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Wolf D, Hartig R, Zhuo Y, Scheller MF, Articus M, Moor M, Grinevich V, Linster C, Russo E, Weber-Fahr W, Reinwald JR, Kelsch W. Oxytocin induces the formation of distinctive cortical representations and cognitions biased toward familiar mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6274. [PMID: 39054324 PMCID: PMC11272796 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory. The underlying memory mechanisms and the thereby acquired cortical representations of familiar mice have remained largely unknown, however. Here, we introduce an approach directly examining the recognition process from volatile body odors among male mice. We show that volatile body odors emitted by mice are sufficient to identify individuals and that more salience is assigned to familiar mice. Familiarity is encoded by reinforced population responses in two olfactory cortex hubs and communicated to other brain regions. The underlying oxytocin-induced plasticity promotes the separation of the cortical representations of familiar from other mice. In summary, neuronal encoding of familiar animals is distinct and utilizes the cortical representational space more broadly, promoting storage of complex social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Renée Hartig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yi Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Max F Scheller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mirko Articus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcel Moor
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christiane Linster
- Computational Physiology Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Eleonora Russo
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- The BioRobotics Institute, Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Weber-Fahr
- Department of Neuroimaging, Translational Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jonathan R Reinwald
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Neuroimaging, Translational Imaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kelsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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2
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Rea JJ, Liu CM, Hayes AMR, Bashaw AG, Schwartz G, Ohan R, Décarie-Spain L, Kao AE, Klug ME, Phung KJ, Waldow AI, Wood RI, Kanoski SE. Hippocampus oxytocin signaling promotes prosocial eating in rats. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01462-8. [PMID: 39038641 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.07.014] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OT) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide involved in diverse physiological and behavioral functions, including social-based behavior and food intake control. The extent that OT's role in regulating these two fundamental behaviors is interconnected is unknown and is a critical gap given that social factors have a strong influence on eating behavior in mammals. Here we focus on OT signaling in the dorsal hippocampus (HPCd), a brain region recently linked with eating and social memory, as a candidate system where these functions overlap. METHODS HPCd OT signaling gain- and loss-of-function strategies were employed in male Sprague-Dawley rats that were trained in a novel social eating procedure to consume their first nocturnal meal under conditions that vary with regards to conspecific presence and familiarity. The endogenous role of HPCd OT signaling was also evaluated for olfactory-based social transmission of food preference learning, sociality, and social recognition memory. RESULTS HPCd OT administration had no effect on food intake under isolated conditions, yet significantly increased consumption in the presence of a familiar, but not an unfamiliar conspecific. Supporting these results, chronic knockdown of HPCd OT receptor expression eliminated the food intake-promoting effects of a familiar conspecific. HPCd OT receptor knockdown also blocked social transmission of food preference learning and impaired social recognition memory without affecting sociality. CONCLUSION Collective results identify endogenous HPCd OT signaling as a novel substrate where OT synergistically influences eating and social behaviors, including the social facilitation of eating and the social transmission of food preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Rea
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Clarissa M Liu
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Anna M R Hayes
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Alexander G Bashaw
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Grace Schwartz
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Rita Ohan
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Léa Décarie-Spain
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Alicia E Kao
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Molly E Klug
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Kenneth J Phung
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Alice I Waldow
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Ruth I Wood
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, USA; Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Scott E Kanoski
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, USA.
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Walia V, Wal P, Mishra S, Agrawal A, Kosey S, Dilipkumar Patil A. Potential role of oxytocin in the regulation of memories and treatment of memory disorders. Peptides 2024; 177:171222. [PMID: 38649032 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is an "affiliative" hormone or neurohormone or neuropeptide consists of nine amino acids, synthesized in magnocellular neurons of paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of hypothalamus. OXT receptors are widely distributed in various region of brain and OXT has been shown to regulate various social and nonsocial behavior. Hippocampus is the main region which regulates the learning and memory. Hippocampus particularly regulates the acquisition of new memories and retention of acquired memories. OXT has been shown to regulate the synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and consolidation of memories. Further, findings from both preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that the OXT treatment improves performance in memory related task. Various trials have suggested the positive impact of intranasal OXT in the dementia patients. However, these studies are limited in number. In the present study authors have highlighted the role of OXT in the formation and retrieval of memories. Further, the study demonstrated the outcome of OXT treatment in various memory and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Walia
- SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
| | - Pranay Wal
- PSIT-Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology (Pharmacy), Kanpur, UP 209305, India
| | - Shweta Mishra
- SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Ankur Agrawal
- Jai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Gwalior, MP, India
| | - Sourabh Kosey
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Aditya Dilipkumar Patil
- Founder, Tech Hom Research Solutions (THRS), Plot no. 38, 1st floor, opposite to biroba mandir, near ST stand, Satara, Maharashtra 415110, India
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Adedokun MA, Enye LA, Akinluyi ET, Ajibola TA, Edem EE. Black seed oil reverses chronic antibiotic-mediated depression and social behaviour deficits via modulation of hypothalamic mitochondrial-dependent markers and insulin expression. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:267-279. [PMID: 38379607 PMCID: PMC10876594 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic antibiotic use has been reported to impair mitochondrial indices, hypothalamus-mediated metabolic function, and amygdala-regulated emotional processes. Natural substances such as black seed (Nigella sativa) oil could be beneficial in mitigating these impairments. This study aimed to assess the impact of black seed oil (NSO) on depression and sociability indices, redox imbalance, mitochondrial-dependent markers, and insulin expression in mice subjected to chronic ampicillin exposure. Forty adult male BALB/c mice (30 ± 2 g) were divided into five groups: the CTRL group received normal saline, the ABT group received ampicillin, the NSO group received black seed oil, the ABT/NSO group concurrently received ampicillin and black seed oil, and the ABT+NSO group experienced pre-exposure to ampicillin followed by subsequent treatment with black seed oil. The ampicillin-exposed group exhibited depressive-like behaviours, impaired social interactive behaviours, and disruptions in mitochondrial-dependent markers in plasma and hypothalamic tissues, accompanied by an imbalance in antioxidant levels. Moreover, chronic antibiotic exposure downregulated insulin expression in the hypothalamus. However, these impairments were significantly ameliorated in the ABT/NSO, and ABT+NSO groups compared to the untreated antibiotic-exposed group. Overall, findings from this study suggest the beneficial role of NSO as an adjuvant therapy in preventing and abrogating mood behavioural and neural-metabolic impairments of chronic antibiotic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujeeb Adekunle Adedokun
- Neuroscience Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Linus Anderson Enye
- Neuroscience Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi
- Neuropharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Toheeb Adesumbo Ajibola
- Neuroscience Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Edem Ekpenyong Edem
- Neuroscience Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
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Mori K, Sakano H. Circuit formation and sensory perception in the mouse olfactory system. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1342576. [PMID: 38434487 PMCID: PMC10904487 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1342576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In the mouse olfactory system, odor information is converted to a topographic map of activated glomeruli in the olfactory bulb (OB). Although the arrangement of glomeruli is genetically determined, the glomerular structure is plastic and can be modified by environmental stimuli. If the pups are exposed to a particular odorant, responding glomeruli become larger recruiting the dendrites of connecting projection neurons and interneurons. This imprinting not only increases the sensitivity to the exposed odor, but also imposes the positive quality on imprinted memory. External odor information represented as an odor map in the OB is transmitted to the olfactory cortex (OC) and amygdala for decision making to elicit emotional and behavioral outputs using two distinct neural pathways, innate and learned. Innate olfactory circuits start to work right after birth, whereas learned circuits become functional later on. In this paper, the recent progress will be summarized in the study of olfactory circuit formation and odor perception in mice. We will also propose new hypotheses on the timing and gating of olfactory circuit activity in relation to the respiration cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hitoshi Sakano
- Department of Brain Function, School of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Matsuoka, Japan
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Thirtamara Rajamani K, Barbier M, Lefevre A, Niblo K, Cordero N, Netser S, Grinevich V, Wagner S, Harony-Nicolas H. Oxytocin activity in the paraventricular and supramammillary nuclei of the hypothalamus is essential for social recognition memory in rats. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:412-424. [PMID: 38052983 PMCID: PMC11116117 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02336-0] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin plays an important role in modulating social recognition memory. However, the direct implication of oxytocin neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and their downstream hypothalamic targets in regulating short- and long-term forms of social recognition memory has not been fully investigated. In this study, we employed a chemogenetic approach to target the activity of PVH oxytocin neurons in male rats and found that specific silencing of this neuronal population led to an impairment in short- and long-term social recognition memory. We combined viral-mediated fluorescent labeling of oxytocin neurons with immunohistochemical techniques and identified the supramammillary nucleus (SuM) of the hypothalamus as a target of PVH oxytocinergic axonal projections in rats. We used multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization to label oxytocin receptors in the SuM and determined that they are predominantly expressed in glutamatergic neurons, including those that project to the CA2 region of the hippocampus. Finally, we used a highly selective oxytocin receptor antagonist in the SuM to examine the involvement of oxytocin signaling in modulating short- and long-term social recognition memory and found that it is necessary for the formation of both. This study discovered a previously undescribed role for the SuM in regulating social recognition memory via oxytocin signaling and reinforced the specific role of PVH oxytocin neurons in regulating this form of memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerthi Thirtamara Rajamani
- Department of Psychiatry and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marie Barbier
- Department of Psychiatry and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Lefevre
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kristi Niblo
- Department of Psychiatry and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Cordero
- CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shai Netser
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Leithead AB, Godino A, Barbier M, Harony-Nicolas H. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:112-122. [PMID: 37245781 PMCID: PMC10676449 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.016] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus (PIL) is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. METHODS We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real time during social and nonsocial interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. RESULTS We observed significantly more c-fos-positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to a social stimulus versus an object stimulus or no stimulus. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity was positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time that it took for female mice to form social habituation. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Beth Leithead
