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Luong CT, Audira G, Kurnia KA, Hung CH, Hsiao CD. Fish 3D Locomotion app: a user-friendly computer application package for automatic data calculation and endpoint extraction for novel tank behavior in fish. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39007187 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
This paper introduces the Fish 3D Locomotion app (F3LA), a Python-based, Graphical User Interface (GUI)-equipped tool designed to automate behavioral endpoint extraction in zebrafish locomotion assays. Building on our previous work, which utilized a specialized aquatic tank with a mirror and a single camera for fish movement tracking in three dimensions, F3LA significantly enhances data processing efficiency. Its accuracy was tested by reanalyzing and comprehensively comparing the calculated data with the previously published data from prior publications. From the comparison results, 90% of endpoints showed a similar statistical difference result. These minor differences were due to the different starting points for the dataset and updated calculation formulas that are implemented in F3LA. In addition, shoaling area or shoaling volume calculations are also included in F3LA as a new feature that can serve as sensitive indicators of social cohesion, group dynamics, or stress responses, offering insights into neuropsychological conditions or the effects of pharmacological interventions. Furthermore, F3LA offers a marked improvement over manual operations, being at least five times faster, while maintaining consistent accuracy as it reduces human-induced errors, ensuring a higher degree of reliability in the results. Finally, the potency of F3LA was tested to evaluate the toxicities of 14 rare earth elements (REEs) to the adult zebrafish behaviors. Based on the results, our findings suggested that each tested REE altered fish behaviors in different patterns and magnitudes to each other. However, among the tested light rare earth elements (LREEs), neodymium was demonstrated to cause more relatively severe behavior alterations than other LREEs, indicated by the statistically higher value of entropy (0.2695 ± 0.04977 (mean with a standard deviation)) than the control group (0.2352 ± 0.05896). Meanwhile, in terms of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), erbium seemed to lead to more distinct behavior toxicities than other HREEs, which was shown by the statistically lower level of fractal dimension (2.022 ± 0.3412) than the untreated group (2.255 ± 0.1661). Taken together, F3LA's development marks a significant advance in high-throughput toxicological and pharmacological assessments in zebrafish, leveraging three-dimensional locomotion data for a more comprehensive analysis of fish behavior performance, providing a significant contribution to research in various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cao Thang Luong
- Institute of Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Gilbert Audira
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
| | - Kevin Adi Kurnia
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsin Hung
- Institute of Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
- Research Center for Aquatic Toxicology and Pharmacology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
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Khan RH, Rhodes JS, Girard IA, Schwartz NE, Garland T. Does Behavior Evolve First? Correlated Responses to Selection for Voluntary Wheel-Running Behavior in House Mice. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 97:97-117. [PMID: 38728689 DOI: 10.1086/730153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
AbstractHow traits at multiple levels of biological organization evolve in a correlated fashion in response to directional selection is poorly understood, but two popular models are the very general "behavior evolves first" (BEF) hypothesis and the more specific "morphology-performance-behavior-fitness" (MPBF) paradigm. Both acknowledge that selection often acts relatively directly on behavior and that when behavior evolves, other traits will as well but most with some lag. However, this proposition is exceedingly difficult to test in nature. Therefore, we studied correlated responses in the high-runner (HR) mouse selection experiment, in which four replicate lines have been bred for voluntary wheel-running behavior and compared with four nonselected control (C) lines. We analyzed a wide range of traits measured at generations 20-24 (with a focus on new data from generation 22), coinciding with the point at which all HR lines were reaching selection limits (plateaus). Significance levels (226 P values) were compared across trait types by ANOVA, and we used the positive false discovery rate to control for multiple comparisons. This meta-analysis showed that, surprisingly, the measures of performance (including maximal oxygen consumption during forced exercise) showed no evidence of having diverged between the HR and C lines, nor did any of the life history traits (e.g., litter size), whereas body mass had responded (decreased) at least as strongly as wheel running. Overall, results suggest that the HR lines of mice had evolved primarily by changes in motivation rather than performance ability at the time they were reaching selection limits. In addition, neither the BEF model nor the MPBF model of hierarchical evolution provides a particularly good fit to the HR mouse selection experiment.
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Zhang X, Asim M, Fang W, Md Monir H, Wang H, Kim K, Feng H, Wang S, Gao Q, Lai Y, He J. Cholecystokinin B receptor antagonists for the treatment of depression via blocking long-term potentiation in the basolateral amygdala. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3459-3474. [PMID: 37365241 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a common and severe mental disorder. Evidence suggested a substantial causal relationship between stressful life events and the onset of episodes of major depression. However, the stress-induced pathogenesis of depression and the related neural circuitry is poorly understood. Here, we investigated how cholecystokinin (CCK) and CCKBR in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) are implicated in stress-mediated depressive-like behavior. The BLA mediates emotional memories, and long-term potentiation (LTP) is widely considered a trace of memory. We identified that the cholecystokinin knockout (CCK-KO) mice impaired LTP in the BLA, while the application of CCK4 induced LTP after low-frequency stimulation (LFS). The entorhinal cortex (EC) CCK neurons project to the BLA and optogenetic activation of EC CCK afferents to BLA-promoted stress susceptibility through the release of CCK. We demonstrated that EC CCK neurons innervate CCKBR cells in the BLA and CCK-B receptor knockout (CCKBR-KO) mice impaired LTP in the BLA. Moreover, the CCKBR antagonists also blocked high-frequency stimulation (HFS) induced LTP formation in the BLA. Notably, CCKBR antagonists infusion into the BLA displayed an antidepressant-like effect in the chronic social defeat stress model. Together, these results indicate that CCKBR could be a potential target to treat depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Muhammad Asim
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Wei Fang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Hossain Md Monir
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Huajie Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Kyuhee Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Hemin Feng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Shujie Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Yuanying Lai
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen research institute, Shenzhen, 518507, PR China.
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Shoji H, Ikeda K, Miyakawa T. Behavioral phenotype, intestinal microbiome, and brain neuronal activity of male serotonin transporter knockout mice. Mol Brain 2023; 16:32. [PMID: 36991468 PMCID: PMC10061809 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. Mice genetically deficient in 5-HTT expression have been used to study the physiological functions of 5-HTT in the brain and have been proposed as a potential animal model for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between the gut-brain axis and mood disorders. However, the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on gut microbiota, brain function, and behavior remain to be fully characterized. Here we investigated the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on different types of behavior, the gut microbiome, and brain c-Fos expression as a marker of neuronal activation in response to the forced swim test for assessing depression-related behavior in male 5-HTT knockout mice. Behavioral analysis using a battery of 16 different tests showed that 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited markedly reduced locomotor activity, decreased pain sensitivity, reduced motor function, increased anxiety-like and depression-related behavior, altered social behavior in novel and familiar environments, normal working memory, enhanced spatial reference memory, and impaired fear memory compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. 5-HTT+/- mice showed slightly reduced locomotor activity and impaired social behavior compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that 5-HTT-/- mice had altered gut microbiota abundances, such as a decrease in Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Turicibacter, compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. This study also showed that after exposure to the forced swim test, the number of c-Fos-positive cells was higher in the paraventricular thalamus and lateral hypothalamus and was lower in the prefrontal cortical regions, nucleus accumbens shell, dorsolateral septal nucleus, hippocampal regions, and ventromedial hypothalamus in 5-HTT-/- mice than in 5-HTT+/+ mice. These phenotypes of 5-HTT-/- mice partially recapitulate clinical observations in humans with major depressive disorder. The present findings indicate that 5-HTT-deficient mice serve as a good and valid animal model to study anxiety and depression with altered gut microbial composition and abnormal neuronal activity in the brain, highlighting the importance of 5-HTT in brain function and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Shoji
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan.
