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Rajkumar RP. Potassium channels in animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder: mechanistic and therapeutic implications. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1441514. [PMID: 39139400 PMCID: PMC11319181 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1441514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Philip Rajkumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India
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Wang SY, Xia ZX, Yang SW, Chen WK, Zhao YL, Li MD, Tian D, Pan Y, Lin XS, Zhu XQ, Huang Z, Liu JM, Lai ZM, Tao WC, Shen ZC. Regulation of depressive-like behaviours by palmitoylation: Role of AKAP150 in the basolateral amygdala. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1897-1915. [PMID: 38413375 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16318] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Protein palmitoylation is involved in learning and memory, and in emotional disorders. Yet, the underlying mechanisms in these processes remain unclear. Herein, we describe that A-kinase anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150) is essential and sufficient for depressive-like behaviours in mice via a palmitoylation-dependent mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Depressive-like behaviours in mice were induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Palmitoylated proteins in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were assessed by an acyl-biotin exchange assay. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to investigate the role of the DHHC2-mediated AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway in depressive-like behaviours. Electrophysiological recording, western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to define the mechanistic pathway. KEY RESULTS Chronic stress successfully induced depressive-like behaviours in mice and enhanced AKAP150 palmitoylation in the BLA, and a palmitoylation inhibitor was enough to reverse these changes. Blocking the AKAP150-PKA interaction with the peptide Ht-31 abolished the CRS-induced AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway. DHHC2 expression and palmitoylation levels were both increased after chronic stress. DHHC2 knockdown prevented CRS-induced depressive-like behaviours, as well as attenuating AKAP150 signalling and synaptic transmission in the BLA in CRS-treated mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results delineate that DHHC2 modulates chronic stress-induced depressive-like behaviours and synaptic transmission in the BLA via the AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway, and this pathway may be considered as a promising novel therapeutic target for major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Xuan Xia
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Shao-Wei Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wei-Kai Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yue-Ling Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meng-Die Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dan Tian
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yue Pan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Shan Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Qian Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian-Min Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhong-Meng Lai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wu-Cheng Tao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zu-Cheng Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Yakhnitsa V, Thompson J, Ponomareva O, Ji G, Kiritoshi T, Mahimainathan L, Molehin D, Pruitt K, Neugebauer V. Dysfunction of Small-Conductance Ca 2+-Activated Potassium (SK) Channels Drives Amygdala Hyperexcitability and Neuropathic Pain Behaviors: Involvement of Epigenetic Mechanisms. Cells 2024; 13:1055. [PMID: 38920682 PMCID: PMC11201618 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121055] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroplasticity in the amygdala and its central nucleus (CeA) is linked to pain modulation and pain behaviors, but cellular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we addressed the role of small-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (SK) channels in pain-related amygdala plasticity. The facilitatory effects of the intra-CeA application of an SK channel blocker (apamin) on the pain behaviors of control rats were lost in a neuropathic pain model, whereas an SK channel activator (NS309) inhibited pain behaviors in neuropathic rats but not in sham controls, suggesting the loss of the inhibitory behavioral effects of amygdala SK channels. Brain slice electrophysiology found hyperexcitability of CeA neurons in the neuropathic pain condition due to the loss of SK channel-mediated medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP), which was accompanied by decreased SK2 channel protein and mRNA expression, consistent with a pretranscriptional mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms involved the epigenetic silencing of the SK2 gene due to the increased DNA methylation of the CpG island of the SK2 promoter region and the change in methylated CpG sites in the CeA in neuropathic pain. This study identified the epigenetic dysregulation of SK channels in the amygdala (CeA) as a novel mechanism of neuropathic pain-related plasticity and behavior that could be targeted to control abnormally enhanced amygdala activity and chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Yakhnitsa
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Jeremy Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Olga Ponomareva
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Guangchen Ji
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, 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
| | - Takaki Kiritoshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Lenin Mahimainathan
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Deborah Molehin
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, 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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Peng X, Mao Y, Liu Y, Dai Q, Tai Y, Luo B, Liang Y, Guan R, Zhou W, Chen L, Zhang Z, Shen G, Wang H. Microglial activation in the lateral amygdala promotes anxiety-like behaviors in mice with chronic moderate noise exposure. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14674. [PMID: 38468130 PMCID: PMC10927919 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14674] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term non-traumatic noise exposure, such as heavy traffic noise, can elicit emotional disorders in humans. However, the underlying neural substrate is still poorly understood. METHODS We exposed mice to moderate white noise for 28 days to induce anxiety-like behaviors, measured by open-field, elevated plus maze, and light-dark box tests. In vivo multi-electrode recordings in awake mice were used to examine neuronal activity. Chemogenetics were used to silence specific brain regions. Viral tracing, immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging were applied to define the neural circuit and characterize the morphology of microglia. RESULTS Exposure to moderate noise for 28 days at an 85-dB sound pressure level resulted in anxiety-like behaviors in open-field, elevated plus maze, and light-dark box tests. Viral tracing revealed that fibers projecting from the auditory cortex and auditory thalamus terminate in the lateral amygdala (LA). A noise-induced increase in spontaneous firing rates of the LA and blockade of noise-evoked anxiety-like behaviors by chemogenetic inhibition of LA glutamatergic neurons together confirmed that the LA plays a critical role in noise-induced anxiety. Noise-exposed animals were more vulnerable to anxiety induced by acute noise stressors than control mice. In addition to these behavioral abnormalities, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1)-positive microglia in the LA underwent corresponding morphological modifications, including reduced process length and branching and increased soma size following noise exposure. Treatment with minocycline to suppress microglia inhibited noise-associated changes in microglial morphology, neuronal electrophysiological activity, and behavioral changes. Furthermore, microglia-mediated synaptic phagocytosis favored inhibitory synapses, which can cause an imbalance between excitation and inhibition, leading to anxiety-like behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our study identifies LA microglial activation as a critical mediator of noise-induced anxiety-like behaviors, leading to neuronal and behavioral changes through selective synapse phagocytosis. Our results highlight the pivotal but previously unrecognized roles of LA microglia in chronic moderate noise-induced behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Yunfeng Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Yehao Liu
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Qian Dai
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Yingju Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Bin Luo
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
- Department of PsychiatryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of OtolaryngologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Ruirui Guan
- Department of OtolaryngologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCHefeiChina
| | - Wenjie Zhou
- Songjiang Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Lin Chen
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Guoming Shen
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Haitao Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
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Asim M, Wang H, Chen X, He J. Potentiated GABAergic neuronal activities in the basolateral amygdala alleviate stress-induced depressive behaviors. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14422. [PMID: 37715582 PMCID: PMC10915993 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14422] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Major depressive disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder that afflicts ~17% of the world population. Neuroimaging investigations of depressed patients have consistently reported the dysfunction of the basolateral amygdala in the pathophysiology of depression. However, how the BLA and related circuits are implicated in the pathogenesis of depression is poorly understood. METHODS Here, we combined fiber photometry, immediate early gene expression (c-fos), optogenetics, chemogenetics, behavioral analysis, and viral tracing techniques to provide multiple lines of evidence of how the BLA neurons mediate depressive-like behavior. RESULTS We demonstrated that the aversive stimuli elevated the neuronal activity of the excitatory BLA neurons (BLACAMKII neurons). Optogenetic activation of CAMKII neurons facilitates the induction of depressive-like behavior while inhibition of these neurons alleviates the depressive-like behavior. Next, we found that the chemogenetic inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the BLA (BLAGABA ) increased the firing frequency of CAMKII neurons and mediates the depressive-like phenotypes. Finally, through fiber photometry recording and chemogenetic manipulation, we proved that the activation of BLAGABA neurons inhibits BLACAMKII neuronal activity and alleviates depressive-like behavior in the mice. CONCLUSION Thus, through evaluating BLAGABA and BLACAMKII neurons by distinct interaction, the BLA regulates depressive-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
| | - Huajie Wang
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Biomedical ScienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhenPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongKowloon TongPeople's Republic of China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhenPeople's Republic of China
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Yi L, Lin X, She X, Gao W, Wu M. Chronic stress as an emerging risk factor for the development and progression of glioma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:394-407. [PMID: 38238191 PMCID: PMC10876262 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002976] [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: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Gliomas tend to have a poor prognosis and are the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Compared with patients with other cancers, glioma patients often suffer from increased levels of psychological stress, such as anxiety and fear. Chronic stress (CS) is thought to impact glioma profoundly. However, because of the complex mechanisms underlying CS and variability in individual tolerance, the role of CS in glioma remains unclear. This review suggests a new proposal to redivide the stress system into two parts. Neuronal activity is dominant upstream. Stress-signaling molecules produced by the neuroendocrine system are dominant downstream. We discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CS impacts glioma. Potential pharmacological treatments are also summarized from the therapeutic perspective of CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Yi
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiang Lin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiaoling She
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Minghua Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
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Braun J, Patel M, Kameneva T, Keatch C, Lambert G, Lambert E. Central stress pathways in the development of cardiovascular disease. Clin Auton Res 2024; 34:99-116. [PMID: 38104300 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-023-01008-x] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mental stress is of essential consideration when assessing cardiovascular pathophysiology in all patient populations. Substantial evidence indicates associations among stress, cardiovascular disease and aberrant brain-body communication. However, our understanding of the flow of stress information in humans, is limited, despite the crucial insights this area may offer into future therapeutic targets for clinical intervention. METHODS Key terms including mental stress, cardiovascular disease and central control, were searched in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. Articles indicative of heart rate and blood pressure regulation, or central control of cardiovascular disease through direct neural innervation of the cardiac, splanchnic and vascular regions were included. Focus on human neuroimaging research and the flow of stress information is described, before brain-body connectivity, via pre-motor brainstem intermediates is discussed. Lastly, we review current understandings of pathophysiological stress and cardiovascular disease aetiology. RESULTS Structural and functional changes to corticolimbic circuitry encode stress information, integrated by the hypothalamus and amygdala. Pre-autonomic brain-body relays to brainstem and spinal cord nuclei establish dysautonomia and lead to alterations in baroreflex functioning, firing of the sympathetic fibres, cellular reuptake of norepinephrine and withdrawal of the parasympathetic reflex. The combined result is profoundly adrenergic and increases the likelihood of cardiac myopathy, arrhythmogenesis, coronary ischaemia, hypertension and the overall risk of future sudden stress-induced heart failure. CONCLUSIONS There is undeniable support that mental stress contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease. The emerging accumulation of large-scale multimodal neuroimaging data analytics to assess this relationship promises exciting novel therapeutic targets for future cardiovascular disease detection and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Braun
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia.