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Arthur Godino
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Marie Barbier
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Wagner S, Maroun M. A Better PIL to Swallow: A Thalamic Node in the Social Brain Network. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:97-99. [PMID: 38092468 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mouna Maroun
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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Yashima J, Sakamoto T. Oxytocin receptors in the prefrontal cortex play important roles in short-term social recognition in mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 456:114706. [PMID: 37806564 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114706] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
We examined the roles of oxytocin (OT) receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in short- and long-term social recognition and anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Mice injected with high or low doses of an OT receptor antagonist (OTA) or vehicle performed the social recognition test, the open-field test, and the light-dark transition test. In the social recognition test, with three daily trials over three consecutive days, control mice showed short-term recognition of a conspecific on all three days. In contrast, a high-dose injection of OTA impaired short-term social recognition on the second and third days, and it was impaired by a low-dose injection of OTA on the third day. These results suggested that OTA injection into the PFC dose-dependently inhibited short-term social recognition within each day. All three groups did not show any long-term social recognition across three days. OTA injection did not affect anxiety related behavior in the open-field and light-dark transition tests. Our findings demonstrated that OT receptors in the PFC played important roles in short-term social recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joi Yashima
- Department of Psychology, Graduate school of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan
| | - Toshiro Sakamoto
- Department of Psychology, Graduate school of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan.
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Kesner AJ, Mozaffarilegha M, Thirtamara Rajamani K, Arima Y, Harony-Nicolas H, Hashimotodani Y, Ito HT, Song J, Ikemoto S. Hypothalamic Supramammillary Control of Cognition and Motivation. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7538-7546. [PMID: 37940587 PMCID: PMC10634554 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1320-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) is a small region in the ventromedial posterior hypothalamus. The SuM has been relatively understudied with much of the prior focus being on its connection with septo-hippocampal circuitry. Thus, most studies conducted until the 21st century examined its role in hippocampal processes, such as theta rhythm and learning/memory. In recent years, the SuM has been "rediscovered" as a crucial hub for several behavioral and cognitive processes, including reward-seeking, exploration, and social memory. Additionally, it has been shown to play significant roles in hippocampal plasticity and adult neurogenesis. This review highlights findings from recent studies using cutting-edge systems neuroscience tools that have shed light on these fascinating roles for the SuM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Kesner
- Unit on Motivation and Arousal, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | | | - Keerthi Thirtamara Rajamani
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Yosuke Arima
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
- Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Friedman Brain Institute, Mindich Child Health and Development Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Yuki Hashimotodani
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto Japan 610-0394
| | - Hiroshi T Ito
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 60438
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Satoshi Ikemoto
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
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Hung YC, Wu YJ, Chien ME, Lin YT, Tsai CF, Hsu KS. Loss of oxytocin receptors in hilar mossy cells impairs social discrimination. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 187:106311. [PMID: 37769745 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal oxytocin receptor (OXTR) signaling is crucial for discrimination of social stimuli to guide social recognition, but circuit mechanisms and cell types involved remain incompletely understood. Here, we report a role for OXTR-expressing hilar mossy cells (MCs) of the dentate gyrus in social stimulus discrimination by regulating granule cell (GC) activity. Using a Cre-loxP recombination approach, we found that ablation of Oxtr from MCs impairs discrimination of social, but not object, stimuli in adult male mice. Ablation of MC Oxtr increases spontaneous firing rate of GCs, synaptic excitation to inhibition ratio of MC-to-GC circuit, and GC firing when temporally associated with the lateral perforant path inputs. Using mouse hippocampal slices, we found that bath application of OXTR agonist [Thr4,Gly7]-oxytocin causes membrane depolarization and increases MC firing activity. Optogenetic activation of MC-to-GC circuit ameliorates social discrimination deficit in MC OXTR deficient mice. Together, our results uncover a previously unknown role of MC OXTR signaling for discrimination of social stimuli and delineate a MC-to-GC circuit responsible for social information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chieh Hung
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jen Wu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70457, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Er Chien
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70457, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Lin
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Fang Tsai
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 60002, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
| | - Kuei-Sen Hsu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
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12
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A B L, A G, M B, H HN. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538114. [PMID: 37163009 PMCID: PMC10168253 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Background The posterior intralaminar (PIL) complex of the thalamus is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. Methods We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real-time during social and non-social interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. Results We observed significantly more c-fos -positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to social versus object or no stimuli. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time it took female mice to form social habituation. Conclusions Together these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
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13
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Talpo F, Spaiardi P, Castagno AN, Maniezzi C, Raffin F, Terribile G, Sancini G, Pisani A, Biella GR. Neuromodulatory functions exerted by oxytocin on different populations of hippocampal neurons in rodents. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1082010. [PMID: 36816855 PMCID: PMC9932910 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1082010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide widely known for its peripheral hormonal effects (i.e., parturition and lactation) and central neuromodulatory functions, related especially to social behavior and social, spatial, and episodic memory. The hippocampus is a key structure for these functions, it is innervated by oxytocinergic fibers, and contains OT receptors (OTRs). The hippocampal OTR distribution is not homogeneous among its subregions and types of neuronal cells, reflecting the specificity of oxytocin's modulatory action. In this review, we describe the most recent discoveries in OT/OTR signaling in the hippocampus, focusing primarily on the electrophysiological oxytocinergic modulation of the OTR-expressing hippocampal neurons. We then look at the effect this modulation has on the balance of excitation/inhibition and synaptic plasticity in each hippocampal subregion. Additionally, we review OTR downstream signaling, which underlies the OT effects observed in different types of hippocampal neuron. Overall, this review comprehensively summarizes the advancements in unraveling the neuromodulatory functions exerted by OT on specific hippocampal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Nicolas Castagno
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Maniezzi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Raffin
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Terribile
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Sancini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,Nanomedicine Center, Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Pisani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Neurological Institute Foundation Casimiro Mondino (IRCCS), Pavia, Italy
| | - Gerardo Rosario Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy,*Correspondence: Gerardo Rosario Biella,
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14
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Sarkar I, Snippe-Strauss M, Tenenhaus Zamir A, Benhos A, Richter-Levin G. Individual behavioral profiling as a translational approach to assess treatment efficacy in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1071482. [PMID: 36620437 PMCID: PMC9815535 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1071482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be the large variability in responsiveness to pharmacotherapy. Only 20-30% of patients experience total remission to a specific treatment, while others demonstrate either partial remission or no response. However, this heterogeneity in response to pharmacotherapy has not been adequately addressed in animal models, since these analyze the averaged group effects, ignoring the individual variability to treatment response, which seriously compromises the translation power of such models. Here we examined the possibility of employing an "individual behavioral profiling" approach, originally developed to differentiate between "affected" and "exposed-unaffected" individuals in an animal model of PTSD, to also enable dissociating "responders" or "non-responders" after SSRI (fluoxetine) treatment. Importantly, this approach does not rely on a group averaged response to a single behavioral parameter, but considers a cluster of behavioral parameters, to individually characterize an animal as either "responder" or "non-responder" to the treatment. The main variable to assess drug efficacy thus being the proportion of "responders" following treatment. Alteration in excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance has been proposed as being associated with stress-related psychopathology. Toward a functional proof of concept for our behaviorally-based characterization approach, we examined the expression patterns of α1 and α2 subunits of GABAA receptor, and GluN1 and GluN2A subunits of the NMDAR receptor in the ventral hippocampus, as well as electrophysiologically local circuit activity in the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG). We demonstrate that with both parameters, treatment "responders" differed from treatment "non-responders," confirming the functional validity of the behavior-based categorization. The results suggest that the ability to respond to fluoxetine treatment may be linked to the ability to modulate excitation-inhibition balance in the hippocampus. We propose that employing the "individual behavioral profiling" approach, and the resultant novel variable of the proportion of "recovered" individuals following treatment, offers an effective translational tool to assess pharmacotherapy treatment efficacy in animal models of stress and trauma-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Sarkar
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Amir Benhos
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,*Correspondence: Gal Richter-Levin,
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15
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Coccia G, La Greca F, Di Luca M, Scheggia D. Dissecting social decision-making: A spotlight on oxytocinergic transmission. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1061934. [PMID: 36618824 PMCID: PMC9813388 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1061934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social decision-making requires the ability to balance both the interests of the self and the interests of others to survive in social environments. Empathy is essential to the regulation of this type of interaction, and it often sustains relevant prosocial behaviors such as altruism and helping behavior. In the last decade, our capacity to assess affective and empathy-like behaviors in rodents has expanded our understanding of the neurobiological substrates that underly social decision-making processes such as prosocial behaviors. Within this context, oxytocinergic transmission is profoundly implicated in modulating some of the major components of social decision-making. Thus, this review will present evidence of the association between oxytocin and empathy-like and prosocial behaviors in nonhuman animals. Then, we will dissect the involvement of oxytocinergic transmission-across different brain regions and pathways-in some of the key elements of social decision-making such as emotional discrimination, social recognition, emotional contagion, social dominance, and social memory. Evidence of the modulatory role of oxytocin on social decision-making has raised considerable interest in its clinical relevance, therefore we will also discuss the controversial findings on intranasal oxytocin administration.
