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Mayne P, Das J, Zou S, Sullivan RKP, Burne THJ. Perineuronal nets are associated with decision making under conditions of uncertainty in female but not male mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114845. [PMID: 38184206 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114845] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex influences decision-making processes in significant ways, differentiating the responses animals choose when faced with a range of stimuli. The neurobiological underpinnings that dictate sex differences in decision-making tasks remains an important open question, yet single-sex studies of males form most studies in behavioural neuroscience. Here we used female and male BALB/c mice on two spatial learning and memory tasks and examined the expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs) and parvalbumin interneurons (PV) in regions correlated with spatial memory. Mice underwent the aversive active place avoidance (APA) task or the appetitive trial-unique nonmatching-to-location (TUNL) touchscreen task. Mice in the APA cohort learnt to avoid the foot-shock and no differences were observed on key measures of the task nor in the number and intensity of PNNs and PV. On the delay but not separation manipulation in the TUNL task, females received more incorrect trials and less correct trials compared to males. Furthermore, females in this cohort exhibited higher intensity PNNs and PV cells in the agranular and granular retrosplenial cortex, compared to males. These data show that female and male mice perform similarly on spatial learning tasks. However, sex differences in neural circuitry may underly differences in making decisions under conditions of uncertainty on an appetitive task. These data emphasise the importance of using mice of both sexes in studies of decision-making neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Mayne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joyosmita Das
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Simin Zou
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert K P Sullivan
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas H J Burne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia.
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Morphett JC, Whittaker AL, Reichelt AC, Hutchinson MR. Perineuronal net structure as a non-cellular mechanism contributing to affective state: A scoping review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 158:105568. [PMID: 38309496 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105568] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Affective state encompasses emotional responses to our physiology and influences how we perceive and respond within our environment. In affective disorders such as depression, cognitive adaptability is challenged, and structural and functional brain changes have been identified. However, an incomplete understanding persists of the molecular and cellular mechanisms at play in affective state. An exciting area of newly appreciated importance is perineuronal nets (PNNs); a specialised component of extracellular matrix playing a critical role in neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity. A scoping review found 24 studies demonstrating that PNNs are still a developing field of research with a promising general trend for stress in adulthood to increase the intensity of PNNs, whereas stress in adolescence reduced (potentially developmentally delayed) PNN numbers and intensity, while antidepressants correlated with reduced PNN numbers. Despite promising trends, limited research underscores the need for further exploration, emphasizing behavioral outcomes for validating affective states. Understanding PNNs' role may offer therapeutic insights for depression and inform biomarker development, advancing precision medicine and enhancing well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Morphett
- School of Biomedicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Kaurna Country, Australia.
| | - A L Whittaker
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - A C Reichelt
- School of Biomedicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Kaurna Country, Australia
| | - M R Hutchinson
- School of Biomedicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Kaurna Country, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
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3
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Bosetti C, Ferrini L, Ferrari AR, Bartolini E, Calderoni S. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Abnormalities of Clinical EEG: A Qualitative Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:279. [PMID: 38202286 PMCID: PMC10779511 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the comorbidity between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy has been widely demonstrated, and many hypotheses regarding the common neurobiological bases of these disorders have been put forward. A variable, but significant, prevalence of abnormalities on electroencephalogram (EEG) has been documented in non-epileptic children with ASD; therefore, several scientific studies have recently tried to demonstrate the role of these abnormalities as a possible biomarker of altered neural connectivity in ASD individuals. This narrative review intends to summarize the main findings of the recent scientific literature regarding abnormalities detected with standard EEG in children/adolescents with idiopathic ASD. Research using three different databases (PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar) was conducted, resulting in the selection of 10 original articles. Despite an important lack of studies on preschoolers and a deep heterogeneity in results, some authors speculated on a possible association between EEG abnormalities and ASD characteristics, in particular, the severity of symptoms. Although this correlation needs to be more strongly elucidated, these findings may encourage future studies aimed at demonstrating the role of electrical brain abnormalities as an early biomarker of neural circuit alterations in ASD, highlighting the potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value of EEG in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bosetti
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (C.B.); (L.F.); (A.R.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Ferrini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (C.B.); (L.F.); (A.R.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Ferrari
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (C.B.); (L.F.); (A.R.F.); (S.C.)
| | - Emanuele Bartolini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (C.B.); (L.F.); (A.R.F.); (S.C.)
