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Zhang J, Jin K, Chen B, Cheng S, Jin J, Yang X, Lu J, Song Q. Sex-dimorphic functions of orexin in neuropsychiatric disorders. Heliyon 2024; 10:e36402. [PMID: 39253145 PMCID: PMC11382083 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The orexin system regulates a variety of physiological functions, including the sleep-wake cycle, addiction, foraging behavior, stress and cognitive functioning. Orexin levels in central and peripheral are related to the pathogenesis of many diseases, most notably the narcolepsy, eating disorders, stress-related psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, it has been reported that the orexin system is distinctly sexually dimorphic, and is strongly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we analyzed advancements in the sex differences in the orexin system and their connection to psychoneurological conditions. Considering the scarcity of research in this domain, more research is imperative to reveal the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Kangyu Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Shangping Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jinfan Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, China
| | - Xiaolan Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Qinghai Song
- Department of Psychiatry, Lishui Second People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, China
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2
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Luo PX, Serna Godoy A, Zakharenkov HC, Vang N, Wright EC, Balantac TA, Archdeacon SC, Black AM, Lake AA, Ramirez AV, Lozier LE, Perez MD, Bhangal I, Desta NM, Trainor BC. Hypocretin in the nucleus accumbens shell modulates social approach in female but not male California mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01937-9. [PMID: 39117901 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01937-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The hypocretin (Hcrt) system modulates arousal and anxiety-related behaviors and has been considered as a novel treatment target for stress-related affective disorders. We examined the effects of Hcrt acting in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) and anterodorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (adBNST) on social behavior in male and female California mice (Peromyscus californicus). In female but not male California mice, infusion of Hcrt1 into NAcSh decreased social approach. Weak effects of Hcrt1 on social vigilance were observed in both females and males. No behavioral effects of Hcrt1 infused into the adBNST were observed. Analyses of sequencing data from California mice and Mus musculus NAc showed that Hcrtr2 was more abundant than Hcrtr1, so we infused the selective Hcrt receptor 2 antagonist into the NAcSh, which increased social approach in females previously exposed to social defeat. A calcium imaging study in the NAcSh of females before and after stress exposure showed that neural activity increased immediately following the expression of social avoidance but not during freezing behavior. This observation is consistent with previous studies that identified populations of neurons in the NAc that drive avoidance. Intriguingly, calcium transients were not affected by stress. These data suggest that hypocretin acting in the NAcSh plays a key role in modulating stress-induced social avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei X Luo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Nou Vang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Emily C Wright
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Alexis M Black
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa A Lake
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alison V Ramirez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lauren E Lozier
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Melvin D Perez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Irvin Bhangal
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nile M Desta
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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3
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Clark PJ, Brodnik ZD, España RA. Chemogenetic Signaling in Space and Time: Considerations for Designing Neuroscience Experiments Using DREADDs. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:328-346. [PMID: 36408535 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221134587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The use of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has led to significant advances in our understanding of the neural circuits that govern behavior. By allowing selective control over cellular activity and signaling, DREADDs have become an integral tool for defining the pathways and cellular phenotypes that regulate sleep, pain, motor activity, goal-directed behaviors, and a variety of other processes. In this review, we provide a brief overview of DREADDs and discuss notable discoveries in the neurosciences with an emphasis on circuit mechanisms. We then highlight methodological approaches to achieve pathway specific activation of DREADDs. Finally, we discuss spatial and temporal constraints of DREADDs signaling and how these features can be incorporated into experimental designs to precisely dissect circuits of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Clark
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zachary D Brodnik
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rodrigo A España
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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4
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Bohid S, Ali LK, Romero-Leguizamón CR, Langkilde AE, Dos Santos AB, Kohlmeier KA. Sex-dependent effects of monomeric α-synuclein on calcium and cell death of lateral hypothalamic mouse neurons are altered by orexin. Mol Cell Neurosci 2024; 129:103934. [PMID: 38701995 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2024.103934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients experience sleeping disorders in addition to the disease-defining symptomology of movement dysfunctions. The prevalence of PD is sex-based and presence of sleeping disorders in PD also shows sex bias with a stronger phenotype in males. In addition to loss of dopamine-containing neurons in the striatum, arousal-related, orexin-containing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) are lost in PD, which could contribute to state-related disorders. As orexin has been shown to be involved in sleeping disorders and to have neuroprotective effects, we asked whether orexin could protect sleep-related LH neurons from damage putatively from the protein α-synuclein (α-syn), which is found at high levels in the PD brain and that we have shown is associated with putatively excitotoxic rises in intracellular calcium in brainstem sleep-controlling nuclei, especially in males. Accordingly, we monitored intracellular calcium transients induced by α-syn and whether concurrent exposure to orexin affected those transients in LH cells of the mouse brain slice using calcium imaging. Further, we used an assay of cell death to determine whether LH cell viability was influenced when α-syn and orexin were co-applied when compared to exposure to α-syn alone. We found that excitatory calcium events induced by α-syn were reduced in amplitude and frequency when orexin was co-applied, and when data were evaluated by sex, this effect was found to be greater in females. In addition, α-syn exposure was associated with cell death that was higher in males, and interestingly, reduced cell death was noted when orexin was present, which did not show a sex bias. We interpret our findings to indicate that orexin is protective to α-syn-mediated damage to hypothalamic neurons, and the actions of orexin on α-syn-induced cellular effects differ between sexes, which could underlie sex-based differences in sleeping disorders in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bohid
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lara Kamal Ali
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cesar Ramon Romero-Leguizamón
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Annette E Langkilde
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Altair Brito Dos Santos
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristi A Kohlmeier
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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5
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Campbell HM, Guo JD, Kuhn CM. Applying the Research Domain Criteria to Rodent Studies of Sex Differences in Chronic Stress Susceptibility. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01351-9. [PMID: 38821193 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.05.016] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Women have a 2-fold increased rate of stress-associated psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, but the mechanisms that underlie this increased susceptibility remain incompletely understood. Historically, female subjects were excluded from preclinical studies and clinical trials. Additionally, chronic stress paradigms used to study psychiatric pathology in animal models were developed for use in males. However, recent changes in National Institutes of Health policy encourage inclusion of female subjects, and considerable work has been performed in recent years to understand biological sex differences that may underlie differences in susceptibility to chronic stress-associated psychiatric conditions. Here, we review the utility as well as current challenges of using the framework of the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria as a transdiagnostic approach to study sex differences in rodent models of chronic stress including recent progress in the study of sex differences in the neurobehavioral domains of negative valence, positive valence, cognition, social processes, and arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Campbell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jessica D Guo
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Cynthia M Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
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Li H, Chen X, Dong J, Liu R, Duan J, Huang M, Hu S, Lu J. A direct estrogenic involvement in the expression of human hypocretin. Life Sci 2024; 344:122581. [PMID: 38514004 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122581] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Hypocretin is synthesized exclusively in the hypothalamus and distributes inputs to several areas of the brain, which may play an important role in depression. Our previous study showed that hypocretin-1 was increased in the lateral hypothalamus in female patients with depression compared to female controls. Estrogen acts through estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ. We studied the possibility of a direct action of estrogen receptors on the expression of human hypocretin. We found that hypocretin-1 plasma levels were significantly higher in female patients with depression than in female controls. Female depression estrogen receptors and hypocretin are colocalized in the human lateral hypothalamus, PC12, and SK-N-SH cells. The estrogen receptor response elements (ERE) that exist in the hypocretin promoter region may directly regulate the gene expression of hypocretin. The synchronicity of change of hypocretin and estradiol both in hypothalamus and plasma was verified in female rats. In the presence of estradiol, specific binding occurs between the recombinant human ER and hypocretin-ERE. Expression of ER combined with estradiol repressed hypocretin promoter activity via the ERE. In conclusion, we found that estradiol may directly affect hypocretin neurons in the human hypothalamus via ER binding to the hypocretin-ERE, which may lead to the sex-specific pathogenesis of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haimei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precision Psychiatry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Xinlu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, East Qingchun Road 3#, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Jingyi Dong
- College of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ripeng Liu
- College of First Clinical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jinfeng Duan
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precision Psychiatry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Manli Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precision Psychiatry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Shaohua Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precision Psychiatry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precision Psychiatry, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
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7
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Sérgio Galina Spilla C, Luiza Decanini Miranda de Souza A, Maria Guissoni Campos L, da Silveira Cruz-Machado S, Pinato L. LPS-induced inflammation in rats during pregnancy reduces maternal melatonin and impairs neurochemistry and behavior of adult male offspring. Brain Res 2024; 1824:148692. [PMID: 38036237 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148692] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation during pregnancy can induce neurodevelopmental changes that affect the neurological health of offspring. Elevated levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines have been shown to decrease nocturnal melatonin synthesis by the pineal gland, potentially impacting fetal development. This study aimed to assess the effects of LPS-induced inflammation on melatonin concentrations in the plasma of pregnant female rats and explore resulting neurochemical and behavioral changes in their offspring. Our findings revealed that pregnant rats injected with LPS experienced decreased nocturnal melatonin levels in their plasma, with an increase in diurnal melatonin content. The offspring exhibited reduced performance in tests evaluating motor coordination and spatial memory compared to control subjects. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated a decline in calbindin immunoreactivity in Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Additionally, the hippocampus displayed an increase in IBA-1 and calretinin expression, coupled with a reduction in parvalbumin expression in the offspring of the LPS group. Collectively, this study provides compelling evidence that an inflammatory state can lead to a reduction in melatonin synthesis in pregnant females, potentially impacting the neurodevelopment of offspring, including neuronal, glial, motor, and cognitive aspects. Subsequent studies will further elucidate the mechanisms underlying inflammation-induced maternal melatonin reduction and its impact on offspring neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Luciana Pinato
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Marília, São Paulo 17525-900, Brazil.