| | - Mariya Patel
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Tatiana Kameneva
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Charlotte Keatch
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gavin Lambert
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elisabeth Lambert
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
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Shcherbinina V, Pavlova M, Daev E, Dyuzhikova N. Rats Selected for Different Nervous Excitability: Long-Term Emotional-Painful Stress Affects the Dynamics of DNA Damage in Cells of Several Brain Areas. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:994. [PMID: 38256068 PMCID: PMC10815859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020994] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of genome stability is critical for health, but during individual ontogenesis, different stressors affect DNA integrity, which can lead to functional and/or structural changes in the cells of target organs. In the nervous system, cell genome destabilization is associated with different neurological and psychiatric diseases, but experiments in vivo, where a link between stress and DNA instability has been demonstrated, are relatively rare. Here, we use rat strains selected for the contrast excitability of the tibialis nerve (n. tibialis) and nonselected Wistar rats to investigate the reasons for individual differences in developing post-stress pathologies. Previous research on the behavioral response of these strains to prolonged emotional-painful stress (PEPS) allows us to consider one strain as a model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and another strain as a model of compulsive disorder (CD). We study DNA damage in the cells of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and amygdala, regions involved in stress responses and the formation of post-stress dysfunctions. The evaluation of cell genome integrity via the comet assay shows different responses to PEPS in each brain area analyzed and for all strains used. This could help us to understand the reasons for individual differences in the consequences of stress and the pathophysiology of post-stress disease formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Shcherbinina
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.); (M.P.); or (E.D.)
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina Pavlova
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.); (M.P.); or (E.D.)
| | - Eugene Daev
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.); (M.P.); or (E.D.)
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Dyuzhikova
- Laboratory of Higher Nervous Activity Genetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.S.); (M.P.); or (E.D.)
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Pati E, Franceschi Biagioni A, Casani R, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Cellot G, Ballerini L. Delivery of graphene oxide nanosheets modulates glutamate release and normalizes amygdala synaptic plasticity to improve anxiety-related behavior. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:18581-18591. [PMID: 37955642 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04490d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) were reported to alter neurobiological processes involving cell membrane dynamics. GO ability to reversibly downregulate specifically glutamatergic synapses underpins their potential in future neurotherapeutic developments. Aberrant glutamate plasticity contributes to stress-related psychopathology and drugs which target dysregulated glutamate represent promising treatments. We find that in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a single injection of GO to the lateral amygdala following the stressful event induced PTSD-related behavior remission and reduced dendritic spine densities. We explored from a mechanistic perspective how GO could impair glutamate synaptic plasticity. By simultaneous patch clamp pair recordings of unitary synaptic currents, live-imaging of presynaptic vesicle release and confocal microscopy, we report that GO nanosheets altered the probability of release enhancing the extinction of synaptic plasticity in the amygdala. These findings show that the modulation of presynaptic glutamate release might represent an unexplored target for (nano)pharmacological interventions of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Pati
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Raffaele Casani
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Neus Lozano
- Nanomedicine Lab Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine Lab Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomedicine Lab, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
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Creutzberg KC, Begni V, Orso R, Lumertz FS, Wearick-Silva LE, Tractenberg SG, Marizzoni M, Cattaneo A, Grassi-Oliveira R, Riva MA. Vulnerability and resilience to prenatal stress exposure: behavioral and molecular characterization in adolescent rats. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:358. [PMID: 37993429 PMCID: PMC10665384 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02653-6] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress can lead to long lasting behavioral and neurobiological consequences, which may enhance the susceptibility for the onset of mental disorders. However, there are significant individual differences in the outcome of stress exposure since only a percentage of exposed individuals may show pathological consequences, whereas others appear to be resilient. In this study, we aimed to characterize the effects of prenatal stress (PNS) exposure in rats at adolescence and to identify subgroup of animals with a differential response to the gestational manipulation. PNS adolescent offspring (regardless of sex) showed impaired emotionality in different pathological domains, such as anhedonia, anxiety, and sociability. However, using cluster analysis of the behavioral data we could identify 70% of PNS-exposed animals as vulnerable (PNS-vul), whereas the remaining 30% were considered resilient (PNS-res). At the molecular level, we found that PNS-res males show a reduced basal activation of the ventral hippocampus whereas other regions, such as amygdala and dorsal hippocampus, show significant PNS-induced changes regardless from vulnerability or resilience. Taken together, our results provide evidence of the variability in the behavioral and neurobiological effects of PNS-exposed offspring at adolescence. While these data may advance our understanding of the association between exposure to stress during gestation and the risk for psychopathology, the investigation of the mechanisms associated to stress vulnerability or resilience may be instrumental to develop novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Orso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Saulo Gantes Tractenberg
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Moira Marizzoni
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- Lab of Neuroimaging and Alzheimer's Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni, 4, Brescia, 25125, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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11
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Parise LF, Joseph Burnett C, Russo SJ. Early life stress and altered social behaviors: A perspective across species. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00200-6. [PMID: 37992997 PMCID: PMC11102940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.11.005] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Childhood and adolescent affiliations guide how individuals engage in social relationships throughout their lifetime and adverse experiences can promote biological alterations that facilitate behavioral maladaptation. Indeed, childhood victims of abuse are more likely to be diagnosed with conduct or mood disorders which are both characterized by altered social engagement. A key domain particularly deserving of attention is aggressive behavior, a hallmark of many disorders characterized by deficits in reward processing. Animal models have been integral in identifying both the short- and long-term consequences of stress exposure and suggest that whether it is disruption to parental care or social isolation, chronic exposure to early life stress increases corticosterone, changes the expression of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and facilitates structural alterations to the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, influencing how these brain regions communicate with other reward-related substrates. Herein, we describe how adverse early life experiences influence social behavioral outcomes across a wide range of species and highlight the long-term biological mechanisms that are most relevant to maladaptive aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyonna F Parise
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - C Joseph Burnett
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Sehgal M, Ehlers VE, Moyer JR. Synaptic and intrinsic plasticity within overlapping lateral amygdala ensembles following fear conditioning. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1221176. [PMID: 37876914 PMCID: PMC10590925 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1221176] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction New learning results in modulation of intrinsic plasticity in the underlying brain regions. Such changes in intrinsic plasticity can influence allocation and encoding of future memories such that new memories encoded during the period of enhanced excitability are linked to the original memory. The temporal window during which the two memories interact depends upon the time course of intrinsic plasticity following new learning. Methods Using the well-characterized lateral amygdala-dependent auditory fear conditioning as a behavioral paradigm, we investigated the time course of changes in intrinsic excitability within lateral amygdala neurons. Results We found transient changes in the intrinsic excitability of amygdala neurons. Neuronal excitability was increased immediately following fear conditioning and persisted for up to 4 days post-learning but was back to naïve levels 10 days following fear conditioning. We also determined the relationship between learning-induced intrinsic and synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity following fear conditioning was evident for up to 24 h but not 4 days later. Importantly, we demonstrated that the enhanced neuronal intrinsic excitability was evident in many of the same neurons that had undergone synaptic plasticity immediately following fear conditioning. Interestingly, such a correlation between synaptic and intrinsic plasticity following fear conditioning was no longer present 24 h post-learning. Discussion These data demonstrate that intrinsic and synaptic changes following fear conditioning are transient and co-localized to the same neurons. Since intrinsic plasticity following fear conditioning is an important determinant for the allocation and consolidation of future amygdala-dependent memories, these findings establish a time course during which fear memories may influence each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Sehgal
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Vanessa E. Ehlers
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - James R. Moyer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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13
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Giovanniello JR, Paredes N, Wiener A, Ramírez-Armenta K, Oragwam C, Uwadia HO, Lim K, Nnamdi G, Wang A, Sehgal M, Reis FM, Sias AC, Silva AJ, Adhikari A, Malvaez M, Wassum KM. A dual-pathway architecture enables chronic stress to promote habit formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560731. [PMID: 37873076 PMCID: PMC10592885 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress can change how we learn and, thus, how we make decisions by promoting the formation of inflexible, potentially maladaptive, habits. Here we investigated the neuronal circuit mechanisms that enable this. Using a multifaceted approach in male and female mice, we reveal a dual pathway, amygdala-striatal, neuronal circuit architecture by which a recent history of chronic stress shapes learning to disrupt flexible goal-directed behavior in favor of inflexible habits. Chronic stress inhibits activity of basolateral amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to impede the action-outcome learning that supports flexible, goal-directed decisions. Stress also increases activity in direct central amygdala projections to the dorsomedial striatum to promote the formation of rigid, inflexible habits. Thus, stress exerts opposing effects on two amygdala-striatal pathways to promote premature habit formation. These data provide neuronal circuit insights into how chronic stress shapes learning and decision making, and help understand how stress can lead to the disrupted decision making and pathological habits that characterize substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Wiener
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | | | | | - Kayla Lim
- Dept. of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Gift Nnamdi
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alicia Wang
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Megha Sehgal
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Ana C Sias
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Avishek Adhikari
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Kate M Wassum
- Dept. of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Giovanniello J, Bravo-Rivera C, Rosenkranz A, Matthew Lattal K. Stress, associative learning, and decision-making. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 204:107812. [PMID: 37598745 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107812] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to acute and chronic stress has significant effects on the basic mechanisms of associative learning and memory. Stress can both impair and enhance associative learning depending on type, intensity, and persistence of the stressor, the subject's sex, the context that the stress and behavior is experienced in, and the type of associative learning taking place. In some cases, stress can cause or exacerbate the maladaptive behavior that underlies numerous psychiatric conditions including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and others. Therefore, it is critical to understand how the varied effects of stress, which may normally facilitate adaptive behavior, can also become maladaptive and even harmful. In this review, we highlight several findings of associative learning and decision-making processes that are affected by stress in both human and non-human subjects and how they are related to one another. An emerging theme from this work is that stress biases behavior towards less flexible strategies that may reflect a cautious insensitivity to changing contingencies. We consider how this inflexibility has been observed in different associative learning procedures and suggest that a goal for the field should be to clarify how factors such as sex and previous experience influence this inflexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Bravo-Rivera
- Departments of Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR 00935, United States.
| | - Amiel Rosenkranz
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, United States.
| | - K Matthew Lattal
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, United States.
