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Carter JS, Costa CC, Lewandowski SI, Nelson KH, Goldsmith ST, Scofield MD, Reichel CM. Estrogen receptor beta signaling enhances extinction memory recall for heroin-conditioned cues in a sex- and region-specific manner. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:283. [PMID: 38997258 PMCID: PMC11245532 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03001-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Return to use, or relapse, is a major challenge in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Relapse can be precipitated by several factors, including exposure to drug-conditioned cues. Identifying successful treatments to mitigate cue-induced relapse has been challenging, perhaps due to extinction memory recall (EMR) deficits. Previously, inhibition of estradiol (E2) signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) impaired heroin-cue EMR. This effect was recapitulated by antagonism of BLA estrogen receptors (ER) in a sex-specific manner such that blocking ERα in males, but ERβ in females, impaired EMR. However, it is unclear whether increased E2 signaling, in the BLA or systemically, enhances heroin-cue EMR. We hypothesized that ERβ agonism would enhance heroin-cue EMR in a sex- and region-specific manner. To determine the capacity of E2 signaling to improve EMR, we pharmacologically manipulated ERβ across several translationally designed experiments. First, male and female rats acquired heroin or sucrose self-administration. Next, during a cued extinction session, we administered diarylpropionitrile (DPN, an ERβ agonist) and tested anxiety-like behavior on an open field. Subsequently, we assessed EMR in a cue-induced reinstatement test and, finally, measured ERβ expression in several brain regions. Across all experiments, females took more heroin and sucrose than males and had greater responses during heroin-cued extinction. Administration of DPN in the BLA enhanced EMR in females only, driven by ERβ's impacts on memory consolidation. Interestingly, however, systemic DPN administration improved EMR for heroin cues in both sexes across several different tests, but did not impact sucrose-cue EMR. Immunohistochemical analysis of ERβ expression across several different brain regions showed that females only had greater expression of ERβ in the basal nucleus of the BLA. Here, in several preclinical experiments, we demonstrated that ERβ agonism enhances heroin-cue EMR and has potential utility in combatting cue-induced relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S Carter
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Caitlyn C Costa
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Stacia I Lewandowski
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Katharine H Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Sarah T Goldsmith
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Michael D Scofield
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Carmela M Reichel
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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Ramos-Prats A, Matulewicz P, Edenhofer ML, Wang KY, Yeh CW, Fajardo-Serrano A, Kress M, Kummer K, Lien CC, Ferraguti F. Loss of mGlu 5 receptors in somatostatin-expressing neurons alters negative emotional states. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02541-5. [PMID: 38575807 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Subtype 5 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu5) are known to play an important role in regulating cognitive, social and valence systems. However, it remains largely unknown at which circuits and neuronal types mGlu5 act to influence these behavioral domains. Altered tissue- or cell-specific expression or function of mGlu5 has been proposed to contribute to the exacerbation of neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we examined how these receptors regulate the activity of somatostatin-expressing (SST+) neurons, as well as their influence on behavior and brain rhythmic activity. Loss of mGlu5 in SST+ neurons elicited excitatory synaptic dysfunction in a region and sex-specific manner together with a range of emotional imbalances including diminished social novelty preference, reduced anxiety-like behavior and decreased freezing during retrieval of fear memories. In addition, the absence of mGlu5 in SST+ neurons during fear processing impaired theta frequency oscillatory activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. These findings reveal a critical role of mGlu5 in controlling SST+ neurons excitability necessary for regulating negative emotional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Ramos-Prats
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pawel Matulewicz
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Kai-Yi Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Yeh
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ana Fajardo-Serrano
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Kress
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kai Kummer
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cheng-Chang Lien
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Francesco Ferraguti