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Cheng H, Dagnew TM, Xu Y, Wang C. Synthesis and Characterization of a New Carbon-11 Labeled Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracer for Orexin 2 Receptors Neuroimaging. Drug Des Devel Ther 2024; 18:215-222. [PMID: 38312991 PMCID: PMC10838518 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s404992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Orexin receptors (OXRs) play a crucial role in modulating various physiological and neuropsychiatric functions within the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their significance, the precise role of OXRs in the brain remains elusive. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is instrumental in unraveling CNS functions, and the development of specific PET tracers for OXRs is a current research focus. Methods The study investigated MDK-5220, an OX2R-selective agonist with promising binding properties (EC50 on OX2R: 0.023 μM, Ki on hOX2R: 0.14 μM). Synthesized and characterized as an OX2R PET probe, [11C]MDK-5220 was evaluated for its potential as a tracer. Biodistribution studies in mice were conducted to assess OX2R binding selectivity, with particular attention to its interaction with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the blood-brain barrier. Results [11C]MDK-5220 exhibited promising attributes as an OX2R PET probe, demonstrating robust OX2R binding selectivity in biodistribution studies. However, an observed interaction with P-gp impacted its brain uptake. Despite this limitation, [11C]MDK-5220 presents itself as a potential candidate for further development. Discussion The study provides insights into the functionality of the OX system and the potential of [11C]MDK-5220 as an OX2R PET probe. The observed interaction with P-gp highlights a consideration for future modifications to enhance brain uptake. The findings pave the way for innovative tracer development and propel ongoing research on OX systems, contributing to a deeper understanding of their role in the CNS. Conclusion [11C]MDK-5220 emerges as a promising OX2R PET probe, despite challenges related to P-gp interaction. This study lays the foundation for further exploration and development of PET probes targeting OXRs, opening avenues for advancing our understanding of OX system functionality within the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Yongle Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Hua Cheng
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Tewodros Mulugeta Dagnew
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Yulong Xu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Changning Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
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9
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Faesel N, Koch M, Fendt M. Orexin deficiency modulates the dipsogenic effects of angiotensin II in a sex-dependent manner. Peptides 2024; 171:171127. [PMID: 38043589 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.171127] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system is an important regulator of ingestive behaviors, i.e., it promotes food and water intake. Here, we investigated the role of orexin in drinking induced by the potent dipsogen angiotensin II (ANG II). Specifically, male and female orexin-deficient mice received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of ANG II, followed by measuring their water intake within 15 min. We found that lower doses of ANG II (100 ng) significantly stimulated drinking in males but not in females, indicating a general sex-dependent effect that was not affected by orexin deficiency. However, higher doses of ANG II (500 ng) were sufficient to induce drinking in female wild-type mice, while female orexin-deficient mice still did not respond to the dipsogenic properties of ANG II. In conclusion, these results suggest sex-dependent effects in ANG II-induced drinking and further support the sexual dimorphism of orexin system functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Faesel
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Neuropharmacology, Brain Research Institute, University of Bremen, Hochschulring 18, D-28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Michael Koch
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Brain Research Institute, University of Bremen, Hochschulring 18, D-28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
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10
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Ravaglia IC, Jasodanand V, Bhatnagar S, Grafe LA. Sex differences in body temperature and neural power spectra in response to repeated restraint stress. Stress 2024; 27:2320780. [PMID: 38414377 PMCID: PMC10989713 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2320780] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Repeated stress is associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is more common in women, yet the neurobiology behind this sex difference is unknown. Habituation to repeated stress is impaired in PTSD, and recent preclinical studies have shown that female rats do not habituate as fully as male rats to repeated stress, which leads to impairments in cognition and sleep. Further research should examine sex differences after repeated stress in other relevant measures, such as body temperature and neural activity. In this study, we analyzed core body temperature and EEG power spectra in adult male and female rats during restraint, as well as during sleep transitions following stress. We found that core body temperature of male rats habituated to repeated restraint more fully than female rats. Additionally, we found that females had a higher average beta band power than males on both days of restraint, indicating higher levels of arousal. Lastly, we observed that females had lower delta band power than males during sleep transitions on Day 1 of restraint, however, females demonstrated higher delta band power than males by Day 5 of restraint. This suggests that it may take females longer to initiate sleep recovery compared with males. These findings indicate that there are differences in the physiological and neural processes of males and females after repeated stress. Understanding the way that the stress response is regulated in both sexes can provide insight into individualized treatment for stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- IC Ravaglia
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
| | - V Jasodanand
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
| | - S Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - LA Grafe
- Bryn Mawr College, Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
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Aguirre López LO, Cuéllar Pérez JR, Santerre A, Moreno YS, Hernández De Anda Y, Bañuelos Pineda J. Effect of consumption of blue maize tortilla on anxiety-like behaviour, learning, memory and hippocampal BDNF expression in a chronic stress model in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2023; 26:1058-1067. [PMID: 36173025 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2022.2126757] [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] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pigmented maize consumption is of much interest because of its high anthocyanin content and multiple health benefits. OBJETIVES This study was aimed to assess the effect of consuming blue maize tortillas on the anxiolytic capacity, preserve emotional memory, and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic stress. METHODS Sixty-four 3-month-old male Wistar rats were used, divided into eight groups (n = 8). Four groups were subjected to chronic stress by movement restriction (7 h/daily/7 consecutive days) and the remaining four groups were subjected to standard management. The treatments were commercial food, blue tortilla, anthocyanin extract, or white tortilla, administered for nine weeks to stressed or unstressed animals. In the eighth week, the animals were subjected to the restraint stress model. Subsequently, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed using the elevated plus-maze, and memory and emotional learning were evaluated by the step-down passive avoidance test. The animals were then sacrificed to quantify the relative expression of hippocampal BDNF by RT-qPCR. RESULTS The consumption of anthocyanin extract or tortilla made with blue corn decreased anxiety-like behaviours, additionally, it improved the ability to retain emotionally relevant information, and it upregulated BDNF mRNA expression. PERSPECTIVE Thus, the analyse of the impact of blue tortilla consumption on the nervous system is now necessary to guarantee the nutraceutical value of this food.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne Santerre
- Laboratorio de Biomarcadores Moleculares en Biomedicina y Ecología, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, México
| | - Yolanda Salinas Moreno
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Tepatitlán, México
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Frasier RM, De Oliveira Sergio T, Starski PA, Grippo AJ, Hopf FW. Heart rate variability measures indicating sex differences in autonomic regulation during anxiety-like behavior in rats. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1244389. [PMID: 38025424 PMCID: PMC10644002 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mental health conditions remain a substantial and costly challenge to society, especially in women since they have nearly twice the prevalence of anxiety disorders. However, critical mechanisms underlying sex differences remain incompletely understood. Measures of cardiac function, including heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), reflect balance between sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) systems and are potential biomarkers for pathological states. Methods To better understand sex differences in anxiety-related autonomic mechanisms, we examined HR/HRV telemetry in food-restricted adult rats during novelty suppression of feeding (NSF), with conflict between food under bright light in the arena center. To assess HRV, we calculated the SDNN (reflective of both SNS and PNS contribution) and rMSSD (reflective of PNS contribution) and compared these metrics to behaviors within the anxiety task. Results Females had greater HR and lower SNS indicators at baseline, as in humans. Further, females (but not males) with higher basal HR carried this state into NSF, delaying first approach to center. In contrast, males with lower SNS measures approached and spent more time in the brightly-lit center. Further, females with lower SNS indicators consumed significantly more food. In males, a high-SNS subpopulation consumed no food. Among consumers, males with greater SNS ate more food. Discussion Together, these are congruent with human findings suggesting women engage PNS more, and men SNS more. Our previous behavior-only work also observed female differences from males during initial movement and food intake. Thus, high basal SNS in females reduced behavior early in NSF, while subsequent reduced SNS allowed greater food intake. In males, lower SNS increased engagement with arena center, but greater SNS predicted higher consumption. Our findings show novel and likely clinically relevant sex differences in HRV-behavior relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raizel M. Frasier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | | | - Phillip A. Starski
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States
| | - F. Woodward Hopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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13
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Koszałka A, Lustyk K, Pytka K. Sex-dependent differences in animal cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105374. [PMID: 37634555 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The differences in cognitive processes driven by biological sex are the issues that have gotten growing attention recently. Considering the increasing population suffering from various cognitive impairments and the development of therapeutic strategies, it is essential that we recognize the mechanisms responsible for discrepancies observed in male and female learning and memory functions. In this review, we discuss recent reports from preclinical studies on rodents regarding selected cognitive domains to explore the state of knowledge on sex-dependent differences and point to challenges encountered during such research. We focus on spatial, recognition, and emotional memory, as well as on executive functions, such as attention, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. This review will help to acknowledge sex-related differences in cognition and indicate some fields that lack sufficient data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Koszałka