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15
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Peng X, Mao Y, Tai Y, Luo B, Dai Q, Wang X, Wang H, Liang Y, Guan R, Liu C, Guo Y, Chen L, Zhang Z, Wang H. Characterization of Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Neural Circuitry following Chronic Moderate Noise Exposure in Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:107004. [PMID: 37796530 PMCID: PMC10552915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commonly encountered nontraumatic, moderate noise is increasingly implicated in anxiety; however, the neural substrates underlying this process remain unclear. OBJECTIVES We investigated the neural circuit mechanism through which chronic exposure to moderate-level noise causes anxiety-like behaviors. METHODS Mice were exposed to chronic, moderate white noise [85 decibel (dB) sound pressure level (SPL)], 4 h/d for 4 wk to induce anxiety-like behaviors, which were assessed by open field, elevated plus maze, light-dark box, and social interaction tests. Viral tracing, immunofluorescence confocal imaging, and brain slice patch-clamp recordings were used to characterize projections from auditory brain regions to the lateral amygdala. Neuronal activities were characterized by in vivo multielectrode and fiber photometry recordings in awake mice. Optogenetics and chemogenetics were used to manipulate specific neural circuitry. RESULTS Mice chronically (4 wk) exposed to moderate noise (85 dB SPL, 4 h/d) demonstrated greater neuronal activity in the lateral amygdala (LA), and the LA played a critical role in noise-induced anxiety-like behavior in these model mice. Viral tracing showed that the LA received monosynaptic projections from the medial geniculate body (MG) and auditory cortex (ACx). Optogenetic excitation of the MG → LA or ACx → LA circuits acutely evoked anxiety-like behaviors, whereas their chemogenetic inactivation abolished noise-induced anxiety-like behavior. Moreover, mice chronically exposed to moderate noise were more susceptible to acute stress, with more neuronal firing in the LA, even after noise withdrawal. DISCUSSION Mice exposed to 4 wk of moderate noise (85 dB SPL, 4 h/d) demonstrated behavioral and physiological differences compared to controls. The neural circuit mechanisms involved greater excitation from glutamatergic neurons of the MG and ACx to LA neurons under chronic, moderate noise exposure, which ultimately promoted anxiety-like behaviors. Our findings support the hypothesis that nontraumatic noise pollution is a potentially serious but unrecognized public health concern. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12532.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yunfeng Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yingju Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Dai
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xiyang Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Ruirui Guan
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Chunhua Liu
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiping Guo
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Auditory Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, USTC, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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16
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Harbour K, Cappel Z, Baccei ML. Effects of Corticosterone on the Excitability of Glutamatergic and GABAergic Neurons of the Adolescent Mouse Superficial Dorsal Horn. Neuroscience 2023; 526:290-304. [PMID: 37437798 PMCID: PMC10530204 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.07.009] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Stress evokes age-dependent effects on pain sensitivity and commonly occurs during adolescence. However, the mechanisms linking adolescent stress and pain remain poorly understood, in part due to a lack of information regarding how stress hormones modulate the function of nociceptive circuits in the adolescent CNS. Here we investigate the short- and long-term effects of corticosterone (CORT) on the excitability of GABAergic and presumed glutamatergic neurons of the spinal superficial dorsal horn (SDH) in Gad1-GFP mice at postnatal days (P)21-P34. In situ hybridization revealed that glutamatergic SDH neurons expressed significantly higher mRNA levels of both glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) compared to adjacent GABAergic neurons. The incubation of spinal cord slices with CORT (90 min) evoked select long-term changes in spontaneous synaptic transmission across both cell types in a sex-dependent manner, without altering the intrinsic firing of either Gad1-GFP+ or GFP- neurons. Meanwhile, the acute bath application of CORT significantly decreased the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), as well as the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), in both cell types leading to a net reduction in the balance of spontaneous excitation vs. inhibition (E:I ratio). This CORT-induced reduction in the E:I ratio was not prevented by selective antagonists of either GR (mifepristone) or MR (eplerenone), although eplerenone blocked the effect on mEPSC amplitude. Collectively, these data suggest that corticosterone modulates synaptic function within the adolescent SDH which could influence the overall excitability and output of the spinal nociceptive network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Harbour
- Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Zoe Cappel
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Summer Research Program, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Mark L Baccei
- Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Summer Research Program, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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17
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Salin A, Dugast E, Lardeux V, Solinas M, Belujon P. The amygdala-ventral pallidum pathway contributes to a hypodopaminergic state in the ventral tegmental area during protracted abstinence from chronic cocaine. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:1819-1831. [PMID: 36645812 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16034] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Incubation of craving, the progressive increase in drug seeking over the first weeks of abstinence, is associated with temporal changes during abstinence in the activity of several structures involved in drug-seeking behaviour. Decreases of dopamine (DA) release and DA neuronal activity (hypodopaminergic state) have been reported in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during cocaine abstinence, but the mechanisms underlying these neuroadaptations are not well understood. We investigated the potential involvement of a VTA inhibiting circuit (basolateral amygdala [BLA]-ventral pallidum [VP] pathway) in the hypodopaminergic state associated with abstinence from chronic cocaine. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH In a model of cocaine self-administration, we performed in vivo electrophysiological recordings of DA VTA neurons and BLA neurons from anaesthetised rats during early and protracted abstinence and evaluated the involvement of the BLA-VP pathway using a pharmacological approach. KEY RESULTS We found significant decreases in VTA DA population activity and significant increases in BLA activity after protracted but not after short-term abstinence from chronic cocaine. The decrease in VTA DA activity was restored by pharmacological inhibition of the activity of either the BLA or the VP, suggesting that these regions exert a negative influence on DA activity. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our study sheds new lights on neuroadaptations occurring during incubation of craving leading to relapse. In particular, we describe the involvement of the BLA-VP pathway in cocaine-induced decreases of DA activity in the VTA. This study adds important information about the specific brain network dysfunctions underlying hypodopaminergic activity during abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélie Salin
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
- Université de Rennes, Institut Numecan INRAE, INSERM, Rennes, France
| | - Emilie Dugast
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
- CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Virginie Lardeux
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Marcello Solinas
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
| | - Pauline Belujon
- Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France
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18
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Liu WZ, Huang SH, Wang Y, Wang CY, Pan HQ, Zhao K, Hu P, Pan BX, Zhang WH. Medial prefrontal cortex input to basolateral amygdala controls acute stress-induced short-term anxiety-like behavior in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:734-744. [PMID: 36513871 PMCID: PMC10066275 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01515-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is a normal and transitory emotional state that allows the organisms to cope well with the real or perceived threats, while excessive or prolonged anxiety is a key characteristic of anxiety disorders. We have recently revealed that prolonged anxiety induced by chronic stress is associated with the circuit-varying dysfunction of basolateral amygdala projection neurons (BLA PNs). However, it is not yet known whether similar mechanisms also emerge for acute stress-induced, short-lasting increase of anxiety. Here, using a mouse model of acute restraint stress (ARS), we found that ARS mice showed increased anxiety-like behavior at 2 h but not 24 h after stress, and this effect was accompanied by a transient increase of the activity of BLA PNs. Specifically, ex vivo patch-clamp recordings revealed that the increased BLA neuronal activity did not differ among the distinct BLA neuronal populations, regardless of their projection targets being the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) or elsewhere. We further demonstrated that such effects were mainly mediated by the enhanced presynaptic glutamate release in dmPFC-to-BLA synapses but not lateral amygdala-to-BLA ones. Furthermore, while optogenetically weakening the presynaptic glutamate release in dmPFC-to-BLA synapses ameliorated ARS-induced anxiety-like behavior, strengthening the release increased in unstressed mice. Together, these findings suggest that acute stress causes short-lasting increase in anxiety-like behavior by facilitating synaptic transmission from the prefrontal cortex to the amygdala in a circuit-independent fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Zhu Liu
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Shou-He Huang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Chun-Yan Wang
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Han-Qing Pan
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China.