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Stieger B, Wesseler Y, Kaiser S, Sachser N, Richter SH. Behavioral lateralization of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1095567. [PMID: 36710954 PMCID: PMC9875089 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1095567] [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: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, non-right-handedness is associated with a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders. Since serotonin seems to be involved in both, the development of psychiatric disorders and lateralization, the present study focuses on the effect of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene on behavioral lateralization. For this, we used the 5-HTT knockout mouse model, a well-established animal model for the study of human depression and anxiety disorders. For female mice from all three 5-HTT genotypes (wild type, heterozygous, and homozygous knockout), we repeatedly observed the direction and strength of lateralization of the following four behaviors: grid climbing (GC), food-reaching in an artificial test situation (FRT), self-grooming (SG), and barrier crossing (BC), with the FRT being the standard test for assessing behavioral lateralization in mice. We found no association between behavioral lateralization and 5-HTT genotype. However, in accordance with previous findings, the strength and temporal consistency of lateralization differed between the four behaviors observed. In conclusion, since the 5-HTT genotype did not affect behavioral lateralization in mice, more research on other factors connected with behavioral lateralization and the development of symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as environmental influences, is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binia Stieger
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,DFG Research Training Group EvoPAD, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,*Correspondence: Binia Stieger,
| | - Yvonne Wesseler
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,DFG Research Training Group EvoPAD, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,DFG Research Training Group EvoPAD, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S. Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany,DFG Research Training Group EvoPAD, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Involvement of GABA A Receptors in the Anxiolytic-Like Effect of Hydroxycitronellal. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:9929805. [PMID: 34222487 PMCID: PMC8225436 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9929805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxycitronellal (HC) is a monoterpene present in essential oils of aromatic plants of different species, obtained from semisynthesis of citronellal, and is widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics. The objective of this work was to evaluate the possible anxiolytic-like activity of HC and its possible mechanism of action using in vivo and in silico methodologies. Swiss male mice (Mus musculus) were treated with HC (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to the rota rod, elevated plus maze, and open field tests. No significant impairments were observed in the rota rod tests for the motor activity of the animals treated with HC at 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p., indicating no myo-relaxing or sedative effects. In the elevated plus maze, HC (in the three doses) induced significant increases in the percentage of entries (respectively, 34.8%, 33.8%, and 38.6%) and in the length of stay (respectively, 49.9%, 56.1%, and 57.0%) in the open arms of the EPM, as well as the number of crossings in the open field tests. The mechanism of action of the compound's anxiolytic-like activity can be attributed to the involvement of GABAA receptors, and this interaction was observed in in vivo and in silico studies. For HC, the results suggest anxiolytic-like effects, possibly via modulation of the GABAergic system. The use of natural products to treat anxiety can become an alternative to existing synthetic products.
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Issad SM, Benhafri N, El Allali K, Farsi H, Ouali-Hassenaoui S, Dekar-Madoui A. Effects of prolonged night-time light exposure and traffic noise on the behavior and body temperature rhythmicity of the wild desert rodent, Gerbillus tarabuli. Chronobiol Int 2021; 38:415-425. [PMID: 33435744 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1862858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to demonstrate for the first time in Tarabul's gerbils (Gerbillus tarabuli), the effects of simultaneous exposure to two major environmental stressors - light and noise pollutions - on the body temperature rhythm and anxious behavior. Seven groups, each consisting of 6 adult male gerbils, were subjected to a standard LD cycle (12 L:12D) with lights on at 08:00 h and off at 20:00 h, constant conditions (total darkness, DD), prolonged nighttime exposure to light (PEL: 18 L:6D) with lights on at 08:00 h and off at 02:00 h, mimicking prolonged exposure to light pollution in peri-urban areas, exposure to auditory stress (TNS) of 80 dB, and conditions combining PEL&TNS. The body temperature circadian rhythm was recorded, and behavioral tests were performed at the end of experimental phases. The results revealed the existence, for the first time in Gerbilus tarabuli, of an endogenous circadian rhythm of body temperature with a period of 23.8 ± 0.04 h. Prolonged exposure to light at night (PEL) induced a significant phase delay (02 h 09 min ± 0.16 h) of the rhythm, with an acrophase (peak time) occurring at 04:42 ± 0.13 h instead of 02:33 ± 0.21 h. Exposure to TNS for 4 hours per night induced a significant increase of the amplitude of the rhythm and a decrease of the rhythm regularity (robustness of 73.26% in TNS vs. 82.32 in control condition). While combining TNS and PEL significantly delayed the phase of the Tb rhythm by 3 h 10 min (acrophase at 06:39 ± 0.37 h instead of 02:33 ± 0.21 h), increased the amplitude, and significantly reduced the stability of the rhythm (robustness of 67.25% in PEL&TNS vs. 82.32 in control condition). PEL&TNS and TNS environments induce an important stress in gerbils highlighted by a significant decrease of the number of line crossings and time spent in the center area of the open field test. Furthermore, elevated plus maze test revealed gerbils of the PEL&TNS and TNS conditions significantly visited the lowest number of open arms and spent a shorter amount of time in it. In addition, these conditions were responsible for less activity (total number of entries in arms) than in the control and PEL conditions. These results indicate clearly that in the desert area, peri-urban light and noise pollutions disturb the circadian rhythm components and alter the behavior of Tarabul's gerbils inducing an anxious state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salem Mamoun Issad
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, USTHB, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Nadir Benhafri
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, USTHB, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Khalid El Allali
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Veterinary Medicine School, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hicham Farsi
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Veterinary Medicine School, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Saliha Ouali-Hassenaoui
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, USTHB, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Aicha Dekar-Madoui
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Laboratory of Organism's Biology and Physiology, USTHB, Algiers, Algeria
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Serotonin transporter deficiency alters socioemotional ultrasonic communication in rats. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20283. [PMID: 31889084 PMCID: PMC6937290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56629-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been widely established that serotonin plays important role in the regulation of emotional and social behaviour. Rodents with a genetic deletion of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) are used as a model to study lifelong consequences of increased extracellular 5‐HT levels due to its impaired reuptake. SERT knock-out (SERT-KO) mice and rats consistently showed anxiety-like symptoms and social deficits. Nevertheless, the impact of SERT deletion on socioemotional ultrasonic communication has not been addressed. Here we investigated the impact of lifelong serotonin abundance on ultrasonic vocalisation accompanying social interactions and open field exploration in rats. SERT-KO rats displayed reduced overall duration of social contacts, but increased time spent on following the conspecific. The altered pattern of social behaviour in SERT-KO rats was accompanied by the structural changes in ultrasonic vocalisations, as they differed from their controls in distribution of call categories. Moreover, SERT deletion resulted in anxiety-like behaviours assessed in the open field test. Their anxious phenotype resulted in a lower tendency to emit appetitive 50-kHz calls during novelty exploration. The present study demonstrates that genetic deletion of SERT not only leads to the deficits in social interaction and increased anxiety but also affects ultrasonic communication.
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Gene knockout animal models of depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. Psychiatr Genet 2019; 29:191-199. [DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Garlet QI, Rodrigues P, Barbosa LB, Londero AL, Mello CF, Heinzmann BM. Nectandra grandiflora essential oil and its isolated sesquiterpenoids minimize anxiety-related behaviors in mice through GABAergic mechanisms. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 375:64-80. [PMID: 31075342 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Nectandra grandiflora Ness (Lauraceae) essential oil (EO) main constituent, the sesquiterpenoid (+)-dehydrofukinone (DHF), has sedative and anticonvulsant effects through GABAergic mechanisms. Other DHF-related sesquiterpenoids have been identified in the EO, such as, dehydrofukinone epoxide (DFX), eremophil-11-en-10-ol (ERM) and selin-11-en-4-α-ol (SEL). However, the neuronal effects of these compounds in mammals remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic potential of the N. grandiflora EO and the isolated compounds in in mice. For this purpose, mice were administered orally with vehicle, 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg EO, DHF, DFX, ERM or SEL or 1 mg/kg diazepam. Locomotion and ethological parameters in the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) were recorded. We also examined the effect of DFX, ERM and SEL on the membrane potential and calcium influx in synaptosomes, and the presence of the compounds in the cortical tissue using gas chromatography. EOs and isolated compounds reduced anxiety-related parameters in the EPM (open arms time and entries, end activity, head dipping) and OF (center time and entries, total rearing, unprotected rearing, sniffing, grooming) without alter ambulation or induce sedation. Flumazenil (2 mg/kg, i.p.) altered the anxiolytic-like effect of all treatments and vanished the DFX, ERM and SEL-induced changes in membrane potential. However, FMZ did not blocked the DFX-, ERM- and SEL-induced inhibition of calcium influx. Therefore, our results suggest that N. grandiflora EO and isolated compounds induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice due to positive modulation of GABAa receptors and/or inhibition of neuronal calcium influx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quelen Iane Garlet
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Rodrigues
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | - André Luís Londero
- Medicine Graduation Course, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos Fernando Mello
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Medicine Graduation Course, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Berta Maria Heinzmann