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Frasier RM, De Oliveira Sergio T, Starski PA, Grippo AJ, Hopf FW. Heart rate variability measures indicating sex differences in autonomic regulation during anxiety-like behavior in rats. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1244389. [PMID: 38025424 PMCID: PMC10644002 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mental health conditions remain a substantial and costly challenge to society, especially in women since they have nearly twice the prevalence of anxiety disorders. However, critical mechanisms underlying sex differences remain incompletely understood. Measures of cardiac function, including heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), reflect balance between sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) systems and are potential biomarkers for pathological states. Methods To better understand sex differences in anxiety-related autonomic mechanisms, we examined HR/HRV telemetry in food-restricted adult rats during novelty suppression of feeding (NSF), with conflict between food under bright light in the arena center. To assess HRV, we calculated the SDNN (reflective of both SNS and PNS contribution) and rMSSD (reflective of PNS contribution) and compared these metrics to behaviors within the anxiety task. Results Females had greater HR and lower SNS indicators at baseline, as in humans. Further, females (but not males) with higher basal HR carried this state into NSF, delaying first approach to center. In contrast, males with lower SNS measures approached and spent more time in the brightly-lit center. Further, females with lower SNS indicators consumed significantly more food. In males, a high-SNS subpopulation consumed no food. Among consumers, males with greater SNS ate more food. Discussion Together, these are congruent with human findings suggesting women engage PNS more, and men SNS more. Our previous behavior-only work also observed female differences from males during initial movement and food intake. Thus, high basal SNS in females reduced behavior early in NSF, while subsequent reduced SNS allowed greater food intake. In males, lower SNS increased engagement with arena center, but greater SNS predicted higher consumption. Our findings show novel and likely clinically relevant sex differences in HRV-behavior relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | | | - Phillip A. Starski
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States
| | - F. Woodward Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Fabian CB, Seney ML, Joffe ME. Sex differences and hormonal regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor synaptic plasticity. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 168:311-347. [PMID: 36868632 PMCID: PMC10392610 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Striking sex differences exist in presentation and incidence of several psychiatric disorders. For example, major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than men, and women who develop alcohol use disorder progress through drinking milestones more rapidly than men. With regards to psychiatric treatment responses, women respond more favorably to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors than men, whereas men have better outcomes when prescribed tricyclic antidepressants. Despite such well-documented biases in incidence, presentation, and treatment response, sex as a biological variable has long been neglected in preclinical and clinical research. An emerging family of druggable targets for psychiatric diseases, metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are G-protein coupled receptors broadly distributed throughout the central nervous system. mGlu receptors confer diverse neuromodulatory actions of glutamate at the levels of synaptic plasticity, neuronal excitability, and gene transcription. In this chapter, we summarize the current preclinical and clinical evidence for sex differences in mGlu receptor function. We first highlight basal sex differences in mGlu receptor expression and function and proceed to describe how gonadal hormones, notably estradiol, regulate mGlu receptor signaling. We then describe sex-specific mechanisms by which mGlu receptors differentially modulate synaptic plasticity and behavior in basal states and models relevant for disease. Finally, we discuss human research findings and highlight areas in need of further research. Taken together, this review emphasizes how mGlu receptor function and expression can differ across sex. Gaining a more complete understanding of how sex differences in mGlu receptor function contribute to psychiatric diseases will be critical in the development of novel therapeutics that are effective in all individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly B Fabian
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Marianne L Seney
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Max E Joffe
