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Beane CR, Lewis DG, Bruns Vi N, Pikus KL, Durfee MH, Zegarelli RA, Perry TW, Sandoval O, Radke AK. Cholinergic mu-opioid receptor deletion alters reward preference and aversion-resistance. Neuropharmacology 2024; 255:110019. [PMID: 38810926 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in alcohol consumption and preference in both humans and animals. The mu opioid receptor (MOR) is expressed on multiple cells in the striatum, however little is known about the contributions of specific MOR populations to alcohol drinking behaviors. The current study used mice with a genetic deletion of MOR in cholinergic cells (ChAT-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl) to examine the role of MORs expressed in cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in home cage self-administration paradigms. Male and female ChAT-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl mice were generated and heterozygous Cre+ (knockout) and Cre- (control) mice were tested for alcohol consumption in two drinking paradigms: limited access "Drinking in the Dark" and intermittent access. Quinine was added to the drinking bottles in the DID experiment to test aversion-resistant, "compulsive" drinking. Nicotine and sucrose drinking were also assessed so comparisons could be made with other rewarding substances. Cholinergic MOR deletion did not influence consumption or preference for ethanol (EtOH) in either drinking task. Differences were observed in aversion-resistance in males with Cre + mice tolerating lower concentrations of quinine than Cre-. In contrast to EtOH, preference for nicotine was reduced following cholinergic MOR deletion while sucrose consumption and preference was increased in Cre+ (vs. Cre-) females. Locomotor activity was also greater in females following the deletion. These results suggest that cholinergic MORs participate in preference for rewarding substances. Further, while they are not required for consumption of alcohol alone, cholinergic MORs may influence the tendency to drink despite negative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cambria R Beane
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Delainey G Lewis
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Nicolaus Bruns Vi
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Kat L Pikus
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Mary H Durfee
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Roman A Zegarelli
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Thomas W Perry
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Oscar Sandoval
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
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Weber H, Statz M, Markert F, Storch A, Fauser M. Circadian variations influence anxiety-related behaviour, olfaction, and hedonic response in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115134. [PMID: 38964168 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the acknowledged impact of circadian rhythms on various aspects of life, behavioural tests with laboratory animals often overlook alignment with their natural activity patterns. This study aims to evaluate the influence of circadian variations on the results, validity, and reliability of different behavioural tests in rats. METHODS Three behavioural tests, the Light-Dark Box Test (LDB), assessing anxiety-related behaviour and locomotor activity; the Buried Pellet Test (BPT), revealing olfactory abilities and motivation issues; and the Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), studying the anhedonic response, were employed to encompass multiple daytime-dependent behavioural aspects in male Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS Our findings underscore distinct circadian effects on locomotor activity, exploratory behaviour, olfactory acuity, motivation, and hedonic response. Notably, anxious behaviour remained unaffected by daytime conditions. Furthermore, decreased data variance was found to be correlated with conducting behavioural tests during the subjects' active phase. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates extensive circadian influences on nearly all parameters investigated, coupled with a significant reduction in data variability during the active phase. Emphasising the importance of aligning experimental timing with rats' natural activity patterns, our results suggest that conducting tests during the active phase of the animals not only refines test sensitivity , reduces stress, and provides more representative data, but also contributes to ethical animal research (3 R) and improves test relevance. This, in turn, enhances the reliability and validity of experimental outcomes in behavioural research and promotes animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Weber
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany.
