1
|
Cruz APM, Castro-Gomes V, Landeira-Fernandez J. An animal model of trait anxiety: Carioca high freezing rats as a model of generalized anxiety disorder. PERSONALITY NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 7:e6. [PMID: 38384665 PMCID: PMC10877273 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2023.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Despite being one of the main components of anxiety and playing a pivotal role in how an individual perceives and copes with anxiogenic situations or responds to a given treatment, trait anxiety is paradoxically omitted in most animal models of anxiety. This is problematic and particularly more concerning in models that are used to screen drugs and other treatments for specific anxiety disorders and to investigate their neurobiological mechanisms. Our group has been engaged in the search for specific anxiety-related traits in animal models of anxiety. We developed two new lines of rats with strong phenotypic divergence for high (Carioca High-conditioned Freezing [CHF]) and low (Carioca Low-conditioned Freezing [CLF]) trait anxiety as expressed in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Here, we summarize key behavioral, pharmacological, physiological, and neurobiological differences in one these lines, the CHF rat line, relative to randomized-cross controls and discuss how far they represent a valid and reliable animal model of generalized anxiety disorder and so high trait anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Vitor Castro-Gomes
- Institute of Psychology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
McNaughton N, Lages YV. Non-human contributions to personality neuroscience: From fish through primates - a concluding editorial overview. PERSONALITY NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 7:e5. [PMID: 38384664 PMCID: PMC10877271 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2024.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
This special issue attempts to integrate personality, psychopathology, and neuroscience as means to improve understanding of specific traits and trait structures in humans. The key strategy is to dive into comparative research using a range of species to provide simple models. This strategy has, as its foundation, the fact that the most basic functions, and their supporting neural systems, are highly conserved in evolution. The papers collected in the issue show that, from fish, through rats, to primates, the homologies in brain systems and underlying functions (despite species-specific forms of expression) allow simpler cases to provide insights into the neurobiology behind more complex ones including human. Our introductory editorial paper to this special issue took a bottom-up approach, starting with the genetics of conserved brain systems and working up to cognition. Here, we deconstruct the different aspects of personality, progressing from more complex ones in primates to least complex in fish. With the primate section, we summarize papers that discuss the factors that contribute to sociability in primates and how they apply to healthy and pathological human personality traits. In the rat section, the focus is driven by psychopathology and the way that "high" strains selected for extreme behaviors can illuminate the neurobiology of motivated responses to environmental cues. The section on fish summarizes papers that look into the most fundamental emotional reactions to the environment that are governed by primitive and conserved brain structures. This raises metatheoretical questions on the nature of traits and to a section that asks "which animals have personalities." We believe that the issue as a whole provides a nuanced answer to this question and shines a new, comparative, light on the interpretation of personality structure and the effects on it of evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N. McNaughton
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Y. V. Lages
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Burke SL, Grudzien A, Li T, Abril M, Yin W, Tyrell TA, Barnes CP, Hanson K, DeKosky ST. Examining the relationship between anxiety and regional brain volumes in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center uniform, imaging, and biomarker datasets. CEREBRAL CIRCULATION - COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR 2024; 6:100201. [PMID: 38312309 PMCID: PMC10837066 DOI: 10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety has been associated with a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Existing research has identified structural differences in regional brain tissue in participants with anxiety, but results have been inconsistent. We sought to determine the association between anxiety and regional brain volumes, and the moderation effect of APOE ε4. Using data from participants in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set, with complete imaging (MRI) and biomarker data (n = 1533), multiple linear regression estimated the adjusted effect of anxiety on 30 structural MRI regions. The moderation effect of APOE ε4 on the relation between structural MRI regions and anxiety was assessed as was the moderation effect of cognitive status. False discovery rate was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. After controlling for intracranial volume, age, sex, years of education, race, Hispanic ethnicity, and cognitive status, seven MRI regions demonstrated lower volumes among participants with anxiety: total cerebrum gray matter volume, right hippocampus volume, hippocampal volume (total), right and left frontal lobe cortical gray matter volume, and right and total temporal lobe cortical gray matter volume. Findings suggest that anxiety is associated with significant atrophy in multiple brain regions, with corresponding ventricular enlargement. Future research should investigate if anxiety-related changes to brain morphology contribute to greater AD risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanna L. Burke
- School of Social Work, Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, 11200 SW 8th St. AHC5 585, Miami 33199, FL, USA
- Community-Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami 33199, FL, USA
| | - Adrienne Grudzien
- Community-Based Research Institute, Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami 33199, FL, USA
| | - Tan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami 33199, FL, USA
| | - Marlou Abril
- Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami 33199, FL, USA
| | - Wupeng Yin
- Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami 33199, FL, USA
| | - Tahirah A. Tyrell
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Christopher P. Barnes
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100212, 2405 SW Archer Road, Gainesville 32608, FL, USA
| | - Kevin Hanson
- Information Services, Division of Research Operations & Services, College of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100212, 2405 SW Archer Road, Gainesville 32608, FL, USA
| | - Steven T. DeKosky
- McKnight Brain Institute, 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cabrera-Muñoz EA, Ramírez-Rodríguez GB, Díaz-Yañez L, Reyes-Galindo V, Meneses-San Juan D, Vega-Rivera NM. Melatonin Prevents Depression but Not Anxiety-like Behavior Produced by the Chemotherapeutic Agent Temozolomide: Implication of Doublecortin Cells and Hilar Oligodendrocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13376. [PMID: 37686181 PMCID: PMC10487426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized by the pineal gland with neuroprotective and neurodevelopmental effects. Also, melatonin acts as an antidepressant by modulating the generation of new neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The positive effects of melatonin on behavior and neural development may suggest it is used for reverting stress but also for the alterations produced by chemotherapeutic drugs influencing behavior and brain plasticity. In this sense, temozolomide, an alkylating/anti-proliferating agent used in treating brain cancer, is associated with decreased cognitive functions and depression. We hypothesized that melatonin might prevent the effects of temozolomide on depression- and anxiety-like behavior by modulating some aspects of the neurogenic process in adult Balb/C mice. Mice were treated with temozolomide (25 mg/kg) for three days of two weeks, followed by melatonin (8 mg/kg) for fourteen days. Temozolomide produced short- and long-term decrements in cell proliferation (Ki67-positive cells: 54.89% and 53.38%, respectively) and intermediate stages of the neurogenic process (doublecortin-positive cells: 68.23% and 50.08%, respectively). However, melatonin prevented the long-term effects of temozolomide with the increased number of doublecortin-positive cells (47.21%) and the immunoreactivity of 2' 3'-Cyclic-nucleotide-3 phosphodiesterase (CNPase: 82.66%), an enzyme expressed by mature oligodendrocytes, in the hilar portion of the dentate gyrus. The effects of melatonin in the temozolomide group occurred with decreased immobility in the forced swim test (45.55%) but not anxiety-like behavior. Thus, our results suggest that melatonin prevents the harmful effects of temozolomide by modulating doublecortin cells, hilar oligodendrocytes, and depression-like behavior tested in the forced swim test. Our study could point out melatonin's beneficial effects for counteracting temozolomide's side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edith Araceli Cabrera-Muñoz
- Laboratorio de Neurogénesis, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico (D.M.-S.J.)
| | - Gerardo Bernabé Ramírez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurogénesis, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico (D.M.-S.J.)