- Tuscany PhD Programme in Neurosciences, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (C.B.); (L.F.); (A.R.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Gore IR, Gould E. Developmental and adult stress: effects of steroids and neurosteroids. Stress 2024; 27:2317856. [PMID: 38563163 PMCID: PMC11046567 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2317856] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In humans, exposure to early life adversity has profound implications for susceptibility to developing neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. Studies in rodents have shown that stress experienced during early postnatal life can have lasting effects on brain development. Glucocorticoids and sex steroids are produced in endocrine glands and the brain from cholesterol; these molecules bind to nuclear and membrane-associated steroid receptors. Unlike other steroids that can also be made in the brain, neurosteroids bind specifically to neurotransmitter receptors, not steroid receptors. The relationships among steroids, neurosteroids, and stress are multifaceted and not yet fully understood. However, studies demonstrating altered levels of progestogens, androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and their neuroactive metabolites in both developmental and adult stress paradigms strongly suggest that these molecules may be important players in stress effects on brain circuits and behavior. In this review, we discuss the influence of developmental and adult stress on various components of the brain, including neurons, glia, and perineuronal nets, with a focus on sex steroids and neurosteroids. Gaining an enhanced understanding of how early adversity impacts the intricate systems of brain steroid and neurosteroid regulation could prove instrumental in identifying novel therapeutic targets for stress-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha R Gore
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Elizabeth Gould
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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Li X, Ren D, Luo B, Liu Z, Li N, Zhou T, Fei E. Perineuronal Nets Alterations Contribute to Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:411-422. [PMID: 37615879 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03596-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide, affecting nearly 30% of adults. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Here we subjected mice to chronic restraint stress (CRS), a paradigm known to induce anxiety-like behavior in mice. CRS mice exhibited anxiety-like behavior and reduced synaptic transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Notably, Wisteria Floribunda agglutinin (WFA) staining showed a reduction of perineuronal nets (PNNs) expression in the mPFC of CRS mice. And the mRNA and protein levels of aggrecan (ACAN), a core component of PNNs, were also reduced. Parallelly, enzymatic digestion of PNNs in the mPFC by injecting Chondroitinase ABC (chABC) resulted in anxiety-like behavior in mice. Fluoxetine (FXT) is a clinically prescribed antidepressant/anxiolytic drug. FXT treatment in CRS mice not only ameliorated their deficits in behavior and synaptic transmissions, but also prevented CRS-induced reduction of PNNs and ACAN expressions. This study demonstrates that proper PNNs level is critical to brain functions, and their decline may serve as a pathological mechanism of anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghe Li
- Queen Mary School of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Dongyan Ren
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ziyang Liu
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Nuojing Li
- Queen Mary School of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Tian Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Erkang Fei
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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Hu R, He K, Chen B, Chen Y, Zhang J, Wu X, Shi M, Wu L, Ma R. Electroacupuncture promotes the repair of the damaged spinal cord in mice by mediating neurocan-perineuronal net. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14468. [PMID: 37950551 PMCID: PMC10805400 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to investigate the effect of perineuronal net (PNN) and neurocan (NCAN) on spinal inhibitory parvalbumin interneuron (PV-IN), and the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting spinal cord injury (SCI) repair through neurocan in PNN. METHODS A mouse model of SCI was established. Sham-operated mice or SCI model mice were treated with chondroitin sulfate ABC (ChABC) enzyme or control vehicle for 2 weeks (i.e., sham+veh group, sham+ChABC group, SCI+veh group, and SCI+ChABC group, respectively), and then spinal cord tissues were taken from the T10 lesion epicenter for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). MSigDB Hallmark and C5 databases for functional analysis, analysis strategies such as differential expression gene analysis (DEG), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and protein-protein interaction (PPI). According to the results of RNA-seq analysis, the expression of NCAN was knocked down or overexpressed by virus intervention, or/and EA intervention. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunofluorescence, western blot, electrophysiological, and behavioral tests were performed. RESULTS After the successful establishment of SCI model, the motor dysfunction of lower limbs, and the expression of PNN core glycan protein at the epicenter of SCI were reduced. RNA-seq and PCR showed that PNN core proteoglycans except NCAN showed the same expression trend in normal and injured spinal cord treated with ChABC. KEGG and GSEA showed that PNN is mainly associated with inhibitory GABA neuronal function in injured spinal cord tissue, and PPI showed that NCAN in PNN can be associated with inhibitory neuronal function through parvalbumin (PV). Calcium imaging showed that local parvalbumin interneuron (PV-IN) activity decreased after PNN destruction, whether due to ChABC treatment or surgical bruising of the spinal cord. Overexpression of neurocan in injured spinal cord can enhance local PV-IN activity. PCR and western blot suggested that overexpression or knockdown of neurocan could up-regulate or down-regulate the expression of GAD. At the same time, the activity of PV-IN in the primary motor cortex (M1) and the primary sensory cortex of lower (S1HL) extremity changed synchronously. In addition, overexpression of neurocan improved the electrical activity of the lower limb and promoted functional repair of the paralyzed hind limb. EA intervention reversed the down-regulation of neurocan, enhanced the expression of PNN in the lesioned area, M1 and S1HL. CONCLUSION Neurocan in PNN can regulate the activity of PV-IN, and EA can promote functional recovery of mice with SCI by upregulating neurocan expression in PNN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Hu
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Kelin He
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
- Department of Acupuncture and MoxibustionThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Bowen Chen
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Yi Chen
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Jieqi Zhang
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Xingying Wu
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Mengting Shi
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Lei Wu
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
- Department of Acupuncture and MoxibustionThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Ruijie Ma
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
- Department of Acupuncture and MoxibustionThird Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
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Dong Y, Zhao K, Qin X, Du G, Gao L. The mechanisms of perineuronal net abnormalities in contributing aging and neurological diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102092. [PMID: 37839757 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102092] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The perineuronal net (PNN) is a highly latticed extracellular matrix in the central nervous system, which is composed of hyaluronic acid, proteoglycan, hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein (Hapln), and tenascin. PNN is predominantly distributed in GABAergic interneurons expressing Parvalbumin (PV) and plays a critical role in synaptic function, learning and memory, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In addition, PNN's structure and function are also modulated by a variety of factors, including protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ), orthodenticle homeo-box 2 (Otx2), and erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ErbB4). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a component of proteoglycan, also influences PNN through its sulfate mode. PNN undergoes abnormal changes during aging and in various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, there is limited report on the relationship between PNN and aging or age-related neurological diseases. This review elaborates on the mechanisms governing PNN regulation and summarizes how PNN abnormalities contribute to aging and neurological diseases, offering insights for potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Dong
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Kunkun Zhao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China.