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Pharmacy Graduation Course, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Alonso-Castro AJ, Guzmán-Gutiérrez SL, Betancourt CA, Gasca-Martínez D, Álvarez-Martínez KL, Pérez-Nicolás M, Espitia-Pinzón CI, Reyes-Chilpa R. Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and central nervous system (CNS) effects of the natural coumarin soulattrolide. Drug Dev Res 2018; 79:332-338. [PMID: 30244493 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Soulattrolide is a natural coumarin synthesized by the leaves of species of Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae) rain forest trees, including the American C. brasiliense, and the Asian C. teysmanii. Soulattrolide is a potent inhibitor of the reverse transcriptase from HIV-1 (RT-HIV-1), and active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the effects of this coumarins on other systems, remains to be evaluated. C. brasiliense is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Therefore, we decided to explore the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory activity of soulattrolide in mice, as well as, some of its possible effects on the CNS. Soulattrolide showed antinociceptive effects in the writhing test (ED50 = 33.8 mg/kg), as well as, in the formalin test with an ED50 = 7.9, and 22.1 mg/kg for Phases 1 and 2, respectively. The highest dose of soulattrolide (50 mg/kg) induced 40% of antinociception in the hot plate test. Regarding to anti-inflammatory activity, in the 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) test, soulattrolide showed an IC50 = 1.81 μmol/ear, whereas in the myeloperoxidase assay, it showed an inhibition of 87% (1 μmol/ear). Soulattrolide showed sedative effects on the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time test, and the rotarod test, but lacked antidepressant activity on the tail suspension test. In conclusion, we report for the first time, the antinociceptive effects of soulattrolide in mice, like those of naproxen; soulattrolide also showed mild anti-inflammatory activity, as well as mild sedative and anxiolytic properties, therefore, it has also activity on the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Josabad Alonso-Castro
- Departamento de Farmacia, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Silvia Laura Guzmán-Gutiérrez
- Catedrática CONACyT-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Clara Alba Betancourt
- Departamento de Farmacia, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Deisy Gasca-Martínez
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Karla Lorena Álvarez-Martínez
- Departamento de Farmacia, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Miriam Pérez-Nicolás
- Instituto de Química, Departamento de Productos Naturales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Clara Inés Espitia-Pinzón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Inmunología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa
- Instituto de Química, Departamento de Productos Naturales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Zabegalov KN, Kolesnikova TO, Khatsko SL, Volgin AD, Yakovlev OA, Amstislavskaya TG, Alekseeva PA, Meshalkina DA, Friend AJ, Bao W, Demin KA, Gainetdinov RR, Kalueff AV. Understanding antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS) through preclinical experimental models. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 829:129-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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13
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Kulikov AV, Gainetdinov RR, Ponimaskin E, Kalueff AV, Naumenko VS, Popova NK. Interplay between the key proteins of serotonin system in SSRI antidepressants efficacy. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2018.1452912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V. Kulikov
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Raul R. Gainetdinov
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeni Ponimaskin
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Allan V. Kalueff
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia
- Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia
- Russian Research Center for Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Pesochny 197758, Russia
| | - Vladimir S. Naumenko
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nina K. Popova
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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14
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de Sousa LP, de Almeida RF, Ribeiro-Gomes FL, de Moura Carvalho LJ, E Souza TM, de Souza DOG, Daniel-Ribeiro CT. Long-term effect of uncomplicated Plasmodium berghei ANKA malaria on memory and anxiety-like behaviour in C57BL/6 mice. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:191. [PMID: 29554958 PMCID: PMC5859440 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2778-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebral malaria, the main complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans, is associated with persistent neurocognitive sequels both in human disease and the murine experimental model. In recent years, cognitive deficits related to uncomplicated (non-cerebral) malaria have also been reported in chronically exposed residents of endemic areas, but not in some murine experimental models of non-cerebral malaria. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of uncomplicated malaria on different behavioural paradigms associated with memory and anxiety-like parameters in a murine model that has the ability to develop cerebral malaria. Methods Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected and non-infected C57BL/6 mice were used. Development of cerebral malaria was prevented by chloroquine treatment starting on the fourth day of infection. The control group (non-infected mice) were treated with PBS. The effect of uncomplicated malaria infection on locomotor habituation, short and long-term memory and anxious-like behaviour was evaluated 64 days after parasite clearance in assays including open field, object recognition, Y-maze and light/dark tasks. Results Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice showed significant long-lasting disturbances reflected by a long-term memory-related behaviour on open field and object recognition tasks, accompanied by an anxious-like phenotype availed on open field and light-dark tasks. Conclusions Long-term neurocognitive sequels may follow an uncomplicated malaria episode in an experimental model prone to develop cerebral malaria, even if the infection is treated before the appearance of clinical signs of cerebral impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Pereira de Sousa
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz & Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) e da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS), Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Roberto Farina de Almeida
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Flávia Lima Ribeiro-Gomes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz & Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) e da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS), Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo José de Moura Carvalho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz & Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) e da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS), Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tadeu Mello E Souza
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Diogo Onofre Gomes de Souza
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz & Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) e da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde (SVS), Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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15
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Ghafouri S, Fathollahi Y, Javan M, Shojaei A, Asgari A, Mirnajafi-Zadeh J. Effect of low frequency stimulation on impaired spontaneous alternation behavior of kindled rats in Y-maze test. Epilepsy Res 2016; 126:37-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Concordance and incongruence in preclinical anxiety models: Systematic review and meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:504-529. [PMID: 27328783 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rodent defense behavior assays have been widely used as preclinical models of anxiety to study possibly therapeutic anxiety-reducing interventions. However, some proposed anxiety-modulating factors - genes, drugs and stressors - have had discordant effects across different studies. To reconcile the effect sizes of purported anxiety factors, we conducted systematic review and meta-analyses of the literature on ten anxiety-linked interventions, as examined in the elevated plus maze, open field and light-dark box assays. Diazepam, 5-HT1A receptor gene knockout and overexpression, SERT gene knockout and overexpression, pain, restraint, social isolation, corticotropin-releasing hormone and Crhr1 were selected for review. Eight interventions had statistically significant effects on rodent anxiety, while Htr1a overexpression and Crh knockout did not. Evidence for publication bias was found in the diazepam, Htt knockout, and social isolation literatures. The Htr1a and Crhr1 results indicate a disconnect between preclinical science and clinical research. Furthermore, the meta-analytic data confirmed that genetic SERT anxiety effects were paradoxical in the context of the clinical use of SERT inhibitors to reduce anxiety.
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17
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Colla ARS, Rosa JM, Cunha MP, Rodrigues ALS. Anxiolytic-like effects of ursolic acid in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 758:171-6. [PMID: 25861934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.03.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that possesses several biological and neuropharmacological effects including antidepressant-like activity. Anxiety disorders represent common and disability psychiatric conditions that are often associated with depressive symptoms. This work investigated the anxiolytic-like effects of ursolic acid administration in different behavioral paradigms that evaluate anxiety in mice: open field test, elevated plus maze test, light/dark box test and marble burying test. To this end, mice were administered with ursolic acid (0.1, 1 and 10mg/kg, p.o.) or diazepam (2mg/kg, p.o.), positive control, and submitted to the behavioral tests. The results show that ursolic acid (10mg/kg) elicited an anxiolytic-like effect observed by the increased total time in the center and decreased number of rearings responses in the open field test and an increased percentage of entries and total time spent in the open arms of elevated plus maze, similarly to diazepam. No significant effects of ursolic acid were shown in the light/dark box and marble burying test. These data indicate that ursolic acid exhibits anxiolytic-like effects in the open field and elevated plus maze test, but not in the light/dark box and marble burying test, showing the relevance of testing several behavioral paradigms in the evaluation of anxiolytic-like actions. Of note, the results extend the understanding on the effects of ursolic acid in the central nervous system and suggest that it may be a novel approach for the management of anxiety-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R S Colla
- Department of Biochemistry, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário - Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Julia M Rosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário - Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Mauricio P Cunha
- Department of Biochemistry, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário - Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia S Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário - Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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18
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Perinatal vs genetic programming of serotonin states associated with anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:1456-70. [PMID: 25523893 PMCID: PMC4397404 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Large numbers of women undergo antidepressant treatment during pregnancy; however, long-term consequences for their offspring remain largely unknown. Rodents exposed to serotonin transporter (SERT)-inhibiting antidepressants during development show changes in adult emotion-like behavior. These changes have been equated with behavioral alterations arising from genetic reductions in SERT. Both models are highly relevant to humans yet they vary in their time frames of SERT disruption. We find that anxiety-related behavior and, importantly, underlying serotonin neurotransmission diverge between the two models. In mice, constitutive loss of SERT causes life-long increases in anxiety-related behavior and hyperserotonemia. Conversely, early exposure to the antidepressant escitalopram (ESC; Lexapro) results in decreased anxiety-related behavior beginning in adolescence, which is associated with adult serotonin system hypofunction in the ventral hippocampus. Adult behavioral changes resulting from early fluoxetine (Prozac) exposure were different from those of ESC and, although somewhat similar to SERT deficiency, were not associated with changes in hippocampal serotonin transmission in late adulthood. These findings reveal dissimilarities in adult behavior and neurotransmission arising from developmental exposure to different widely prescribed antidepressants that are not recapitulated by genetic SERT insufficiency. Moreover, they support a pivotal role for serotonergic modulation of anxiety-related behavior.