| | - Lizeth Díaz-Yañez
- Laboratorio de Neurogénesis, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico (D.M.-S.J.)
| | - Verónica Reyes-Galindo
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior sin Número, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - David Meneses-San Juan
- Laboratorio de Neurogénesis, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico (D.M.-S.J.)
| | - Nelly Maritza Vega-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Neurpsicofarmacología, Dirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
da Costa VF, Ramírez JCC, Ramírez SV, Avalo-Zuluaga JH, Baptista-de-Souza D, Canto-de-Souza L, Planeta CS, Rodríguez JLR, Nunes-de-Souza RL. Emotional- and cognitive-like responses induced by social defeat stress in male mice are modulated by the BNST, amygdala, and hippocampus. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1168640. [PMID: 37377628 PMCID: PMC10291097 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1168640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chronic exposure to social defeat stress (SDS) has been used to investigate the neurobiology of depressive- and anxiety-like responses and mnemonic processes. We hypothesized that these affective, emotional, and cognitive consequences induced by SDS are regulated via glutamatergic neurons located in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), amygdaloid complex, and hippocampus in mice. Methods Here, we investigated the influence of chronic SDS on (i) the avoidance behavior assessed in the social interaction test, (ii) the anxiety-like behavior (e.g., elevated plus-maze, and open field tests) (iii) depressive-like behaviors (e.g., coat state, sucrose splash, nesting building, and novel object exploration tests), (iv) the short-term memory (object recognition test), (v) ΔFosB, CaMKII as well as ΔFosB + CaMKII labeling in neurons located in the BNST, amygdaloid complex, dorsal (dHPC) and the ventral (vHPC) hippocampus. Results The main results showed that the exposure of mice to SDS (a) increased defensive and anxiety-like behaviors and led to memory impairment without eliciting clear depressive-like or anhedonic effects; (b) increased ΔFosB + CaMKII labeling in BNST and amygdala, suggesting that both areas are strongly involved in the modulation of this type of stress; and produced opposite effects on neuronal activation in the vHPC and dHPC, i.e., increasing and decreasing, respectively, ΔFosB labeling. The effects of SDS on the hippocampus suggest that the vHPC is likely related to the increase of defensive- and anxiety-related behaviors, whereas the dHPC seems to modulate the memory impairment. Discussion Present findings add to a growing body of evidence indicating the involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the circuits that modulate emotional and cognitive consequences induced by social defeat stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Fresca da Costa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Johana Caterin Caipa Ramírez
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Stephany Viatela Ramírez
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Julian Humberto Avalo-Zuluaga
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Daniela Baptista-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Lucas Canto-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Cleopatra S. Planeta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Luiz Nunes-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PIPGCF) UFSCar-UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xia Y, Song X, Wu L, Li J, Liu N, Cui W. Pathoclinical associations between panic disorders and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism: an updated meta-analysis. Psychiatr Genet 2023; 33:50-58. [PMID: 36794980 PMCID: PMC9997625 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000337] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have indicated the pathological role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism in panic disorders (PD). A functionally less active BDNF Val66Met mutant was previously detected in PD patients with different ethnic backgrounds. However, the results remain inconclusive or inconsistent. A meta-analysis was used to explore the consistency of the BDNF Val66Met mutant's association with PD irrespective of the subject's ethnicity. Relevant case-controlled full-length clinical and preclinical reports were retrieved by database searching, and 11 articles involving 2203 cases and 2554 controls were systematically selected per the standard inclusion criteria. Eleven articles were finally included that explored the relationship between the Val66Met polymorphism and PD risk susceptibility. Statistical analysis revealed a significant genetic association of the mutation, allele frequencies, and genotype distributions of BDNF with PD onset. Our findings demonstrated that the BDNF Val66Met is a susceptibility factor of PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenyang Mental Health Center, Shenyang
| | - Xun Song
- Grade 2020, College of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu
| | - Lijuan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenyang Mental Health Center, Shenyang
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenyang Anning Hospital, Shenyang
| | - Nan Liu
- China National Tobacco Quality Supervision and Test Centre, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Cui
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenyang Mental Health Center, Shenyang
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Effects of High-Fat and High-Fat High-Sugar Diets in the Anxiety, Learning and Memory, and in the Hippocampus Neurogenesis and Neuroinflammation of Aged Rats. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15061370. [PMID: 36986100 PMCID: PMC10053405 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
High-caloric diets induce several deleterious alterations in the human body, including the brain. However, information on the effects of these diets on the elderly brain is scarce. Therefore, we studied the effects of 2 months of treatment with high-fat (HF) and high-fat-high-sugar (HFHS) diets on aged male Wistar rats at 18 months. Anxiety levels were analyzed using the open-field and plus-maze tests, while learning and memory processes were analyzed using the Morris water maze test. We also analyzed neurogenesis using doublecortin (DCX) and neuroinflammation using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In aged rats, the HFHS diet impaired spatial learning, memory, and working memory and increased anxiety levels, associated with a reduction in the number of DCX cells and an increase in GFAP cells in the hippocampus. In contrast, the effects of the HF diet were lighter, impairing spatial memory and working memory, and associated with a reduction in DCX cells in the hippocampus. Thus, our results suggest that aged rats are highly susceptible to high-caloric diets, even if they only started in the elderly, with an impact on cognition and emotions. Furthermore, diets rich in saturated fats and sugar are more detrimental to aged rats than high-fat diets are.
