based on its communicative function, emission of 50-kHz USVs is increasingly being evaluated in preclinical studies of affective behavior, motivation and social behavior. RESULTS Emission of 50-kHz USVs is initiated by the activation of dopamine receptors in the shell subregion of the nucleus accumbens. However, several lines of evidence show that non-dopaminergic receptors may influence the numbers of 50-kHz USVs that are emitted, as well as the acoustic parameters of calls. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Emission of 50-kHz USVs is a non-invasive method that may be used to study reward and motivation without the need for extensive training and complex animal manipulations. Moreover, emission of 50-kHz USVs can be used alone or combined with other well-standardized behavioral paradigms (e.g., conditioned place preference, self-administration). CONCLUSIONS This review summarizes the current evidence concerning molecular mechanisms that regulate the emission of 50-kHz USVs. Moreover, the review discusses the usefulness of 50-kHz USVs as an experimental tool to investigate how different neurotransmitter systems regulate the manifestations of positive emotional states, and also use of this tool in preclinical modeling of psychiatric diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuropsychopharmacology Division, University of Cagliari, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Stefan M Brudzynski
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L3 3A1 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Reno JM, Thakore N, Cormack LK, Schallert T, Bell RL, Maddox WT, Duvauchelle CL. Negative Affect-Associated USV Acoustic Characteristics Predict Future Excessive Alcohol Drinking and Alcohol Avoidance in Male P and NP Rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:786-797. [PMID: 28118495 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Negative emotional status and adverse emotional events increase vulnerability to alcohol abuse. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats are a well-established model of emotional status that can reflect positive or negative affective responses in real time. Most USV studies assess counts, yet each USV is a multidimensional data point characterized by several acoustic characteristics that may provide insight into the neurocircuitry underlying emotional response. METHODS USVs emitted from selectively bred alcohol-naïve and alcohol-experienced alcohol-preferring and nonpreferring rats (P and NP rats) were recorded during 4-hour sessions on alternating days over 4 weeks. Linear mixed modeling (LMM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to USV acoustic characteristics (e.g., frequency, duration, power, and bandwidth) of negative affect (22 to 28 kilohertz [kHz])- and positive (50 to 55 kHz) affect-related USVs. RESULTS Hundred percent separation between alcohol-naïve P and NP rats was achieved through a linear combination (produced by LDA) of USV acoustic characteristics of 22- to 28-kHz USVs, whereas poor separation (36.5%) was observed for 50- to 55-kHz USVs. 22- to 28-kHz LDA separation was high (87%) between alcohol-experienced P and NP rats, but was poor for 50- to 55-kHz USVs (57.3%). USV mean frequency and duration were the highest weighted characteristics in both the naïve and experienced 22- to 28-kHz LDA representations suggesting that alcohol experience does not alter the representations. LMM analyses of 22- to 28-kHz USV acoustic characteristics matched the LDA results. Poor LDA separation was observed between alcohol-naïve and alcohol-experienced P rats for both 22- to 28-kHz and 50- to 55-kHz USVs. CONCLUSIONS Advanced statistical analysis of negative affect-associated USV data predicts future behaviors of excessive alcohol drinking and alcohol avoidance in selectively bred rats. USV characteristics across rat lines reveal affect-related motivation to consume alcohol and may predict neural pathways mediating emotional response. Further characterization of these differences could delineate particular neurocircuitry and methods to ameliorate dysregulated emotional states often observed in human alcohol abusers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M Reno
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research , The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Department of Psychology , College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Neha Thakore
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research , The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Lawrence K Cormack
- Department of Psychology , College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Timothy Schallert
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research , The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Department of Psychology , College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Richard L Bell
- Department of Psychiatry , Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - W Todd Maddox
- Cognitive Design and Statistical Consulting , LLC, Austin, Texas
| | - Christine L Duvauchelle
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research , The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology , College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kõiv K, Metelitsa M, Vares M, Tiitsaar K, Raudkivi K, Jaako K, Vulla K, Shimmo R, Harro J. Chronic variable stress prevents amphetamine-elicited 50-kHz calls in rats with low positive affectivity. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 26:631-43. [PMID: 26951611 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between stress response and positive affective states is thought to be bidirectional: whilst stress can lead to a blunted hedonic response, positive affect reduces the negative effects of stress. We have previously shown that persistently high positive affectivity as measured by 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is protective against chronic variable stress (CVS). The present study examined the effect of CVS on 50-kHz USVs elicited by amphetamine administration, simultaneously considering the stable inter-individual differences in positive affectivity. Forty juvenile male Wistar rats were categorised as of high (HC) or low (LC) positive affectivity based on their 50-kHz USV response to imitation of rough-and-tumble play ('tickling'). As adults, the rats were subjected to four weeks of CVS, after which D-amphetamine was administered in five daily doses followed by a challenge dose (all 1mg/kg IP) nine days later. CVS reduced sucrose preference in LC-rats only. After CVS, amphetamine-elicited 50-kHz USVs were significantly reduced in LC-rats, the effect of stress in HC-rats being smaller and less consistent. In previously stressed and amphetamine-treated LC-rats, locomotor response to amphetamine was attenuated. In stressed LC-rats, DOPAC levels and dopamine turnover were increased in striatum after amphetamine treatment, and dopamine D1 receptor levels were upregulated in nucleus accumbens. LC-rats had lower isoleucine levels in frontal cortex. These results show that stress-related changes in response to amphetamine are dependent on inter-individual differences in positive affectivity both at neurochemical and behavioural levels, and further support the notion of higher vulnerability of animals with low positive affect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kadri Kõiv
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mait Metelitsa
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Marten Vares
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Tiitsaar
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karita Raudkivi