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19
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Holz NE, Berhe O, Sacu S, Schwarz E, Tesarz J, Heim CM, Tost H. Early Social Adversity, Altered Brain Functional Connectivity, and Mental Health. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:430-441. [PMID: 36581495 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Early adverse environmental exposures during brain development are widespread risk factors for the onset of severe mental disorders and strong and consistent predictors of stress-related mental and physical illness and reduced life expectancy. Current evidence suggests that early negative experiences alter plasticity processes during developmentally sensitive time windows and affect the regular functional interaction of cortical and subcortical neural networks. This, in turn, may promote a maladapted development with negative consequences on the mental and physical health of exposed individuals. In this review, we discuss the role of functional magnetic resonance imaging-based functional connectivity phenotypes as potential biomarker candidates for the consequences of early environmental exposures-including but not limited to-childhood maltreatment. We take an expanded concept of developmentally relevant adverse experiences from infancy over childhood to adolescence as our starting point and focus our review of functional connectivity studies on a selected subset of functional magnetic resonance imaging-based phenotypes, including connectivity in the limbic and within the frontoparietal as well as default mode networks, for which we believe there is sufficient converging evidence for a more detailed discussion in a developmental context. Furthermore, we address specific methodological challenges and current knowledge gaps that complicate the interpretation of early stress effects on functional connectivity and deserve particular attention in future studies. Finally, we highlight the forthcoming prospects and challenges of this research area with regard to establishing functional connectivity measures as validated biomarkers for brain developmental processes and individual risk stratification and as target phenotypes for mechanism-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie E Holz
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Oksana Berhe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Seda Sacu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Emanuel Schwarz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jonas Tesarz
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christine M Heim
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Heike Tost
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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20
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Godfrey JR, Howell BR, Mummert A, Shi Y, Styner M, Wilson ME, Sanchez M. Effects of social rank and pubertal delay on brain structure in female rhesus macaques. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 149:105987. [PMID: 36529113 PMCID: PMC9931669 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Adverse social experience during childhood and adolescence leads to developmental alterations in emotional and stress regulation and underlying neurocircuits. We examined the consequences of social subordination (low social rank) in juvenile female rhesus monkeys, as an ethologically valid model of chronic social stressor exposure, on brain structural and behavioral development through the pubertal transition. Adolescence is a developmental period of extensive brain remodeling and increased emotional and stress reactivity. Puberty-induced increases in gonadal hormones, particularly estradiol (E2), are likely involved due to its organizational effects on the brain and behavior. Thus, we also examined how experimentally delaying pubertal onset with Lupron (gonadotropin releasing hormone -GnRH- agonist used clinically to delay early puberty) interacted with social rank (dominant vs. subordinate) to affect brain and behavioral outcomes. Using a longitudinal experimental design, structural MRI (sMRI) scans were collected on socially housed juvenile female rhesus monkeys living in indoor-outdoor enclosures prior to the onset of puberty (18-25 months), defined as menarche or the initial occurrence of perineal swelling and coloration, and again at 29-36 months, when all control animals had reached puberty but none of the Lupron-treated had. We examined the effects of both social rank and pubertal delay on overall structural brain volume (i.e. intracranial, grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes), as well as on cortico-limbic regions involved in emotion and stress regulation: amygdala (AMYG), hippocampus (HC), and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Measures of stress physiology, social behavior, and emotional reactivity were collected to examine functional correlates of the brain structural effects. Apart from expected developmental effects, subordinates had bigger AMYG volumes than dominant animals, most notably in the right hemisphere, but pubertal delay with Lupron-treatment abolished those differences, suggesting a role of gonadal hormones potentiating the brain structural impact of social stress. Subordinates also had elevated baseline cortisol, indicating activation of stress systems. In general, Lupron-treated subjects had smaller AMYG and HC volume than controls, but larger total PFC (driven by bigger GM volumes), and different, region-specific, developmental patterns dependent on age and social rank. These findings highlight a region-specific effect of E2 on structural development during female adolescence, independent of those due to chronological age. Pubertal delay and AMYG volume, in turn, predicted differences in emotional reactivity and social behavior. These findings suggest that exposure to developmental increases in E2 modifies the consequences of adverse social experience on the volume of cortico-limbic regions involved in emotional and stress regulation during maturation. But, even more importantly, they indicate different brain structural effects of chronological age and pubertal developmental stage in females, which are very difficult to disentangle in human studies. These findings have additional relevance for young girls who experience prolonged pubertal delays or for those whose puberty is clinically arrested by pharmacological administration of Lupron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi R Godfrey
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Brittany R Howell
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, 12 Executive Park Drive NE #200, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, 366 Wallace Hall, 295 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Amanda Mummert
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yundi Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, 352 Medical School Wing C, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Martin Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, 352 Medical School Wing C, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark E Wilson
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, 12 Executive Park Drive NE #200, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mar Sanchez
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, 12 Executive Park Drive NE #200, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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21
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Zhou Y, He Y, Jin Y, Zeidman P, Gao L, Rong B, Huang H, Feng Y, Cui J, Zhang S, Wang Y, Wang G, Xiang YT, Wang H. Amygdala connectivity related to subsequent stress responses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:999934. [PMID: 36911118 PMCID: PMC9996006 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.999934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The amygdala plays an important role in stress responses and stress-related psychiatric disorders. It is possible that amygdala connectivity may be a neurobiological vulnerability marker for stress responses or stress-related psychiatric disorders and will be useful to precisely identify the vulnerable individuals before stress happens. However, little is known about the relationship between amygdala connectivity and subsequent stress responses. The current study investigated whether amygdala connectivity measured before experiencing stress is a predisposing neural feature of subsequent stress responses while individuals face an emergent and unexpected event like the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic from an established fMRI cohort who lived in the pandemic center in China (Hubei) during the COVID-19 outbreak were used to investigate the relationship between amygdala connectivity and stress responses during and after the pandemic in 2020. The amygdala connectivity was measured with resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and effective connectivity. Results We found the rsFC of the right amygdala with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) was negatively correlated with the stress responses at the first survey during the COVID-19 outbreak, and the rsFC between the right amygdala and bilateral superior frontal gyri (partially overlapped with the dmPFC) was correlated with SBSC at the second survey. Dynamic causal modeling suggested that the self-connection of the right amygdala was negatively correlated with stress responses during the pandemic. Discussion Our findings expand our understanding about the role of amygdala in stress responses and stress-related psychiatric disorders and suggest that amygdala connectivity is a predisposing neural feature of subsequent stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwen He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Yuening Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peter Zeidman
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lianlu Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bei Rong
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Cui
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shudong Zhang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Tao Xiang
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Huiling Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
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22
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Dehdar K, Mooziri M, Samii Moghaddam A, Salimi M, Nazari M, Dehghan S, Jamaati H, Salimi A, Raoufy MR. Corticosteroid treatment attenuates anxiety and mPFC-amygdala circuit dysfunction in allergic asthma. Life Sci 2023; 315:121373. [PMID: 36621536 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Allergic asthma is associated with anxiety-related behaviors, leading to poor quality of life. Previous studies mainly described the neuropathophysiology of asthma-induced anxiety. However, the effects of corticosteroids, the most common anti-inflammatory agents for asthma treatment, on the neurophysiological foundations of allergic asthma-induced anxiety are unexplored. MAIN METHODS Here, we evaluated lung and brain inflammation as well as anxiety in an animal model of allergic asthma pretreated with inhaled fluticasone propionate. Furthermore, to define the neurophysiological bases of these conditions, we studied the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-amygdala circuit, which is previously shown to accompany asthma-induced anxiety. KEY FINDINGS Our data showed that allergen induces anxiety, mPFC and amygdala inflammation, as well as disruptions in the local and long-range oscillatory activities within the mPFC-amygdala circuit. Interestingly, we observed a roughly consistent trend of changes with inhaled fluticasone pretreatment. Namely, the asthma-induced behavioral, inflammatory, and neurophysiological changes were partly, but not totally, prevented by inhaled fluticasone pretreatment. SIGNIFICANCE We suggest that early treatment of asthmatic patients with inhaled corticosteroids improves mPFC-amygdala circuit function by attenuating neuroinflammation leading to reduced anxiety. These findings could lead clinical guidelines of asthma to consider the neuropsychiatric disorders of patients in treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolsoum Dehdar
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Mooziri
- School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | | | - Morteza Salimi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Milad Nazari
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Samaneh Dehghan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Jamaati
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Salimi
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Raoufy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Brain Sciences and Cognition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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23
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Zhu X, Grace AA. Sex- and exposure age-dependent effects of adolescent stress on ventral tegmental area dopamine system and its afferent regulators. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:611-624. [PMID: 36224257 PMCID: PMC9918682 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent stress is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Emerging evidence suggests that age-dependent sensitive windows for childhood trauma are associated more strongly with adult psychosis, but the neurobiological basis and potential sex differences are unknown.Using in vivo electrophysiology and immunohistology in rats, we systematically compared the effects of two age-defined adolescent stress paradigms, prepubertal (postnatal day [PD] 21-30; PreP-S) and postpubertal (PD41-50; PostP-S) foot-shock and restraint combined stress, on ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic activity, pyramidal neuron activity in the ventral hippocampus (vHipp) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA), corticoamygdalar functional inhibitory control, and vHipp and BLA parvalbumin interneuron (PVI) impairments. These endpoints were selected based on their well-documented roles in the pathophysiology of psychosis.Overall, we found distinct sex- and exposure age-dependent stress vulnerability. Specifically, while males were selectively vulnerable to PreP-S-induced adult VTA dopamine neuron and vHipp hyperactivities, females were selectively vulnerable to PostP-S. These male selective PreP-S effects were correlated with stress-induced aberrant persistent BLA hyperactivity, dysfunctional prefrontal inhibitory control of BLA neurons, and vHipp/BLA PVI impairments. In contrast, female PostP-S only produced vHipp PVI impairments in adults, with the BLA structure and functions largely unaffected.Our results indicated distinct adolescent-sensitive periods during which stress can sex-dependently confer maximal risks to corticolimbic systems to drive dopamine hyperactivity, which provide critical insights into the neurobiological basis for sex-biased stress-related psychopathologies emphasizing but not limited to schizophrenia. Furthermore, our work also provides a framework for future translational research on age-sensitive targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyu Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anthony A. Grace
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Corresponding author: Anthony A Grace;
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24