Collapse
|
8
|
Lages YV, Balthazar L, Krahe TE, Landeira-Fernandez J. Pharmacological and Physiological Correlates of the Bidirectional Fear Phenotype of the Carioca Rats and Other Bidirectionally Selected Lines. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1864-1883. [PMID: 36237160 PMCID: PMC10514533 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666221012121534] [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: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Carioca rat lines originated from the selective bidirectional breeding of mates displaying extreme defense responses to contextual conditioned fear. After three generations, two distinct populations could be distinguished: the Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats, CHF, and CLF, respectively. Later studies identified strong anxiety-like behaviors in the CHF line, while indications of impulsivity and hyperactivity were prominent in the CLF animals. The present review details the physiological and pharmacological-related findings obtained from these lines. The results discussed here point towards a dysfunctional fear circuitry in CHF rats, including alterations in key brain structures and the serotoninergic system. Moreover, data from these animals highlight important alterations in the stress-processing machinery and its associated systems, such as energy metabolism and antioxidative defense. Finally, evidence of an alteration in the dopaminergic pathway in CLF rats is also debated. Thus, accumulating data gathered over the years, place the Carioca lines as significant animal models for the study of psychiatric disorders, especially fear-related ones like anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yury V. Lages
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Laura Balthazar
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas. E. Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Millan MJ. Agomelatine for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: focus on its distinctive mechanism of action. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2022; 12:20451253221105128. [PMID: 35795687 PMCID: PMC9251978 DOI: 10.1177/20451253221105128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the most frequently diagnosed form of anxiety, is usually treated by cognitive-behavioural approaches or medication; in particular, benzodiazepines (acutely) and serotonin or serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (long term). Efficacy, compliance, and acceptability are, however, far from ideal, reinforcing interest in alternative options. Agomelatine, clinically employed in the treatment of major depression, expresses anxiolytic properties in rodents and was effective in the treatment of GAD (including severely ill patients) in several double-blind, short-term (12 weeks) and relapse-prevention (6 months) studies. At active doses, the incidence of adverse effects was no higher than for placebo. Agomelatine possesses a unique binding profile, behaving as a melatonin (MT1/MT2) receptor agonist and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist, yet recognizing neither monoamine transporters nor GABAA receptors. Extensive evidence supports a role for 5-HT2C receptors in the induction of anxious states, and their blockade likely plays a primary role in mediating the anxiolytic actions of agomelatine, including populations in the amygdala and bed nucleus of stria terminalis, as well as the hippocampus. Recruitment of MT receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, thalamic reticular nucleus, and hippocampus appears to fulfil a complimentary role. Downstream of 5-HT2C and MT receptors, modulation of stress-sensitive glutamatergic circuits and altered release of the anxiogenic neuropeptides, corticotrophin-releasing factor, and vasopressin, may be implicated in the actions of agomelatine. To summarize, agomelatine exerts its anxiolytic actions by mechanisms clearly distinct from those of other agents currently employed for the management of GAD. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY How agomelatine helps in the treatment of anxiety disorders. INTRODUCTION • Anxiety disorders have a significant negative impact on quality of life.• The most common type of anxiety disorder, called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), is associated with nervousness and excessive worry.• These symptoms can lead to additional symptoms like tiredness, sleeplessness, irritability, and poor attention.• GAD is generally treated through either cognitive-behavioural therapy or medication. However, widely used drugs like benzodiazepines and serotonin reuptake inhibitors have adverse effects.• Agomelatine, a well-established antidepressant drug, has shown anxiety-lowering ('anxiolytic') properties in rats and has been shown to effectively treat GAD with minimal side effects.• However, exactly how it acts on the brain to manage GAD is not yet clear.• Thus, this review aims to shed light on agomelatine's mechanism of action in treating GAD. METHODS • The authors reviewed studies on how agomelatine treats anxiety in animals.• They also looked at clinical studies on the effects of agomelatine in people with GAD. RESULTS • The study showed that agomelatine 'blocks' a receptor in nerve cells, which plays a role in causing anxiety, called the 5-HT2C receptor.• Blocking this receptor, especially in specific brain regions such as nerve cells of the amygdala, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and hippocampus, produced the anxiety reduction seen during agomelatine treatment.• Agomelatine also activates the melatonin (MT) receptor, which is known to keep anxiety in check, promote sleep, and maintain the sleep cycle.• Agomelatine should thus tackle sleep disturbances commonly seen in patients with GAD.• Beyond 5-HT2C and MT receptors, signalling molecules in nerve cells that are known to be involved in anxiety disorders (called 'neurotransmitters' and 'neuropeptides') are also affected by agomelatine. CONCLUSION • Agomelatine's anxiolytic effects are caused by mechanisms that are distinct from those of other medications currently used to treat GAD.• This explains its therapeutic success and minimal adverse side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medicine, Vet and Life Sciences, Glasgow University, 28 Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu C, Ying Z, Li Z, Zhang L, Li X, Gong W, Sun J, Fan X, Yang K, Wang X, Wei S, Dong N. Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder Promotes Neuronal Regeneration by Downregulating Notch Signaling Pathway in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:772576. [PMID: 34912225 PMCID: PMC8666953 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.772576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common types of anxiety disorders with unclear pathogenesis. Our team's previous research found that extensive neuronal apoptosis and neuronal regeneration disorders occur in the hippocampus of GAD rats. Danzhi Xiaoyao (DZXYS) Powder can improve the anxiety behavior of rats, but its molecular mechanism is not well understood. Objective: This paper discusses whether the pathogenesis of GAD is related to the abnormal expression of Notch signal pathway, and whether the anti-anxiety effect of DZXYS promotes nerve regeneration in the hippocampus by regulating the Notch signaling pathway. Methods: The animal model of GAD was developed by the chronic restraint stress and uncertain empty bottle stimulation method. After the model was successfully established, the rats in the model preparation group were divided into the buspirone, DZXYS, DZXYS + DAPT, and model groups, and were administered the corresponding drug intervention. The changes in body weight and food intake of rats were continuously monitored throughout the process. The changes in anxiety behavior of rats were measured by open field experiment and elevated plus-maze test, and morphological changes and regeneration of neurons in the rat hippocampus were observed by HE staining and double immunofluorescence staining. Changes in the expression of key targets of the Notch signaling pathway in the hippocampus were monitored by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blotting. Results: In this study, we verified that the GAD model was stable and reliable, and found that the key targets of the Notch signaling pathway (Notch1, Hes1, Hes5, etc.) in the hippocampus of GAD rats were significantly upregulated, leading to the increased proliferation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus and increased differentiation into astrocytes, resulting in neuronal regeneration. DZXYS intervention in GAD rats can improve appetite, promote weight growth, and significantly reverse the anxiety behavior of GAD rats, which can inhibit the upregulation of key targets of the Notch signaling pathway, promote the differentiation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus into neurons, and inhibit their differentiation into astrocytes, thus alleviating anxiety behavior. Conclusion: The occurrence of GAD is closely related to the upregulation of the Notch signaling pathway, which hinders the regeneration of normal neurons in the hippocampus, while DZXYS can downregulate the Notch signaling pathway and promote neuronal regeneration in the hippocampus, thereby relieving anxiety behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Zhenhao Ying
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Zifa Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Basic Research, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Long Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Wenbo Gong
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Jiang Sun
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Xuejing Fan
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Ke Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Xingchen Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Sheng Wei
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Basic Research, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| | - Ning Dong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Differential expression of glutamatergic receptor subunits in the hippocampus in carioca high- and low-conditioned freezing rats. Mol Cell Neurosci 2021; 116:103666. [PMID: 34464708 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2021.103666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety is an emotional state that affects the quality of human life. Several neurotransmitters are involved in the regulation of anxiety, including glutamate. The major actions of glutamate are mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs). The present study performed a behavioral and neurochemical analysis of Carioca High-conditioned Freezing (CHF) and Carioca Low-conditioned Freezing (CLF) rats compared with control rats. We evaluated thermal nociception, anxiety-like behavior, depressive-like behavior, spatial memory, habituation memory, and the content and localization of different glutamatergic receptor subunits and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), a postsynaptic protein. The CHF group exhibited an anxious-like phenotype, impairments in habituation and spatial memory, and a depressive-like phenotype compared with the control group. In the ventral hippocampus, an increase in the PSD-95, GluN1 and GluA1 subunits and a decrease in the GluN2A subunit of glutamatergic receptors. The CLF group exhibited a less anxious-like phenotype, hyperlocomotion and habituation impairments. Also, CLF animals, presented, in the ventral hippocampus, an increase in the PSD-95, GluN1 and GluA2 subunits and a decrease in the GluN2B subunit. These results suggest that the differential composition of NMDAR and AMPAR subunits may be related to the modulation of different phenotypes in CHF and CLF rats, which may help identify new targets for therapeutic interventions for anxiety disorders and other comorbidities.