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16
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Triana-Del Rio R, Ranade S, Guardado J, LeDoux J, Klann E, Shrestha P. The modulation of emotional and social behaviors by oxytocin signaling in limbic network. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1002846. [PMID: 36466805 PMCID: PMC9714608 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1002846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides can exert volume modulation in neuronal networks, which account for a well-calibrated and fine-tuned regulation that depends on the sensory and behavioral contexts. For example, oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) trigger a signaling pattern encompassing intracellular cascades, synaptic plasticity, gene expression, and network regulation, that together function to increase the signal-to-noise ratio for sensory-dependent stress/threat and social responses. Activation of OTRs in emotional circuits within the limbic forebrain is necessary to acquire stress/threat responses. When emotional memories are retrieved, OTR-expressing cells act as gatekeepers of the threat response choice/discrimination. OT signaling has also been implicated in modulating social-exposure elicited responses in the neural circuits within the limbic forebrain. In this review, we describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the neuromodulation by OT, and how OT signaling in specific neural circuits and cell populations mediate stress/threat and social behaviors. OT and downstream signaling cascades are heavily implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by emotional and social dysregulation. Thus, a mechanistic understanding of downstream cellular effects of OT in relevant cell types and neural circuits can help design effective intervention techniques for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayali Ranade
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Jahel Guardado
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joseph LeDoux
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eric Klann
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Prerana Shrestha
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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17
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Emmerson MG. Losing a parent in early-life impairs flock size discrimination and lowers oxytocin receptor abundance in a medial amygdala homologue of adult zebra finches. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22307. [PMID: 36282756 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22307] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Experiencing inadequate parental care during early-life diminishes adult social competencies. For example, low parental care impairs adult socio-cognitive abilities (e.g., recognizing familiar conspecifics) and affiliation (e.g., close social proximity); outcomes attributed to diminished medial amygdala nonapeptide functioning in rodents. Whether parental care has effects beyond familiarity, and if siblings have similar effects to parents, is unclear. Here, zebra finches were used to explore if parent and/or sibling number shape adult recognition and preference of small versus large flocks and nonapeptide (oxytocin, vasotocin) receptor expression in an avian homologue of the mammalian medial amygdala. Chicks were raised by single mothers or fathers in small broods or paired parents in small or large broods matched to single parents for chicks per nest or per parent, respectively. Pair-raised birds had preferred flock sizes as adults, but birds raised by single parents had equal preference for either size. Oxytocin receptor expression was lower in birds raised by single parents versus paired parents, but vasotocin receptor levels were unaffected. Such results highlight parents as formative antecedents of their offspring's social competencies related to group size preference and their nonapeptide mechanisms, outcomes that influence an animal's ability to live in social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Emmerson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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18
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Sakamoto T, Yashima J. Prefrontal cortex is necessary for long-term social recognition memory in mice. Behav Brain Res 2022; 435:114051. [PMID: 35952777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays critical roles in social cognition and emotional regulation in humans and rodents; however, its involvement in social recognition memory in mice remains unclear. Here, we examined the roles of the PFC in short-term and long-term social recognition memory, social motivation, and anxiety-related behavior in C57BL/6J male mice. Sham control and PFC-lesioned mice underwent four different behavioral tests. In the social recognition test, composed of three daily trials over 3 consecutive days, the control mice spent less time investigating the juvenile stimulus mouse both within each day and across days. By contrast, while social investigation behavior in PFC-lesioned mice decreased across the three trials within each day, it did not decrease over the 3-day testing period. These results indicate that the PFC has an important role in long-term, but not short-term, social recognition memory. The control and PFC-lesioned mice exhibited similar social motivation in the three-chamber test - both groups preferred the juvenile mouse to the empty cylinder and did not prefer the adult mouse. In addition, the PFC lesion had no impact on anxiety-related behavior or general activity in the light-dark transition test or the open field test. Our findings demonstrate that the PFC is essential for long-term social recognition memory and that it plays a critical role in higher-order social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiro Sakamoto
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan.
| | - Joi Yashima
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Kyoto Tachibana University, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan
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19
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Tsai TC, Fang YS, Hung YC, Hung LC, Hsu KS. A dorsal CA2 to ventral CA1 circuit contributes to oxytocinergic modulation of long-term social recognition memory. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:50. [PMID: 35811321 PMCID: PMC9272559 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00834-x] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social recognition memory (SRM) is the ability to distinguish familiar from novel conspecifics and is crucial for survival and reproductive success across social species. We previously reported that oxytocin (OXT) receptor (OXTR) signaling in the CA2/CA3a of dorsal hippocampus is essential to promote the persistence of long-term SRM, yet how the endogenous OXT system influences CA2 outputs to regulate long-term SRM formation remains unclear. Methods To achieve a selective deletion of CA2 OXTRs, we crossed Amigo2-Cre mice with Oxtr-floxed mice to generate CA2-specific Oxtr conditional knockout (Oxtr−/−) mice. A three-chamber paradigm test was used for studying SRM in mice. Chemogenetic and optogenetic targeting strategies were employed to manipulate neuronal activity. Results We show that selective ablation of Oxtr in the CA2 suffices to impair the persistence of long-term SRM but has no effect on sociability and social novelty preference in the three-chamber paradigm test. We find that cell-type specific activation of OXT neurons within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus enhances long-term SRM and this enhancement is blocked by local application of OXTR antagonist L-368,899 into dorsal hippocampal CA2 (dCA2) region. In addition, chemogenetic neuronal silencing in dCA2 demonstrated that neuronal activity is essential for forming long-term SRM. Moreover, chemogenetic terminal-specific inactivation reveals a crucial role for dCA2 outputs to ventral CA1 (vCA1), but not dorsal lateral septum, in long-term SRM. Finally, targeted activation of the dCA2-to-vCA1 circuit effectively ameliorates long-term SRM deficit observed in Oxtr−/− mice. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of hippocampal CA2 OXTR signaling in governing the persistence of long-term SRM and identify a hippocampal circuit linking dCA2 to vCA1 necessary for controlling long-term SRM formation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00834-x.