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19
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Revisiting the Serotonin Hypothesis: Implications for Major Depressive Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:2778-2786. [PMID: 25823514 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9152-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heritable neuropsychiatric disease associated with severe changes at cellular and molecular levels. Its diagnosis mainly relies on the characterization of a wide range of symptoms including changes in mood and behavior. Despite the availability of antidepressant drugs, 10 to 30 % of patients fail to respond after a single or multiple treatments, and the recurrence of depression among responsive patients is very high. Evidence from the past decades suggests that the brain neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) is incriminated in MDD, and that a dysfunction of 5-HT receptors may play a role in the genesis of this disease. The 5-HT membrane transporter protein (SERT), which helps regulate the serotonergic transmission, is also implicated in MDD and is one of the main targets of antidepressant therapy. Although a number of behavioral tests and animal models have been developed to study depression, little is known about the neurobiological bases of MDD. Understanding the role of the serotonergic pathway will significantly help improve our knowledge of the pathophysiology of depression and may open up avenues for the development of new antidepressant drugs. The overarching goal of this review is to present recent findings from studies examining the serotonergic pathway in MDD, with a focus on SERT and the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A), serotonin 1B (5-HT1B), and serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors. This paper also describes some of the main molecules involved in the internalization of 5-HT receptors and illustrates the changes in 5-HT neurotransmission in knockout mice and animal model of depression.
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Sgroi S, Kaelin-Lang A, Capper-Loup C. Spontaneous locomotor activity and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia are not linked in 6-OHDA parkinsonian rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:331. [PMID: 25324746 PMCID: PMC4183109 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and other characteristic motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) are alleviated by treatment with L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Long-term L-DOPA treatment, however, is associated with complications such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesia that severely impair the quality of life. It is unclear whether the effect of L-DOPA on spontaneous motor activity and its dyskinesia-inducing effect share a common mechanism. To investigate the possible connection between these two effects, we analyzed the spontaneous locomotor activity of parkinsonian rats before surgery (unilateral injection of 6-OHDA in the right medial forebrain bundle), before treatment with L-DOPA, during L-DOPA treatment (the "ON" phase), and after the end of L-DOPA treatment (the "OFF" phase). We correlated the severity of dyskinesia (AIM scores) with locomotor responses in the ON/OFF phases of chronic L-DOPA treatment at two different doses. We treated three groups of parkinsonian animals with chronic injections of 8 mg/kg L-DOPA, 6 mg/kg L-DOPA, and saline solution and one group of non-lesioned animals with 8 mg/kg L-DOPA. At the end of the experiment, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity was analyzed in the striatum of all parkinsonian rats. We found no correlation between the severity of dyskinesia and spontaneous locomotor activity in the ON or OFF phase of L-DOPA treatment. The only observed correlation was between the pathological rotation induced by L-DOPA at the highest dose and locomotor activity in the ON phase of L-DOPA treatment. In addition, a L-DOPA withdrawal effect was observed, with worse motor performance in the OFF phase than before the start of L-DOPA treatment. These findings suggest that different neural mechanisms underlie the effect of L-DOPA on spontaneous motor activity and its dyskinesia-inducing effect, with a different dose-response relationship for each of these two effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Sgroi
- Department of Neurology and Department of Clinical Research, Movement Disorders Center, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of BernBern, Switzerland
- Neurocentre of Southern SwitzerlandLugano, Switzerland
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Department of Neurology and Department of Clinical Research, Movement Disorders Center, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland
- Neurocentre of Southern SwitzerlandLugano, Switzerland
| | - Christine Capper-Loup
- Department of Neurology and Department of Clinical Research, Movement Disorders Center, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland
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21
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Nóbrega C, Nascimento-Ferreira I, Onofre I, Albuquerque D, Déglon N, Pereira de Almeida L. RNA interference mitigates motor and neuropathological deficits in a cerebellar mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100086. [PMID: 25144231 PMCID: PMC4140724 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by the polyglutamine-expanded protein ataxin-3. Recent studies demonstrate that RNA interference is a promising approach for the treatment of Machado-Joseph disease. However, whether gene silencing at an early time-point is able to prevent the appearance of motor behavior deficits typical of the disease when initiated before onset of the disease had not been explored. Here, using a lentiviral-mediated allele-specific silencing of mutant ataxin-3 in an early pre-symptomatic cerebellar mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease we show that this strategy hampers the development of the motor and neuropathological phenotypic characteristics of the disease. At the histological level, the RNA-specific silencing of mutant ataxin-3 decreased formation of mutant ataxin-3 aggregates, preserved Purkinje cell morphology and expression of neuronal markers while reducing cell death. Importantly, gene silencing prevented the development of impairments in balance, motor coordination, gait and hyperactivity observed in control mice. These data support the therapeutic potential of RNA interference for Machado-Joseph disease and constitute a proof of principle of the beneficial effects of early allele-specific silencing for therapy of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clévio Nóbrega
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Nascimento-Ferreira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Onofre
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - David Albuquerque
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Lausanne University Hospital, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Kloke V, Schreiber RS, Bodden C, Möllers J, Ruhmann H, Kaiser S, Lesch KP, Sachser N, Lewejohann L. Hope for the best or prepare for the worst? Towards a spatial cognitive bias test for mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105431. [PMID: 25137069 PMCID: PMC4138164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive bias, the altered information processing resulting from the background emotional state of an individual, has been suggested as a promising new indicator of animal emotion. Comparable to anxious or depressed humans, animals in a putatively negative emotional state are more likely to judge an ambiguous stimulus as if it predicts a negative event, than those in positive states. The present study aimed to establish a cognitive bias test for mice based on a spatial judgment task and to apply it in a pilot study to serotonin transporter (5-HTT) knockout mice, a well-established mouse model for the study of anxiety- and depression-related behavior. In a first step, we validated that our setup can assess different expectations about the outcome of an ambiguous stimulus: mice having learned to expect something positive within a maze differed significantly in their behavior towards an unfamiliar location than animals having learned to expect something negative. In a second step, the use of spatial location as a discriminatory stimulus was confirmed by showing that mice interpret an ambiguous stimulus depending on its spatial location, with a position exactly midway between a positive and a negative reference point provoking the highest level of ambiguity. Finally, the anxiety- and depression-like phenotype of the 5-HTT knockout mouse model manifested--comparable to human conditions--in a trend for a negatively distorted interpretation of ambiguous information, albeit this effect was not statistically significant. The results suggest that the present cognitive bias test provides a useful basis to study the emotional state in mice, which may not only increase the translational value of animal models in the study of human affective disorders, but which is also a central objective of animal welfare research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Kloke
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rebecca S. Schreiber
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Carina Bodden
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Julian Möllers
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hanna Ruhmann
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Behavioral Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
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Sun L, Li Q, Li Q, Zhang Y, Liu D, Jiang H, Pan F, Yew DT. Chronic ketamine exposure induces permanent impairment of brain functions in adolescent cynomolgus monkeys. Addict Biol 2014; 19:185-94. [PMID: 23145560 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist, has emerged as an increasingly popular drug among young drug abusers worldwide. Available evidence suggests that ketamine produces acute impairments of working, episodic and semantic memory along with psychotogenic and dissociative effects when a single dose is given to healthy volunteers. However, understanding of the possible chronic effects of ketamine on behavior, cognitive anomalies and neurochemical homeostasis is still incomplete. Although previous human studies demonstrate that ketamine could impair a range of cognitive skills, investigation using non-human models would permit more precise exploration of the neurochemical mechanisms which may underlie the detrimental effects. The current study examined the abnormalities in behavior (move, walk, jump and climb) and apoptosis of the prefrontal cortex using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and apoptotic markers, including Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in adolescent male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) after 1 or 6 months of sub-anesthetic ketamine administration (1 mg/kg, i.v.). Results showed that ketamine decreased locomotor activity and increased cell death in the prefrontal cortex of monkeys with 6 months of ketamine treatment when compared with the control monkeys. Such decreases were not found in the 1-month ketamine-treated group. Our study suggested that ketamine administration of recreational dose in monkeys might produce permanent and irreversible deficits in brain functions due to neurotoxic effects, involving the activation of apoptotic pathways in the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Sun