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Woodward EM, Ringland A, Ackerman J, Coutellier L. Prepubertal ovariectomy confers resilience to stress-induced anxiety in adult female mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 148:105997. [PMID: 36470154 PMCID: PMC9898172 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105997] [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: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The increased vulnerability to stress-induced neuropsychiatric disorders in women, including anxiety disorders, does not emerge until pubertal onset, suggesting a role for ovarian hormones in organizing sex-specific vulnerability to anxiety. Parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex are a potential target for these ovarian hormones. PV+ interneurons undergo maturation during the adolescent period and have been shown to be sensitive to stress and to mediate stress-induced anxiety in female mice. To test the idea that ovarian hormones at puberty are necessary for the acquisition of sensitivity to stress, hypothetically driving the response of PV+ interneurons to stress, we performed ovariectomy or sham surgery before pubertal onset in female mice. These mice then were exposed to four weeks of unpredictable chronic mild stress in adulthood. We then assessed anxiety-like behavior and PV/FosB colocalization in the medial PFC. Additionally, we assessed stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in female mice following ovariectomy in adulthood to determine if puberty is a sensitive period for ovarian hormones in mediating vulnerability to stress. We found that prepubertal ovariectomy protects against the development of anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, an effect not found following ovariectomy in adulthood. This effect may be independent of ovarian hormones on prefrontal PV+ interneurons response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Woodward
- Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, 255 Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research Building, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Amanda Ringland
- Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, 255 Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research Building, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Jennifer Ackerman
- Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, 255 Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research Building, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Laurence Coutellier
- Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University, 255 Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research Building, 460 Medical Center Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Przybysz KR, Spodnick MB, Johnson JM, Varlinskaya EI, Diaz MR. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure produces sex-specific social impairments and attenuates prelimbic excitability and amygdala-cortex modulation of adult social behaviour. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13252. [PMID: 36577734 PMCID: PMC10509785 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Lifelong social impairments are common in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and preclinical studies have identified gestational day (G)12 as a vulnerable timepoint for producing social deficits following binge-level PAE. While moderate (m)PAE also produces social impairments, the long-term neuroadaptations underlying them are poorly understood. Activity of the projection from the basolateral amygdala to the prelimbic cortex (BLA → PL) leads to social avoidance, and the PL is implicated in negative social behaviours, making each of these potential candidates for the neuroadaptations underlying mPAE-induced social impairments. To examine this, we first established that G12 mPAE produced sex-specific social impairments lasting into adulthood in Sprague-Dawley rats. We then chemogenetically inhibited the BLA → PL using clozapine N-oxide (CNO) during adult social testing. This revealed that CNO reduced social investigation in control males but had no effect on mPAE males or females of either exposure, indicating that mPAE attenuated the role of this projection in regulating male social behaviour and highlighting one potential mechanism by which mPAE affects male social behaviour more severely. Using whole-cell electrophysiology, we also examined mPAE-induced changes to PL pyramidal cell physiology and determined that mPAE reduced cell excitability, likely due to increased suppression by inhibitory interneurons. Overall, this work identified two mPAE-induced neuroadaptations that last into adulthood and that may underlie the sex-specific vulnerability to mPAE-induced social impairments. Future research is necessary to expand upon how these circuits modulate both normal and pathological social behaviours and to identify sex-specific mechanisms, leading to differential vulnerability in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Przybysz
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Mary B. Spodnick
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Julia M. Johnson
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Elena I. Varlinskaya
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Marvin R. Diaz
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
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