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20
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Desai RI, Limoli CL, Stark CEL, Stark SM. Impact of spaceflight stressors on behavior and cognition: A molecular, neurochemical, and neurobiological perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104676. [PMID: 35461987 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The response of the human body to multiple spaceflight stressors is complex, but mounting evidence implicate risks to CNS functionality as significant, able to threaten metrics of mission success and longer-term behavioral and neurocognitive health. Prolonged exposure to microgravity, sleep disruption, social isolation, fluid shifts, and ionizing radiation have been shown to disrupt mechanisms of homeostasis and neurobiological well-being. The overarching goal of this review is to document the existing evidence of how the major spaceflight stressors, including radiation, microgravity, isolation/confinement, and sleep deprivation, alone or in combination alter molecular, neurochemical, neurobiological, and plasma metabolite/lipid signatures that may be linked to operationally-relevant behavioral and cognitive performance. While certain brain region-specific and/or systemic alterations titrated in part with neurobiological outcome, variations across model systems, study design, and the conspicuous absence of targeted studies implementing combinations of spaceflight stressors, confounded the identification of specific signatures having direct relevance to human activities in space. Summaries are provided for formulating new research directives and more predictive readouts of portending change in neurobiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev I Desai
- Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Behavioral Biology Program, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Medical Sciences I, B146B, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Craig E L Stark
- Department of Neurobiology of Behavior, University of California Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences III, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Shauna M Stark
- Department of Neurobiology of Behavior, University of California Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences III, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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21
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Schmidt SD, Zinn CG, Cavalcante LE, Ferreira FF, Furini CRG, Izquierdo I, de Carvalho Myskiw J. Participation of Hippocampal 5-HT 5A, 5-HT 6 and 5-HT 7 Serotonin Receptors on the Consolidation of Social Recognition Memory. Neuroscience 2022; 497:171-183. [PMID: 35718219 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Social recognition is the ability of animals to identify and recognize a conspecific. The consolidation of social stimuli in long-term memory is crucial for the establishment and maintenance of social groups, reproduction and species survival. Despite its importance, little is known about the circuitry and molecular mechanisms involved in the social recognition memory (SRM). Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is acknowledged as a major neuromodulator, which plays a key role in learning and memory. Focusing on the more recently described 5-HT receptors, we investigated in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus the participation of 5-HT5A, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors in the consolidation of SRM. Male Wistar rats cannulated in CA1 were subjected to a social discrimination task. In the sample phase the animals were exposed to a juvenile conspecific for 1 h. Immediately after, they received different pharmacological treatments. Twenty-four hours later, they were submitted to a 5 min retention test in the presence of the previously presented juvenile (familiar) and a novel juvenile. The animals that received infusions of 5-HT5A receptor antagonist SB-699551 (10 µg/µL), 5-HT6 receptor agonist WAY-208466 (0.63 µg/µL) or 5-HT7 receptor agonist AS-19 (5 µg/µL) intra-CA1 were unable to recognize the familiar juvenile. This effect was blocked by the coinfusion of WAY-208466 plus 5-HT6 receptor antagonist SB-271046 (10 µg/µL) or AS-19 plus 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB-269970 (5 µg/µL). The present study helps to clarify the neurobiological functions of the 5-HT receptors more recently described and extends our knowledge about mechanisms underlying the SRM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scheila Daiane Schmidt
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Carolina Garrido Zinn
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lorena Evelyn Cavalcante
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Flávia Fagundes Ferreira
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Regina Guerino Furini
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Translational Neuroscience (INNT), National Research Council of Brazil, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ivan Izquierdo
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Translational Neuroscience (INNT), National Research Council of Brazil, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jociane de Carvalho Myskiw
- Memory Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690-2nd Floor, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute of Translational Neuroscience (INNT), National Research Council of Brazil, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Psychobiology and Neurocomputation Laboratory (LPBNC), Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Building 43422, Room 208A, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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22
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Guimond S, Mothi SS, Makowski C, Chakravarty MM, Keshavan MS. Altered amygdala shape trajectories and emotion recognition in youth at familial high risk of schizophrenia who develop psychosis. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:202. [PMID: 35562339 PMCID: PMC9106712 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01957-3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Relatives of individuals with schizophrenia have a higher risk of developing the illness compared to the general population. Thus, youth at familial high risk (FHR) offer a unique opportunity to identify neuroimaging-based endophenotypes of psychosis. Previous studies have identified lower amygdalo-hippocampal volume in FHR, as well as lower verbal memory and emotion recognition. However, whether these phenotypes increase the risk of transition to psychosis remains unclear. To determine if individuals who develop psychosis have abnormal neurodevelopmental trajectories of the amygdala and hippocampus, we investigated longitudinal changes of these structures in a unique cohort of 82 youth FHR and 56 healthy controls during a 3-year period. Ten individuals from the FHR group converted to psychosis. Longitudinal changes were compared using linear mixed-effects models. Group differences in verbal memory and emotion recognition performance at baseline were also analyzed. Surface-based morphometry measures revealed variation in amygdalar shape (concave shape of the right dorsomedial region) in those who converted to psychosis. Significantly lower emotion recognition performance at baseline was observed in converters. Percent trial-to-trial transfer on the verbal learning task was also significantly impaired in FHR, independently of the conversion status. Our results identify abnormal shape development trajectories in the dorsomedial amygdala and lower emotion recognition abilities as phenotypes of transition to psychosis. Our findings illustrate potential markers for early identification of psychosis, aiding prevention efforts in youth at risk of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Synthia Guimond
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Department of Psychiatry, The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada ,grid.265705.30000 0001 2112 1125Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, University of Quebec in Outaouais, Gatineau, QC Canada
| | - Suraj S. Mothi
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Carolina Makowski
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.416102.00000 0004 0646 3639McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - M. Mallar Chakravarty
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Departments of Psychiatry and Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Matcheri S. Keshavan
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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23
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Wang F, Yin XS, Lu J, Cen C, Wang Y. Phosphorylation-dependent positive feedback on the oxytocin receptor through the kinase PKD1 contributes to long-term social memory. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabd0033. [PMID: 35104164 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abd0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social memory enables one to recognize and distinguish specific individuals. It is fundamental to social behaviors that can be mediated by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), such as forming relationships. We investigated the molecular regulation and function of OXTR in animal behavior involving social memory. We found that Ser261 in OXTR was phosphorylated by protein kinase D1 (PKD1). Neuronal Ca2+ signaling and behavior analyses revealed that rats expressing a mutated form of OXTR that cannot be phosphorylated at this residue (OXTR S261A) in the medial amygdala (MeA) exhibited impaired long-term social memory (LTSM). Blocking the phosphorylation of wild-type OXTR in the MeA using an interfering peptide in rats or through conditional knockout of Pkd1 in mice reduced social memory retention, whereas expression of a phosphomimetic mutant of OXTR rescued it. In HEK293A cells, the PKD1-mediated phosphorylation of OXTR promoted its binding to Gq protein and, in turn, OXTR-mediated phosphorylation of PKD1, indicating a positive feedback loop. In addition, OXTR with a single-nucleotide polymorphism found in humans (rs200362197), which has a mutation in the conserved recognition region in the PKD1 phosphorylation site, showed impaired activation and signaling in vitro and in HEK293A cells similar to that of the S216A mutant. Our findings describe a phosphoregulatory loop for OXTR and its critical role in social behavior that might be further explored in associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.,Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Xiang-Sha Yin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Cheng Cen
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Lab for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China and National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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24
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Acute social isolation and regrouping cause short- and long-term molecular changes in the rat medial amygdala. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:886-895. [PMID: 34650208 PMCID: PMC8515782 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01342-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social isolation poses a severe mental and physiological burden on humans. Most animal models that investigate this effect are based on prolonged isolation, which does not mimic the milder conditions experienced by people in the real world. We show that in adult male rats, acute social isolation causes social memory loss. This memory loss is accompanied by significant changes in the expression of specific mRNAs and proteins in the medial amygdala, a brain structure that is crucial for social memory. These changes particularly involve the neurotrophic signaling and axon guidance pathways that are associated with neuronal network remodeling. Upon regrouping, memory returns, and most molecular changes are reversed within hours. However, the expression of some genes, especially those associated with neurodegenerative diseases remain modified for at least a day longer. These results suggest that acute social isolation and rapid resocialization, as experienced by millions during the COVID-19 pandemic, are sufficient to induce significant changes to neuronal networks, some of which may be pathological.