- Department of Medical Psychology, Shandong University School of Medicine, China
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Zaidan H, Leshem M, Gaisler-Salomon I. Prereproductive stress to female rats alters corticotropin releasing factor type 1 expression in ova and behavior and brain corticotropin releasing factor type 1 expression in offspring. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 74:680-7. [PMID: 23726318 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 03/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human and animal studies indicate that vulnerability to stress may be heritable and that changes in germline may mediate some transgenerational effects. Corticotropin releasing factor type 1 (CRF1) is a key component in the stress response. We investigated changes in CRF1 expression in brain and ova of stressed female rats and in the brain of their neonate and adult offspring. Behavioral changes in adulthood were also assessed. METHODS Adult female rats underwent chronic unpredictable stress. We extracted mature oocytes and brain regions from a subset of rats and mated the rest 2 weeks following the stress procedure. CRF1 expression was assessed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Tests of anxiety and aversive learning were used to examine behavior of offspring in adulthood. RESULTS We show that chronic unpredictable stress leads to an increase in CRF1 messenger RNA expression in frontal cortex and mature oocytes. Neonatal offspring of stressed female rats show an increase in brain CRF1 expression. In adulthood, offspring of stressed female rats show sex differences in both CRF1 messenger RNA expression and behavior. Moreover, CRF1 expression patterns in frontal cortex of female offspring depend upon both maternal and individual adverse experience. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that stress affects CRF1 expression in brain but also in ova, pointing to a possible mechanism of transgenerational transmission. In offspring, stress-induced changes are evident at birth and are thus unlikely to result from altered maternal nurturance. Finally, brain CRF1 expression in offspring depends upon gender and upon maternal and individual exposure to adverse environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Zaidan
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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5-HT2A receptor-mediated excitation on cerebellar fastigial nucleus neurons and promotion of motor behaviors in rats. Pflugers Arch 2013; 466:1259-71. [PMID: 24145983 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It has long been known that serotonergic afferent inputs are the third largest afferent population in the cerebellum after mossy fibers and climbing fibers. However, the role of serotonergic inputs in cerebellar-mediated motor behaviors is still largely unknown. Here, we show that only 5-HT2A receptors among the 5-HT2 receptor subfamily are expressed and localized in the rat cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN), one of the ultimate outputs of the spinocerebellum precisely regulating trunk and limb movements. Remarkably, selective activation of 5-HT2A receptors evokes a postsynaptic excitatory effect on FN neurons in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro, which is in accord with the 5-HT-elicited excitation on the same tested neurons. Furthermore, selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist M100907 concentration-dependently blocks the excitatory effects of 5-HT and TCB-2, a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, on FN neurons. Consequently, microinjection of 5-HT into bilateral FNs significantly promotes rat motor performances on accelerating rota-rod and balance beam and narrows stride width rather than stride length in locomotion gait. All these motor behavioral effects are highly consistent with those of selective activation of 5-HT2A receptors in FNs, and blockage of the component of 5-HT2A receptor-mediated endogenous serotonergic inputs in FNs markedly attenuates these motor performances. All these results demonstrate that postsynaptic 5-HT2A receptors greatly contribute to the 5-HT-mediated excitatory effect on cerebellar FN neurons and promotion of the FN-related motor behaviors, suggesting that serotonergic afferent inputs may actively participate in cerebellar motor control through their direct modulation on the final output of the spinocerebellum.
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Zepf FD, Landgraf M, Biskup CS, Dahmen B, Poustka F, Wöckel L, Stadler C. No effect of acute tryptophan depletion on verbal declarative memory in young persons with ADHD. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2013; 128:133-41. [PMID: 23418985 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Animal experiments and studies in adults have shown that the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in learning and memory processes. However, data on this relationship in young persons are scarce, and neurodietary research in this age group is limited compared with the extensive literature on adults. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of a diminished central nervous 5-HT synthesis, which is achieved by acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) Moja-De , on memory function in young males with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD Twenty-two male patients with ADHD (ages 9-15 years, mean 10.95 ± 1.17 years) received ATD, thus diminishing central nervous 5-HT synthesis, and a tryptophan-balanced amino acid load (BAL) in a randomized, double-blind, within-subject, crossover design study. Approximately 1.7 h after administration of ATD/BAL, verbal declarative memory was assessed using the 'Auditory Verbal-Learning-Test' (AVLT). RESULTS There were no significant effects of ATD administration on verbal declarative memory function. CONCLUSION In this study, changes in 5-HT neurotransmission were not associated with specific aspects of verbal declarative memory in young persons with ADHD. Future studies with healthy control groups that address effects of covarying attentional processes are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- F D Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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Kinast K, Peeters D, Kolk SM, Schubert D, Homberg JR. Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of the serotonergic system in early life: neurodevelopmental underpinnings of autism-related behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:72. [PMID: 23781172 PMCID: PMC3679613 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin, in its function as neurotransmitter, is well-known for its role in depression, autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders, however, less known as a neurodevelopmental factor. The serotonergic system is one of the earliest to develop during embryogenesis and early changes in serotonin levels can have large consequences for the correct development of specific brain areas. The regulation and functioning of serotonin is influenced by genetic risk factors, such as the serotonin transporter polymorphism in humans. This polymorphism is associated with anxiety-related symptoms, changes in social behavior, and cortical gray and white matter changes also seen in patients suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The human polymorphism can be mimicked by the knockout of the serotonin transporter in rodents, which are as a model system therefore vital to explore the precise neurobiological mechanisms. Moreover, there are pharmacological challenges influencing serotonin in early life, like prenatal/neonatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in depressed pregnant women. There is accumulating evidence that this dysregulation of serotonin during critical phases of brain development can lead to ASD-related symptoms in children, and reduced social behavior and increased anxiety in rodents. Furthermore, prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure, a mood stabilizing drug which is also thought to interfere with serotonin levels, has the potency to induce ASD-like symptoms and to affect the development of the serotonergic system. Here, we review and compare the neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences of serotonin transporter gene variation, and prenatal SSRI and VPA exposure in the context of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Kinast
- Behavioural Neurogenetics, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Pharmacological insights into the role of P2X4 receptors in behavioural regulation: lessons from ivermectin. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 16:1059-70. [PMID: 23174033 PMCID: PMC3593990 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145712000909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purinergic ionotropic P2X receptors are a family of cation-permeable channels that bind extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate. In particular, convergent lines of evidence have recently highlighted P2X(4) receptors as a potentially critical target in the regulation of multiple nervous and behavioural functions, including pain, neuroendocrine regulation and hippocampal plasticity. Nevertheless, the role of the P2X(4) receptor in behavioural organization remains poorly investigated. To study the effects of P2X(4) activation, we tested the acute effects of its potent positive allosteric modulator ivermectin (IVM, 2.5-10 mg/kg i.p.) on a broad set of paradigms capturing complementary aspects of perceptual, emotional and cognitive regulation in mice. In a novel open field, IVM did not induce significant changes in locomotor activity, but increased the time spent in the peripheral zone. In contrast, IVM produced anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus maze and marble burying tasks, as well as depression-like behaviours in the tail-suspension and forced swim tests. The agent induced no significant behavioural changes in the conditioned place preference test and in the novel object recognition task. Finally, the drug induced a dose-dependent decrease in sensorimotor gating, as assessed by pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. In P2X(4) knockout mice, the effects of IVM in the open field and elevated plus maze were similar to those observed in wild type mice; conversely, the drug significantly increased startle amplitude and failed to reduce PPI. Taken together, these results suggest that P2X(4) receptors may play a role in the regulation of sensorimotor gating.