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland; Jagiellonian University Medical College, Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Św. Łazarza 16, 31-530 Krakow, Poland
| | - Klaudia Lustyk
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Karolina Pytka
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
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14
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Somach RT, Jean ID, Farrugia AM, Cohen AS. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Affects Orexin/Hypocretin Physiology Differently in Male and Female Mice. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:2146-2163. [PMID: 37476962 PMCID: PMC10701510 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0125] [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] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to affect the physiology of neural circuits in several brain regions, which can contribute to behavioral changes after injury. Disordered sleep is a behavior that is often seen after TBI, but there is little research into how injury affects the circuitry that contributes to disrupted sleep regulation. Orexin/hypocretin neurons (hereafter referred to as orexin neurons) located in the lateral hypothalamus normally stabilize wakefulness in healthy animals and have been suggested as a source of dysregulated sleep behavior. Despite this, few studies have examined how TBI affects orexin neuron circuitry. Further, almost no animal studies of orexin neurons after TBI have included female animals. Here, we address these gaps by studying changes to orexin physiology using ex vivo acute brain slices and whole-cell patch clamp recording. We hypothesized that orexin neurons would have reduced afferent excitatory activity after injury. Ultimately, this hypothesis was supported but there were additional physiological changes that occurred that we did not originally hypothesize. We studied physiological properties in orexin neurons approximately 1 week after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in 6-8-week-old male and female mice. mTBI was performed with a lateral fluid percussion injury between 1.4 and 1.6 atmospheres. Mild TBI increased the size of action potential afterhyperpolarization in orexin neurons from female mice, but not male mice and reduced the action potential threshold in male mice, but not in female mice. Mild TBI reduced afferent excitatory activity and increased afferent inhibitory activity onto orexin neurons. Alterations in afferent excitatory activity occurred in different parameters in male and female animals. The increased afferent inhibitory activity after injury is more pronounced in recordings from female animals. Our results indicate that mTBI changes the physiology of orexin neuron circuitry and that these changes are not the same in male and female animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T. Somach
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ian D. Jean
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anthony M. Farrugia
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Akiva S. Cohen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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15
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Zamanirad F, Fattahi M, Amirteymori H, Mousavi Z, Haghparast A. The role of orexin-1 receptors within the ventral tegmental area in the extinction and reinstatement of methamphetamine place preference. Behav Brain Res 2023; 453:114608. [PMID: 37532004 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114608] [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: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Targeting the orexin system has recently been identified as one of the promising options for treating drug addiction. It may be more feasible and achievable if we investigate the accurate function of the orexin system in brain areas implicated in reward and addiction, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by animal reward models. This study investigated the contribution of the orexin system, mainly the orexin-1 receptors (OX1R) in the VTA, in the extinction and reinstatement of methamphetamine (METH) related memories in the conditioned place preference (CPP) model. Animals after the acquisition of METH place preference were subjected to two separate sets of extinction and reinstatement experiments to receive various concentrations of selective OX1R antagonist, SB334867 into the bilateral VTA before extinction sessions (1, 3, and 10 nmol/0.3 μl DMSO per side) or only on the reinstatement phase (3, 10, and 30 nmol/0.3 μl DMSO per side), respectively. Intra-VTA infusion of SB334867 throughout the extinction phase could remarkably facilitate the extinction process and decrease the maintenance of reinforcing effects of METH at the highest dosage (10 nmol; p < 0.0001). Data also indicated a single microinfusion of SB334867 into the VTA before reinstatement of the METH-seeking behavior could considerably prevent the relapse of previously formed reward-context memories (10 nmol; p < 0.01 and 30 nmol; p < 0.001). The present study provided evidence supporting the potential therapeutic effects of the orexin system modulation, specifically in the VTA, on different stages of METH-induced place preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdos Zamanirad
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Mojdeh Fattahi
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Haleh Amirteymori
- Neurophysiology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Zahra Mousavi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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16
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Kim LJ, Pho H, Anokye-Danso F, Ahima RS, Pham LV, Polotsky VY. The effect of diet-induced obesity on sleep and breathing in female mice. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad158. [PMID: 37262435 PMCID: PMC10424169 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and male sex are main risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). We have shown that male diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice develop hypoventilation, sleep apnea, and sleep fragmentation. The effects of DIO on breathing and sleep architecture in females have not been investigated. We hypothesized that female mice are less susceptible to the detrimental effects of DIO on sleep and SDB compared to males. Female DIO-C57BL/6J and lean C57BL/6J mice underwent 24-hour metabolic studies and were exposed to 8% CO2 to measure the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR), and sleep studies. Ventilatory response to arousals was calculated as ratio of the average and peak minute ventilation (VE) during each arousal relative to the baseline VE. Breathing stability was measured with Poincaré plots of VE. Female obesity was associated with decreased metabolism, indicated by reduced oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2). VE in 8% CO2 and HCVR were significantly attenuated during wakefulness. NREM sleep duration was reduced in DIO mice, but REM sleep was preserved. Ventilation during NREM and REM sleep was augmented compared to lean mice. Arousal frequency was similar between groups. Obesity increased the frequency of spontaneous arousals, whereas the apnea index was 4-fold reduced in DIO compared to lean mice. Obesity decreased pre- and post-apnea arousals. Obese mice had more stable breathing with reduced ventilatory response to arousals, compared to lean females. We conclude that obese female mice are protected against SDB, which appears to be related to an attenuated CO2 responsiveness, compared to the lean state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenise J Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Huy Pho
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frederick Anokye-Danso
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rexford S Ahima
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luu V Pham
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vsevolod Y Polotsky
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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17
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Dawson M, Terstege DJ, Jamani N, Tsutsui M, Pavlov D, Bugescu R, Epp JR, Leinninger GM, Sargin D. Hypocretin/orexin neurons encode social discrimination and exhibit a sex-dependent necessity for social interaction. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112815. [PMID: 37459234 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in the modulation of social behavior by encoding internal states. The hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons, initially identified as regulators of sleep and appetite, are important for emotional and motivated behaviors. However, their role in social behavior remains unclear. Using fiber photometry and behavioral analysis, we show here that hypocretin neurons differentially encode social discrimination based on the nature of social encounters. The optogenetic inhibition of hypocretin neuron activity or blocking of hcrt-1 receptors reduces the amount of time mice are engaged in social interaction in males but not in females. Reduced hcrt-1 receptor signaling during social interaction is associated with altered activity in the insular cortex and ventral tegmental area in males. Our data implicating hypocretin neurons as sexually dimorphic regulators within social networks have significant implications for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases with social dysfunction, particularly considering varying prevalence among sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dawson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Dylan J Terstege
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Naila Jamani
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mio Tsutsui
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Dmitrii Pavlov
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Raluca Bugescu
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jonathan R Epp
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gina M Leinninger
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Derya Sargin
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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18
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Luo F, Deng JY, Sun X, Zhen J, Luo XD. Anterior cingulate cortex orexin signaling mediates early-life stress-induced social impairment in females. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220353120. [PMID: 37155875 PMCID: PMC10193930 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220353120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress has long-term impacts on the structure and function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and raises the risk of adult neuropsychiatric disorders including social dysfunction. The underlying neural mechanisms, however, are still uncertain. Here, we show that, in female mice, maternal separation (MS) during the first three postnatal weeks results in social impairment accompanied with hypoactivity in pyramidal neurons (PNs) of the ACC. Activation of ACC PNs ameliorates MS-induced social impairment. Neuropeptide Hcrt, which encodes hypocretin (orexin), is the top down-regulated gene in the ACC of MS females. Activating ACC orexin terminals enhances the activity of ACC PNs and rescues the diminished sociability observed in MS females via an orexin receptor 2 (OxR2)-dependent mechanism. Our results suggest orexin signaling in the ACC is critical in mediating early-life stress-induced social impairment in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Luo
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang330031, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Yichun First municipal People’s Hospital, YiChun336000, China
| | - Jun-yang Deng
- Department of Psychiatry, Yichun First municipal People’s Hospital, YiChun336000, China
| | - Xuan Sun
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang330031, China
| | - Jian Zhen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang330031, China
| | - Xiao-dan Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yichun First municipal People’s Hospital, YiChun336000, China
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19