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25
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Noto T, Zhou G, Yang Q, Lane G, Zelano C. Human Primary Olfactory Amygdala Subregions Form Distinct Functional Networks, Suggesting Distinct Olfactory Functions. Front Syst Neurosci 2021; 15:752320. [PMID: 34955769 PMCID: PMC8695617 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.752320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Three subregions of the amygdala receive monosynaptic projections from the olfactory bulb, making them part of the primary olfactory cortex. These primary olfactory areas are located at the anterior-medial aspect of the amygdala and include the medial amygdala (MeA), cortical amygdala (CoA), and the periamygdaloid complex (PAC). The vast majority of research on the amygdala has focused on the larger basolateral and basomedial subregions, which are known to be involved in implicit learning, threat responses, and emotion. Fewer studies have focused on the MeA, CoA, and PAC, with most conducted in rodents. Therefore, our understanding of the functions of these amygdala subregions is limited, particularly in humans. Here, we first conducted a review of existing literature on the MeA, CoA, and PAC. We then used resting-state fMRI and unbiased k-means clustering techniques to show that the anatomical boundaries of human MeA, CoA, and PAC accurately parcellate based on their whole-brain resting connectivity patterns alone, suggesting that their functional networks are distinct, relative both to each other and to the amygdala subregions that do not receive input from the olfactory bulb. Finally, considering that distinct functional networks are suggestive of distinct functions, we examined the whole-brain resting network of each subregion and speculated on potential roles that each region may play in olfactory processing. Based on these analyses, we speculate that the MeA could potentially be involved in the generation of rapid motor responses to olfactory stimuli (including fight/flight), particularly in approach/avoid contexts. The CoA could potentially be involved in olfactory-related reward processing, including learning and memory of approach/avoid responses. The PAC could potentially be involved in the multisensory integration of olfactory information with other sensory systems. These speculations can be used to form the basis of future studies aimed at clarifying the olfactory functions of these under-studied primary olfactory areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Noto
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Guangyu Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Qiaohan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Gregory Lane
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Christina Zelano
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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26
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Meng S, Yan W, Liu X, Gong Y, Tian S, Wu P, Sun Y, Shi J, Lu L, Yuan K, Xue Y. Social Interaction With Relapsed Partner Facilitates Cocaine Relapse in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:750397. [PMID: 34671262 PMCID: PMC8520921 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.750397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social factors strongly contribute to drug use and relapse, and epidemiological studies have found that members of peer groups influence each other to use drugs. However, previous animal models mostly failed to incorporate social factors and demonstrate the effects of social partners on drug addiction and relapse. In the present study, we investigated the transfer of relapse to cocaine seeking between drug-addicted partners in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-housed and subjected to training and extinction of cocaine self-administration and conditioned place preference (CPP). 24 h after extinction test, the targeted rats interacted with a cocaine-primed (relapsed) partner or stranger, or saline-injected (unrelapsed) partner for 30 min, after which the targeted rats were tested for drug seeking behavior. We found that social interaction with a relapsed partner increased drug seeking behavior in cocaine self-administration and CPP models in rats, while social interaction with an unrelapsed partner or relapsed stranger had no effect on cocaine seeking. Moreover, the effect of social interaction on cocaine seeking could last for at least 1 day. Our findings demonstrate a facilitation effect of relapsed social partners on drug relapse in rats and provide a novel animal model for social transfer of drug relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqiu Meng
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Yan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxing Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yimiao Gong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Shanshan Tian
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Wu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Sun
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yanxue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
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27
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Núñez-Murrieta MA, Noguez P, Coria-Avila GA, García-García F, Santiago-García J, Bolado-García VE, Corona-Morales AA. Maternal behavior, novelty confrontation, and subcortical c-Fos expression during lactation period are shaped by gestational environment. Behav Brain Res 2021; 412:113432. [PMID: 34186145 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The environmental context during gestation may modulate the postpartum variations in maternal behaviors observed within different animal species. Most of our experimental knowledge on this phenomenon and its physiological effects have been gained by confronting the pregnant mother with stressful situations, with the consensual results indicating a reduced maternal behavior and a hyper reactivity of stress-related neural paths. Here, in contrast, by exposing nulliparous rats strictly during pregnancy to a standard laboratory environment (STD) or a highly stimulating sensory and social environment (EE), we investigated the hypothesis that subjects frequently exposed to social stimuli and novel situations during pregnancy will show postpartum changes in subcortical brain areas' activity related to the processing of social stimuli and novelty, such that there will be modifications in maternal behavior. We found that EE mothers doubled the levels of licking and grooming, and active hovering over pups during the first postpartum week than STD dams, without a difference in the time of contact with the pups. Associated with these behaviors, EE dams showed increased c-Fos immunoreaction in hypothalamic nuclei and distinct responses in amygdalar nuclei, than STD dams. In the maternal defensive test, EE dams tripled the levels of aggressive behaviors of the STD rats. Additionally, in two different tests, EE mothers showed lower levels of postpartum anxiety-like behaviors when confronted with novel situations. Our results demonstrate that the activity of brain areas related to social behavior is adaptable by environmental circumstances experienced during gestation, presumably to prepare the progeny for these particular conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Noguez
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico.
| | - Genaro A Coria-Avila
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico.
| | - Fabio García-García
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico.
| | - Juan Santiago-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico.
| | - Victoria E Bolado-García
- Laboratorio de Investigación Genómica y Fisiológica, Facultad de Nutrición, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico.
| | - Aleph A Corona-Morales
- Laboratorio de Investigación Genómica y Fisiológica, Facultad de Nutrición, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., Mexico.
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28
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Raam T, Hong W. Organization of neural circuits underlying social behavior: A consideration of the medial amygdala. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:124-136. [PMID: 33940499 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The medial amygdala (MeA) is critical for the expression of a broad range of social behaviors, and is also connected to many other brain regions that mediate those same behaviors. Here, we summarize recent advances toward elucidating mechanisms that enable the MeA to regulate a diversity of social behaviors, and also consider what role the MeA plays within the broader network of regions that orchestrate social sensorimotor transformations. We outline the molecular, anatomical, and electrophysiological features of the MeA that segregate distinct social behaviors, propose experimental strategies to disambiguate sensory representations from behavioral function in the context of a social interaction, and consider to what extent MeA function may overlap with other regions mediating similar behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Raam
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Weizhe Hong
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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29
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Shimon-Raz O, Salomon R, Bloch M, Aisenberg Romano G, Yeshurun Y, Ulmer Yaniv A, Zagoory-Sharon O, Feldman R. Mother brain is wired for social moments. eLife 2021; 10:e59436. [PMID: 33764299 PMCID: PMC8026217 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reorganization of the maternal brain upon childbirth triggers the species-typical maternal social behavior. These brief social moments carry profound effects on the infant's brain and likely have a distinct signature in the maternal brain. Utilizing a double-blind, within-subject oxytocin/placebo administration crossover design, mothers' brain was imaged twice using fMRI while observing three naturalistic maternal-infant contexts in the home ecology; 'unavailable', 'unresponsive', and 'social', when mothers engaged in synchronous peek-a-boo play. The social condition elicited greater neural response across the human caregiving network, including amygdala, VTA, hippocampus, insula, ACC, and temporal cortex. Oxytocin impacted neural response primarily to the social condition and attenuated differences between social and non-social stimuli. Greater temporal consistency emerged in the 'social' condition across the two imaging sessions, particularly in insula, amygdala, and TP. Findings describe how mother's brain varies by caregiving experiences and gives salience to moments of social synchrony that support infant development and brain maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ortal Shimon-Raz
- IDC Herzliya, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Roy Salomon
- Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Miki Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical CenterTel AvivIsrael
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Gabi Aisenberg Romano
- Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical CenterTel AvivIsrael
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Yaara Yeshurun
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Adi Ulmer Yaniv
- IDC Herzliya, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
- Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | | | - Ruth Feldman
- IDC Herzliya, Bar Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
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30
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Lunardi P, Mansk LMZ, Jaimes LF, Pereira GS. On the novel mechanisms for social memory and the emerging role of neurogenesis. Brain Res Bull 2021; 171:56-66. [PMID: 33753208 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Social memory (SM) is a key element in social cognition and it encompasses the neural representation of conspecifics, an essential information to guide behavior in a social context. Here we evaluate classical and cutting-edge studies on neurobiology of SM, using as a guiding principle behavioral tasks performed in adult rodents. Our review highlights the relevance of the hippocampus, especially the CA2 region, as a neural substrate for SM and suggest that neural ensembles in the olfactory bulb may also encode SM traces. Compared to other hippocampus-dependent memories, much remains to be done to describe the neurobiological foundations of SM. Nonetheless, we argue that special attention should be paid to neurogenesis. Finally, we pinpoint the remaining open question on whether the hippocampal adult neurogenesis acts through pattern separation to permit the discrimination of highly similar stimuli during behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Lunardi
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lara M Z Mansk
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Laura F Jaimes
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Grace S Pereira
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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31
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Salles J, Lacassagne E, Eddiry S, Franchitto N, Salles JP, Tauber M. What can we learn from PWS and SNORD116 genes about the pathophysiology of addictive disorders? Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:51-59. [PMID: 33082508 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00917-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Addictive disorders have been much investigated and many studies have underlined the role of environmental factors such as social interaction in the vulnerability to and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Research on addiction pathophysiology now suggests that certain behavioral disorders are addictive, one example being food addiction. Yet, despite the growing body of knowledge on addiction, it is still unknown why only some of the individuals exposed to a drug become addicted to it. This observation has prompted the consideration of genetic heritage, neurodevelopmental trajectories, and gene-environment interactions in addiction vulnerability. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in which children become addicted to food and show early social impairment. PWS is caused by the deficiency of imprinted genes located on the 15q11-q13 chromosome. Among them, the SNORD116 gene was identified as the minimal gene responsible for the PWS phenotype. Several studies have also indicated the role of the Snord116 gene in animal and cellular models to explain PWS pathophysiology and phenotype (including social impairment and food addiction). We thus present here the evidence suggesting the potential involvement of the SNORD116 gene in addictive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Salles
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service de psychiatrie et psychologie, psychiatrie Toulouse, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuelle Lacassagne
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Sanaa Eddiry
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Franchitto
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service d'addictologie clinique, urgences réanimation médecine, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Salles
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Maithé Tauber
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Centre de référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres syndromes avec troubles du comportement alimentaire, Unité d'endocrinologie, obésités, maladies osseuses, génétique et gynécologie médicale, F-31000, Toulouse, France.