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Miura Y, Shanley MR, Urbaez A, Friedman AK. Electrophysiologically distinct bed nucleus of the stria terminalis projections to the ventral tegmental area in mice. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 16:1081099. [PMID: 36698552 PMCID: PMC9870318 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.1081099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a highly heterogeneous limbic forebrain structure that serves as a relay connecting autonomic, neuroendocrine and behavioral function. It can be divided into over 16 individual subregions with distinct neuronal subpopulations based on receptors, transmitters, and neuropeptides. Specifically, the BNST projection to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the dopamine hub of the brain, has been shown to have a crucial role in the stress response. However, in mice there is a lack of unbiased data on the functional diversity of this sub-population which serves as an upstream input to the VTA. The dopaminergic neurons in the VTA modify their ion channel activity and intrinsic membrane properties to adapt to stress in part from inputs from BNST projections. Therefore, we aimed to perform a multi-component characterization of the functional diversity of the BNST-VTA pathway. We studied the passive and active electrophysiological properties of virally identified population of BNST neurons that project to the VTA. We used a comprehensive series of in vitro recordings of electrophysiological variables and performed hierarchical clustering to determine the functional diversity of the projection neurons in the BNST-VTA pathway. Our study revealed four subpopulations in the BNST-VTA pathway, all of which differ in their activation profiles and likely have distinct inputs and function in the VTA. Our results will help resolve the discord in interpretation of the various roles of this electrophysiologically diverse projection and builds a foundation for understanding how the different neuronal types integrate signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Miura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mary Regis Shanley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ashley Urbaez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Allyson K. Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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25
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Ru Q, Lu Y, Saifullah AB, Blanco FA, Yao C, Cata JP, Li DP, Tolias KF, Li L. TIAM1-mediated synaptic plasticity underlies comorbid depression-like and ketamine antidepressant-like actions in chronic pain. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e158545. [PMID: 36519542 PMCID: PMC9753999 DOI: 10.1172/jci158545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain often leads to depression, increasing patient suffering and worsening prognosis. While hyperactivity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) appears to be critically involved, the molecular mechanisms underlying comorbid depressive symptoms in chronic pain remain elusive. T cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) is a Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that promotes dendrite, spine, and synapse development during brain development. Here, we show that Tiam1 orchestrates synaptic structural and functional plasticity in ACC neurons via actin cytoskeleton reorganization and synaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) stabilization. This Tiam1-coordinated synaptic plasticity underpins ACC hyperactivity and drives chronic pain-induced depressive-like behaviors. Notably, administration of low-dose ketamine, an NMDAR antagonist emerging as a promising treatment for chronic pain and depression, induces sustained antidepressant-like effects in mouse models of chronic pain by blocking Tiam1-mediated maladaptive synaptic plasticity in ACC neurons. Our results reveal Tiam1 as a critical factor in the pathophysiology of chronic pain-induced depressive-like behaviors and the sustained antidepressant-like effects of ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Ru
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, School of Physical Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yungang Lu
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ali Bin Saifullah
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Francisco A. Blanco
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Changqun Yao
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Juan P. Cata
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - De-Pei Li
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Kimberley F. Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lingyong Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Molecular and Translational Biomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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26
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Reilly EB, Dickerson KL, Pierce LJ, Leppänen J, Valdes V, Gharib A, Thompson BL, Schlueter LJ, Levitt P, Nelson CA. Maternal stress and development of infant attention to threat-related facial expressions. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22332. [PMID: 36282765 PMCID: PMC11071158 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Attentional biases to threat-related stimuli, such as fearful and angry facial expressions, are important to survival and emerge early in development. Infants demonstrate an attentional bias to fearful facial expressions by 5-7 months of age and an attentional bias toward anger by 3 years of age that are modulated by experiential factors. In a longitudinal study of 87 mother-infant dyads from families predominantly experiencing low income, we examined whether maternal stress and depressive symptoms were associated with trajectories of attentional biases to threat, assessed during an attention disengagement eye-tracking task when infants were 6-, 9-, and 12-month old. By 9 months, infants demonstrated a generalized bias toward threat (both fearful and angry facial expressions). Maternal perceived stress was associated with the trajectory of the bias toward angry facial expressions between 6 and 12 months. Specifically, infants of mothers with higher perceived stress exhibited a greater bias toward angry facial expressions at 6 months that decreased across the next 6 months, compared to infants of mothers with lower perceived stress who displayed an increased bias to angry facial expressions over this age range. Maternal depressive symptoms and stressful life events were not associated with trajectories of infant attentional bias to anger or fear. These findings highlight the role of maternal perceptions of stress in shaping developmental trajectories of threat-alerting systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B. Reilly
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kelli L. Dickerson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lara J. Pierce
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jukka Leppänen
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Viviane Valdes
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alma Gharib
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Program, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Barbara L. Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Lisa J. Schlueter
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pat Levitt
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Charles A. Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Center on the Developing Child, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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27
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Nishimura KJ, Poulos A, Drew MR, Rajbhandari AK. Know thy SEFL: Fear sensitization and its relevance to stressor-related disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104884. [PMID: 36174795 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Extreme stress can cause long-lasting changes in affective behavior manifesting in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the biological mechanisms that govern trauma-induced behavioral dysregulation requires reliable and rigorous pre-clinical models that recapitulate multiple facets of this complex disease. For decades, Pavlovian fear conditioning has been a dominant paradigm for studying the effects of trauma through an associative learning framework. However, severe stress also causes long-lasting nonassociative fear sensitization, which is often overlooked in Pavlovian fear conditioning studies. This paper synthesizes recent research on the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) paradigm, a valuable rodent model that can dissociate associative and nonassociative effects of stress. We discuss evidence that the SEFL paradigm produces nonassociative fear sensitization that is distinguishable from Pavlovian fear conditioning. We also discuss key biological variables, such as age and sex, neural circuit mechanisms, and crucial gaps in knowledge. We argue that nonassociative fear sensitization deserves more attention within current PTSD models and that SEFL provides a valuable complement to Pavlovian conditioning research on trauma-related pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji J Nishimura
- Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, 78712
| | - Andrew Poulos
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience Research, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, USA, 12222
| | - Michael R Drew
- Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, 78712
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28
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Hu P, Lu Y, Pan BX, Zhang WH. New Insights into the Pivotal Role of the Amygdala in Inflammation-Related Depression and Anxiety Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911076. [PMID: 36232376 PMCID: PMC9570160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression and anxiety disorders are the two most prevalent psychiatric diseases that affect hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. Understanding the etiology and related mechanisms is of great importance and might yield new therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases effectively. During the past decades, a growing number of studies have pointed out the importance of the stress-induced inflammatory response in the amygdala, a kernel region for processing emotional stimuli, as a potentially critical contributor to the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety disorders. In this review, we first summarized the recent progress from both animal and human studies toward understanding the causal link between stress-induced inflammation and depression and anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on findings showing the effect of inflammation on the functional changes in neurons in the amygdala, at levels ranging from molecular signaling, cellular function, synaptic plasticity, and the neural circuit to behavior, as well as their contributions to the pathology of inflammation-related depression and anxiety disorders. Finally, we concluded by discussing some of the difficulties surrounding the current research and propose some issues worth future study in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330001, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Correspondence: (B.-X.P.); (W.-H.Z.)
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Correspondence: (B.-X.P.); (W.-H.Z.)
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29
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Petković A, Chaudhury D. Encore: Behavioural animal models of stress, depression and mood disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:931964. [PMID: 36004305 PMCID: PMC9395206 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.931964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal studies over the past two decades have led to extensive advances in our understanding of pathogenesis of depressive and mood disorders. Among these, rodent behavioural models proved to be of highest informative value. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the most popular behavioural models with respect to physiological, circuit, and molecular biological correlates. Behavioural stress paradigms and behavioural tests are assessed in terms of outcomes, strengths, weaknesses, and translational value, especially in the domain of pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dipesh Chaudhury
- Laboratory of Neural Systems and Behaviour, Department of Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Baker EC, Earnhardt AL, Cilkiz KZ, Collins HC, Littlejohn BP, Cardoso RC, Ghaffari N, Long CR, Riggs PK, Randel RD, Welsh TH, Riley DG. DNA methylation patterns and gene expression from amygdala tissue of mature Brahman cows exposed to prenatal stress. Front Genet 2022; 13:949309. [PMID: 35991551 PMCID: PMC9389044 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.949309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress can alter postnatal performance and temperament of cattle. These phenotypic effects may result from changes in gene expression caused by stress-induced epigenetic alterations. Specifically, shifts in gene expression caused by DNA methylation within the brain’s amygdala can result in altered behavior because it regulates fear, stress response and aggression in mammals Thus, the objective of this experiment was to identify DNA methylation and gene expression differences in the amygdala tissue of 5-year-old prenatally stressed (PNS) Brahman cows compared to control cows. Pregnant Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 days of gestation. A non-transported group (n = 48) were controls (Control). Amygdala tissue was harvested from 6 PNS and 8 Control cows at 5 years of age. Overall methylation of gene body regions, promoter regions, and cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) islands were compared between the two groups. In total, 202 genes, 134 promoter regions, and 133 CpG islands exhibited differential methylation (FDR ≤ 0.15). Following comparison of gene expression in the amygdala between the PNS and Control cows, 2 differentially expressed genes were identified (FDR ≤ 0.15). The minimal differences observed could be the result of natural changes of DNA methylation and gene expression as an animal ages, or because this degree of transportation stress was not severe enough to cause lasting effects on the offspring. A younger age may be a more appropriate time to assess methylation and gene expression differences produced by prenatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C. Baker
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Audrey L. Earnhardt
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Overton, TX, United States
| | - Kubra Z. Cilkiz
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Haley C. Collins
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Brittni P. Littlejohn
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Overton, TX, United States
| | - Rodolfo C. Cardoso
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Noushin Ghaffari
- Department of Computer Science, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, United States
| | - Charles R. Long
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Overton, TX, United States
| | - Penny K. Riggs
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Ronald D. Randel
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Overton, TX, United States
| | - Thomas H. Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David G. Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: David G. Riley,