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Wright CJ, Milosavljevic S, Pocivavsek A. The stress of losing sleep: Sex-specific neurobiological outcomes. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 24:100543. [PMID: 37252645 PMCID: PMC10209346 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a vital and evolutionarily conserved process, critical to daily functioning and homeostatic balance. Losing sleep is inherently stressful and leads to numerous detrimental physiological outcomes. Despite sleep disturbances affecting everyone, women and female rodents are often excluded or underrepresented in clinical and pre-clinical studies. Advancing our understanding of the role of biological sex in the responses to sleep loss stands to greatly improve our ability to understand and treat health consequences of insufficient sleep. As such, this review discusses sex differences in response to sleep deprivation, with a focus on the sympathetic nervous system stress response and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We review sex differences in several stress-related consequences of sleep loss, including inflammation, learning and memory deficits, and mood related changes. Focusing on women's health, we discuss the effects of sleep deprivation during the peripartum period. In closing, we present neurobiological mechanisms, including the contribution of sex hormones, orexins, circadian timing systems, and astrocytic neuromodulation, that may underlie potential sex differences in sleep deprivation responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Pocivavsek
- Corresponding author. Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
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20
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Gancarz AM, Mitchell SH, George AM, Martin CD, Turk MC, Bool HM, Aktar F, Kwarteng F, Palmer AA, Meyer PJ, Richards JB, Dietz DM, Ishiwari K. Reward maximization assessed using a sequential patch depletion task in a large sample of heterogeneous stock rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7027. [PMID: 37120610 PMCID: PMC10148848 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34179-8] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Choice behavior requires animals to evaluate both short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of all potential alternatives. Impulsive choice is traditionally measured in laboratory tasks by utilizing delay discounting (DD), a paradigm that offers a choice between a smaller immediate reward, or a larger more delayed reward. This study tested a large sample of Heterogeneous Stock (HS) male (n = 896) and female (n = 898) rats, part of a larger genetic study, to investigate whether measures of reward maximization overlapped with traditional models of delay discounting via the patch depletion model using a Sequential Patch Depletion procedure. In this task, rats were offered a concurrent choice between two water "patches" and could elect to "stay" in the current patch or "leave" for an alternative patch. Staying in the current patch resulted in decreasing subsequent reward magnitudes, whereas the choice to leave a patch was followed by a delay and a resetting to the maximum reward magnitude. Based on the delay in a given session, different visit durations were necessary to obtain the maximum number of rewards. Visit duration may be analogous to an indifference point in traditional DD tasks. Males and females did not significantly differ on traditional measures of DD (e.g. delay gradient; AUC). When examining measures of patch utilization, females made fewer patch changes at all delays and spent more time in the patch before leaving for the alternative patch compared to males. Consistent with this, there was some evidence that females deviated from reward maximization more than males. However, when controlling for body weight, females had a higher normalized rate of reinforcement than males. Measures of reward maximization were only weakly associated with traditional DD measures and may represent distinctive underlying processes. Taken together, females performance differed from males with regard to reward maximization that were not observed utilizing traditional measures of DD, suggesting that the patch depletion model was more sensitive to modest sex differences when compared to traditional DD measures in a large sample of HS rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA.
| | - Suzanne H Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Anthony M George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Marisa C Turk
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Heather M Bool
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Fahmida Aktar
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Francis Kwarteng
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Paul J Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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21
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Ten-Blanco M, Flores Á, Cristino L, Pereda-Pérez I, Berrendero F. Targeting the orexin/hypocretin system for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases: from animal to clinical studies. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 69:101066. [PMID: 37015302 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Orexins (also known as hypocretins) are neuropeptides located exclusively in hypothalamic neurons that have extensive projections throughout the central nervous system and bind two different G protein-coupled receptors (OX1R and OX2R). Since its discovery in 1998, the orexin system has gained the interest of the scientific community as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of different pathological conditions. Considering previous basic science research, a dual orexin receptor antagonist, suvorexant, was the first orexin agent to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat insomnia. In this review, we discuss and update the main preclinical and human studies involving the orexin system with several psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. This system constitutes a nice example of how basic scientific research driven by curiosity can be the best route to the generation of new and powerful pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Ten-Blanco
- Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - África Flores
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luigia Cristino
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), National Research Council (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Inmaculada Pereda-Pérez
- Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Berrendero
- Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
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22
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Wallace MB, Costa AN, Ferguson BJ, Carey MA, Rzeppa C, Kille BM, Drysdale DR, Sutton BE, Shuler BH, Johnson RP, Kwenda EP, Hadley J, Snyders W, Beversdorf DQ. Pilot Study of the Effects of Paced Breathing on Measures of Convergent and Divergent Thinking. Cogn Behav Neurol 2023; 36:28-41. [PMID: 36735330 DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability of the autonomic nervous system's stress response to impair aspects of cognitive flexibility is known. However, the ability to modulate the sympathetic response and improve these cognitive impairments via nonpharmacological intervention, such as paced breathing (PB), requires further investigation. OBJECTIVE To better elucidate the effects of PB on cognition. METHOD We employed a PB protocol in a total of 52 healthy men and women and measured performance on convergent and divergent cognitive tasks, perceived stress, and physiological measures (eg, blood pressure, heart rate). Participants attended two experimental sessions consisting of either PB or normal breathing followed by cognitive assessments including convergent (compound remote associate, anagram) and divergent (alternate use, fluency) tasks. Experiment 2 consisted of more difficult versions of cognitive tasks compared with Experiment 1. RESULTS In Experiment 1, PB significantly reduced the female participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure immediately after the breathing protocol without affecting their cognition. In Experiment 2, PB significantly reduced perceived stress immediately after the breathing protocol, regardless of sex. There was no effect on cognition in Experiment 2, but a correlation was observed between perceived stress change and anagram number solved change. CONCLUSION While PB modulates sympathetic activity in females, there was a lack of improvement in cognitive flexibility performance. At least for a single trial of PB, cognitive flexibility did not improve.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bradley J Ferguson
- Health Psychology and Radiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | | | | | - David R Drysdale
- Departments of Biology and Chemistry, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
- University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
| | | | - Brianne H Shuler
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ryan P Johnson
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Elizabeth P Kwenda
- Department of Urology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Department of Health Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
| | - Jamie Hadley
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Whitney Snyders
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver, Colorado
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
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Sex-dependent role of orexin deficiency in feeding behavior and affective state of mice following intermittent access to a Western diet - Implications for binge-like eating behavior. Physiol Behav 2023; 260:114069. [PMID: 36572152 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Binge eating disorder is a debilitating disease characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption and associated with psychiatric comorbidities. Despite a growing body of research investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of eating disorders, specific treatments are lacking. Given its fundamental role in feeding behaviors, we investigated the role of the orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system in binge-like eating and associated phenotypes. Specifically, we submitted female and male orexin-deficient mice to a paradigm of intermittent access (once weekly for 24 h) to a Western diet (WD) to induce binge-like eating. Additionally, we measured their anxiety-like behavior and plasma corticosterone levels. All mice showed binge-like eating in response to the intermittent WD access, but females did so to a greater extent than males. While orexin deficiency did not affect binge-like eating in this paradigm, we found that female orexin-deficient mice generally weighed more, and they expressed increased hypophagia and stress levels compared to wild-type mice following binge-like eating episodes. These detrimental effects of orexin deficiency were marginal or absent in males. Moreover, male wild-type mice expressed post-binge anxiety, but orexin-deficient mice did not. In conclusion, these results extend our knowledge of orexin's role in dysregulated eating and associated negative affective states, and contribute to the growing body of evidence indicating a sexual dimorphism of the orexin system. Considering that many human disorders, and especially eating disorders, have a strong sex bias, our findings further emphasize the importance of testing both female and male subjects.
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Dual Cannabinoid and Orexin Regulation of Anhedonic Behaviour Caused by Prolonged Restraint Stress. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020314. [PMID: 36831860 PMCID: PMC9954020 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020314] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid and orexin systems share many biological functions, including wakefulness, stress response, reward processing, and mood. While these systems work against one another with respect to arousal, chronic stress-induced downregulation of both systems often leads to anhedonia or the inability to experience pleasure from natural rewards. In the current study, a 24 h restraint stress test (24 h RST) reduced sucrose preference in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Prior to the stressor, subsets of mice were intraperitoneally administered cannabinoid and orexin receptor agonists, antagonists, and combinations of these drugs. Restraint mice that received the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) antagonist SR141716A, orexin receptor type 2 (OX2R) agonist YNT-185, and the combination of SR141716A and YNT-185, exhibited less anhedonia compared to vehicle/control mice. Thus, the 24 h RST likely decreased orexin signaling, which was then restored by YNT-185. Receptor colocalization analysis throughout mesocorticolimbic brain regions revealed increased CB1R-OX1R colocalization from SR141716A and YNT-185 treatments. Although a previous study from our group showed additive cataleptic effects between CP55,940 and the dual orexin receptor antagonist (TCS-1102), the opposite combination of pharmacological agents proved additive for sucrose preference. Taken together, these results reveal more of the complex interactions between the endocannabinoid and orexin systems.