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Frau R, Pillolla G, Bini V, Tambaro S, Devoto P, Bortolato M. Inhibition of 5α-reductase attenuates behavioral effects of D1-, but not D2-like receptor agonists in C57BL/6 mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38:542-51. [PMID: 22877998 PMCID: PMC3540184 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence point to the involvement of neurosteroids in the regulation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission and signaling, yet the neurobiological bases of this link remain poorly understood. We previously showed that inhibition of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the key rate-limiting enzyme in neurosteroidogenesis, attenuates the behavioral effects of non-selective DA receptor agonists in rats, including stereotyped responses and sensorimotor gating deficits, as measured by the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. Since previous findings suggested that the role of DA D(1)- and D(2)-like receptor families in behavioral regulation may exhibit broad interspecies and interstrain variations, we assessed the impact of 5αR blockade on the behavioral effects of DAergic agonists in C57BL/6 mice. The prototypical 5αR inhibitor finasteride (FIN; 25-50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, IP) dose-dependently countered the PPI deficits and the enhancement of rearing responses induced by the full D(1)-like receptor agonist SKF-82958 (0.3 mg/kg, IP); however, FIN did not significantly affect the hyperlocomotive and startle-attenuating effects of SKF-82958. Whereas the D(2)-like receptor agonist quinpirole (QUIN; 0.5 mg/kg, IP) did not induce significant changes in PPI, the combination of this agent and FIN surprisingly produced marked gating and startle deficits. In contrast with previous data on rats, FIN did not affect the reductions of startle reflex and PPI produced by the non-selective DAergic agonist apomorphine (APO; 0.5 mg/kg, IP). These findings collectively indicate that, in C57BL/6 mice, 5αR differentially modulates the effects of D(1)- and D(2)-like receptor agonists in behavioral regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Frau
- “Guy Everett” laboratory, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
- Tourette Syndrome Center, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuliano Pillolla
- “Guy Everett” laboratory, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentina Bini
- “Guy Everett” laboratory, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (CA), USA
| | - Paola Devoto
- “Guy Everett” laboratory, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Bortolato
- Tourette Syndrome Center, University of Cagliari, Italy
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (CA), USA
- Corresponding author: Marco Bortolato, MD PhD, Dept. of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Rm. 527, PSC 1985 Zonal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089, Phone: 323-442-3225, Fax: 323-442-3229,
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Van der Jeugd A, Blum D, Raison S, Eddarkaoui S, Bue L, DHooge R. Observations in THY-Tau22 mice that resemble behavioral and psychological signs and symptoms of dementia. Behav Brain Res 2013; 242:34-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Homberg JR, van den Hove DL. The serotonin transporter gene and functional and pathological adaptation to environmental variation across the life span. Prog Neurobiol 2012; 99:117-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Revised: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Unger EL, Hurst AR, Georgieff MK, Schallert T, Rao R, Connor JR, Kaciroti N, Lozoff B, Felt B. Behavior and monoamine deficits in prenatal and perinatal iron deficiency are not corrected by early postnatal moderate-iron or high-iron diets in rats. J Nutr 2012; 142:2040-9. [PMID: 22990465 PMCID: PMC3498975 DOI: 10.3945/jn.112.162198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental iron deficiency anemia (IDA) causes brain and behavioral deficits in rodent models, which cannot be reversed when treated at periods equivalent to later infancy in humans. This study sought to determine whether earlier iron treatment can normalize deficits of IDA in rats and what iron dose is optimal. The offspring of dams with IDA during gestation were cross-fostered at postnatal d (P) 8 to dams receiving diets with 1 of 3 iron concentrations until weaning (P21): 0.003-0.01 g/kg [totally iron deficient (TID)]; 0.04 g/kg [formerly iron deficient (FID-40)]; or 0.4 g/kg (FID-400). Always iron-sufficient control dams (CN-40) received a 0.04-g/kg iron diet. At P21, TID pups received a 0.01 g iron/kg diet; all others received a 0.04 g iron/kg diet. Hematocrit and brain iron and monoamine concentrations were assessed at P21 and P100. Pup growth, development, activity, object recognition, hesitancy, and watermaze performance were evaluated. Regional brain iron was restored by iron treatment. Regional monoamine and metabolite concentrations were elevated in FID-40 rats and reduced in FID-400 and TID rats compared with CN-40 rats. FID-40 offspring had motor delays similar to TID during lactation and FID-400 rats had elevated thigmotaxis similar to TID rats at P25 and P100 in the spatial watermaze. In conclusion, iron treatment at P8 in rats did not normalize all monoamine or behavioral measures after early IDA. Moderate iron treatment improved adult behavior, but higher iron treatment caused brain and behavioral patterns similar to TID in the short and long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L. Unger
- Department of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | | | - Michael K. Georgieff
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Tim Schallert
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX; and
| | - Raghavendra Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - James R. Connor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
| | | | - Betsy Lozoff
- Center for Human Growth and Development, and,Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Barbara Felt
- Center for Human Growth and Development, and,Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI,To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Smith BJH, Saaj CM, Allouis E. ANUBIS: artificial neuromodulation using a Bayesian inference system. Neural Comput 2012; 25:221-58. [PMID: 22970879 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Gain tuning is a crucial part of controller design and depends not only on an accurate understanding of the system in question, but also on the designer's ability to predict what disturbances and other perturbations the system will encounter throughout its operation. This letter presents ANUBIS (artificial neuromodulation using a Bayesian inference system), a novel biologically inspired technique for automatically tuning controller parameters in real time. ANUBIS is based on the Bayesian brain concept and modifies it by incorporating a model of the neuromodulatory system comprising four artificial neuromodulators. It has been applied to the controller of EchinoBot, a prototype walking rover for Martian exploration. ANUBIS has been implemented at three levels of the controller; gait generation, foot trajectory planning using Bézier curves, and foot trajectory tracking using a terminal sliding mode controller. We compare the results to a similar system that has been tuned using a multilayer perceptron. The use of Bayesian inference means that the system retains mathematical interpretability, unlike other intelligent tuning techniques, which use neural networks, fuzzy logic, or evolutionary algorithms. The simulation results show that ANUBIS provides significant improvements in efficiency and adaptability of the three controller components; it allows the robot to react to obstacles and uncertainties faster than the system tuned with the MLP, while maintaining stability and accuracy. As well as advancing rover autonomy, ANUBIS could also be applied to other situations where operating conditions are likely to change or cannot be accurately modeled in advance, such as process control. In addition, it demonstrates one way in which neuromodulation could fit into the Bayesian brain framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J H Smith
- Surrey Space Centre, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
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Stewart AM, Gaikwad S, Kyzar E, Kalueff AV. Understanding spatio-temporal strategies of adult zebrafish exploration in the open field test. Brain Res 2012; 1451:44-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.02.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Yamakado H, Moriwaki Y, Yamasaki N, Miyakawa T, Kurisu J, Uemura K, Inoue H, Takahashi M, Takahashi R. α-Synuclein BAC transgenic mice as a model for Parkinson's disease manifested decreased anxiety-like behavior and hyperlocomotion. Neurosci Res 2012; 73:173-7. [PMID: 22475625 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2012.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Revised: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn), the main component of Lewy bodies, was identified as a genetic risk factor for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). As a model for PD, we generated human α-syn bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice (BAC tg mice) harboring the entire human α-syn gene and its gene expression regulatory regions. The α-syn BAC tg mice manifested decreased anxiety-like behaviors which may reflect non-motor symptoms of early PD, and they exhibited increased SERT expression that may be responsible for decreased anxiety-like behaviors. Our α-syn BAC tg mice could be a valuable tool to evaluate α-syn gene dosage effects in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hodaka Yamakado
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Abstract
This chapter focuses on the use of genetically modified mice in investigating the neurobiology of depressive behaviour. First, the behavioural tests commonly used as a model of depressive-like behaviour in rodents are described. These tests include those sensitive to antidepressant treatment such as the forced swim test and the tail suspension test, as well as other tests that encompass the wider symptomatology of a depressive episode. A selection of example mutant mouse lines is then presented to illustrate the use of these tests. As our understanding of depression increases, an expanding list of candidate genes is being investigated using mutant mice. Here, mice relevant to the monoamine and corticotrophin-releasing factor hypotheses of depression are covered as well as those relating to the more recent candidate, brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This selection provides interesting examples of the use of complimentary lines, such as those that have genetic removal or overexpression, and also opposing behavioural changes seen following manipulation of closely related genes. Finally, factors such as the issue of background strain and influence of environmental factors are reflected upon, before considering what can realistically be expected of a mouse model of this complex psychiatric disorder.