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32
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Hippocampal Lnx1-NMDAR multiprotein complex mediates initial social memory. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3956-3969. [PMID: 31772302 PMCID: PMC8550978 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0606-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Social interaction and communication are evolutionary conserved behaviours that are developed in mammals to establish partner cognition. Deficit in sociability has been represented in human patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders, which are connected with genetic variants of synaptic glutamate receptors and associated PDZ-binding proteins. However, it remains elusive how these key proteins are specialized in the cellular level for the initial social behaviour during postnatal developmental stage. Here we identify a hippocampal CA3 specifically expressed PDZ scaffold protein Lnx1 required for initial social behaviour. Through gene targeting we find that Lnx1 deficiency led to a hippocampal subregional disorder in neuronal activity and social memory impairments for partner discrimination observed in juvenile mice which also show cognitive defects in adult stage. We further demonstrate that Lnx1 deletion causes NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction and this is attributable to decreased GluN2B expression in PSD compartment and disruption of the Lnx1-NMDAR-EphB2 complex. Specific restoration of Lnx1 or EphB2 protein in the CA3 area of Lnx1-/- mice rescues the defective synaptic function and social memory. These findings thus reveal crucial roles of postsynaptic NMDAR multiprotein complex that regulates the formation of initial social memory during the adolescent period.
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33
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Autism-like social deficit generated by Dock4 deficiency is rescued by restoration of Rac1 activity and NMDA receptor function. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1505-1519. [PMID: 31388105 PMCID: PMC8159750 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0472-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Genetic studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have revealed multigene variations that converge on synaptic dysfunction. DOCK4, a gene at 7q31.1 that encodes the Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor Dock4, has been identified as a risk gene for ASD and other neuropsychiatric disorders. However, whether and how Dock4 disruption leads to ASD features through a synaptic mechanism remain unexplored. We generated and characterized a line of Dock4 knockout (KO) mice, which intriguingly displayed a series of ASD-like behaviors, including impaired social novelty preference, abnormal isolation-induced pup vocalizations, elevated anxiety, and perturbed object and spatial learning. Mice with conditional deletion of Dock4 in hippocampal CA1 recapitulated social preference deficit in KO mice. Examination in CA1 pyramidal neurons revealed that excitatory synaptic transmission was drastically attenuated in KO mice, accompanied by decreased spine density and synaptic content of AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)- and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-type glutamate receptors. Moreover, Dock4 deficiency markedly reduced Rac1 activity in the hippocampus, which resulted in downregulation of global protein synthesis and diminished expression of AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits. Notably, Rac1 replenishment in the hippocampal CA1 of Dock4 KO mice restored excitatory synaptic transmission and corrected impaired social deficits in these mice, and pharmacological activation of NMDA receptors also restored social novelty preference in Dock4 KO mice. Together, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized Dock4-Rac1-dependent mechanism involved in regulating hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission and social behavior.
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34
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Abstract
In mammals, odor information detected by olfactory sensory neurons is converted to a topographic map of activated glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. Mitral cells and tufted cells transmit signals sequentially to the olfactory cortex for behavioral outputs. To elicit innate behavioral responses, odor signals are directly transmitted by distinct subsets of mitral cells from particular functional domains in the olfactory bulb to specific amygdala nuclei. As for the learned decisions, input signals are conveyed by tufted cells as well as by mitral cells to the olfactory cortex. Behavioral scene cells link the odor information to the valence cells in the amygdala to elicit memory-based behavioral responses. Olfactory decision and perception take place in relation to the respiratory cycle. How is the sensory quality imposed on the olfactory inputs for behavioral outputs? How are the two types of odor signals, innate and learned, processed during respiration? Here, we review recent progress on the study of neural circuits involved in decision making in the mouse olfactory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensaku Mori
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan;
| | - Hitoshi Sakano
- Department of Brain Function, School of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Matsuoka, Fukui 910-1197, Japan;
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35
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Leblanc H, Ramirez S. Linking Social Cognition to Learning and Memory. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8782-8798. [PMID: 33177112 PMCID: PMC7659449 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1280-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many mammals have evolved to be social creatures. In humans, the ability to learn from others' experiences is essential to survival; and from an early age, individuals are surrounded by a social environment that helps them develop a variety of skills, such as walking, talking, and avoiding danger. Similarly, in rodents, behaviors, such as food preference, exploration of novel contexts, and social approach, can be learned through social interaction. Social encounters facilitate new learning and help modify preexisting memories throughout the lifespan of an organism. Moreover, social encounters can help buffer stress or the effects of negative memories, as well as extinguish maladaptive behaviors. Given the importance of such interactions, there has been increasing work studying social learning and applying its concepts in a wide range of fields, including psychotherapy and medical sociology. The process of social learning, including its neural and behavioral mechanisms, has also been a rapidly growing field of interest in neuroscience. However, the term "social learning" has been loosely applied to a variety of psychological phenomena, often without clear definition or delineations. Therefore, this review gives a definition for specific aspects of social learning, provides an overview of previous work at the circuit, systems, and behavioral levels, and finally, introduces new findings on the social modulation of learning. We contextualize such social processes in the brain both through the role of the hippocampus and its capacity to process "social engrams" as well as through the brainwide realization of social experiences. With the integration of new technologies, such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, and calcium imaging, manipulating social engrams will likely offer a novel therapeutic target to enhance the positive buffering effects of social experiences or to inhibit fear-inducing social stimuli in models of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloise Leblanc
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118
| | - Steve Ramirez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119
- Neurophotonics Center at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119
- Center for Systems Neuroscience at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119
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Sex-dimorphic role of prefrontal oxytocin receptors in social-induced facilitation of extinction in juvenile rats. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:356. [PMID: 33077706 PMCID: PMC7572379 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that in the adult animal extinction in pairs resulted in enhanced extinction, showing that social presence can reduce previously acquired fear responses. Based on our findings that juvenile and adult animals differ in the mechanisms of extinction, here we address whether the social presence of a conspecific affects extinction in juvenile animals similarly to adults. We further address whether such presence has a different impact on juvenile males and females. To that end, we examined in our established experimental setting whether conditioned male and female animals extinguish contextual fear memory better while in pairs. Taking advantage of the role of oxytocin (OT) in the mediation of extinction memory and social interaction, we also study the effect of antagonizing the OT receptors (OTR) either systemically or in the prefrontal cortex on social interaction-induced effects of fear extinction. The results show that social presence accelerates extinction in males and females as compared to the single condition. Yet, we show differential and opposing effects of an OTR antagonist in both sexes. Whereas in females, the systemic application of an OTR antagonist is associated with impaired extinction, it is associated with enhanced extinction in males. In contrast, prefrontal OT is not engaged in extinction in juvenile males, while is it is critical in females. Previously reported differences in the levels of prefrontal OT between males and females might explain the differences in OT action. These results suggest that even during the juvenile period, critical mechanisms are differently involved in the regulation of fear in males and females.