Collapse
|
12
|
Musaelyan K, Yildizoglu S, Bozeman J, Du Preez A, Egeland M, Zunszain PA, Pariante CM, Fernandes C, Thuret S. Chronic stress induces significant gene expression changes in the prefrontal cortex alongside alterations in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa153. [PMID: 33543135 PMCID: PMC7850288 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in stress-related disorders such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorders, as well as in the mechanism of antidepressant effects. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these associations remain to be fully explored. In this study, unpredictable chronic mild stress in mice resulted in a deficit in neuronal dendritic tree development and neuroblast migration in the hippocampal neurogenic niche. To investigate molecular pathways underlying neurogenesis alteration, genome-wide gene expression changes were assessed in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and the hypothalamus alongside neurogenesis changes. Cluster analysis showed that the transcriptomic signature of chronic stress is much more prominent in the prefrontal cortex compared to the hippocampus and the hypothalamus. Pathway analyses suggested huntingtin, leptin, myelin regulatory factor, methyl-CpG binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor as the top predicted upstream regulators of transcriptomic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Involvement of the satiety regulating pathways (leptin) was corroborated by behavioural data showing increased food reward motivation in stressed mice. Behavioural and gene expression data also suggested circadian rhythm disruption and activation of circadian clock genes such as Period 2. Interestingly, most of these pathways have been previously shown to be involved in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. It is possible that activation of these pathways in the prefrontal cortex by chronic stress indirectly affects neuronal differentiation and migration in the hippocampal neurogenic niche via reciprocal connections between the two brain areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Musaelyan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Selin Yildizoglu
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - James Bozeman
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Andrea Du Preez
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.,Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.,Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Martin Egeland
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.,Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.,Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Patricia A Zunszain
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Sandrine Thuret
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bezerra-Karounis MA, Krahe TE, Maisonnette S, Landeira-Fernandez J. Alcohol intake in Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 197:173019. [PMID: 32827503 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.173019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies point towards an association between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and alcohol abuse. In the present study we investigated whether a similar relationship could be observed in an animal model of GAD. Specifically, we evaluated the alcohol intake of Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats (CHF and CLF, respectively). Sex differences in alcohol drinking behavior were also studied. Male and female rats from randomized crossbreeding populations served as controls (CTL). Free- and forced-choice protocols were used to measure alcohol consumption, and quinine and saccharin were used as taste control solutions. Our results indicate that CHF rats consumed more alcohol than CLF and CTL ones in both the free-choice (6 and 10% concentrations) and the forced-choice (10% concentration) conditions. CHF female rats exhibited the highest amount of alcohol intake in the forced-choice condition. CHF females also consumed more quinine than CHF male rats. Finally, CHF rats exhibited lower saccharin consumption compared to CLF and CTL animals. Altogether, these results support the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between anxiety and alcohol intake, and provide further evidence for the use of CHF rats as a model of GAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvia Maisonnette
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
León LA, Brandão ML, Cardenas FP, Parra D, Krahe TE, Cruz APM, Landeira-Fernandez J. Distinct patterns of brain Fos expression in Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing Rats. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236039. [PMID: 32702030 PMCID: PMC7377485 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bidirectional selection of high and low anxiety-like behavior is a valuable tool for understanding the neurocircuits that are responsible for anxiety disorders. Our group developed two breeding lines of rats, known as Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing (CHF and CLF), based on defensive freezing in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. A random selected line was employed as a control (CTL) comparison group for both CHF and CLF lines of animals. The present study performed Fos immunochemistry to investigate changes in neural activity in different brain structures among CHF and CLF rats when they were exposed to contextual cues that were previously associated with footshock. RESULTS The study indicated that CHF rats expressed high Fos expression in the locus coeruleus, periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), and lateral portion of the septal area and low Fos expression in the medial portion of the septal area, dentate gyrus, and prelimbic cortex (PL) compared to CTL animals. CLF rats exhibited a decrease in Fos expression in the PVN, PL, and basolateral nucleus of the amygdala and increase in the cingulate and perirhinal cortices compared to CTL animals. CONCLUSIONS Both CHF and CLF rats displayed Fos expression changes key regions of the anxiety brain circuitry. The two bidirectional lines exhibit different pattern of neural activation and inhibition with opposing influences on the PVN, the main structure involved in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine responses observed in anxiety disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. León
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, FFCLRP, Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (INeC), São Paulo University, Campus USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Psicología, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marcus L. Brandão
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, FFCLRP, Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (INeC), São Paulo University, Campus USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando P. Cardenas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia y Comportamiento, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana Parra
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia y Comportamiento, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Thomas E. Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Nasrin Faraji, Shiravi A, Bahari Z, Shirvani H, Meftahi GH. Basolateral Amygdala α1-Adrenergic Receptor Suppression Attenuates Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior and Spine Morphology Impairment on Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons. NEUROCHEM J+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712420010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
|
16
|
Macêdo-Souza C, Maisonnette SS, Filgueiras CC, Landeira-Fernandez J, Krahe TE. Cued Fear Conditioning in Carioca High- and Low-Conditioned Freezing Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 13:285. [PMID: 32038188 PMCID: PMC6992609 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders (AD) comprise a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including general anxiety (GAD) and specific phobias. For the last decades, the use of animal models of anxiety has offered important insights into the understanding of the association between these psychopathologies. Here, we investigate whether Carioca high- and low-conditioned freezing rats (CHF and CLF, respectively), a GAD animal model of anxiety, show similar high- and low-freezing behavioral phenotypes for cued auditory fear conditioning. Adult CHF (n = 16), CLF (n = 16) and normal age-matched Wistar rats (control, CTL, n = 16) were tested in a classical auditory-cued fear conditioning paradigm over 3 days (Tone + Shock and Tone only groups, n = 8 per treatment). Freezing responses were measured and used as evidence of fear conditioning. Overall, both CHF and CLF rats, as well as CTL animals displayed fear conditioning to the auditory CS. However, CLF animals showed a rapid extinction to the auditory conditioned stimulus compared to CHF and CTL rats. We discuss these findings in the context of the behavioral and neuronal differences observed in rodent lines of high and low anxiety traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Macêdo-Souza
- Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvia S Maisonnette
- Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudio C Filgueiras
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cavaliere DR, Maisonnette S, Krahe TE, Landeira-Fernandez J, Cruz APM. High- and Low-conditioned Behavioral effects of midazolam in Carioca high- and low-conditioned freezing rats in an ethologically based test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 715:134632. [PMID: 31790719 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The selective breeding of laboratory rodents with different anxiety-related traits is the subject of growing interest. The present study compared the effects of the benzodiazepine midazolam in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test of anxiety in two lines of Wistar rats that were selectively bred in our laboratory for either high or low anxiety-like traits based on a contextual freezing conditioning paradigm. After phenotyping anxiety-like traits (i.e., conditioned freezing behavior), Carioca High-Freezing [CHF], Carioca Low-Freezing [CLF]) and control rats were intraperitoneally injected (1.0 ml/kg) with .9 % saline or midazolam (.25, .5, .75, and 1.0 mg/kg) and subjected to the EPM 30 min later. After the saline injection, the CHF and CLF groups exhibited lower and higher open-arm exploration in the EPM, respectively, compared with control rats. These results indicate that anxiety-related traits previously selected from an associative learning paradigm can also be phenotypically expressed in an ethologically based animal model of anxiety. All midazolam doses significantly increased open-arm exploration in both CHF and control animals, but this anxiolytic-like effect in CLF rats was only observed at the lowest dose tested (.25 mg/kg). The present findings indicate that these two breeding lines of rats are a useful model for studying anxiety, and the anxiolytic effect of midazolam depends on genetic variability that is associated with basal reactions to threatening situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Maisonnette
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology and Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hillerer KM, Slattery DA, Pletzer B. Neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex-related differences in stress-related disorders: Effects of neuroactive steroids on the hippocampus. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100796. [PMID: 31580837 PMCID: PMC7115954 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Men and women differ in their vulnerability to a variety of stress-related illnesses, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are not well understood. This is likely due to a comparative dearth of neurobiological studies that assess male and female rodents at the same time, while human neuroimaging studies often don't model sex as a variable of interest. These sex differences are often attributed to the actions of sex hormones, i.e. estrogens, progestogens and androgens. In this review, we summarize the results on sex hormone actions in the hippocampus and seek to bridge the gap between animal models and findings in humans. However, while effects of sex hormones on the hippocampus are largely consistent in animals and humans, methodological differences challenge the comparability of animal and human studies on stress effects. We summarise our current understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie sex-related differences in behavior and discuss implications for stress-related illnesses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M Hillerer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Salzburger Landeskrankenhaus (SALK), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Clinical Research Center Salzburg (CRCS), Salzburg, Austria.