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Gancarz AM, Mitchell SH, George AM, Martin CD, Turk MC, Bool HM, Aktar F, Kwarteng F, Palmer AA, Meyer PJ, Richards JB, Dietz DM, Isiwari K. Reward Maximization Assessed Using a Sequential Patch Depletion Task in a Large Sample of Heterogeneous Stock Rats. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2525080. [PMID: 36778344 PMCID: PMC9915773 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2525080/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Choice behavior requires animals to evaluate both short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of all potential alternatives. Impulsive choice is traditionally measured in laboratory tasks by utilizing delay discounting (DD), a paradigm that offers a choice between a smaller immediate reward, or a larger more delayed reward. This study tested a large sample of Heterogeneous Stock (HS) male (n = 896) and female (n = 898) rats, part of a larger genetic study, to investigate whether measures of reward maximization overlapped with traditional models of delay discounting via the patch depletion model using a Sequential Patch Depletion procedure. In this task, rats were offered a concurrent choice between two water "patches" and could elect to "stay" in the current patch or "leave" for an alternative patch. Staying in the current patch resulted in decreasing subsequent reward magnitudes, whereas the choice to leave a patch was followed by a delay and a resetting to the maximum reward magnitude. Based on the delay in a given session, different visit durations were necessary to obtain the maximum number of rewards. Visit duration may be analogous to an indifference point in traditional DD tasks. While differences in traditional DD measures (e.g., delay gradient) have been detected between males and females, these effects were small and inconsistent. However, when examining measures of reward maximization, females made fewer patch changes at all delays and spent more time in the patch before leaving for the alternative patch compared to males. This pattern of choice resulted in males having a higher rate of reinforcement than females. Consistent with this, there was some evidence that females deviated from the optimal more, leading to less reward. Measures of reward maximization were only weakly associated with traditional DD measures and may represent distinctive underlying processes. Taken together, females performance differed from males with regard to reward maximization that were not observed utilizing traditional measures of DD, suggesting that the patch depletion model was more sensitive to modest sex differences when compared to traditional DD measures in a large sample of HS rats.
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Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Flores-Ramirez FJ, Illenberger JM, Pascasio GE, Matzeu A, Mason BJ, Martin-Fardon R. Alternative use of suvorexant (Belsomra ®) for the prevention of alcohol drinking and seeking in rats with a history of alcohol dependence. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1085882. [PMID: 36620860 PMCID: PMC9813433 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1085882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the most treatment-resistant medical conditions globally. The orexin (Orx) system regulates diverse physiological processes, including stress, and is a system of interest for the development of pharmaceuticals to treat substance use disorders, particularly AUD. The present study tested the ability of the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant (SUV), marketed by Merck as Belsomra®, for the treatment of insomnia, to decrease alcohol self-administration and the stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in male Wistar rats with a history of alcohol dependence. Rats were trained to orally self-administer 10% alcohol (30 min/day for 3 weeks) and were either made dependent via chronic intermittent alcohol vapor exposure (14 h ON, 10 h OFF) for 6 weeks or exposed to air (non-dependent). Starting on week 7, the effect of SUV (0-20 mg/kg, p.o.) was tested on alcohol self-administration at acute abstinence (8 h after vapor was turned OFF) twice weekly. A separate cohort of rats that were prepared in parallel was removed from alcohol vapor exposure and then subjected to extinction training for 14 sessions. Once extinction was achieved, the rats received SUV (0 and 5 mg/kg, p.o.) and were tested for the footshock stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior. Suvorexant at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg selectively decreased alcohol intake in dependent rats. Furthermore, 5 mg/kg SUV prevented the stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in dependent rats only. These results underscore the significance of targeting the Orx system for the treatment of substance use disorders generally and suggest that repurposing SUV could be an alternative approach for the treatment of AUD.
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James MH, Aston-Jones G. Orexin Reserve: A Mechanistic Framework for the Role of Orexins (Hypocretins) in Addiction. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:836-844. [PMID: 36328706 PMCID: PMC10184826 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In 2014, we proposed that orexin signaling transformed motivationally relevant states into adaptive behavior directed toward exploiting an opportunity or managing a threat, a process we referred to as motivational activation. Advancements in animal models since then have permitted higher-resolution measurements of motivational states; in particular, the behavioral economics approach for studying drug demand characterizes conditions that lead to the enhanced motivation that underlies addiction. This motivational plasticity is paralleled by persistently increased orexin expression in a topographically specific manner-a finding confirmed across species, including in humans. Normalization of orexin levels also reduces drug motivation in addiction models. These new advancements lead us to update our proposed framework for the orexin function. We now propose that the capacity of orexin neurons to exhibit dynamic shifts in peptide production contributes to their role in adaptive motivational regulation and that this is achieved via a pool of reserve orexin neurons. This reserve is normally bidirectionally recruited to permit motivational plasticity that promotes flexible, adaptive behavior. In pathological states such as addiction, however, we propose that the orexin system loses capacity to adaptively adjust peptide production, resulting in focused hypermotivation for drug, driven by aberrantly and persistently high expression in the orexin reserve pool. This mechanistic framework has implications for the understanding and treatment of several psychiatric disorders beyond addiction, particularly those characterized by motivational dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan H James
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, New Jersey.
| | - Gary Aston-Jones
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, New Jersey; Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, New Jersey.
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Cognitive flexibility assessment with a new Reversal learning task paradigm compared with the Wisconsin card sorting test exploring the moderating effect of gender and stress. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2022; 87:1439-1453. [DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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CO 2 exposure enhances Fos expression in hypothalamic neurons in rats during the light and dark phases of the diurnal cycle. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2667-2679. [PMID: 36109371 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02562-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Orexinergic (OX) neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), perifornical area (PFA) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) play a role in the hypercapnic ventilatory response, presumably through direct inputs to central pattern generator sites and/or through interactions with other chemosensitive regions. OX neurons can produce and release orexins, excitatory neuropeptides involved in many functions, including physiological responses to changes in CO2/pH. Thus, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that different nuclei (LH, PFA and DMH) where the orexinergic neurons are located, show distinct activation by CO2 during the light-dark cycle phases. For this purpose, we evaluated the Fos and OXA expression by immunohistochemistry to identify neurons that co-localize Fos + OXA in the LH, LPeF, MPeF and DMH in the light-inactive and dark-active phase in Wistar rats subjected to 3 h of normocapnia or hypercapnia (7% CO2). Quantitative analyses of immunoreactive neurons show that hypercapnia caused an increase in the number of neurons expressing Fos in the LH, LPeF, MPeF and DMH in the light and dark phases. In addition, the number of Fos + OXA neurons increased in the LPeF and DMH independently of the phases of the diurnal cycle; whereas in the MPeF, this increase was observed exclusively in the light phase. Thus, we suggest that OX neurons are selectively activated by hypercapnia throughout the diurnal cycle, reinforcing the differential role of nuclei in the hypothalamus during central chemosensitivity.