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Abramova O, Zorkina Y, Ushakova V, Zubkov E, Morozova A, Chekhonin V. The role of oxytocin and vasopressin dysfunction in cognitive impairment and mental disorders. Neuropeptides 2020; 83:102079. [PMID: 32839007 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2020.102079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) are structurally homologous peptide hormones synthesized in the hypothalamus. Nowadays, the role of OXT and AVP in the regulation of social behaviour and emotions is generally known. However, recent researches indicate that peptides also participate in cognitive functioning. This review presents the evidence that the OXT/AVP systems are involved in the formation of social, working, spatial and episodic memory, mediated by such brain structures as the hippocampal CA2 and CA3 regions, amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Some data have demonstrated that the OXT receptor's polymorphisms are associated with impaired memory in humans, and OXT knockout in mice is connected with memory deficit. Additionally, OXT and AVP are involved in mental disorders' progression. Stress-induced imbalance of the OXT/AVP systems leads to an increased risk of various mental disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and autism. At the same time, cognitive deficits are observed in stress and mental disorders, and perhaps peptide hormones play a part in this. The final part of the review describes possible therapeutic strategies for the use of OXT and AVP for treatment of various mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Abramova
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yana Zorkina
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeria Ushakova
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia; Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
| | - Eugene Zubkov
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Morozova
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Chekhonin
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia; Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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38
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Martínez-Rodríguez E, Martín-Sánchez A, Kul E, Bose A, Martínez-Martínez FJ, Stork O, Martínez-García F, Lanuza E, Santos M, Agustín-Pavón C. Male-specific features are reduced in Mecp2-null mice: analyses of vasopressinergic innervation, pheromone production and social behaviour. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2219-2238. [PMID: 32749543 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02122-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT), two neuropeptides closely implicated in the modulation of social behaviours, have been reported in some early developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene are associated to Rett syndrome and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Thus, we first analysed AVP and OT expression in the brain of Mecp2-mutant mice by immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed no significant differences in these systems in young adult Mecp2-heterozygous females, as compared to WT littermates. By contrast, we found a significant reduction in the sexually dimorphic, testosterone-dependent, vasopressinergic innervation in several nuclei of the social brain network and oxytocinergic innervation in the lateral habenula of Mecp2-null males, as compared to WT littermates. Analysis of urinary production of pheromones shows that Mecp2-null males lack the testosterone-dependent pheromone darcin, strongly suggesting low levels of androgens in these males. In addition, resident-intruder tests revealed lack of aggressive behaviour in Mecp2-null males and decreased chemoinvestigation of the intruder. By contrast, Mecp2-null males exhibited enhanced social approach, as compared to WT animals, in a 3-chamber social interaction test. In summary, Mecp2-null males, which display internal testicles, display a significant reduction of some male-specific features, such as vasopressinergic innervation within the social brain network, male pheromone production and aggressive behaviour. Thus, atypical social behaviours in Mecp2-null males may be caused, at least in part, by the effect of lack of MeCP2 over sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Martínez-Rodríguez
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Funcional i Antropologia Física, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Ana Martín-Sánchez
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, Castelló, Spain.,Neurobiology of Behaviour Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emre Kul
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aparajita Bose
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Neurologie, Ammerland-Klinik GmbH, Westerstede, Germany
| | - Francisco José Martínez-Martínez
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Funcional i Antropologia Física, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Oliver Stork
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Fernando Martínez-García
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, Castelló, Spain
| | - Enrique Lanuza
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Funcional i Antropologia Física, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Mónica Santos
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. .,CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculdade de Medicina, pólo I, 2º andar, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Carmen Agustín-Pavón
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació Neuroanatomia Funcional, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Funcional i Antropologia Física, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
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39
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Yaseen A, Shrivastava K, Zuri Z, Hatoum OA, Maroun M. Prefrontal Oxytocin is Involved in Impairments in Prefrontal Plasticity and Social Memory Following Acute Exposure to High Fat Diet in Juvenile Animals. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1900-1909. [PMID: 29608644 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Juvenility represents a critical developmental phase during which exposure to a high fat diet (HFD) can severely modify cognitive and emotional functioning. The purpose of this study was to address how short and acute exposure to a HFD during juvenility affects social memory recognition and prefrontal long-term potentiation (LTP). As LTP and social memory depend on the neuromodulator oxytocin (OXY) and due to its role in metabolism, we also examined the effects of OXY in mediating HFD-induced alterations in social memory and LTP. Our results show that short exposure to a HFD during juvenility impairs social preference memory and prefrontal LTP. Interestingly, whereas systemic injections of OXY reversed the impairments in HFD-fed animals and impaired LTP and memory in control animals; prefrontal injections of the OXY agonist TGOT reversed the effects in HFD animals without affecting control animals. Exposure to HFD was associated with a reduction in the levels of OXY in the prefrontal compared to control animals. Interestingly, the restoration of social memory by TGOT in HFD animals was also associated with normalization of OXY in the prefrontal. These results point to a role that prefrontal OXY has in mediating the effects of HFD on memory and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseel Yaseen
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kuldeep Shrivastava
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Zohar Zuri
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ossama A Hatoum
- Department of Surgery B-HaEmek Medical Center in Afula and Faculty of Medicine, Technion: Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mouna Maroun
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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40
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Albert-Gascó H, Ros-Bernal F, Castillo-Gómez E, Olucha-Bordonau FE. MAP/ERK Signaling in Developing Cognitive and Emotional Function and Its Effect on Pathological and Neurodegenerative Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4471. [PMID: 32586047 PMCID: PMC7352860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The signaling pathway of the microtubule-associated protein kinase or extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) is a common mechanism of extracellular information transduction from extracellular stimuli to the intracellular space. The transduction of information leads to changes in the ongoing metabolic pathways and the modification of gene expression patterns. In the central nervous system, ERK is expressed ubiquitously, both temporally and spatially. As for the temporal ubiquity, this signaling system participates in three key moments: (i) Embryonic development; (ii) the early postnatal period; and iii) adulthood. During embryonic development, the system is partly responsible for the patterning of segmentation in the encephalic vesicle through the FGF8-ERK pathway. In addition, during this period, ERK directs neurogenesis migration and the final fate of neural progenitors. During the early postnatal period, ERK participates in the maturation process of dendritic trees and synaptogenesis. During adulthood, ERK participates in social and emotional behavior and memory processes, including long-term potentiation. Alterations in mechanisms related to ERK are associated with different pathological outcomes. Genetic alterations in any component of the ERK pathway result in pathologies associated with neural crest derivatives and mental dysfunctions associated with autism spectrum disorders. The MAP-ERK pathway is a key element of the neuroinflammatory pathway triggered by glial cells during the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as prionic diseases. The process triggered by MAPK/ERK activation depends on the stage of development (mature or senescence), the type of cellular element in which the pathway is activated, and the anatomic neural structure. However, extensive gaps exist with regards to the targets of the phosphorylated ERK in many of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Albert-Gascó
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK;
| | - Francisco Ros-Bernal
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
| | - Esther Castillo-Gómez
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco E. Olucha-Bordonau
- U.P Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain; (F.R.-B.); (E.C.-G.)