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Jilg A, Bechstein P, Saade A, Dick M, Li TX, Tosini G, Rami A, Zemmar A, Stehle JH. Melatonin modulates daytime-dependent synaptic plasticity and learning efficiency. J Pineal Res 2019; 66:e12553. [PMID: 30618149 PMCID: PMC6405292 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms of hippocampus-related memory formation are time-of-day-dependent. While the circadian system and clock genes are related to timing of hippocampal mnemonic processes (acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of long-term memory [LTM]) and long-term potentiation (LTP), little is known about temporal gating mechanisms. Here, the role of the neurohormone melatonin as a circadian time cue for hippocampal signaling and memory formation was investigated in C3H/He wildtype (WT) and melatonin receptor-knockout ( MT 1 / 2 - / - ) mice. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses revealed the presence of melatonin receptors on mouse hippocampal neurons. Temporal patterns of time-of-day-dependent clock gene protein levels were profoundly altered in MT 1 / 2 - / - mice compared to WT animals. On the behavioral level, WT mice displayed better spatial learning efficiency during daytime as compared to nighttime. In contrast, high error scores were observed in MT 1 / 2 - / - mice during both, daytime and nighttime acquisition. Day-night difference in LTP, as observed in WT mice, was absent in MT 1 / 2 - / - mice and in WT animals, in which the sympathetic innervation of the pineal gland was surgically removed to erase rhythmic melatonin synthesis. In addition, treatment of melatonin-deficient C57BL/6 mice with melatonin at nighttime significantly improved their working memory performance at daytime. These results illustrate that melatonin shapes time-of-day-dependent learning efficiency in parallel to consolidating expression patterns of clock genes in the mouse hippocampus. Our data suggest that melatonin imprints a time cue on mouse hippocampal signaling and gene expression to foster better learning during daytime.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antje Jilg
- Juha Hernesniemi International Neurosurgery Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Philipp Bechstein
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anastasia Saade
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Moritz Dick
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tian Xiao Li
- Juha Hernesniemi International Neurosurgery Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Gianluca Tosini
- Morehouse School of Medicine, Pharmacology & Toxicology, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495, USA
| | - Abdelhaq Rami
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ajmal Zemmar
- Juha Hernesniemi International Neurosurgery Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biology and Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jörg H. Stehle
- Juha Hernesniemi International Neurosurgery Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ferreira A, Castro JP, Andrade JP, Dulce Madeira M, Cardoso A. Cafeteria-diet effects on cognitive functions, anxiety, fear response and neurogenesis in the juvenile rat. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:197-207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
|
21
|
Schverer M, Lanfumey L, Baulieu EE, Froger N, Villey I. Neurosteroids: non-genomic pathways in neuroplasticity and involvement in neurological diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 191:190-206. [PMID: 29953900 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids are neuroactive brain-born steroids. They can act through non-genomic and/or through genomic pathways. Genomic pathways are largely described for steroid hormones: the binding to nuclear receptors leads to transcription regulation. Pregnenolone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, their respective sulfate esters and Allopregnanolone have no corresponding nuclear receptor identified so far whereas some of their non-genomic targets have been identified. Neuroplasticity is the capacity that neuronal networks have to change their structure and function in response to biological and/or environmental signals; it is regulated by several mechanisms, including those that involve neurosteroids. In this review, after a description of their biosynthesis, the effects of Pregnenolone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, their respective sulfate esters and Allopregnanolone on their targets will be exposed. We then shall highlight that neurosteroids, by acting on these targets, can regulate neurogenesis, structural and functional plasticity. Finally, we will discuss the therapeutic potential of neurosteroids in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases in which alterations of neuroplasticity are associated with changes in neurosteroid levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Schverer
- Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Laurence Lanfumey
- Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Etienne-Emile Baulieu
- MAPREG SAS, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Inserm UMR 1195, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
The immunomodulatory tellurium compound ammonium trichloro (dioxoethylene-O,O') tellurate reduces anxiety-like behavior and corticosterone levels of submissive mice. Behav Pharmacol 2018; 28:458-465. [PMID: 28590303 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Ammonium trichloro (dioxoethylene-O,O') tellurate (AS101) is a synthetic organotellurium compound with potent immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties shown to inhibit the function of integrin αvβ3, a presynaptic cell-surface-adhesion receptor. As partial deletion of αvβ3 downregulated reuptake of serotonin by the serotonin transporter, we hypothesized that AS101 may influence pathways regulating anxiety. AS101 was tested in the modulation of anxiety-like behavior using the selectively bred Submissive (Sub) mouse strain that develop anxiety-like behavior in response to an i.p. injection. Mice were treated daily with AS101 (i.p., 125 or 200 μg/kg) or vehicle for 3 weeks, after which their anxiety-like behavior was measured in the elevated plus maze. Animals were then culled for the measurement of serum corticosterone levels by ELISA and hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by RT-PCR. Chronic administration of AS101 significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior of Sub mice in the elevated plus maze, according to both time spent and entries to open arms, relative to vehicle-treated controls. AS101 also markedly reduced serum corticosterone levels of the treated mice and increased their hippocampal BDNF expression. Anxiolytic-like effects of AS101 may be attributed to the modulation of the regulatory influence integrin of αvβ3 upon the serotonin transporter, suggesting a multifaceted mechanism by which AS101 buffers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to injection stress, enabling recovery of hippocampal BDNF expression and anxiety-like behavior in Sub mice. Further studies should advance the potential of AS101 in the context of anxiety-related disorders.