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Rosen JB, Schulkin J. Hyperexcitability: From Normal Fear to Pathological Anxiety and Trauma. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:727054. [PMID: 35993088 PMCID: PMC9387392 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.727054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperexcitability in fear circuits is suggested to be important for development of pathological anxiety and trauma from adaptive mechanisms of fear. Hyperexcitability is proposed to be due to acquired sensitization in fear circuits that progressively becomes more severe over time causing changing symptoms in early and late pathology. We use the metaphor and mechanisms of kindling to examine gains and losses in function of one excitatory and one inhibitory neuropeptide, corticotrophin releasing factor and somatostatin, respectively, to explore this sensitization hypothesis. We suggest amygdala kindling induced hyperexcitability, hyper-inhibition and loss of inhibition provide clues to mechanisms for hyperexcitability and progressive changes in function initiated by stress and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Rosen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- *Correspondence: Jeffrey B. Rosen,
| | - Jay Schulkin
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Abstract
Depression is an episodic form of mental illness characterized by mood state transitions with poorly understood neurobiological mechanisms. Antidepressants reverse the effects of stress and depression on synapse function, enhancing neurotransmission, increasing plasticity, and generating new synapses in stress-sensitive brain regions. These properties are shared to varying degrees by all known antidepressants, suggesting that synaptic remodeling could play a key role in depression pathophysiology and antidepressant function. Still, it is unclear whether and precisely how synaptogenesis contributes to mood state transitions. Here, we review evidence supporting an emerging model in which depression is defined by a distinct brain state distributed across multiple stress-sensitive circuits, with neurons assuming altered functional properties, synapse configurations, and, importantly, a reduced capacity for plasticity and adaptation. Antidepressants act initially by facilitating plasticity and enabling a functional reconfiguration of this brain state. Subsequently, synaptogenesis plays a specific role in sustaining these changes over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja K Parekh
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
| | - Shane B Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
| | - Conor Liston
- Department of Psychiatry and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
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Ma Y, Feng X, Wang D, Zhao X, Yan Z, Bao Y, Zhu R, Sun Q, Deng J, Lu L, Sun H. Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Associated With Adult Dream Content: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Front Psychol 2022; 13:837347. [PMID: 35465536 PMCID: PMC9029163 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundDreams can be affected by recent life events and long-term life experiences. Previous evidence has shown that childhood adverse experiences are associated with sleep quality and dream experiences.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the relationship between childhood adverse experiences and dream content in adults.Participants and SettingA total of 163 participants without current or past physical or mental disorders aged between 18 and 35 were screened in the hospital. Among them, 120 subjects who completed a dream content record at home and whose anxiety and depression levels and sleep quality were within the normal range were included in the data analysis.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 2017 to December 2019. Dream content for 10 consecutive days was recorded by the participants and coded by the Hall and Van de Castle coding system. Childhood adversity was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). In the end, 719 dreams out of 626 nights for 120 participants (44 female) were included in the data analysis, gender differences between groups were analyzed using t-tests or U tests, and Spearman’s partial correlation and multiple linear regression were used to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and dream content.ResultsChildhood adversity was associated with characters, friendly interactions, and objects in dream content. Regression models of childhood adversity predicting characters and objects in dream content were constructed. There were no gender differences in general demographic data, sleep quality, emotional state, childhood adversity, dream recall frequency, or dream content.ConclusionChildhood adversity is associated with adult dream content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundong Ma
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Feng
- The Second People’s Hospital of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China
| | - Di Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- Beijing Changping Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Zejun Yan
- School of Biomedical Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanping Bao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqing Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Deng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jiahui Deng,
| | - Lin Lu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Lin Lu,
| | - Hongqiang Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- Hongqiang Sun,
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Williams ES, Mazei-Robison M, Robison AJ. Sex Differences in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Preclinical Animal Models for the Study of Depression. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2022; 14:a039198. [PMID: 34404738 PMCID: PMC8886985 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a039198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Depression and related mood disorders constitute an enormous burden on health, quality of life, and the global economy, and women have roughly twice the lifetime risk of men for experiencing depression. Here, we review sex differences in human brain physiology that may be connected to the increased susceptibility of women to major depressive disorder (MDD). Moreover, we summarize decades of preclinical research using animal models for the study of mood dysfunction that uncover some of the potential molecular, cellular, and circuit-level mechanisms that may underlie sex differences and disease etiology. We place particular emphasis on a series of recent studies demonstrating the central contribution of the circuit projecting from ventral hippocampus to nucleus accumbens and how inherent sex differences in the excitability of this circuit may predict and drive depression-related behaviors. The findings covered in this review underscore the continued need for studies using preclinical models and circuit-specific strategies for uncovering molecular and physiological mechanisms that could lead to potential sex-specific diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatments for MDD and other mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Williams
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | | | - A J Robison
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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He JG, Zhou HY, Wang F, Chen JG. Dysfunction of Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission in Depression: Focus on AMPA Receptor Trafficking. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:187-196. [PMID: 37124348 PMCID: PMC10140449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological and anatomical evidence suggests that abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission may be associated with the pathophysiology of depression. Compounds that act as NMDA receptor antagonists may be a potential treatment for depression, notably the rapid-acting agent ketamine. The rapid-acting and sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine rely on the activation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs). As the key elements of fast excitatory neurotransmission in the brain, AMPARs are crucially involved in synaptic plasticity and memory. Recent efforts have been directed toward investigating the bidirectional dysregulation of AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in depression. Here, we summarize the published evidence relevant to the dysfunction of AMPAR in stress conditions and review the recent progress toward the understanding of the involvement of AMPAR trafficking in the pathophysiology of depression, focusing on the roles of AMPAR auxiliary subunits, key AMPAR-interacting proteins, and posttranslational regulation of AMPARs. We also discuss new prospects for the development of improved therapeutics for depression.
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36
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Shi Y, Wu X, Zhou J, Cui W, Wang J, Hu Q, Zhang S, Han L, Zhou M, Luo J, Wang Q, Liu H, Feng D, Ge S, Qu Y. Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing Reveals that Decorin Expression in the Amygdala Regulates Perineuronal Nets Expression and Fear Conditioning Response after Traumatic Brain Injury. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2104112. [PMID: 35038242 PMCID: PMC8895134 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202104112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Augmented fear is a defining characteristic of PTSD, and the amygdala is considered the main brain region to process fear. The mechanism by which the amygdala is involved in fear conditioning after TBI is still unclear. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), transcriptional changes in cells in the amygdala after TBI are investigated. In total, 72 328 nuclei are obtained from the sham and TBI groups. 7 cell types, and analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) reveals widespread transcriptional changes in each cell type after TBI are identified. In in vivo experiments, it is demonstrated that Decorin (Dcn) expression in the excitatory neurons of the amygdala significantly increased after TBI, and Dcn knockout in the amygdala mitigates TBI-associated fear conditioning. Of note, this effect is caused by a Dcn-mediated decrease in the expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs), which affect the glutamate-γ-aminobutyric acid balance in the amygdala. Finally, the results suggest that Dcn functions by interacting with collagen VI α3 (Col6a3). Consequently, the findings reveal transcriptional changes in different cell types of the amygdala after TBI and provide direct evidence that Dcn relieves fear conditioning by regulating PNNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingwu Shi
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Xun Wu
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Jinpeng Zhou
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Wenxing Cui
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Qing Hu
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Shenghao Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Liying Han
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Meixuan Zhou
- School of Biomedical EngineeringShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Jianing Luo
- Department of NeurosurgeryWest Theater General HospitalChengduSichuan610083China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Haixiao Liu
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Dayun Feng
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Shunnan Ge
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
| | - Yan Qu
- Department of NeurosurgeryTangdu HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxi710038China
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Guily P, Lassalle O, Chavis P, Manzoni OJ. Sex-specific divergent maturational trajectories in the postnatal rat basolateral amygdala. iScience 2022; 25:103815. [PMID: 35198880 PMCID: PMC8841815 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In rodents and humans, the basolateral amygdala (BLA), essential for emotional behaviors, is profoundly reorganized during adolescence. We compared in both sexes the morphology, neuronal, and synaptic properties of BLA neurons in rats at puberty and adulthood. BLA neurons were more excitable in males than in females at adulthood. At pubescence, male action potentials were smaller and shorter than females’ while fast afterhyperpolarizations were larger in males. During postnatal maturation, spine length increased and decreased in females and males, respectively, while there was a reduction in spine head size in females. Excitatory synaptic properties, estimated from stimuli-response relationships, spontaneous post-synaptic currents, and AMPA/NMDA ratio also displayed sex-specific maturational differences. Finally, the developmental courses of long-term potentiation and depression were sexually dimorphic. These data reveal divergent maturational trajectories in the BLA of male and female rats and suggest sex-specific substrates to the BLA linked behaviors at adolescence and adulthood. The BLA is immature at puberty and its development toward adulthood is sex-specific At adulthood, neuronal excitability is lower in females than in males The maturation of spine morphology is more pronounced in females The developmental courses of LTP and LTD are sexually divergent
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Guily
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Olivier Lassalle
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Pascale Chavis
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Olivier J. Manzoni
- INMED, INSERM U1249 Parc Scientifique de Luminy - BP 13 - 13273 Marseille Cedex 09 France
- Cannalab Cannabinoids Neuroscience Research International Associated Laboratory, INSERM-Aix-Marseille University/Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Corresponding author
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38
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Laine M, Shansky R. Rodent models of stress and dendritic plasticity – Implications for psychopathology. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 17:100438. [PMID: 35257016 PMCID: PMC8897597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress, as commonplace as it is, is a major environmental risk factor for psychopathology. While this association intuitively, anecdotally, and empirically makes sense, we are still very early in the process of understanding what the neurobiological manifestations of this risk truly are. Seminal work from the past few decades has established structural plasticity in the brain as a potential key mechanism. In this review we discuss evidence linking particularly chronic stress exposure in rodent models to plasticity at the dendrites, like remodeling of dendritic branches and spines, in a range of brain regions. A number of candidate mechanisms that seek to explain how stress influences neuroanatomy at this level have been proposed, utilizing in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro methods. However, a large gap still remains in our knowledge of how such dynamic structural changes ultimately relate to downstream effects such as altered affective and cognitive states relevant for psychopathology. We propose that future work expand our understanding of plasticity of specific stress-related brain circuits and cell-types. We also note that the vast majority of the work has been conducted solely on male rodents. The next big strides in our understanding of the neurobiology of psychopathology will require the inclusion of female subjects, as several studies have suggested both sex divergent and convergent features. By understanding plasticity, we can harness it. The growth of this body of knowledge will inform our efforts to improve the therapeutic options for stress-related psychopathology.