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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Matulewicz P, Ramos-Prats A, Gómez-Santacana X, Llebaria A, Ferraguti F. Control of Theta Oscillatory Activity Underlying Fear Expression by mGlu 5 Receptors. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223555. [PMID: 36428984 PMCID: PMC9688906 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors (mGlu5) are thought to play an important role in mediating emotional information processing. In particular, negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of mGlu5 have received a lot of attention as potential novel treatments for several neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety-related disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of pre- and post-training mGlu5 inactivation in cued fear conditioned mice on neuronal oscillatory activity during fear retrieval. For this study we used the recently developed mGlu5 NAM Alloswicth-1 administered systemically. Injection of Alloswicth-1 before, but not after, fear conditioning resulted in a significant decrease in freezing upon fear retrieval. Mice injected with Alloswicth-1 pre-training were also implanted with recording microelectrodes into both the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and ventral hippocampus (vHPC). The recordings revealed a reduction in theta rhythmic activity (4-12 Hz) in both the mPFC and vHPC during fear retrieval. These results indicate that inhibition of mGlu5 signaling alters local oscillatory activity in principal components of the fear brain network underlying a reduced response to a predicted threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Matulewicz
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Str. 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Jana Bazynskiego 8, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Arnau Ramos-Prats
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Str. 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Xavier Gómez-Santacana
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Synthesis (MCS), Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amadeu Llebaria
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Synthesis (MCS), Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesco Ferraguti
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Str. 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Mazzitelli M, Presto P, Antenucci N, Meltan S, Neugebauer V. Recent Advances in the Modulation of Pain by the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Cells 2022; 11:2608. [PMID: 36010684 PMCID: PMC9406805 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR or mGlu) are G-protein coupled receptors activated by the binding of glutamate, the main classical neurotransmitter of the nervous system. Eight different mGluR subtypes (mGluR1-8) have been cloned and are classified in three groups based on their molecular, pharmacological and signaling properties. mGluRs mediate several physiological functions such as neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, but they have also been implicated in numerous pathological conditions including pain. The availability of new and more selective allosteric modulators together with the canonical orthosteric ligands and transgenic technologies has led to significant advances in our knowledge about the role of the specific mGluR subtypes in the pathophysiological mechanisms of various diseases. Although development of successful compounds acting on mGluRs for clinical use has been scarce, the subtype-specific-pharmacological manipulation might be a compelling approach for the treatment of several disorders in humans, including pain; this review aims to summarize and update on preclinical evidence for the roles of different mGluRs in the pain system and discusses knowledge gaps regarding mGluR-related sex differences and neuroimmune signaling in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariacristina Mazzitelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Peyton Presto
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Nico Antenucci
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Shakira Meltan
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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Price ME, McCool BA. Structural, functional, and behavioral significance of sex and gonadal hormones in the basolateral amygdala: A review of preclinical literature. Alcohol 2022; 98:25-41. [PMID: 34371120 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is intimately involved in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD). These disorders have clear sex biases, with women more likely to develop an anxiety disorder and men more likely to develop AUD. Preclinical models have largely confirmed these sex-specific vulnerabilities and emphasize the effects of sex hormones on behaviors influenced by the BLA. This review will discuss sex differences in BLA-related behaviors and highlight potential mechanisms mediated by altered BLA structure and function, including the composition of GABAergic interneuron subpopulations, glutamatergic pyramidal neuron morphology, glutamate/GABA neurotransmission, and neuromodulators. Further, sex hormones differentially organize dimorphic circuits during sensitive developmental periods (organizational effects) and initiate more transient effects throughout adulthood (activational effects). Current literature indicates that estradiol and allopregnanolone, a neuroactive progestogen, generally reduce BLA-related behaviors through a variety of mechanisms, including activation of estrogen receptors or facilitation of GABAA-mediated inhibition, respectively. This enhanced GABAergic inhibition may protect BLA pyramidal neurons from the excitability associated with anxiety and alcohol withdrawal. Understanding sex differences and the effects of sex hormones on BLA structure and function may help explain sex-specific vulnerabilities in BLA-related behaviors and ultimately improve treatments for anxiety and AUD.