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Carrera-Cañas C, de Andrés I, Callejo M, Garzón M. Plasticity of the hypocretinergic/orexinergic system after a chronic treatment with suvorexant in rats. Role of the hypocretinergic/orexinergic receptor 1 as an autoreceptor. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1013182. [PMID: 36277486 PMCID: PMC9581150 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1013182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic hypocretinergic/orexinergic (Hcrt/Ox) system is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Malfunction of Hcrt/Ox transmission results in narcolepsy, a sleep disease caused in humans by progressive neurodegeneration of hypothalamic neurons containing Hcrt/Ox. To explore the Hcrt/Ox system plasticity we systemically administered suvorexant (a dual Hcrt/Ox receptor antagonist) in rats to chronically block Hcrt/Ox transmission without damaging Hcrt/Ox cells. Three groups of eight rats (four males and four females) received daily i.p. injections of suvorexant (10 or 30 mg/kg) or vehicle (DMSO) over a period of 7 days in which the body weight was monitored. After the treatments cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Hcrt1/OxA concentration was measured by ELISA, and hypothalamic Hcrt/OxR1 and Hcrt/OxR2 levels by western blot. The systemic blockade of the Hcrt/Ox transmission with the suvorexant high dose produced a significant increase in body weight at the end of the treatment, and a significant decrease in CSF Hcrt1/OxA levels, both features typical in human narcolepsy type 1. Besides, a significant overexpression of hypothalamic Hcrt/OxR1 occurred. For the Hcrt/OxR2 two very close bands were detected, but they did not show significant changes with the treatment. Thus, the plastic changes observed in the Hcrt/Ox system after the chronic blockade of its transmission were a decrease in CSF Hcrt1/OXA levels and an overexpression of hypothalamic Hcrt/OxR1. These findings support an autoregulatory role of Hcrt/OxR1 within the hypothalamus, which would induce the synthesis/release of Hcrt/Ox, but also decrease its own availability at the plasma membrane after binding Hcrt1/OxA to preserve Hcrt/Ox system homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Miguel Garzón
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Corbett BF, Urban K, Luz S, Yan J, Arner J, Bhatnagar S. Sex differences in electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus following repeated stress. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:51. [PMID: 36163074 PMCID: PMC9513901 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Habituation to repeated stress refers to a progressive reduction in the stress response following multiple exposures to the same, predictable stressor. We previously demonstrated that the posterior division of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (pPVT) nucleus regulates habituation to 5 days of repeated restraint stress in male rats. Compared to males, female rats display impaired habituation to 5 days of restraint. To better understand how activity of pPVT neurons is differentially impacted in stressed males and females, we examined the electrophysiological properties of pPVT neurons under baseline conditions or following restraint. Methods Adult male and female rats were exposed to no stress (handling only), a single period of 30 min restraint or 5 daily exposures to 30 min restraint. 24 h later, pPVT tissue was prepared for recordings. Results We report here that spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) amplitude was increased in males, but not females, following restraint. Furthermore, resting membrane potential of pPVT neurons was more depolarized in males. This may be partially due to reduced potassium leakage in restrained males as input resistance was increased in male, but not female, rats 24 h following 1 or 5 days of 30-min restraint. Reduced potassium efflux during action potential firing also occurred in males following a single restraint as action potential half-width was increased following a single restraint. Restraint had limited effects on electrophysiological properties in females, although the mRNA for 10 voltage-gated ion channel subunits was altered in the pPVT of female rats. Conclusions The results suggest that restraint-induced changes in pPVT activation promote habituation in males. These findings are the first to describe a sexual dimorphism in stress-induced electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the pPVT. These results may explain, at least in part, why habituation to 5 days of restraint is disrupted in female rats. Male, but not female, pPVT neurons display increases in EPSC amplitude and decay time 24 h following one and five restraints. Input resistance is increased 24 h following one and five restraints in male, but not female, pPVT neurons. Afterhyperpolarization potential is greater in pPVT neurons of females compared to males, regardless of restraint. Restraint alters the expression of 10 voltage-gated ion channel transcripts in the pPVT of females, but only 3 in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian F Corbett
- Department of Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Kimberly Urban
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason Yan
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jay Arner
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Gargiulo AT, Hu J, Ravaglia IC, Hawks A, Li X, Sweasy K, Grafe L. Sex differences in cognitive flexibility are driven by the estrous cycle and stress-dependent. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:958301. [PMID: 35990724 PMCID: PMC9386277 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.958301] [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: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is associated with psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and panic disorders. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with these stress-related psychiatric disorders than men. A key phenotype in stress-related psychiatric disorders is impairment in cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to develop new strategies to respond to different patterns in the environment. Because gonadal hormones can contribute to sex differences in response to stress, it is important to consider where females are in their cycle when exposed to stress and cognitive flexibility testing. Moreover, identifying neural correlates involved in cognitive flexibility could not only build our understanding of the biological mechanisms behind this crucial skill but also leads to more targeted treatments for psychiatric disorders. Although previous studies have separately examined sex differences in cognitive flexibility, stress effects on cognitive flexibility, and the effect of gonadal hormones on cognitive flexibility, many of the findings were inconsistent, and the role of the estrous cycle in stress-induced impacts on cognitive flexibility is still unknown. This study explored potential sex differences in cognitive flexibility using an operant strategy shifting-paradigm after either control conditions or restraint stress in freely cycling female and male rats (with estrous cycle tracking in the female rats). In addition, we examined potential neural correlates for any sex differences observed. In short, we found that stress impaired certain aspects of cognitive flexibility and that there were sex differences in cognitive flexibility that were driven by the estrous cycle. Specifically, stress increased latency to first press and trials to criterion in particular tasks. The female rats demonstrated more omissions and perseverative errors than the male rats; the sex differences were mostly driven by proestrus female rats. Interestingly, the number of orexinergic neurons was higher in proestrus female rats than in the male rats under control conditions. Moreover, orexin neural count was positively correlated with number of perseverative errors made in cognitive flexibility testing. In sum, there are sex differences in cognitive flexibility that are driven by the estrous cycle and are stress-dependent, and orexin neurons may underlie some of the sex differences observed.
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Philippe TJ, Bao L, Koblanski ME, Viau V. Sex Differences in Serotonin 5-HT 1A Receptor Responses to Repeated Restraint Stress in Adult Male and Female Rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:863-876. [PMID: 35904324 PMCID: PMC9593217 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac046] [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: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male and female rats were exposed to repeated restraint to determine how changes in serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) 1A receptors associate with stress hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis habituation. METHODS In response to 2-hour episodes of restraint, repeated daily for 5 consecutive days, males and females displayed reliable declines in HPA output, indicated by diminished adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone secretory responses. Using the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) as a pharmacological challenge for inducing hypothermia and elevations in plasma corticosterone, males displayed sensitized hypothermal responses after repeated restraint, whereas corticosterone responses to 8-OH-DPAT were enhanced in both sexes following single or repeated exposure. RESULTS Only males showed elevations in 5-HT 1A receptor G-protein coupling responses in the dorsal raphe after repeated restraint, whereas only females showed an increase in 5-HT 1A receptor responses in the hippocampus following single or repeated exposure. G-protein coupling responses within both regions correlated positively with 5-HT 1A receptor binding capacity. Thus, despite expressing similar capacities for stress HPA axis habituation, males and females emerged from repeated restraint to show region-specific changes in 5-HT 1A receptor function that may be explained, at least in part, by changes in receptor availability. CONCLUSIONS Based on the hypothermal and corticosteroid responses to 8-OH-DPAT, the present data suggest that stress habituation is met by an increase in the sensitivity of presynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors in males and by an increase in the sensitivity of a population of postsynaptic receptors in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan J Philippe
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Neuroscience Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lexia Bao
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Neuroscience Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Maya E Koblanski
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Neuroscience Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Victor Viau
- Correspondence: Victor Viau, PhD, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Centre, The University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada ()
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Corbett BF, Luz S, Arner J, Vigderman A, Urban K, Bhatnagar S. Arc-Mediated Plasticity in the Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus Promotes Habituation to Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:116-126. [PMID: 35527070 PMCID: PMC9246972 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habituation is defined as a progressive decline in response to repeated exposure to a familiar and predictable stimulus and is highly conserved across species. Disrupted habituation is a signature of posttraumatic stress disorder. In rodents, habituation is observed in neural, neuroendocrine, and behavioral responses to repeated exposure to predictable and moderately intense stress or restraint. We previously demonstrated that lesioning the posterior paraventricular thalamic nucleus (pPVT) impairs habituation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and specific neural connections among the pPVT and other brain regions that underlie habituation are unknown. METHODS Behavioral and neuroendocrine habituation was assessed in adult male Sprague Dawley rats using the repeated restraint paradigm. Pan-neuronal and Cre-dependent DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) were used to chemogenetically inhibit the pPVT and the subpopulation of pPVT neurons that project to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), respectively. Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) expression was knocked down in the pPVT using small interfering RNA. Structural plasticity of pPVT neurons was assessed using Golgi staining. Local field potential recordings were used to assess coherent neural activity between the pPVT and mPFC. The attentional set shifting task was used to assess mPFC-dependent behavior. RESULTS Here, we show that Arc promotes habituation by increasing stress-induced spinogenesis in the pPVT, increasing coherent neural activity with the mPFC, and improving mPFC-mediated cognitive flexibility. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that Arc induction in the pPVT regulates habituation and mPFC function. Therapies that improve synaptic plasticity during posttraumatic stress disorder therapy may enhance habituation and the efficacy of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian F. Corbett
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jay Arner
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abigail Vigderman
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kimberly Urban
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Gao XB, Horvath TL. From Molecule to Behavior: Hypocretin/orexin Revisited From a Sex-dependent Perspective. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:743-760. [PMID: 34792130 PMCID: PMC9277634 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt/Orx) system in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus has been recognized as a critical node in a complex network of neuronal systems controlling both physiology and behavior in vertebrates. Our understanding of the Hcrt/Orx system and its array of functions and actions has grown exponentially in merely 2 decades. This review will examine the latest progress in discerning the roles played by the Hcrt/Orx system in regulating homeostatic functions and in executing instinctive and learned behaviors. Furthermore, the gaps that currently exist in our knowledge of sex-related differences in this field of study are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bing Gao
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Tamas L Horvath