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39
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DiFazio LE, Fanselow M, Sharpe MJ. The effect of stress and reward on encoding future fear memories. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113587. [PMID: 34543677 PMCID: PMC11164563 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Prior experience changes the way we learn about our environment. Stress predisposes individuals to developing psychological disorders, just as positive experiences protect from this eventuality (Kirkpatrick & Heller, 2014; Koenigs & Grafman, 2009; Pechtel & Pizzagalli, 2011). Yet current models of how the brain processes information often do not consider a role for prior experience. The considerable literature that examines how stress impacts the brain is an exception to this. This research demonstrates that stress can bias the interpretation of ambiguous events towards being aversive in nature, owed to changes in amygdala physiology (Holmes et al., 2013; Perusini et al., 2016; Rau et al., 2005; Shors et al., 1992). This is thought to be an important model for how people develop anxiety disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Rau et al., 2005). However, more recent evidence suggests that experience with reward learning can also change the neural circuits that are involved in learning about fear (Sharpe et al., 2021). Specifically, the lateral hypothalamus, a region typically restricted to modulating feeding and reward behavior, can be recruited to encode fear memories after experience with reward learning. This review discusses the literature on how stress and reward change the way we acquire and encode memories for aversive events, offering a testable model of how these regions may interact to promote either adaptive or maladaptive fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E DiFazio
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Michael Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Melissa J Sharpe
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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40
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Skirzewski M, Molotchnikoff S, Hernandez LF, Maya-Vetencourt JF. Multisensory Integration: Is Medial Prefrontal Cortex Signaling Relevant for the Treatment of Higher-Order Visual Dysfunctions? Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:806376. [PMID: 35110996 PMCID: PMC8801884 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.806376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian brain, information processing in sensory modalities and global mechanisms of multisensory integration facilitate perception. Emerging experimental evidence suggests that the contribution of multisensory integration to sensory perception is far more complex than previously expected. Here we revise how associative areas such as the prefrontal cortex, which receive and integrate inputs from diverse sensory modalities, can affect information processing in unisensory systems via processes of down-stream signaling. We focus our attention on the influence of the medial prefrontal cortex on the processing of information in the visual system and whether this phenomenon can be clinically used to treat higher-order visual dysfunctions. We propose that non-invasive and multisensory stimulation strategies such as environmental enrichment and/or attention-related tasks could be of clinical relevance to fight cerebral visual impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Skirzewski
- Rodent Cognition Research and Innovation Core, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stéphane Molotchnikoff
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Génie Electrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Luis F. Hernandez
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- *Correspondence: José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
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41
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Nashed MG, Waye S, Hasan SMN, Nguyen D, Wiseman M, Zhang J, Lau H, Dinesh OC, Raymond R, Greig IR, Bambico FR, Nobrega JN. Antidepressant activity of pharmacological and genetic deactivation of the small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel subtype-3. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:253-266. [PMID: 34982171 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06045-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The voltage-insensitive, small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel is a key regulator of neuronal depolarization and is implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. OBJECTIVE We ascertained whether the SK channel is impaired in the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model and whether it can serve as a molecular target of antidepressant action. METHODS We assessed the depressive-like behavioral phenotype of CUS-exposed rats and performed post-mortem SK channel binding and activity-dependent zif268 mRNA analyses on their brains. To begin an assessment of SK channel subtypes involved, we examined the effects of genetic and pharmacological inhibition of the SK3 channel using conditional knockout mice and selective SK3 channel negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). RESULTS We found that [125I]apamin binding to SK channels is increased in the prefrontal cortex and decreased in the hippocampus, an effect that was associated with reciprocal levels of zif268 mRNA transcripts indicating abnormal regional cell activity in this model. We found that genetic and pharmacological manipulations significantly decreased immobility in the forced swim test without altering general locomotor activity, a hallmark of antidepressant-like activity. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings link depression-related neural and behavioral pathophysiology with abnormal SK channel functioning and suggest that this can be reversed by the selective inhibition of SK3 channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina G Nashed
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Shannon Waye
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - S M Nageeb Hasan
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Diana Nguyen
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Micaela Wiseman
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Jing Zhang
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Harry Lau
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - O Chandani Dinesh
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Roger Raymond
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Iain R Greig
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland
| | - Francis Rodriguez Bambico
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada.
| | - José N Nobrega
- Behavioural Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Imaging Center, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
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Huang SH, Liu WZ, Qin X, Guo CY, Xiong QC, Wang Y, Hu P, Pan BX, Zhang WH. Association of Increased Amygdala Activity with Stress-Induced Anxiety but not Social Avoidance Behavior in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:16-28. [PMID: 34494228 PMCID: PMC8782949 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00762-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress leads to many psychiatric disorders, including social and anxiety disorders that are associated with over-activation of neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). However, not all individuals develop psychiatric diseases, many showing considerable resilience against stress exposure. Whether BLA neuronal activity is involved in regulating an individual's vulnerability to stress remains elusive. In this study, using a mouse model of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), we divided the mice into susceptible and resilient subgroups based on their social interaction behavior. Using in vivo fiber photometry and in vitro patch-clamp recording, we showed that CSDS persistently (after 20 days of recovery from stress) increased BLA neuronal activity in all the mice regardless of their susceptible or resilient nature, although impaired social interaction behavior was only observed in susceptible mice. Increased anxiety-like behavior, on the other hand, was evident in both groups. Notably, the CSDS-induced increase of BLA neuronal activity correlated well with the heightened anxiety-like but not the social avoidance behavior in mice. These findings provide new insight to our understanding of the role of neuronal activity in the amygdala in mediating stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shou-He Huang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Wei-Zhu Liu
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xia Qin
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Chen-Yi Guo
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Qing-Cheng Xiong
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330001, China
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institutes of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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43
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Qin X, Pan HQ, Huang SH, Zou JX, Zheng ZH, Liu XX, You WJ, Liu ZP, Cao JL, Zhang WH, Pan BX. GABA A(δ) receptor hypofunction in the amygdala-hippocampal circuit underlies stress-induced anxiety. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2022; 67:97-110. [PMID: 36545966 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated GABAergic inhibition in the amygdala has long been implicated in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying the dysregulation remain elusive. Here, by using a mouse model of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), we observed that the dysregulation varied drastically across individual projection neurons (PNs) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), one of the kernel amygdala subregions critical for stress coping. While persistently reducing the extrasynaptic GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated tonic current in the BLA PNs projecting to the ventral hippocampus (BLA → vHPC PNs), CSDS increased the current in those projecting to the anterodorsal bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BLA → adBNST PNs), suggesting projection-based dysregulation of tonic inhibition in BLA PNs by CSDS. Transcriptional and electrophysiological analysis revealed that the opposite CSDS influences were mediated by loss- and gain-of-function of δ-containing GABAARs (GABAA(δ)Rs) in BLA → vHPC and BLA → adBNST PNs, respectively. Importantly, it was the lost inhibition in the former population but not the augmentation in the latter population that correlated with the increased anxiety-like behavior in CSDS mice. Virally mediated maintenance of GABAA(δ)R currents in BLA → vHPC PNs occluded CSDS-induced anxiety-like behavior. These findings clarify the molecular substrate for the dysregulated GABAergic inhibition in amygdala circuits for stress-associated psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Qin
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Han-Qing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Shou-He Huang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zou
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Zheng
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Liu
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Wen-Jie You
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhi-Peng Liu
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Wen-Hua Zhang
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- Laboratory of Fear and Anxiety Disorders, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Department of Biological Science, School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
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44
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Pfeiffer JR, van Rooij SJH, Mekawi Y, Fani N, Jovanovic T, Michopoulos V, Smith AK, Stevens JS, Uddin M. Blood-derived deoxyribonucleic acid methylation clusters associate with adverse social exposures and endophenotypes of stress-related psychiatric illness in a trauma-exposed cohort of women. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:892302. [PMID: 36405926 PMCID: PMC9668877 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.892302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse social exposures (ASEs) such as low income, low educational attainment, and childhood/adult trauma exposure are associated with variability in brain region measurements of gray matter volume (GMV), surface area (SA), and cortical thickness (CT). These CNS morphometries are associated with stress-related psychiatric illnesses and represent endophenotypes of stress-related psychiatric illness development. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC), may contribute to the biological embedding of the environment but are understudied and not well understood. How 5mC relates to CNS endophenotypes of psychiatric illness is also unclear. In 97 female, African American, trauma-exposed participants from the Grady Trauma Project, we examined the associations of childhood trauma burden (CTQ), adult trauma burden, low income, and low education with blood-derived 5mC clusters and variability in brain region measurements in the amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex subregions. To elucidate whether peripheral 5mC indexes central nervous system (CNS) endophenotypes of psychiatric illness, we tested whether 73 brain/blood correlated 5mC clusters, defined by networks of correlated 5mC probes measured on Illumina's HumanMethylation Epic Beadchip, mediated the relationship between ASEs and brain measurements. CTQ was negatively associated with rostral middle frontal gyrus (RMFG) SA (β =-0.231, p = 0.041). Low income and low education were also associated with SA or CT in a number of brain regions. Seven 5mC clusters were associated with CTQ (pmin = 0.002), two with low education (pmin = 0.010), and three with low income (pmin = 0.007). Two clusters fully mediated the relation between CTQ and RMFG SA, accounting for 47 and 35% of variability, respectively. These clusters were enriched for probes falling in DNA regulatory regions, as well as signal transduction and immune signaling gene ontology functions. Methylome-network analyses showed enrichment of macrophage migration (p = 9 × 10-8), T cell receptor complex (p = 6 × 10-6), and chemokine-mediated signaling (p = 7 × 10-4) pathway enrichment in association with CTQ. Our results support prior work highlighting brain region variability associated with ASEs, while informing a peripheral inflammation-based epigenetic mechanism of biological embedding of such exposures. These findings could also serve to potentiate increased investigation of understudied populations at elevated risk for stress-related psychiatric illness development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Pfeiffer
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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Venniro M, Reverte I, Ramsey LA, Papastrat KM, D'Ottavio G, Milella MS, Li X, Grimm JW, Caprioli D. Factors modulating the incubation of drug and non-drug craving and their clinical implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:847-864. [PMID: 34597716 PMCID: PMC8931548 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
It was suggested in 1986 that cue-induced cocaine craving increases progressively during early abstinence and remains high during extended periods of time. Clinical evidence now supports this hypothesis and that this increase is not specific to cocaine but rather generalize across several drugs of abuse. Investigators have identified an analogous incubation phenomenon in rodents, in which time-dependent increases in cue-induced drug seeking are observed after abstinence from intravenous drug or palatable food self-administration. Incubation of craving is susceptible to variation in magnitude as a function of biological and/or the environmental circumstances surrounding the individual. During the last decade, the neurobiological correlates of the modulatory role of biological (sex, age, genetic factors) and environmental factors (environmental enrichment and physical exercise, sleep architecture, acute and chronic stress, abstinence reinforcement procedures) on incubation of drug craving has been investigated. In this review, we summarized the behavioral procedures adopted, the key underlying neurobiological correlates and clinical implications of these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Venniro
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Ingrid Reverte
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | - Leslie A Ramsey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore NIDA, NIH, USA
| | - Kimberly M Papastrat
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Ginevra D'Ottavio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Xuan Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, USA.