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De Oliveira Sergio T, Wetherill L, Kwok C, Khoyloo F, Hopf FW. Sex differences in specific aspects of two animal tests of anxiety-like behavior. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2775-2787. [PMID: 34120205 PMCID: PMC11071636 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05893-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Anxiety, a negative state of high arousal and vigilance, is especially prevalent in women, making identification of underlying mechanisms critical for developing effective therapies. With the challenge of disentangling biological and social factors in humans, animal tests can provide valuable insights, although such tests, developed in males, have unclear validity for females. OBJECTIVE To better understand patterns of sex differences across multiple measures within two classical rodent anxiety tests. METHODS We examined female and male adult Wistar rats (n = 15-18/group) that were single-housed in the novelty suppression of feeding test (NSFT) that involves food under a bright light in food-restricted animals, and light-dark test (LDT), which reflects innate aversion to bright light. To further validate these tests in females, we also examined the impact of 1 mg/kg diazepam. RESULTS NSFT measures of the most direct interaction with food, latency to grab food and food consumed, indicated increased anxiety-like behavior in females versus males, with diazepam altering these behaviors in females but not males. Most other measures showed more similar effects of diazepam across the sexes, with some evidence of reduced anxiety-like behavior in LDT for females. Principal component analyses indicated limited relationships across behavioral factors, underscoring previous suggestions of the importance of assessing multiple measures to maximize information and ethological relevance. CONCLUSIONS Combining our findings and previous studies, we speculate that increased anxiety-like behavior in females manifests especially when there is a specific, life-relevant condition (e.g., food in the NSFT). Our findings also validate NSFT and LDT use in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thatiane De Oliveira Sergio
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, NB 300E, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Claudina Kwok
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Farrah Khoyloo
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Frederic W Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, NB 300E, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California At San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Radke AK, Sneddon EA, Frasier RM, Hopf FW. Recent Perspectives on Sex Differences in Compulsion-Like and Binge Alcohol Drinking. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073788. [PMID: 33917517 PMCID: PMC8038761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder remains a substantial social, health, and economic problem and problem drinking levels in women have been increasing in recent years. Understanding whether and how the underlying mechanisms that drive drinking vary by sex is critical and could provide novel, more targeted therapeutic treatments. Here, we examine recent results from our laboratories and others which we believe provide useful insights into similarities and differences in alcohol drinking patterns across the sexes. Findings for binge intake and aversion-resistant, compulsion-like alcohol drinking are considered, since both are likely significant contributors to alcohol problems in humans. We also describe studies regarding mechanisms that may underlie sex differences in maladaptive alcohol drinking, with some focus on the importance of nucleus accumbens (NAcb) core and shell regions, several receptor types (dopamine, orexin, AMPA-type glutamate), and possible contributions of sex hormones. Finally, we discuss how stressors such as early life stress and anxiety-like states may interact with sex differences to contribute to alcohol drinking. Together, these findings underscore the importance and critical relevance of studying female and male mechanisms for alcohol and co-morbid conditions to gain a true and clinically useful understanding of addiction and neuropsychiatric mechanisms and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45040, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Elizabeth A. Sneddon
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45040, USA;
| | - Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (R.M.F.); (F.W.H.)
| | - Frederic W. Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (R.M.F.); (F.W.H.)
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McGlade E, Rogowska J, DiMuzio J, Bueler E, Sheth C, Legarreta M, Yurgelun-Todd D. Neurobiological evidence of sexual dimorphism in limbic circuitry of US Veterans. J Affect Disord 2020; 274:1091-1101. [PMID: 32663937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female Veterans are an increasing patient population in the Department of Veterans Affairs and may have distinct clinical and neurobiological features compared to males. METHODS Nineteen female and 19 male Veterans who met diagnostic criteria for depression/posttraumatic stress disorder (MDD/PTSD) completed diagnostic interviews, symptom measures, and resting-state neuroimaging. Participants completed clinical measures of mood and aggression in addition to magnetic resonance imaging on a 3.0 Tesla Siemens scanner. RESULTS Females showed increased functional connectivity between the left and right basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the left and right cerebellar and occipital lobes. Sex differences also were evident in the relationship between affective and clinical symptoms with BLA connectivity. Females showed a correlation between revenge planning and decreased connectivity between the left BLA and left occipital lobe and also a correlation between aggression and decreased connectivity between the right BLA and right mid cingulate, right and left medial frontal lobe, and right frontal lobe. Males evidenced a relationship between increased depressive symptoms and increased connectivity between the left BLA and right and left occipital lobe, left calcarine, and other areas associated with visual memory and processing, and interpretation of sensory information. Additionally, males reported higher levels of physical aggression and revenge planning compared to females. LIMITATIONS This study included neuroimaging and self-report clinical measures. Further studies will benefit from multimodal measures, including behavioral measures of aggression. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that male Veterans report more aggression than females and symptoms of aggression and mood are differentially related to BLA connectivity by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin McGlade
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Jadwiga Rogowska
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jennifer DiMuzio
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Elliott Bueler
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Chandni Sheth
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Margaret Legarreta
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Deborah Yurgelun-Todd
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Reichman RD, Gaynor SC, Monson ET, Gaine ME, Parsons MG, Zandi PP, Potash JB, Willour VL. Targeted sequencing of the LRRTM gene family in suicide attempters with bipolar disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:128-139. [PMID: 31854516 PMCID: PMC8380126 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glutamatergic signaling is the primary excitatory neurotransmission pathway in the brain, and its relationship to neuropsychiatric disorders is of considerable interest. Our previous attempted suicide genome-wide association study, and numerous studies investigating gene expression, genetic variation, and DNA methylation have implicated aberrant glutamatergic signaling in suicide risk. The glutamatergic pathway gene LRRTM4 was an associated gene identified in our attempted suicide genome-wide association study, with association support seen primarily in females. Recent evidence has also shown that glutamatergic signaling is partly regulated by sex-related hormones. The LRRTM gene family encodes neuronal leucine-rich transmembrane proteins that localize to and promote glutamatergic synapse development. In this study, we sequenced the coding and regulatory regions of all four LRRTM gene members plus a large intronic region of LRRTM4 in 476 bipolar disorder suicide attempters and 473 bipolar disorder nonattempters. We identified two male-specific variants, one female- and five male-specific haplotypes significantly associated with attempted suicide in LRRTM4. Furthermore, variants within significant haplotypes may be brain expression quantitative trait loci for LRRTM4 and some of these variants overlap with predicted hormone response elements. Overall, these results provide supporting evidence for a sex-specific association of genetic variation in LRRTM4 with attempted suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D. Reichman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Sophia C. Gaynor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Eric T. Monson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Marie E. Gaine
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Meredith G. Parsons
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Peter P. Zandi
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James B. Potash
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Virginia L. Willour
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
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12
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Miller CK, Krentzel AA, Patisaul HB, Meitzen J. Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu 5) is necessary for estradiol mitigation of light-induced anxiety behavior in female rats. Physiol Behav 2019; 214:112770. [PMID: 31830486 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety-related behaviors are influenced by steroid hormones such as 17β-estradiol and environmental stimuli such as acute stressors. For example, rats exhibit increased anxiety-related behaviors in the presence, but not the absence, of light. In females, estradiol potentially mitigates these effects. Experiments across behavioral paradigms and brain regions indicate that estradiol action can be mediated via activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors, including Group I subtype five (mGlu5). mGlu5 has been implicated in mediating estradiol's effects upon psychostimulant-induced behaviors, dopamine release and neuron phenotype in striatal regions. Whether estradiol activation of mGlu5 modulates anxiety or locomotor behavior in the absence of psychostimulants is unknown. Here we test if mGlu5 is necessary for estradiol mitigation of light-induced acute anxiety and locomotor behaviors. Ovariectomized adult female rats were pre-treated with either the mGlu5 antagonist MPEP or saline before estradiol or oil treatment. Anxiety and locomotor behaviors were assessed in the presence or absence of white light to induce high and low acute anxiety behavior phenotypes, respectively. In the presence of white light, estradiol treatment mitigated light-induced anxiety-related behaviors but not overall locomotor activity. MPEP treatment blocked estradiol effects upon light-induced anxiety-related behaviors but did not affect overall locomotor activity. In the absence of white light, estradiol or MPEP treatment did not influence anxiety-related behaviors or locomotor activity, consistent with a low anxiety phenotype. These novel findings indicate that mGlu5 activation is necessary for estradiol mitigation of anxiety-related behaviors induced by an acute stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana K Miller