Collapse
|
23
|
Lin M, Zhu J, Yuan Y, Ren L, Qian M, Shen Z, Shao Y, Shen X. Association Analysis of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Val66Met Polymorphism and Gender with Efficacy of Antidepressants in the Chinese Han Population with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2018; 22:199-206. [PMID: 29446659 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2017.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Min Lin
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jianying Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Lie Ren
- Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Mincai Qian
- Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhongxia Shen
- Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yongliang Shao
- Department of Radiology, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xinhua Shen
- Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sun W, Li X, An L. Distinct roles of prelimbic and infralimbic proBDNF in extinction of conditioned fear. Neuropharmacology 2018; 131:11-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
25
|
Zhong F, Liu L, Wei JL, Hu ZL, Li L, Wang S, Xu JM, Zhou XF, Li CQ, Yang ZY, Dai RP. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Precursor in the Hippocampus Regulates Both Depressive and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Rats. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:776. [PMID: 30740068 PMCID: PMC6355684 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression and anxiety are two affective disorders that greatly threaten the mental health of a large population worldwide. Previous studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF) is involved in the development of depression. However, it is still elusive whether proBDNF is involved in anxiety, and if so, which brain regions of proBDNF regulate these two affective disorders. The present study aims to investigate the role of proBDNF in the hippocampus in the development of depression and anxiety. Rat models of an anxiety-like phenotype and depression-like phenotype were established by complete Freund's adjuvant intra-plantar injection and chronic restraint stress, respectively. Both rat models developed anxiety-like behaviors as determined by the open field test and elevated plus maze test. However, only rats with depression-like phenotype displayed the lower sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test and a longer immobility time in the forced swimming test. Sholl analysis showed that the dendritic arborization of granule cells in the hippocampus was decreased in rats with depression-like phenotype but was not changed in rats with anxiety-like phenotype. In addition, synaptophysin was downregulated in the rats with depression-like phenotype but upregulated in the rats with anxiety-like phenotype. In both models, proBDNF was greatly increased in the hippocampus. Intra-hippocampal injection anti-proBDNF antibody greatly ameliorated the anxiety-like and depressive behaviors in the rats. These findings suggest that despite some behavioral and morphological differences between depression and anxiety, hippocampal proBDNF is a common mediator to regulate these two mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Anesthesia Medical Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jia-Li Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhao-Lan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Anesthesia Medical Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Medical Research Center and Clinical Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun-Mei Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Anesthesia Medical Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- Division of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Medical Science and Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Chang-Qi Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhao-Yun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Anesthesia Medical Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ru-Ping Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Anesthesia Medical Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
León LA, Castro-Gomes V, Zárate-Guerrero S, Corredor K, Mello Cruz AP, Brandão ML, Cardenas FP, Landeira-Fernandez J. Behavioral Effects of Systemic, Infralimbic and Prelimbic Injections of a Serotonin 5-HT 2A Antagonist in Carioca High- and Low-Conditioned Freezing Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:117. [PMID: 28736518 PMCID: PMC5500641 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) and 5-HT2A receptors in anxiety has been extensively studied, mostly without considering individual differences in trait anxiety. Our laboratory developed two lines of animals that are bred for high and low freezing responses to contextual cues that are previously associated with footshock (Carioca High-conditioned Freezing [CHF] and Carioca Low-conditioned Freezing [CLF]). The present study investigated whether ketanserin, a preferential 5-HT2A receptor blocker, exerts distinct anxiety-like profiles in these two lines of animals. In the first experiment, the animals received a systemic injection of ketanserin and were exposed to the elevated plus maze (EPM). In the second experiment, these two lines of animals received microinjections of ketanserin in the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortices and were exposed to either the EPM or a contextual fear conditioning paradigm. The two rat lines exhibited bidirectional effects on anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and opposite responses to ketanserin. Both systemic and intra-IL cortex injections of ketanserin exerted anxiolytic-like effects in CHF rats but anxiogenic-like effects in CLF rats. Microinjections of ketanserin in the PL cortex also exerted anxiolytic-like effects in CHF rats but had no effect in CLF rats. These results suggest that the behavioral effects of 5-HT2A receptor antagonism might depend on genetic variability associated with baseline reactions to threatening situations and 5-HT2A receptor expression in the IL and PL cortices. Highlights -CHF and CLF rats are two bidirectional lines that are based on contextual fear conditioning.-CHF rats have a more "anxious" phenotype than CLF rats in the EPM.-The 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin had opposite behavioral effects in CHF and CLF rats.-Systemic and IL injections either decreased (CHF) or increased (CLF) anxiety-like behavior.-PL injections either decreased (CHF) anxiety-like behavior or had no effect (CLF).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. León
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, FFCLRP, São Paulo University, Campus USP, and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (INeC)Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Psicología, Universidad Sergio ArboledaBogotá, Colombia
| | - Vitor Castro-Gomes
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Neuroscience, Department of Bio-systems Engineering, Federal University of São João del ReiSão João del Rei, Brazil
| | | | - Karen Corredor
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia y Comportamiento, Universidad de los AndesBogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Marcus L. Brandão
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, FFCLRP, São Paulo University, Campus USP, and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (INeC)Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando P. Cardenas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia y Comportamiento, Universidad de los AndesBogotá, Colombia
| | - J. Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Moon CM, Jeong GW. Abnormalities in gray and white matter volumes associated with explicit memory dysfunction in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Acta Radiol 2017; 58:353-361. [PMID: 27273376 DOI: 10.1177/0284185116649796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background The neuroanatomical abnormalities associated with behavioral dysfunction on explicit memory in patients generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have not yet been clearly identified. Purpose To investigate the regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume alterations over the whole brain in patients with GAD, as well as the correlation between the brain structural abnormality and explicit memory dysfunction. Material and Methods Twenty patients with GAD and 20 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education level underwent high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The participants performed the explicit memory tasks with the neutral and anxiety-inducing words. Results Patients with GAD showed significantly reduced GM volumes in the midbrain (MB), thalamus, hippocampus (Hip), insula, and superior temporal gyrus (STG); and reduced WM volumes in the MB, anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and precentral gyrus (PrG). It is important to note that the GM volume of the Hip and the WM volume of the DLPFC were positively correlated with the recognition accuracy (%) in the explicit memory tasks with neutral and anxiety-inducing words, respectively. On the other hand, the WM volume of the PrG was negatively correlated with the reaction time in the same memory tasks. Conclusion This study demonstrated the regional volume changes on whole-brain GM and WM and the correlation between the brain structural alteration and explicit memory dysfunction in GAD patients. These findings would be helpful to understand the association between the brain structure abnormality and the functional deficit in the explicit memory in GAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Man Moon
- Research Institute for Medical Imaging, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Woo Jeong
- Research Institute for Medical Imaging, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Huang Y, Shen Z, Hu L, Xia F, Li Y, Zhuang J, Chen P, Huang Q. Exposure of mother rats to chronic unpredictable stress before pregnancy alters the metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate in the right hippocampus of offspring in early adolescence in a sexually dimorphic manner. Psychiatry Res 2016; 246:236-245. [PMID: 27723521 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that mothers' exposure to stress before or during pregnancy is linked to an incidence of psychiatric disorders in offspring. However, a few studies have estimated the role of sex in the detrimental effects of pre-gestational stress on the offspring rats at early adolescence. Sex differences regarding the metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate in the right hippocampus were investigated by MRS when the offspring rats reached 30 days. Additionally, the impact of pre-gestational stress exposed on an additional short-term acute stressor, such as forced swim, was examined in the male and female offspring rats. Our findings showed female offspring rats were more vulnerable to stressful conditions for either pre-gestational stress or acute stress in early adolescence, and had decreased GABA/Cr+PCr and Glu/Cr+PCr in the right hippocampus. Interestingly, in response to forced swim, male offspring rats whose mothers were exposed to pre-gestational stress were more affected by the short-term acute stressor and this was manifested by change of Glu/GABA and Glu/Gln in the right hippocampus. These data indicated that although female offspring rats were more vulnerable to pre-gestational stress from their mothers than males, in response to an additional acute stressor they showed better response. Therefore, both sexually dimorphic manner and combination of stressful procedures should be carefully considered in the study of stress-related psychiatric disorders in early adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuejun Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, West Huangpu Rd, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China; Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiwei Shen