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37
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The influence of neonatal serotonin depletion on emotional and exploratory behaviours in rats. Behav Brain Res 2012; 226:87-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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38
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Behavioral and physiological effects of acute ketamine exposure in adult zebrafish. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:658-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Revised: 04/16/2011] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Sartori SB, Landgraf R, Singewald N. The clinical implications of mouse models of enhanced anxiety. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2011; 6:531-571. [PMID: 21901080 PMCID: PMC3166843 DOI: 10.2217/fnl.11.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Mice are increasingly overtaking the rat model organism in important aspects of anxiety research, including drug development. However, translating the results obtained in mouse studies into information that can be applied in clinics remains challenging. One reason may be that most of the studies so far have used animals displaying 'normal' anxiety rather than 'psychopathological' animal models with abnormal (elevated) anxiety, which more closely reflect core features and sensitivities to therapeutic interventions of human anxiety disorders, and which would, thus, narrow the translational gap. Here, we discuss manipulations aimed at persistently enhancing anxiety-related behavior in the laboratory mouse using phenotypic selection, genetic techniques and/or environmental manipulations. It is hoped that such models with enhanced construct validity will provide improved ways of studying the neurobiology and treatment of pathological anxiety. Examples of findings from mouse models of enhanced anxiety-related behavior will be discussed, as well as their relation to findings in anxiety disorder patients regarding neuroanatomy, neurobiology, genetic involvement and epigenetic modifications. Finally, we highlight novel targets for potential anxiolytic pharmacotherapeutics that have been established with the help of research involving mice. Since the use of psychopathological mouse models is only just beginning to increase, it is still unclear as to the extent to which such approaches will enhance the success rate of drug development in translating identified therapeutic targets into clinical trials and, thus, helping to introduce the next anxiolytic class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone B Sartori
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy & Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Street 1, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rainer Landgraf
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Singewald
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy & Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Street 1, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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40
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Haenisch B, Bönisch H. Depression and antidepressants: Insights from knockout of dopamine, serotonin or noradrenaline re-uptake transporters. Pharmacol Ther 2011; 129:352-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2010.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Lin Z, Canales JJ, Björgvinsson T, Thomsen MM, Qu H, Liu QR, Torres GE, Caine SB. Monoamine transporters: vulnerable and vital doorkeepers. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 98:1-46. [PMID: 21199769 PMCID: PMC3321928 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385506-0.00001-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transporters of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine have been empirically used as medication targets for several mental illnesses in the last decades. These protein-targeted medications are effective only for subpopulations of patients with transporter-related brain disorders. Since the cDNA clonings in early 1990s, molecular studies of these transporters have revealed a wealth of information about the transporters' structure-activity relationship (SAR), neuropharmacology, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacogenetics, and the diseases related to the human genes encoding these transporters among related regulators. Such new information creates a unique opportunity to develop transporter-specific medications based on SAR, mRNA, DNA, and perhaps transporter trafficking regulation for a number of highly relevant diseases including substance abuse, depression, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Juan J. Canales
- Department of Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Thröstur Björgvinsson
- Behavioral Health Partial Hospital and Psychology Internship Programs, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Morgane M. Thomsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Hong Qu
- Center for Bioinformatics, National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University. Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Qing-Rong Liu
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH/DHHS, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Gonzalo E. Torres
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - S. Barak Caine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
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Tamada K, Tomonaga S, Hatanaka F, Nakai N, Takao K, Miyakawa T, Nakatani J, Takumi T. Decreased exploratory activity in a mouse model of 15q duplication syndrome; implications for disturbance of serotonin signaling. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15126. [PMID: 21179543 PMCID: PMC3002297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have garnered significant attention as an important grouping of developmental brain disorders. Recent genomic studies have revealed that inherited or de novo copy number variations (CNVs) are significantly involved in the pathophysiology of ASDs. In a previous report from our laboratory, we generated mice with CNVs as a model of ASDs, with a duplicated mouse chromosome 7C that is orthologous to human chromosome 15q11-13. Behavioral analyses revealed paternally duplicated (patDp/+) mice displayed abnormal behaviors resembling the symptoms of ASDs. In the present study, we extended these findings by performing various behavioral tests with C57BL/6J patDp/+ mice, and comprehensively measuring brain monoamine levels with ex vivo high performance liquid chromatography. Compared with wild-type controls, patDp/+ mice exhibited decreased locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field test, Y-maze test, and fear-conditioning test. Furthermore, their decreased activity levels overcame increased appetite induced by 24 hours of food deprivation in the novelty suppressed feeding test. Serotonin levels in several brain regions of adult patDp/+ mice were lower than those of wild-type control, with no concurrent changes in brain levels of dopamine or norepinephrine. Moreover, analysis of monoamines in postnatal developmental stages demonstrated reduced brain levels of serotonin in young patDp/+ mice. These findings suggest that a disrupted brain serotonergic system, especially during postnatal development, may generate the phenotypes of patDp/+ mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Tamada
- Osaka Bioscience Institute, Suita, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | | | - Fumiyuki Hatanaka
- Osaka Bioscience Institute, Suita, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakai
- Osaka Bioscience Institute, Suita, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Keizo Takao
- Frontier Technology Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Division of Systems Medicine, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Frontier Technology Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Division of Systems Medicine, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agent (JST), Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Saitama, Japan
| | | | - Toru Takumi
- Osaka Bioscience Institute, Suita, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agent (JST), Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Saitama, Japan
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43
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Kondratova AA, Dubrovsky YV, Antoch MP, Kondratov RV. Circadian clock proteins control adaptation to novel environment and memory formation. Aging (Albany NY) 2010; 2:285-97. [PMID: 20519775 PMCID: PMC2898019 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Deficiency of the transcription factor BMAL1, a core component of the circadian clock, results in an accelerated aging phenotype in mice. The circadian clock regulates many physiological processes and was recently implicated in control of brain-based activities, such as memory formation and the regulation of emotions. Aging is accompanied by the decline in brain physiology, particularly decline in the response and adaptation to novelty. We investigated the role of the circadian clock in exploratory behavior and habituation to novelty using the open field paradigm. We found that mice with a deficiency of the circadian transcription factor BMAL1 display hyperactivity in novel environments and impaired intra- and intersession habituation, indicative of defects in short- and long-term memory formation. In contrast, mice double-deficient for the circadian proteins CRY1 and CRY2 (repressors of the BMAL1-mediated transcription) demonstrate reduced activity and accelerated habituation when compared to wild type mice. Mice with mutation in theClock gene (encoding the BMAL1 transcription partner) show normal locomotion, but increased rearing activity and impaired intersession habituation. BMAL1 is highly expressed in the neurons of the hippocampus - a brain region associated with spatial memory formation; BMAL1 deficiency disrupts circadian oscillation in gene expression and reactive oxygen species homeostasis in the brain, which may be among the possible mechanisms involved. Thus, we suggest that the BMAL1:CLOCK activity is critical for the proper exploratory and habituation behavior, and that the circadian clock prepares organism for a new round of everyday activities through optimization of behavioral learning.
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Forebrain glucocorticoid receptor overexpression increases environmental reactivity and produces a stress-induced spatial discrimination deficit. Neuroscience 2010; 169:645-53. [PMID: 20562006 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2010] [Accepted: 05/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Reactivity to environmental stressors influences vulnerability to neurological and psychiatric illnesses, but little is known about molecular mechanisms that control this reactivity. Since mice with forebrain-specific glucocorticoid receptor overexpression (GRov mice) display anxiety-like behaviors in novel environments and have difficulty adjusting to change in memory tasks, we hypothesized that these may be facets of a broader phenotype of altered reactivity to environmental demands. Male GRov and wild-type mice were tested in a multiple-trial object interaction test comprising environmental and object habituation and spatial and object novelty trials. Half the mice received restraint stress before testing. GRov mice exhibited more locomotor activity and, without stress, more object interaction than wild-type mice. Following acute stress, GRov mice no longer showed increased object exploration. While stress dampened responses to object novelty in both groups, GRov mice were particularly impaired in discrimination of spatial novelty post-stress. These data demonstrate that GRov leads to increased environmental reactivity, responsiveness to salience, and vulnerability to stress-induced cognitive deficits. They implicate forebrain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in fine-tuning interactions with the environment and the interplay of emotional salience, coping abilities, and cognitive function.