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Külli Jaako
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaspar Vulla
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Narva 29, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Ruth Shimmo
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Narva 29, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Harro
- Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14 A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
Opiol H, Pavlovski I, Michalik M, Mistlberger RE. Ultrasonic vocalizations in rats anticipating circadian feeding schedules. Behav Brain Res 2015; 284:42-50. [PMID: 25677650 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Rats readily learn to anticipate a reward signaled by an external stimulus. Anticipatory behaviors evoked by conditioned stimuli include 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), a proposed behavioral correlate of positive affect and activation of midbrain dopamine pathways. Rats can also anticipate a reward, such as food, provided once daily, without external cueing. Anticipation of a daily reward exhibits formal properties of a circadian rhythm. The neural circuits that regulate the timing and amplitude of these rhythms remain an open question, but evidence suggests a role for dopamine. To gain further insight into the neural and affective correlates of circadian food anticipatory rhythms, we made 2h and 24h USV recordings in rats fed 2h/day in the light period, a procedure that induces robust anticipation 2-3h before mealtime. Potential interactions between internal and external time cues in USV production were evaluated by inclusion of a 3 kHz tone 15 min before mealtime. Prior to scheduled feeding, spontaneous 50 kHz USVs were rare during the light period. During scheduled feeding, flat and frequency modulated (FM) 50kHz USVs occurred prior to and during mealtime. FM USVs were more closely related to anticipation, while flat USVs were more dependent on food access. USVs also occurred during spontaneous waking at other times of day. The tone did not evoke USVs but did modulate activity. Behavioral anticipation of a daily meal is accompanied by USVs consistent with a positive affective state and elevated dopamine transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Opiol
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Ilya Pavlovski
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Mateusz Michalik
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Ralph E Mistlberger
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Brudzynski SM. Pharmacology of Ultrasonic Vocalizations in adult Rats: Significance, Call Classification and Neural Substrate. Curr Neuropharmacol 2015; 13:180-92. [PMID: 26411761 PMCID: PMC4598430 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x13999150210141444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological studies of emotional arousal and initiation of emotional states in rats measured by their ultrasonic vocalizations are reviewed. It is postulated that emission of vocalizations is an inseparable feature of emotional states and it evolved from mother-infant interaction. Positive emotional states are associated with emission of 50 kHz vocalizations that could be induced by rewarding situations and dopaminergic activation of the nucleus accumbens and are mediated by D1, D2, and partially D3 dopamine receptors. Three biologically significant subtypes of 50 kHz vocalizations have been identified, all expressing positive emotional states: (1) flat calls without frequency modulation that serve as contact calls during social interactions; (2) frequencymodulated calls without trills that signal rewarding and significantly motivated situation; and (3) frequency-modulated calls with trills or trills themselves that are emitted in highly emotional situations associated with intensive affective state. Negative emotional states are associated with emission of 22 kHz vocalizations that could be induced by aversive situations, muscarinic cholinergic activation of limbic areas of medial diencephalon and forebrain, and are mediated by M2 muscarinic receptors. Two biologically significant subtypes of 22 kHz vocalizations have been identified, both expressing negative emotional sates: (1) long calls that serve as alarm calls and signal external danger; and (2) short calls that express a state of discomfort without external danger. The positive and negative states with emission of vocalizations are initiated by two ascending reticular activating subsystems: the mesolimbic dopaminergic subsystem as a specific positive arousal system, and the mesolimbic cholinergic subsystem as a specific negative arousal system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan M Brudzynski
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1 Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
From Freud to acetylcholine: does the AAOM suffice to construct a dream? Behav Brain Sci 2013; 36:626-8; discussion 634-59. [PMID: 24304768 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x13001416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Toward illuminating the structure of Llewellyn's dream theory, I compare it in formal terms to Freud's dream theory. An alternative to both of these dream machines, grounded in the distribution of cholinergic activation in the central nervous system, is presented. It is suggested that neither "high" nor "low" dream theory is sufficient to account for the properties of dreams.
Collapse
|
20
|
The Ascending Mesolimbic Cholinergic System—A Specific Division of the Reticular Activating System Involved in the Initiation of Negative Emotional States. J Mol Neurosci 2013; 53:436-45. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-013-0179-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
21
|
Brudzynski SM. Ethotransmission: communication of emotional states through ultrasonic vocalization in rats. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2013; 23:310-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
22
|
Rats selectively bred for low levels of play-induced 50 kHz vocalizations as a model for autism spectrum disorders: a role for NMDA receptors. Behav Brain Res 2013; 251:18-24. [PMID: 23623884 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Early childhood autism is characterized by deficits in social approach and play behaviors, socio-emotional relatedness, and communication/speech abnormalities, as well as repetitive behaviors. These core neuropsychological features of autism can be modeled in laboratory rats, and the results may be useful for drug discovery and therapeutic development. We review data that show that rats selectively bred for low rates of play-related pro-social ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) can be used to model social deficit symptoms of autism. Low-line animals engage in less social contact time with conspecifics, show lower rates of play induced pro-social USVs, and show an increased proportion of non-frequency modulated (i.e. monotonous) ultrasonic vocalizations compared to non-selectively bred random-line animals. Gene expression patterns in the low-line animals show significant enrichment in autism-associated genes, and the NMDA receptor family was identified as a significant hub. Treatment of low-line animals with the NMDAR functional glycine site partial agonist, GLYX-13, rescued the deficits in play-induced pro-social 50-kHz USVs and reduced monotonous USVs. Since the NMDA receptor has been implicated in the genesis of autistic symptoms, it is possible that GLYX-13 may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of autism.
Collapse
|