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Arthaud S, Villalba M, Blondet C, Morel AL, Peyron C. Effects of sex and estrous cycle on sleep and cataplexy in narcoleptic mice. Sleep 2022; 45:6569391. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurology disorder caused by the loss of orexin/hypocretin neurons. NT1 is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep and wake fragmentation, and cataplexy. These symptoms have been equally described in both women and men, although influences of gender and hormonal cycles have been poorly studied. Unfortunately, most studies with NT1 preclinical mouse models, use only male mice to limit potential variations due to the hormonal cycle. Therefore, whether gender and/or hormonal cycles impact the expression of narcoleptic symptoms remains to be determined. To address this question, we analyzed vigilance states and cataplexy in 20 female and 17 male adult orexin knock-out narcoleptic mice, with half of the females being recorded over multiple days. Mice had access to chocolate to encourage the occurrence of cataplectic episodes. A vaginal smear was performed daily in female mice to establish the state of the estrous cycle (EC) of the previous recorded night. We found that vigilance states were more fragmented in males than females, and that females had less paradoxical sleep (p = 0.0315) but more cataplexy (p = 0.0375). Interestingly, sleep and wake features were unchanged across the female EC, but the total amount of cataplexy was doubled during estrus compared to other stages of the cycle (p = 0.001), due to a large increase in the number of cataplexy episodes (p = 0.0002). Altogether these data highlight sex differences in the expression of narcolepsy symptoms in orexin knock-out mice. Notably, cataplexy occurrence was greatly influenced by estrous cycle. Whether it is due to hormonal changes would need to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Arthaud
- Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon (CRNL), SLEEP Team, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier—Bâtiment 462—Neurocampus Michel Jouvet , Bron Cedex , France
- University Lyon1 , Lyon , France
| | - Manon Villalba
- Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon (CRNL), SLEEP Team, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier—Bâtiment 462—Neurocampus Michel Jouvet , Bron Cedex , France
- University Lyon1 , Lyon , France
| | | | - Anne-Laure Morel
- Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon (CRNL), SLEEP Team, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier—Bâtiment 462—Neurocampus Michel Jouvet , Bron Cedex , France
- University Lyon1 , Lyon , France
| | - Christelle Peyron
- Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon (CRNL), SLEEP Team, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier—Bâtiment 462—Neurocampus Michel Jouvet , Bron Cedex , France
- University Lyon1 , Lyon , France
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38
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Wang ZJ, Shwani T, Liu J, Zhong P, Yang F, Schatz K, Zhang F, Pralle A, Yan Z. Molecular and cellular mechanisms for differential effects of chronic social isolation stress in males and females. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3056-3068. [PMID: 35449296 PMCID: PMC9615910 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01574-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic social isolation stress during adolescence induces susceptibility for neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we show that 5-week post-weaning isolation stress induces sex-specific behavioral abnormalities and neuronal activity changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), basal lateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Chemogenetic manipulation, optogenetic recording, and in vivo calcium imaging identify that the PFC to BLA pathway is causally linked to heightened aggression in stressed males, and the PFC to VTA pathway is causally linked to social withdrawal in stressed females. Isolation stress induces genome-wide transcriptional alterations in a region-specific manner. Particularly, the upregulated genes in BLA of stressed males are under the control of activated transcription factor CREB, and CREB inhibition in BLA normalizes gene expression and reverses aggressive behaviors. On the other hand, neuropeptide Hcrt (Hypocretin/Orexin) is among the top-ranking downregulated genes in VTA of stressed females, and Orexin-A treatment rescues social withdrawal. These results have revealed molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for stress-related mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Junting Liu
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fengwei Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kelcie Schatz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Freddy Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Arnd Pralle
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Demidova A, Kahl E, Fendt M. Orexin deficiency affects sensorimotor gating and its amphetamine-induced impairment. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 116:110517. [PMID: 35101602 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110517] [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: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The orexin neuropeptides have an important role in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle and foraging, as well as in reward processing and emotions. Furthermore, recent research implicates the orexin system in different behavioral endophenotypes of neuropsychiatric diseases such as social avoidance and cognitive flexibility. Utilizing orexin-deficient mice, the present study tested the hypothesis that orexin is involved in two further mouse behavioral endophenotypes of neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e., sensorimotor gating and amphetamine sensitivity. The data revealed that orexin-deficient mice expressed a deficit in sensorimotor gating, measured by prepulse inhibition of the startle response. Amphetamine treatment impaired prepulse inhibition in wildtype and heterozygous orexin-deficient mice, but had no effects in homozygous orexin-deficient mice. Furthermore, locomotor activity and center time in the open field was not affected by orexin deficiency but was similarly increased or decreased, respectively, by amphetamine treatment in all genotypes. These data indicate that the orexin system modulates prepulse inhibition and is involved in mediating amphetamine's effect on prepulse inhibition. Future studies should investigate whether pharmacological manipulations of the orexin system can be used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases associated with deficits in sensorimotor gating, such as schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandrina Demidova
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany; Psychology Master Program, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Evelyn Kahl
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany; Psychology Master Program, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
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40
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Insulin-like Growth Factor I Couples Metabolism with Circadian Activity through Hypo-Thalamic Orexin Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094679. [PMID: 35563069 PMCID: PMC9101627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncoupling of metabolism and circadian activity is associated with an increased risk of a wide spectrum of pathologies. Recently, insulin and the closely related insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were shown to entrain feeding patterns with circadian rhythms. Both hormones act centrally to modulate peripheral glucose metabolism; however, whereas central targets of insulin actions are intensely scrutinized, those mediating the actions of IGF-I remain less defined. We recently showed that IGF-I targets orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, and now we evaluated whether IGF-I modulates orexin neurons to align circadian rhythms with metabolism. Mice with disrupted IGF-IR activity in orexin neurons (Firoc mice) showed sexually dimorphic alterations in daily glucose rhythms and feeding activity patterns which preceded the appearance of metabolic disturbances. Thus, Firoc males developed hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance, while females developed obesity. Since IGF-I directly modulates orexin levels and hepatic expression of KLF genes involved in circadian and metabolic entrainment in an orexin-dependent manner, it seems that IGF-I entrains metabolism and circadian rhythms by modulating the activity of orexin neurons.
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41
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Sanacora G, Yan Z, Popoli M. The stressed synapse 2.0: pathophysiological mechanisms in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:86-103. [PMID: 34893785 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Stress is a primary risk factor for several neuropsychiatric disorders. Evidence from preclinical models and clinical studies of depression have revealed an array of structural and functional maladaptive changes, whereby adverse environmental factors shape the brain. These changes, observed from the molecular and transcriptional levels through to large-scale brain networks, to the behaviours reveal a complex matrix of interrelated pathophysiological processes that differ between sexes, providing insight into the potential underpinnings of the sex bias of neuropsychiatric disorders. Although many preclinical studies use chronic stress protocols, long-term changes are also induced by acute exposure to traumatic stress, opening a path to identify determinants of resilient versus susceptible responses to both acute and chronic stress. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has emerged as a key player underlying the persistent impact of stress on the brain. Indeed, histone modification, DNA methylation and microRNAs are closely involved in many aspects of the stress response and reveal the glutamate system as a key player. The success of ketamine has stimulated a whole line of research and development on drugs directly or indirectly targeting glutamate function. However, the challenge of translating the emerging understanding of stress pathophysiology into effective clinical treatments remains a major challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Sanacora
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Maurizio Popoli
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology and Functional Neurogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.
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42
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Durairaja A, Steinecke CS, Fendt M. Intracerebroventricular infusion of the selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist SB-334867 impairs cognitive flexibility in a sex-dependent manner. Behav Brain Res 2022; 424:113791. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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43
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Goel N, Philippe TJ, Chang J, Koblanski ME, Viau V. Cellular and serotonergic correlates of habituated neuroendocrine responses in male and female rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105599. [PMID: 34891046 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Male and females appear equally capable of showing habituated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis output responses to repeated exposures of the same challenge. Whether this reflects, within males and females, common mechanisms of decreased neuronal activity within stress responding, afferents to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH), the final common pathway to the HPA axis, has not been examined. Here we compared in adult male and female rats the extent to which declines in HPA axis responses to repeated restraint are met by habituated cellular (Fos) responses, in addition to changes in serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) expression and signaling, which normally stimulates the HPA axis. Thus, alterations in this component of HPA axis drive could provide an underlying basis for sex differences in adaptive responses. Males and females showed reliable declines in ACTH and corticosterone responses after 10 daily episodes of repeated restraint, recapitulated, in largest part, by similar regional patterns of Fos habituation, including within the PVH, several stress sensitive cell groups of the limbic forebrain, as well as within the raphe nucleus. Serotonin staining in the dorsal raphe and terminal profiles in the forebrain continued to reflect a higher pre-synaptic capacity for the 5-HT system in females. The sexual dimorphism encountered within the lateral septum and medial preoptic area of control animals was less distinguished in the repeat condition, however, whereas 5-HT varicosities in the PVH increased after repeated restraint only in females. Relative to their singly restrained counterparts, males displayed an increase in 5-HT 1 A receptor expression in the raphe nucleus after repeated restraint, whereas females showed a decrease in 5-HT 1 A mRNA levels in the hippocampus and in the zona incerta, representing the most proximal of cell groups expressing the 5-HT 1 A receptor in the vicinity of the PVH. In conclusion, similar regional profiles of cellular habituation in males and females suggest common CNS substrates of neuroendocrine adaptation. However, this process may be met by underlying sex differences in serotonergic control, given the respective roles for pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT 1 A receptors in mediating serotonin availability and signal transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirupa Goel
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Tristan J Philippe
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Judy Chang
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Maya E Koblanski
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Victor Viau
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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44
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Matzeu A, Martin-Fardon R. Understanding the Role of Orexin Neuropeptides in Drug Addiction: Preclinical Studies and Translational Value. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:787595. [PMID: 35126069 PMCID: PMC8811192 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.787595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Orexins (also known as hypocretins) are neuropeptides that participate in the regulation of energy metabolism, homeostasis, sleep, feeding, stress responses, arousal, and reward. Particularly relevant to the scope of the present review is the involvement of the orexin system in brain mechanisms that regulate motivation, especially highly motivated behavior, arousal, and stress, making it an ideal target for studying addiction and discovering treatments. Drug abuse and misuse are thought to induce maladaptive changes in the orexin system, and these changes might promote and maintain uncontrolled drug intake and contribute to relapse. Dysfunctional changes in this neuropeptidergic system that are caused by drug use might also be responsible for alterations of feeding behavior and the sleep-wake cycle that are commonly disrupted in subjects with substance use disorder. Drug addiction has often been associated with an increase in activity of the orexin system, suggesting that orexin receptor antagonists may be a promising pharmacological treatment for substance use disorder. Substantial evidence has shown that single orexin receptor antagonists that are specific to either orexin receptor 1 or 2 can be beneficial against drug intake and relapse. Interest in the efficacy of dual orexin receptor antagonists, which were primarily developed to treat insomnia, has grown in the field of drug addiction. Treatments that target the orexin system may be a promising strategy to reduce drug intake, mitigate relapse vulnerability, and restore “normal” physiological functions, including feeding and sleep. The present review discusses preclinical and clinical evidence of the involvement of orexins in drug addiction and possible beneficial pharmacotherapeutic effects of orexin receptor antagonists to treat substance use disorder.