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45
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Mignogna P, Viggiano D. Brain distribution of genes related to changes in locomotor activity. Physiol Behav 2010; 99:618-26. [PMID: 20138074 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2009] [Revised: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 01/26/2010] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between genes and behavior, and particularly the hyperactive behavior, is clearly not linear nor monotonic. To address this problem, a database of the locomotor behavior obtained from thousands of mutant mice has been previously retrieved from the literature. Data showed that the percent of genes in the genome related to locomotor hyperactivity is probably more than 1.56%. These genes do not belong to a single neurotransmitter system or biochemical pathway. Indeed, they are probably required for the correct development of a specific neuronal network necessary to decrease locomotor activity. The present paper analyzes the brain expression pattern of the genes whose deletion is accompanied by changes in locomotor behavior. Using literature data concerning knockout mice, 46 genes whose deletion was accompanied by increased locomotor behavior, 24 genes related to decreased locomotor behavior and 23 genes not involved in locomotor behavior (but important for other brain functions) have been identified. These three groups of genes belonged to overlapping neurotransmitter systems or cellular functions. Therefore, we postulated that a better predictor of the locomotor behavior resulting from gene deletion might be the brain expression pattern. To this aim we correlated the brain expression of the genes and the locomotor activity resulting from the deletion of the same genes, using two databases (Allen Brain Atlas and SymAtlas). The results showed that the deletion of genes with higher expression level in the brain had higher probability to be accompanied by increased behavioral activity. Moreover the genes that were accompanied by locomotor hyperactivity when deleted, were more expressed in the cerebral cortex, amygdala and hippocampus compared to the genes unrelated to locomotor activity. Therefore, the prediction of the behavioral effect of a gene should take into consideration its brain distribution. Moreover, data confirmed that genes highly expressed in the brain are more likely to induce hyperactivity when deleted. Finally, it is suggested that gene mutations linked to specific behavioral abnormalities (e.g. inattention) might probably be associated to hyperactivity if the same gene has elevated brain expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Mignogna
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, 86100, Italy
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46
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Kalueff AV, Olivier JDA, Nonkes LJP, Homberg JR. Conserved role for the serotonin transporter gene in rat and mouse neurobehavioral endophenotypes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2009; 34:373-86. [PMID: 19698744 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2009] [Revised: 08/12/2009] [Accepted: 08/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter knockout (SERT(-/-)) mouse, generated in 1998, was followed by the SERT(-/-) rat, developed in 2006. The availability of SERT(-/-) rodents creates the unique possibility to study the conservation of gene function across species. Here we summarize SERT(-/-) mouse and rat data, and discuss species (dis)similarities in neurobehavioral endophenotypes. Both SERT(-/-) rodent models show a disturbed serotonergic system, altered nociception, higher anxiety, decreased social behavior, as well as increased negative emotionality, behavioral inhibition and decision making. Used to model a wide range of psychiatric disorders, SERT(-/-) rodents may be particularly valuable in research on neurodevelopmental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and possibly autism. We conclude that SERT function is conserved across mice and rats and that their behavioral profile arises from common neurodevelopmental alterations. Because mice and rats have species-specific characteristics that confer differential research advantages, a comparison of the two models has heuristic value in understanding the mechanisms and behavioral outcome of SERT genetic variation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Kalueff
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Hall FS, Li XF, Randall-Thompson J, Sora I, Murphy DL, Lesch KP, Caron M, Uhl GR. Cocaine-conditioned locomotion in dopamine transporter, norepinephrine transporter and 5-HT transporter knockout mice. Neuroscience 2009; 162:870-80. [PMID: 19482066 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2009] [Revised: 05/06/2009] [Accepted: 05/26/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The behavioral effects of cocaine are affected by gene knockout (KO) of the dopamine transporter (DAT), the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET). The relative involvement of each of these transporters varies depending on the particular behavioral response to cocaine considered, as well as on other factors such as genetic background of the subjects. Interestingly, the effects of these gene knockouts on cocaine-induced locomotion are quite different from those on reward assessed in the conditioned place preference paradigm. To further explore the role of these genes in the rewarding effects of cocaine, the ability of five daily injections of cocaine to induce conditioned locomotion was assessed in DAT, SERT and NET KO mice. Cocaine increased locomotor activity acutely during the initial conditioning session in SERT KO and NET KO, but not DAT KO, mice. Surprisingly, locomotor responses in the cocaine-paired subjects diminished over the five conditioning sessions in SERT KO mice, while locomotor responses increased in DAT KO mice, despite the fact that they did not demonstrate any initial locomotor responses to cocaine. Cocaine-induced locomotion was unchanged over the course of conditioning in NET KO mice. In the post-conditioning assessment, conditioned locomotion was not observed in DAT KO mice, and was reduced in SERT KO and NET KO mice. These data reaffirm the central role of dopamine and DAT in the behavioral effects of cocaine. Furthermore, they emphasize the polygenic basis of cocaine-mediated behavior and the non-unitary nature of drug reward mechanisms, particularly in the context of previous studies that have shown normal cocaine-conditioned place preference in DAT KO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Hall
- Molecular Neurobiology Branch, NIDA-IRP/NIH/DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Wultsch T, Grimberg G, Schmitt A, Painsipp E, Wetzstein H, Breitenkamp AFS, Gründemann D, Schömig E, Lesch KP, Gerlach M, Reif A. Decreased anxiety in mice lacking the organic cation transporter 3. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2009; 116:689-97. [PMID: 19280114 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-009-0205-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/17/2009] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3; synonymous: extraneuronal monoamine transporter, EMT, Slc22a3) encodes an isoform of the organic cation transporters and is expressed widely across the whole brain. OCTs are a family of high-capacity, bidirectional, multispecific transporters of organic cations. These also include serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine making OCTs attractive candidates for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders. OCT3 has been implicated in termination of monoaminergic signalling in the central nervous system. Interestingly, OCT3 mRNA is however also significantly up-regulated in the hippocampus of serotonin transporter knockout mice where it might serve as an alternative reuptake mechanism for serotonin. The examination of the behavioural phenotype of OCT3 knockout mice thus is paramount to assess the role of OCT3. We have therefore subjected mice lacking the OCT3 gene to a comprehensive behavioural test battery. While cognitive functioning in the Morris water maze test and aggression levels measured with the resident-intruder paradigm were in the same range as the respective control animals, OCT3 knockout animals showed a tendency of increased activity and were significantly less anxious in the elevated plus-maze test and the open field test as compared to their respective wild-type controls arguing for a role of OCT3 in the regulation of fear and anxiety, probably by modulating the serotonergic tone in limbic circuitries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wultsch
- Section of Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Füchsleinstr. 15, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
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Neonatal fluoxetine exposure affects the neuronal structure in the somatosensory cortex and somatosensory-related behaviors in adolescent rats. Neurotox Res 2009; 15:212-23. [PMID: 19384594 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-009-9022-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2008] [Revised: 10/29/2008] [Accepted: 12/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-type antidepressants are often prescribed to depressive pregnant women for their less adverse side effects. However, growing evidences have shown increased congenital malformations and poor neonatal adaptation in the perinatal SSRI-exposed human infants as well as animal pups. In this study, we examined the effects of early exposure of fluoxetine, the most popular SSRI-type antidepressant, on the developing somatosensory system. Physiological saline or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected into neonatal rats from P0 to P6. Somatosensory-related behaviors were examined in adolescence (P30-P35). Morphological features of the primary somatosensory cortex were checked at P7 and P35. The tactile and thermal perceptions as well as locomotor activity were affected by neonatal fluoxetine treatment. At the morphological level, the number of branch tips of thalamocortical afferents to the somatosensory cortex was reduced in the fluoxetine-treated rats. Furthermore, the spiny stellate neurons in the layer IV somatosensory cortex had reduced dendritic span and complexity with fewer branches, shorter dendritic length, and smaller dendritic field. The spine density of spiny stellate neurons was significantly reduced whereas the spine length of mushroom- and branched-type was increased. Taken together, these results indicate that neonatal fluoxetine administration has long-lasting effects on the function and structure in the somatosensory system. Sensory information processing may be disturbed in the neonatal fluoxetine-treated animals due to the structural deformation in the thalamocortical afferents and dendritic structures of the spiny stellate neurons in the layer IV somatosensory cortex.
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Moy SS, Nadler JJ, Young NB, Nonneman RJ, Grossman AW, Murphy DL, D'Ercole AJ, Crawley JN, Magnuson TR, Lauder JM. Social approach in genetically engineered mouse lines relevant to autism. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2009; 8:129-42. [PMID: 19016890 PMCID: PMC2659808 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2008.00452.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Profound impairment in social interaction is a core symptom of autism, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. Deficits can include a lack of interest in social contact and low levels of approach and proximity to other children. In this study, a three-chambered choice task was used to evaluate sociability and social novelty preference in five lines of mice with mutations in genes implicated in autism spectrum disorders. Fmr1(tm1Cgr/Y)(Fmr1(-/y)) mice represent a model for fragile X, a mental retardation syndrome that is partially comorbid with autism. We tested Fmr1(-/y)mice on two genetic backgrounds, C57BL/6J and FVB/N-129/OlaHsd (FVB/129). Targeted disruption of Fmr1 resulted in low sociability on one measure, but only when the mutation was expressed on FVB/129. Autism has been associated with altered serotonin levels and polymorphisms in SLC6A4 (SERT), the serotonin transporter gene. Male mice with targeted disruption of Slc6a4 displayed significantly less sociability than wild-type controls. Mice with conditional overexpression of Igf-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) offered a model for brain overgrowth associated with autism. Igf-1 transgenic mice engaged in levels of social approach similar to wild-type controls. Targeted disruption in other genes of interest, En2 (engrailed-2) and Dhcr7, was carried on genetic backgrounds that showed low levels of exploration in the choice task, precluding meaningful interpretations of social behavior scores. Overall, results show that loss of Fmr1 or Slc6a4 gene function can lead to deficits in sociability. Findings from the fragile X model suggest that the FVB/129 background confers enhanced susceptibility to consequences of Fmr1 mutation on social approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Moy
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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