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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41
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Abstract
Resilience - a key topic in clinical science and practice - still lacks a clear conceptualization that integrates its evolutionary and human-specific features, refrains from exclusive focus on fear physiology, incorporates a developmental approach, and, most importantly, is not based on the negation (i.e., absence of symptoms following trauma). Building on the initial condition of mammals, whose brain matures in the context of the mother's body and caregiving behavior, we argue that systems and processes that participate in tuning the brain to the social ecology and adapting to its hardships mark the construct of resilience. These include the oxytocin system, the affiliative brain, and biobehavioral synchrony, all characterized by great flexibility across phylogenesis and ontogenesis. Three core features of resilience are outlined: plasticity, sociality and meaning. Mechanisms of sociality by which coordinated action supports diversity, endurance and adaptation are described across animal evolution. Humans' biobehavioral synchrony matures from maternal attuned behavior in the postpartum to adult-adult relationships of empathy, perspective-taking and intimacy, and extends from the mother-child relationship to other affiliative bonds throughout life, charting a fundamental trajectory in the development of resilience. Findings from three high-risk cohorts, each tapping a distinct disruption to maternal-infant bonding (prematurity, maternal depression, and early life stress/trauma), and followed from birth to adolescence/young adulthood, demonstrate how components of the neurobiology of affiliation confer resilience and uniquely shape the social brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Feldman
- Interdisciplinary CenterHerzliyaIsrael,Yale Child Study CenterUniversity of YaleNew HavenCTUSA
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42
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Hernandez LM, Lawrence KE, Padgaonkar NT, Inada M, Hoekstra JN, Lowe JK, Eilbott J, Jack A, Aylward E, Gaab N, Van Horn JD, Bernier RA, McPartland JC, Webb SJ, Pelphrey KA, Green SA, Geschwind DH, Bookheimer SY, Dapretto M. Imaging-genetics of sex differences in ASD: distinct effects of OXTR variants on brain connectivity. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:82. [PMID: 32127526 PMCID: PMC7054353 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0750-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in males than in females, but the neurobiological mechanisms that give rise to this sex-bias are poorly understood. The female protective hypothesis suggests that the manifestation of ASD in females requires higher cumulative genetic and environmental risk relative to males. Here, we test this hypothesis by assessing the additive impact of several ASD-associated OXTR variants on reward network resting-state functional connectivity in males and females with and without ASD, and explore how genotype, sex, and diagnosis relate to heterogeneity in neuroendophenotypes. Females with ASD who carried a greater number of ASD-associated risk alleles in the OXTR gene showed greater functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAcc; hub of the reward network) and subcortical brain areas important for motor learning. Relative to males with ASD, females with ASD and higher OXTR risk-allele-dosage showed increased connectivity between the NAcc, subcortical regions, and prefrontal brain areas involved in mentalizing. This increased connectivity between NAcc and prefrontal cortex mirrored the relationship between genetic risk and brain connectivity observed in neurotypical males showing that, under increased OXTR genetic risk load, females with ASD and neurotypical males displayed increased connectivity between reward-related brain regions and prefrontal cortex. These results indicate that females with ASD differentially modulate the effects of increased genetic risk on brain connectivity relative to males with ASD, providing new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms through which the female protective effect may manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanna M Hernandez
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Katherine E Lawrence
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - N Tanya Padgaonkar
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Marisa Inada
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jackson N Hoekstra
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jennifer K Lowe
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jeffrey Eilbott
- Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Allison Jack
- Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Aylward
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John D Van Horn
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Sara J Webb
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shulamite A Green
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Susan Y Bookheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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43
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Sakano H. Developmental regulation of olfactory circuit formation in mice. Dev Growth Differ 2020; 62:199-213. [PMID: 32112394 PMCID: PMC7318115 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, odorants induce various behavioral responses that are critical to the survival of the individual and species. Binding signals of odorants to odorant receptors (ORs) expressed in the olfactory epithelia are converted to an odor map, a pattern of activated glomeruli, in the olfactory bulb (OB). This topographic map is used to identify odorants for memory‐based learned decisions. In the embryo, a coarse olfactory map is generated in the OB by a combination of dorsal‐ventral and anterior‐posterior targeting of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), using specific sets of axon‐guidance molecules. During the process of OSN projection, odor signals are sorted into distinct odor qualities in separate functional domains in the OB. Odor information is then conveyed by the projection neurons, mitral/tufted cells, to various regions in the olfactory cortex, particularly to the amygdala for innate olfactory decisions. Although the basic architecture of hard‐wired circuits is generated by a genetic program, innate olfactory responses are modified by neonatal odor experience in an activity‐dependent manner. Stimulus‐driven OR activity promotes post‐synaptic events and dendrite selection in the responding glomeruli making them larger. As a result, enhanced odor inputs in neonates establish imprinted olfactory memory that induces attractive responses in adults, even when the odor quality is innately aversive. In this paper, I will provide an overview of the recent progress made in the olfactory circuit formation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Sakano
- Department of Brain Function, School of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
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44
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Modi ME, Sahin M. A unified circuit for social behavior. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 165:106920. [PMID: 30149055 PMCID: PMC6387844 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in circuit manipulation technologies have enabled the association of distinct neural circuits with complex social behaviors. The brain areas identified through historical anatomical characterizations as mediators of sexual and parental behaviors can now be functionally linked to adult social behaviors within a unified circuit. In vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics and chemogenetics have been used to follow the processing of social sensory stimuli from perception by the olfactory system to valence detection by the amygdala and mesolimbic dopamine system to integration by the cerebral and cerebellar cortices under modulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides. Further, these techniques have been able to identify the distinct functional changes induced by social as opposed to non-social stimuli. Together this evidence suggests that there is a distinct, functionally coupled circuit that is selectively activated by social stimuli. A unified social circuit provides a new framework against which synaptopathic autism related mutations can be considered and novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera E Modi
- Translational Neuroscience Center, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Translational Neuroscience Center, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States.
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45
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Abstract
Love is one of our most powerful emotions, inspiring some of the greatest art, literature and conquests of human history. Although aspects of love are surely unique to our species, human romantic relationships are displays of a mating system characterized by pair bonding, likely built on ancient foundational neural mechanisms governing individual recognition, social reward, territorial behaviour and maternal nurturing. Studies in monogamous prairie voles and mice have revealed precise neural mechanisms regulating processes essential for the pair bond. Here, we discuss current viewpoints on the biology underlying pair bond formation, its maintenance and associated behaviours from neural and evolutionary perspectives.
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46
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Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene polymorphisms and recognition memory for emotional and neutral faces: A pilot study. LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2019.101577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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47
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Clinical potential of oxytocin in autism spectrum disorder: current issues and future perspectives. Behav Pharmacol 2019; 29:1-12. [PMID: 28857771 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The effects of oxytocin on social cognition and behavior have recently attracted considerable attention. In particular, oxytocin has been proposed as a novel therapeutic for psychiatric disorders with social deficits such as autism spectrum disorders. This review provides a brief overview of behavioral and neural responses to oxytocin manipulations in humans and animal models. Although the differences in findings between human and animal studies should be interpreted carefully, shared behavioral phenotypes have been recognized, such as social bonding, social responses, and recognition and usage of social cues. Previous literature suggests that the neural effects of oxytocin in humans and animals overlap in the prefrontal, limbic, and paralimbic cortices. Oxytocin-induced alterations in these regions may indicate a fundamental basis for how oxytocin modulates social behaviors and facilitate the discovery of new pharmaceutical targets for treating social deficits.
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Matthews GA, Tye KM. Neural mechanisms of social homeostasis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1457:5-25. [PMID: 30875095 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Social connections are vital to survival throughout the animal kingdom and are dynamic across the life span. There are debilitating consequences of social isolation and loneliness, and social support is increasingly a primary consideration in health care, disease prevention, and recovery. Considering social connection as an "innate need," it is hypothesized that evolutionarily conserved neural systems underlie the maintenance of social connections: alerting the individual to their absence and coordinating effector mechanisms to restore social contact. This is reminiscent of a homeostatic system designed to maintain social connection. Here, we explore the identity of neural systems regulating "social homeostasis." We review findings from rodent studies evaluating the rapid response to social deficit (in the form of acute social isolation) and propose that parallel, overlapping circuits are engaged to adapt to the vulnerabilities of isolation and restore social connection. By considering the neural systems regulating other homeostatic needs, such as energy and fluid balance, we discuss the potential attributes of social homeostatic circuitry. We reason that uncovering the identity of these circuits/mechanisms will facilitate our understanding of how loneliness perpetuates long-term disease states, which we speculate may result from sustained recruitment of social homeostatic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian A Matthews
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kay M Tye
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, La Jolla, California
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Rigo P, Kim P, Esposito G, Putnick DL, Venuti P, Bornstein MH. Specific maternal brain responses to their own child's face: An fMRI meta-analysis. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2019; 51:58-69. [PMID: 30872887 PMCID: PMC6411077 DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rigo
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Diane L. Putnick
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paola Venuti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marc H. Bornstein
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Institute for Fiscal Studies, London, UK
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Acute and long-lasting effects of oxytocin in cortico-limbic circuits: consequences for fear recall and extinction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:339-354. [PMID: 30302511 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5030-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The extinction of conditioned fear responses entrains the formation of safe new memories to decrease those behavioral responses. The knowledge in neuronal mechanisms of extinction is fundamental in the treatment of anxiety and fear disorders. Interestingly, the use of pharmacological compounds that reduce anxiety and fear has been shown as a potent co-adjuvant in extinction therapy. However, the efficiency and mechanisms by which pharmacological compounds promote extinction of fear memories remains still largely unknown and would benefit from a validation based on functional neuronal circuits, and the neurotransmitters that modulate them. From this perspective, oxytocin receptor signaling, which has been shown in cortical and limbic areas to modulate numerous functions (Eliava et al. Neuron 89(6):1291-1304, 2016), among them fear and anxiety circuits, and to enhance the salience of social stimuli (Stoop Neuron 76(1):142-59, 2012), may offer an interesting perspective. Experiments in animals and humans suggest that oxytocin could be a promising pharmacological agent at adjusting memory consolidation to boost fear extinction. Additionally, it is possible that long-term changes in endogenous oxytocin signaling can also play a role in reducing expression of fear at different brain targets. In this review, we summarize the effects reported for oxytocin in cortico-limbic circuits and on fear behavior that are of relevance for the modulation and potential extinction of fear memories.
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