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45
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Agee LA, Nemchek V, Malone CA, Lee HJ, Monfils MH. Appetitive Behavior in the Social Transmission of Food Preference Paradigm Predicts Activation of Orexin-A producing Neurons in a Sex-Dependent Manner. Neuroscience 2022; 481:30-46. [PMID: 34843892 PMCID: PMC9246717 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Orexin-producing cells in the lateral hypothalamic area have been shown to be involved in a wide variety of behavioral and cognitive functions, including the recall of appetitive associations and a variety of social behaviors. Here, we investigated the role of orexin in the acquisition and recall of socially transmitted food preferences in the rat. Rats were euthanized following either acquisition, short-term recall, or long-term recall of a socially transmitted food preference and their brains were processed for orexin-A and c-Fos expression. We found that while there were no significant differences in c-Fos expression between control and experimental subjects at any of the tested timepoints, females displayed significantly more activity in both orexinergic and non-orexinergic cells in the lateral hypothalamus. In the infralimbic cortex, we found that social behavior was significantly predictive of c-Fos expression, with social behaviors related to olfactory exploration appearing to be particularly influential. We additionally found that appetitive behavior was significantly predictive of orexin-A activity in a sex-dependent matter, with the total amount eaten correlating negatively with orexin-A/c-Fos colocalization in male rats but not female rats. These findings suggest a potential sex-specific role for the orexin system in balancing the stimulation of feeding behavior with the sleep/wake cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Agee
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Victoria Nemchek
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Cassidy A Malone
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hongjoo J Lee
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Marie-H Monfils
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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46
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Abstract
Social stressors are known to have strong negative impacts on mental health. There is a long history of preclinical social defeat stress studies in rodents focusing on males that has produced important insights into the neural mechanisms that modulate depression- and anxiety-related behavior. Despite these impressive results, a historical weakness of rodent social stress models has been an under-representation of studies in females. This is problematic because rates of depression and anxiety are higher in women versus men. Recently there has been a surge of interest in adapting social stress methods for female rodents. Here we review new rodent models that have investigated numerous facets of social stress in females. The different models have different strengths and weaknesses, with some model systems having stronger ethological validity with other models having better access to molecular tools to manipulate neural circuits. Continued use and refinement of these complementary models will be critical for addressing gaps in understanding the function of neural circuits modulating depression- and anxiety-related behavior in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jace X Kuske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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Vaseghi S, Zarrabian S, Haghparast A. Reviewing the role of the orexinergic system and stressors in modulating mood and reward-related behaviors. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 133:104516. [PMID: 34973302 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.104516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In this review study, we aimed to introduce the orexinergic system as an important signaling pathway involved in a variety of cognitive functions such as memory, motivation, and reward-related behaviors. This study focused on the role of orexinergic system in modulating reward-related behavior, with or without the presence of stressors. Cross-talk between the reward system and orexinergic signaling was also investigated, especially orexinergic signaling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and the hippocampus. Furthermore, we discussed the role of the orexinergic system in modulating mood states and mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we narrowed down our focus on the orexinergic signaling in three brain regions: the VTA, NAc, and the hippocampus (CA1 region and dentate gyrus) for their prominent role in reward-related behaviors and memory. It was concluded that the orexinergic system is critically involved in reward-related behavior and significantly alters stress responses and stress-related psychiatric and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran
| | - Shahram Zarrabian
- Department of Anatomical Sciences & Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19615-1178, Tehran, Iran.
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48
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Lehner M, Skórzewska A, Wisłowska-Stanek A. Sex-Related Predisposition to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Development-The Role of Neuropeptides. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:314. [PMID: 35010574 PMCID: PMC8750761 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by re-experiencing a traumatic event, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, hyperarousal, and severe functional impairment. Women have a two times higher risk of developing PTSD than men. The neurobiological basis for the sex-specific predisposition to PTSD might be related to differences in the functions of stress-responsive systems due to the interaction between gonadal hormones and stress peptides such as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), orexin, oxytocin, and neuropeptide Y. Additionally, in phases where estrogens levels are low, the risk of developing or exacerbating PTSD is higher. Most studies have revealed several essential sex differences in CRF function. They include genetic factors, e.g., the CRF promoter contains estrogen response elements. Importantly, sex-related differences are responsible for different predispositions to PTSD and diverse treatment responses. Fear extinction (the process responsible for the effectiveness of behavioral therapy for PTSD) in women during periods of high endogenous estradiol levels (the primary form of estrogens) is reportedly more effective than in periods of low endogenous estradiol. In this review, we present the roles of selected neuropeptides in the sex-related predisposition to PTSD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Lehner
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland; (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Anna Skórzewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland; (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek
- Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CEPT), Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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Udeh-Momoh C, Watermeyer T. Female specific risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and cognitive impairment: Call for a precision medicine approach. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 71:101459. [PMID: 34508876 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes a long asymptomatic stage, which precedes the formal diagnosis of dementia. AD biomarker models provide a framework for precision medicine approaches during this stage. However, such approaches have ignored the possible influence of sex on cognition and brain health, despite female sex noted as a major risk factor. Since AD-related changes may emerge in midlife, intervention efforts are being redirected around this period. Midlife coincides with several endocrinological changes, such as the menopausal transition experienced by women. In this narrative review, we discuss evidence for sex-differences in AD neuropathological burden and outline key endocrinological mechanisms for both sexes, focussing on hormonal events throughout the lifespan that may influence female susceptibility to AD neuropathology and dementia onset. We further consider common non-modifiable (genetic) and modifiable (lifestyle and health) risk factors, highlighting possible sex-dependent differential effects for the AD disease course. Finally, we evaluate the studies selected for this review demonstrating sex-differences in cognitive, pathological and health factors, summarising the state of sex differences in AD risk factors. We further provide recommendations for targeted research on female-specific risk factors, to inform personalised strategies for AD-prevention and the promotion of female brain health.
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50
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Corbett B, Luz S, Sotuyo N, Pearson-Leary J, Moorthy GS, Zuppa AF, Bhatnagar S. FTY720 (Fingolimod), a modulator of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, increases baseline hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis activity and alters behaviors relevant to affect and anxiety. Physiol Behav 2021; 240:113556. [PMID: 34390688 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
FTY720 (fingolimod) is an analog of sphingosine, a ubiquitous sphingolipid. Phosphorylated FTY720 (FTY720-P) non-selectively binds to sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) and regulates multiple cellular processes including cell proliferation, inflammation, and vascular remodeling. We recently demonstrated that S1PR3 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats promotes stress resilience and that S1PR3 expression in blood may serve as a biomarker for PTSD. Here we investigate the effects of FTY720 in regulating the stress response. We found that single and repeated intraperitoneal injections of FTY720 increased baseline plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone concentrations. FTY720 reduced social anxiety- and despair-like behavior as assessed by increased social interaction time and reduced time spent immobile in the Porsolt forced swim test. In blood, FTY720 administration reduced lymphocyte and reticulocyte counts, but raised erythrocyte counts. FTY720 also reduced mRNA of angiopoietin 1, endothelin 1, plasminogen, TgfB2, Pdgfa, and Mmp2 in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggesting that FTY720 reduced vascular remodeling. The antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of FTY720 may be attributed to reduced vascular remodeling as increased stress-induced blood vessel density in the brain contributes to behavior associated with vulnerability in rats. Together, these results demonstrate that FTY720 regulates baseline HPA axis activity but reduces social anxiety and despair, providing further evidence that S1PRs are important and novel regulators of stress-related functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Corbett
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 CIvic Center Blvd, ARC Suite 402, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,19104-4399, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 CIvic Center Blvd, ARC Suite 402, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,19104-4399, USA
| | - Nathaniel Sotuyo
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 CIvic Center Blvd, ARC Suite 402, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,19104-4399, USA
| | - Jiah Pearson-Leary
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 CIvic Center Blvd, ARC Suite 402, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,19104-4399, USA
| | - Ganesh S Moorthy
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Athena F Zuppa
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 CIvic Center Blvd, ARC Suite 402, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,19104-4399, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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