- Department of Imageology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Liu Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Xia
- Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuewa Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingwen Zhuang
- Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
| | - Peishan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, North Dongxia Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
| | - Qingjun Huang
- Joint Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Center of Shantou University, Taishan Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
In Vivo Expression of Reprogramming Factors Increases Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Synaptic Plasticity in Chronic Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:2580837. [PMID: 27900211 PMCID: PMC5120183 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2580837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity can be stimulated in vivo in the brain. In this study, we hypothesized that in vivo expression of reprogramming factors such as Klf4, Sox2, Oct4, and c-Myc would facilitate endogenous neurogenesis and functional recovery. CD-1® mice were induced at 1 week of age by unilaterally carotid artery ligation and exposure to hypoxia. At 6 weeks of age, mice were injected GFP only or both four reprogramming factors and GFP into lateral ventricle. Passive avoidance task and open field test were performed to evaluate neurobehavioral function. Neurogenesis and synaptic activity in the hippocampus were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and/or western blot analyses. Whereas BrdU+GFAP+ cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus were not significantly different, the numbers of BrdU+βIII-tubulin+ and BrdU+NeuN+ cells were significantly higher in treatment group than control group. Expressions of synaptophysin and PSD-95 were also higher in treatment group than control group. Importantly, passive avoidance task and open field test showed improvement in long-term memory and decreased anxiety in treatment group. In conclusion, in vivo expression of reprogramming factors improved behavioral functions in chronic hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The mechanisms underlying these repair processes included endogenous neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Collapse
|
30
|
Growth factors as clinical biomarkers of prognosis and diagnosis in psychiatric disorders. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2016; 32:85-96. [PMID: 27618303 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The psychiatric disorders are one of the most disabling illnesses in the world and represent a major problem for public health. These disorders are characterized by neuroanatomical or biochemical changes and it has been suggested that such changes may be due to inadequate neurodevelopment. Diverse alterations in the gene expression and/or serum level of specific growth factors have been implicated in the etiology, symptoms and progression of some psychiatric disorders. Herein, we summarize the latest information regarding the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), neuroregulin-1 (NGR-1), erythropoietin (EPO), vascular growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), nerve growth factor (NGF) and others cytokines in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders. Focusing on the role of these growth factors and their relationship with the main impairments (cognitive, emotional and social) of these pathologies. Some of these signaling molecules may be suitable biological markers for diagnosis and prognosis in cognitive, mood and social disabilities across different mental disorders.
Collapse
|
31
|
Resveratrol: A Potential Hippocampal Plasticity Enhancer. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2016; 2016:9651236. [PMID: 27313836 PMCID: PMC4897722 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9651236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The search for molecules capable of restoring altered hippocampal plasticity in psychiatric and neurological conditions is one of the most important tasks of modern neuroscience. It is well established that neural plasticity, such as the ability of the postnatal hippocampus to continuously generate newly functional neurons throughout life, a process called adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN), can be modulated not only by pharmacological agents, physical exercise, and environmental enrichment, but also by “nutraceutical” agents. In this review we focus on resveratrol, a phenol and phytoalexin found in the skin of grapes and red berries, as well as in nuts. Resveratrol has been reported to have antioxidant and antitumor properties, but its effects as a neural plasticity inducer are still debated. The current review examines recent evidence implicating resveratrol in regulating hippocampal neural plasticity and in mitigating the effects of various disorders and diseases on this important brain structure. Overall, findings show that resveratrol can improve cognition and mood and enhance hippocampal plasticity and AHN; however, some studies report opposite effects, with resveratrol inhibiting aspects of AHN. Therefore, further investigation is needed to resolve these controversies before resveratrol can be established as a safe coadjuvant in preventing and treating neuropsychiatric conditions.
Collapse
|
32
|
Wang W, Hou J, Qian S, Liu K, Li B, Li M, Peng Z, Xin K, Sun G. Aberrant regional neural fluctuations and functional connectivity in generalized anxiety disorder revealed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosci Lett 2016; 624:78-84. [PMID: 27163197 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the neural activity and functional connectivity in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) during resting state, and how these alterations correlate to patients' symptoms. Twenty-eight GAD patients and 28 matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) scans. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) were computed to explore regional activity and functional integration, and were compared between the two groups using the voxel-based two-sample t test. Pearson's correlation analyses were performed to examine the neural relationships with demographics and clinical symptoms scores. Compared to controls, GAD patients showed functional abnormalities: higher ALFF in the bilateral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex; lower connectivity in prefrontal gyrus; lower in prefrontal-limbic and cingulate RSFC and higher prefrontal-hippocampus RSFC were correlated with clinical symptoms severity, but these associations were unable to withstand correction for multiple testing. These findings may help facilitate further understanding of the potential neural substrate of GAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China; 71702 Hospital, Luoyang 471000, China
| | - Jingming Hou
- Department of Rehabilitation, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Shaowen Qian
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Zhaohui Peng
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Kuolin Xin
- Department of Medical Psychology, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Gang Sun
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinan Military General Hospital, Shandong 250000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Cheung JSC, Chan JNM, Lau BWM, Ngai SPC. Purposeful Activity in Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Is Neurogenesis a Key Player? Hong Kong J Occup Ther 2016; 27:42-47. [PMID: 30186060 PMCID: PMC6091993 DOI: 10.1016/j.hkjot.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis, defined as the generation of new neurons in adulthood, has
been a fascinating discovery in neuroscience, as the continuously replenishing
neuronal population provides a new perspective to understand neuroplasticity.
Besides maintaining normal physiological function, neurogenesis also plays a key
role in pathophysiology and symptomatology for psychiatric conditions. In the
past decades, extensive effort has been spent on the understanding of the
functional significance of neurogenesis in psychiatric conditions, mechanisms of
pharmacological treatment, and discovery of novel drug candidates for different
conditions. In a clinical situation, however, long-term rehabilitation
treatment, in which occupational therapy is the key discipline, is a valuable,
economical, and commonly used treatment alternative to psychotropic medications.
Surprisingly, comparatively few studies have investigated the biological and
neurogenic effects of different psychiatric rehabilitative treatments. To
address the possible linkage between psychiatric rehabilitation and
neurogenesis, this review discusses the role of neurogenesis in schizophrenia,
major depression, and anxiety disorders. The review also discusses the potential
neurogenic effect of currently used psychiatric rehabilitation treatments. With
a better understanding of the biological effect of psychiatric rehabilitation
methods and future translational studies, it is hoped that the therapeutic
effect of psychiatric rehabilitation methods could be explained with a novel
perspective. Furthermore, this knowledge will benefit future formulation of
treatment methods, especially purposeful activities in occupational therapy, for
the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Siu-Chong Cheung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jackie Ngai-Man Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Benson Wui-Man Lau
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shirley Pui-Ching Ngai
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:5026713. [PMID: 26885403 PMCID: PMC4738969 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5026713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the literature reports a higher incidence of anxiety disorders in women, the majority of basic research has focused on male rodents, thus resulting in a lack of knowledge on the neurobiology of anxiety in females. Bridging this gap is crucial for the design of effective translational interventions in women. One of the key brain mechanisms likely to regulate anxious behavior is adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). This review paper aims to discuss the evidence on the differences between male and female rodents with regard to anxiety-related behavior and physiology, with a special focus on AHN. The differences between male and female physiologies are greatly influenced by hormonal differences. Gonadal hormones and their fluctuations during the estrous cycle have often been identified as agents responsible for sexual dimorphism in behavior and AHN. During sexual maturity, hormone levels fluctuate cyclically in females more than in males, increasing the stress response and the susceptibility to anxiety. It is therefore of great importance that future research investigates anxiety and other neurophysiological aspects in the female model, so that results can be more accurately applicable to the female population.