- Graduate Program in Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Amanda A Krentzel
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - John Meitzen
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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13
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Shallcross J, Hámor P, Bechard AR, Romano M, Knackstedt L, Schwendt M. The Divergent Effects of CDPPB and Cannabidiol on Fear Extinction and Anxiety in a Predator Scent Stress Model of PTSD in Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:91. [PMID: 31133832 PMCID: PMC6523014 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) currently has no FDA-approved treatments that reduce symptoms in the majority of patients. The ability to extinguish fear memory associations is impaired in PTSD individuals. As such, the development of extinction-enhancing pharmacological agents to be used in combination with exposure therapies may benefit the treatment of PTSD. Both mGlu5 and CB1 receptors have been implicated in contextual fear extinction. Thus, here we tested the ability of the mGlu5 positive allosteric modulator 3-Cyano-N-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide (CDPPB) and cannabidiol (CBD) to reduce both conditioned and unconditioned fear. We used a predator-threat animal model of PTSD which we and others have previously shown to capture the heterogeneity of anxiety responses observed in humans exposed to trauma. Here, 1 week following a 10-min exposure to predator scent stress, rats were classified into stress-Susceptible and stress-Resilient phenotypes using behavioral criteria for elevated plus maze and acoustic startle response performance. Two weeks after classification, rats underwent 3 days of contextual fear extinction and were treated with vehicle, CDPPB or CBD prior to each session. Finally, the light-dark box test was employed to assess phenotypic differences and the effects of CDPPB and CBD on unconditioned anxiety. CDPBB but not CBD, reduced freezing in Susceptible rats relative to vehicle. In the light-dark box test for unconditioned anxiety, CBD, but not CDPPB, reduced anxiety in Susceptible rats. Resilient rats displayed reduced anxiety in the light-dark box relative to Susceptible rats. Taken together, the present data indicate that enhancement of mGlu5 receptor signaling in populations vulnerable to stress may serve to offset a resistance to fear memory extinction without producing anxiogenic effects. Furthermore, in a susceptible population, CBD attenuates unconditioned but not conditioned fear. Taken together, these findings support the use of predator-threat stress exposure in combination with stress-susceptibility phenotype classification as a model for examining the unique drug response profiles and altered neuronal function that emerge as a consequence of the heterogeneity of psychophysiological response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Shallcross
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for Addiction Research & Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Peter Hámor
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for Addiction Research & Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Allison R Bechard
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Madison Romano
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Lori Knackstedt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for Addiction Research & Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Marek Schwendt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for Addiction Research & Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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14
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Sakata M, Toyohara J, Ishibashi K, Wagatsuma K, Ishii K, Zhang MR, Ishiwata K. Age and gender effects of 11C-ITMM binding to metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 in healthy human participants. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 55:72-77. [PMID: 28431287 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We examined possible age- and gender-related changes in binding of the selective antagonist N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-4-11C-methoxy-N-methylbenzamide (11C-ITMM) to metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 in healthy human brains. Dynamic 11C-ITMM positron emission tomography scans (90 min) with serial arterial blood sampling were performed in 15 young and 24 older healthy adult volunteers. The total distribution volume (VT) of several brain regions was estimated with 2-tissue compartment model analysis. The VTs of the cerebellar cortex, parietal cortex, putamen, amygdala, and hippocampus in older adult participants were significantly higher than in young participants. The age-related VT increase was only observed in male participants. Our data suggest that an age-dependent increase in metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 availability in several brain regions may exist predominantly in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muneyuki Sakata
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Toyohara
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kenji Ishibashi
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Wagatsuma
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Ishii
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals Development, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiichi Ishiwata
- Research Team for Neuroimaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Cyclotron and Drug Discovery Research, Southern Tohoku Research Institute for Neuroscience, Koriyama, Japan; Department of Biofunctional Imaging, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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