| | - Jeffrey W Grimm
- Department of Psychology and Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Western Washington University, Bellingham, USA.
| | - Daniele Caprioli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy.
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Gaskins DL, Burke AR, Sajdyk TJ, Truitt WA, Dietrich AD, Shekhar A. Role of Basolateral Amygdalar Somatostatin 2 Receptors in a Rat Model of Chronic Anxiety. Neuroscience 2021; 477:40-49. [PMID: 34487822 PMCID: PMC9744088 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to stress has been implicated in inducing chronic anxiety states. Stress related increases in anxiety responses are likely mediated by activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptors (CRFR) in the amygdala, particularly the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Within the BLA, acute injections of the CRFR agonist urocortin 1 (Ucn1) leads to acute anxiety, whereas repeated daily injections of subthreshold-doses of Ucn1 produces a long-lasting, persistent anxiety-like phenotype, a phenomenon referred to as Ucn1-priming. Relative gene expressions from the BLA of vehicle and Ucn1-primed rats were analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR using a predesigned panel of 82 neuroscience-related genes. Compared to vehicle-primed rats, only expression of the somatostatin receptor 2 gene (Sstr2) was significantly reduced in the BLA of Ucn1-primed rats. The contribution of Sstr2 on an anxiety phenotype was tested by injecting a Sstr2 antagonist into the BLA in un-primed rats. The Sstr2 antagonist increased anxiety-like behavior. Notably, pretreatment with Sstr2 agonist injected into the BLA blocked anxiety-inducing effects of acute Ucn1 BLA-injections and delayed anxiety expression during Ucn1-priming. However, concomitant Sstr2 agonist pretreatment during Ucn-1 priming did not prevent either the development of a chronic anxiety state or a reduction of BLA Sstr2 expression induced by priming. The data demonstrate that the persistent anxiety-like phenotype observed with Ucn1-priming in the BLA is associated with a selective reduction of Sstr2 gene expression. Although Sstr2 activation in the BLA blocks acute anxiogenic effects of stress and down-regulation of BLA Sstr2, it does not suppress the long-term consequences of prolonged exposure to stress-related challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise L Gaskins
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Graduate Program in Medical Neuroscience, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Andrew R Burke
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy Cellular Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Tammy J Sajdyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 W 10th St Suite 1000, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - William A Truitt
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy Cellular Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Amy D Dietrich
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Anatomy Cellular Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 W 10th St Suite 1000, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace Street, Suite 401, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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47
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Baldi E, Costa A, Rani B, Passani MB, Blandina P, Romano A, Provensi G. Oxytocin and Fear Memory Extinction: Possible Implications for the Therapy of Fear Disorders? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10000. [PMID: 34576161 PMCID: PMC8467761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several psychiatric conditions such as phobias, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by pathological fear and anxiety. The main therapeutic approach used in the management of these disorders is exposure-based therapy, which is conceptually based upon fear extinction with the formation of a new safe memory association, allowing the reduction in behavioral conditioned fear responses. Nevertheless, this approach is only partially resolutive, since many patients have difficulty following the demanding and long process, and relapses are frequently observed over time. One strategy to improve the efficacy of the cognitive therapy is the combination with pharmacological agents. Therefore, the identification of compounds able to strengthen the formation and persistence of the inhibitory associations is a key goal. Recently, growing interest has been aroused by the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), which has been shown to have anxiolytic effects. Furthermore, OXT receptors and binding sites have been found in the critical brain structures involved in fear extinction. In this review, the recent literature addressing the complex effects of OXT on fear extinction at preclinical and clinical levels is discussed. These studies suggest that the OXT roles in fear behavior are due to its local effects in several brain regions, most notably, distinct amygdaloid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Baldi
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Alessia Costa
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Barbara Rani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Passani
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, Department of Health Sciences (DSS), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (A.C.); (B.R.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Patrizio Blandina
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology ‘V. Erspamer’, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
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Cordner ZA, Marshall-Thomas I, Boersma GJ, Lee RS, Potash JB, Tamashiro KL. Fluoxetine and environmental enrichment similarly reverse chronic social stress-related depression- and anxiety-like behavior, but have differential effects on amygdala gene expression. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100392. [PMID: 34568521 PMCID: PMC8449130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The adverse effects of stress on brain and behavior have long been known and well-studied, with abundant evidence linking stress to, among other things, mood and anxiety disorders. Likewise, many have investigated potential treatments for stress-related mood and anxiety phenotypes and demonstrated good response to standard antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as environmental manipulations like exercise or enrichment. However, the extent to which stress and various treatments act on overlapping pathways in the brain is less well understood. Here, we used a widely studied social defeat stress paradigm to induce a robust depression- and anxiety-like phenotype and chronic corticosterone elevation that persisted for at least 4 weeks in wild type male mice. When mice were treated with either the SSRI fluoxetine or an enriched environment, both led to similar behavioral recovery from social defeat. We then focused on the amygdala and assessed the effects of social defeat, fluoxetine, and enrichment on 168 genes broadly related to synaptic plasticity or oxidative stress. We found 24 differentially expressed genes in response to social defeat stress. Interestingly, fluoxetine led to broad normalization of the stress-induced expression pattern while enrichment led to expression changes in a separate set of genes. Together, this study provides additional insight into the chronic effects of social defeat stress on behavior and gene expression in the amygdala. The findings also suggest that, for a subset of genes assessed, fluoxetine and environmental enrichment have strikingly divergent effects on expression in the amygdala, despite leading to similar behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A. Cordner
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Isaiah Marshall-Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Gretha J. Boersma
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Richard S. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - James B. Potash
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kellie L.K. Tamashiro
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 618, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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49
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Pototskiy E, Dellinger JR, Bumgarner S, Patel J, Sherrerd-Smith W, Musto AE. Brain injuries can set up an epileptogenic neuronal network. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:351-366. [PMID: 34384843 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Development of epilepsy or epileptogenesis promotes recurrent seizures. As of today, there are no effective prophylactic therapies to prevent the onset of epilepsy. Contributing to this deficiency of preventive therapy is the lack of clarity in fundamental neurobiological mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis and lack of reliable biomarkers to identify patients at risk for developing epilepsy. This limits the development of prophylactic therapies in epilepsy. Here, neural network dysfunctions reflected by oscillopathies and microepileptiform activities, including neuronal hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony, drawn from both clinical and experimental epilepsy models, have been reviewed. This review suggests that epileptogenesis reflects a progressive and dynamic dysfunction of specific neuronal networks which recruit further interconnected groups of neurons, with this resultant pathological network mediating seizure occurrence, recurrence, and progression. In the future, combining spatial and temporal resolution of neuronal non-invasive recordings from patients at risk of developing epilepsy, together with analytics and computational tools, may contribute to determining whether the brain is undergoing epileptogenesis in asymptomatic patients following brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Pototskiy
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA; College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Joshua Ryan Dellinger
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Stuart Bumgarner
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Jay Patel
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - William Sherrerd-Smith
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Alberto E Musto
- Department of Anatomy & Pathology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA; Department of Neurology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
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50
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The Oscillatory Profile Induced by the Anxiogenic Drug FG-7142 in the Amygdala-Hippocampal Network Is Reversed by Infralimbic Deep Brain Stimulation: Relevance for Mood Disorders. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9070783. [PMID: 34356846 PMCID: PMC8301458 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and depression exhibit high comorbidity and share the alteration of the amygdala–hippocampal–prefrontal network, playing different roles in the ventral and dorsal hippocampi. Deep brain stimulation of the infralimbic cortex in rodents or the human equivalent—the subgenual cingulate cortex—constitutes a fast antidepressant treatment. The aim of this work was: (1) to describe the oscillatory profile in a rodent model of anxiety, and (2) to deepen the therapeutic basis of infralimbic deep brain stimulation in mood disorders. First, the anxiogenic drug FG-7142 was administered to anaesthetized rats to characterize neural oscillations within the amygdala and the dorsoventral axis of the hippocampus. Next, deep brain stimulation was applied. FG-7142 administration drastically reduced the slow waves, increasing delta, low theta, and beta oscillations in the network. Moreover, FG-7142 altered communication in these bands in selective subnetworks. Deep brain stimulation of the infralimbic cortex reversed most of these FG-7142 effects. Cross-frequency coupling was also inversely modified by FG-7142 and by deep brain stimulation. Our study demonstrates that the hyperactivated amygdala–hippocampal network associated with the anxiogenic drug exhibits an oscillatory fingerprint. The study contributes to comprehending the neurobiological basis of anxiety and the effects of infralimbic deep brain stimulation.
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