Collapse
|
35
|
Are Anxiety Disorders Associated with Accelerated Aging? A Focus on Neuroprogression. Neural Plast 2015; 2016:8457612. [PMID: 26881136 PMCID: PMC4736204 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8457612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders (AnxDs) are highly prevalent throughout the lifespan, with detrimental effects on daily-life functioning, somatic health, and quality of life. An emerging perspective suggested that AnxDs may be associated with accelerated aging. In this paper, we explored the association between AnxDs and hallmarks of accelerated aging, with a specific focus on neuroprogression. We reviewed animal and human findings that suggest an overlap between processes of impaired neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, structural, functional, molecular, and cellular modifications in AnxDs, and aging. Although this research is at an early stage, our review suggests a link between anxiety and accelerated aging across multiple processes involved in neuroprogression. Brain structural and functional changes that accompany normal aging were more pronounced in subjects with AnxDs than in coevals without AnxDs, including reduced grey matter density, white matter alterations, impaired functional connectivity of large-scale brain networks, and poorer cognitive performance. Similarly, molecular correlates of brain aging, including telomere shortening, Aβ accumulation, and immune-inflammatory and oxidative/nitrosative stress, were overrepresented in anxious subjects. No conclusions about causality or directionality between anxiety and accelerated aging can be drawn. Potential mechanisms of this association, limitations of the current research, and implications for treatments and future studies are discussed.
Collapse
|
36
|
Castro-Gomes V, Bergstrom HC, McGuire JL, Parker CC, Coyner J, Landeira-Fernandez J, Ursano RJ, Palmer AA, Johnson LR. A dendritic organization of lateral amygdala neurons in fear susceptible and resistant mice. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015; 127:64-71. [PMID: 26642919 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2015.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Subtle differences in neuronal microanatomy may be coded in individuals with genetic susceptibility for neuropsychiatric disorders. Genetic susceptibility is a significant risk factor in the development of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pavlovian fear conditioning has been proposed to model key aspects of PTSD. According to this theory, PTSD begins with the formation of a traumatic memory which connects relevant environmental stimuli to significant threats to life. The lateral amygdala (LA) is considered to be a key network hub for the establishment of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Substantial research has also linked the LA to PTSD. Here we used a genetic mouse model of fear susceptibility (F-S) and resistance (F-R) to investigate the dendritic and spine structure of principal neurons located in the LA. F-S and F-R lines were bi-directionally selected based on divergent levels of contextual and cued conditioned freezing in response to fear-evoking footshocks. We examined LA principal neuron dendritic and spine morphology in the offspring of experimentally naive F-S and F-R mice. We found differences in the spatial distribution of dendritic branch points across the length of the dendrite tree, with a significant increase in branch points at more distal locations in the F-S compared with F-R line. These results suggest a genetic predisposition toward differences in fear memory strength associated with a dendritic branch point organization of principal neurons in the LA. These micro-anatomical differences in neuron structure in a genetic mouse model of fear susceptibility and resistance provide important insights into the cellular mechanisms of pathophysiology underlying genetic predispositions to anxiety and PTSD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Castro-Gomes
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Department of Biosystems Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei (UFSJ), São João del Rei, MG 36307-352, Brazil
| | - Hadley C Bergstrom
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, USA
| | - Jennifer L McGuire
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Clarissa C Parker
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
| | - Jennifer Coyner
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Robert J Ursano
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS), Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Luke R Johnson
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU), School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS), Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Wang X, Li G, Li P, Huang L, Huang J, Zhai H. Anxiolytic effects of orcinol glucoside and orcinol monohydrate in mice. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2015; 53:876-881. [PMID: 25429891 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.946060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Anxiety is a common psychological disorder, often occurring in combination with depression, but therapeutic drugs with high efficacy and safety are lacking. Orcinol glucoside (OG) was recently found to have an antidepressive action. OBJECTIVE To study the therapeutic potential of OG and orcinol monohydrate (OM) as anxiolytic agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Anxiolytic effects in mice were measured using the elevated plus-maze, hole-board, and open-field tests. Eight groups of mice were included in each test. Thirty minutes before each test, mice in each group received one oral administration of OG (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg), OM (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg), the positive control diazepam (1 or 5 mg/kg), or control vehicle. Each mouse underwent only one test. Uptake of orcinol (5 mg/kg) in the brain was qualitatively detected using the HPLC-MS method. RESULTS OG (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and OM (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries into open arms in the elevated plus-maze test. OG (5 and 10 mg/kg) and OM (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) increased the number of head-dips in the hole-board test. At all tested doses, OG and OM did not significantly affect the locomotion of mice in the open-field test. Orcinol could be detected in the mouse brain homogenates 30 min after oral OM administration, having confirmed that OM is centrally active. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that OG and OM are anxiolytic agents without sedative effects, indicating their therapeutic potential for anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China and
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mousovich-Neto F, Lourenço A, Landeira-Fernandez J, Corrêa da Costa V. Endocrine and metabolic function in male Carioca High-conditioned Freezing rats. Physiol Behav 2015; 142:90-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
39
|
Environmental enrichment models a naturalistic form of maternal separation and shapes the anxiety response patterns of offspring. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 52:153-67. [PMID: 25437120 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) mimics positive life experiences by providing enhanced social and physical stimulation. Placement into EE following weaning, or in later life, confers beneficial outcomes on both emotional and cognitive processes. However, anxiety-like behavior is also reported, particularly in rats exposed to enhanced housing during early development. Notably, the quality of maternal behavior affects stress regulation and emotional stability in offspring, yet the impact of environmental context on maternal care has not been thoroughly evaluated, or are the influences of EE on their offspring understood. To investigate the role of EE on these factors we analyzed the details of mother-neonate interactions, and juvenile offspring performance on several anxiety measures. Additionally, we evaluated neurochemical differences (i.e. serotonin, corticosterone, GABA, glutamate) in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus as a function of EE, Communal Nesting (CN) and Standard Care (SC). Although EE dams spent significantly less time on the nest and had lower nursing frequencies compared to SC dams, there were no differences in maternal licking/grooming. In offspring, EE increased GLUR1 level and GABA concentrations in the prefrontal cortex of both juvenile male and female rats. A similar pattern for glutamate was only observed in males. Although EE offspring spent less time on the open arms of the elevated plus maze and had faster escape latencies in a light-dark test, there were no other indications of anxiety-like behavior on these measures or when engaged in social interaction with a conspecific. In the wild, rats live in complicated and variable environments. Consequently dams must leave their nest to defend and forage, limiting their duration of direct contact. EE exposure in early development may mimic this naturalistic maternal separation, shaping parental behavior and offspring resiliency to stressors.
Collapse
|