| | - Meike Statz
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany
| | - Franz Markert
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany
| | - Alexander Storch
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany; German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany
| | - Mareike Fauser
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, Rostock 18147, Germany
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Balter LJT, Holding BC, Petrovic P, Axelsson J. The rhythm of mental health: the relationship of chronotype with psychiatric trait dimensions and diurnal variation in psychiatric symptoms. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:237. [PMID: 38834543 PMCID: PMC11150537 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02943-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
To advance the emergence of circadian-based therapies, this study characterized how psychiatric symptoms fluctuate across the day and vary between individuals. Using a dimensional approach, we determined how chronotype relates to 13 psychiatric traits, and modeled the temporal development of symptoms throughout the day using generalized additive mixed effects models. In this preregistered study, a subclinical sample completed 13 psychiatric trait scales and a chronotype scale at baseline (N = 515, n = 404 women, 109 men, n = 2 non-binary, M age = 32.4 years, range 18-77), followed by 22 psychiatric symptoms and behaviors rated repeatedly between ~08:00-00:00 (n = 410). Key findings are that 11 out of 13 psychiatric traits were associated with being an evening-type, ranging from depression to obsessive comulsive disorder, social anxiety, and delusional ideation, while only mania was associated with being a morning-type. Four distinct psychiatric trait factors were identified, each predicting worse symptom levels throughout the day. Fatigue-related symptoms exhibited strong time-of-day changes with evening-types experiencing worse fatigue in the morning and morning-types in the evening. Evening-types had considerably lower drive and motivation than morning-types from morning to early evening. Evening-types also had more pronounced negative emotional symptoms and ADHD-type symptoms in the evening, particularly among those high in psychiatric trait factors. These findings identified important research targets that hold promise for improving mental health outcomes, such as strategies to boost morning motivation. Furthermore, the results emphasize the relevance of incorporating circadian factors, including chronotype, into translational psychiatric research and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie J T Balter
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 65, Sweden.
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 114 19, Sweden.
| | - Benjamin C Holding
- Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK 1014, Denmark
| | - Predrag Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 65, Sweden
| | - John Axelsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 65, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 114 19, Sweden
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4
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Jameson AN, Siemann JK, Grueter CA, Grueter B, McMahon DG. Effects of age and sex on photoperiod modulation of nucleus accumbens monoamine content and release in adolescence and adulthood. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2024; 16:100103. [PMID: 38585223 PMCID: PMC10990739 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2024.100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Day length, or photoperiod, is a reliable environmental cue encoded by the brain's circadian clock that indicates changing seasons and induces seasonal biological processes. In humans, photoperiod, age, and sex have been linked to seasonality in neuropsychiatric disorders, as seen in Seasonal Affective Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. The nucleus accumbens is a key locus for the regulation of motivated behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders. Using periadolescent and young adult male and female mice, here we assessed photoperiod's effect on serotonin and dopamine tissue content in the nucleus accumbens core, as well as on accumbal synaptic dopamine release and uptake. We found greater serotonin and dopamine tissue content in the nucleus accumbens from young adult mice raised in a Short winter-like photoperiod. In addition, dopamine release and clearance were greater in the nucleus accumbens from young adult mice raised in a Long summer-like photoperiod. Importantly, we found that photoperiod's effects on accumbal dopamine tissue content and release were sex-specific to young adult females. These findings support that in mice there are interactions across age, sex, and photoperiod that impact critical monoamine neuromodulators in the nucleus accumbens which may provide mechanistic insight into the age and sex dependencies in seasonality of neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis N. Jameson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Justin K. Siemann
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie A. Grueter
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - BradA. Grueter
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Douglas G. McMahon
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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5
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Beane CR, Lewis DG, Bruns NK, Pikus KL, Durfee MH, Zegarelli RA, Perry TW, Sandoval O, Radke AK. Cholinergic mu-opioid receptor deletion alters reward preference and aversion-resistance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.13.566881. [PMID: 38014065 PMCID: PMC10680803 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.566881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Heavy alcohol use and binge drinking are important contributors to alcohol use disorder (AUD). The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in alcohol consumption and preference in both humans and animals. The mu opioid receptor (MOR) is expressed on multiple cells in the striatum, however little is known about the contributions of specific MOR populations to alcohol drinking behaviors. The current study used mice with a genetic deletion of MOR in cholinergic cells (ChAT-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl) to examine the role of MORs expressed in cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in home cage self-administration paradigms. Male and female ChAT-Cre/Oprm1fl/fl mice were generated and heterozygous Cre+ (knockout) and Cre- (control) mice were tested for alcohol and nicotine consumption. In Experiment 1, binge-like and quinine-resistant drinking was tested using 15% ethanol (EtOH) in a two-bottle, limited-access Drinking in the Dark paradigm. Experiment 2 involved a six-week intermittent access paradigm in which mice received 20% EtOH, nicotine, and then a combination of the two drugs. Experiment 3 assessed locomotor activity, sucrose preference, and quinine sensitivity. Deleting MORs in cholinergic cells did not alter consumption of EtOH in Experiment 1 or 2. In Experiment 1, the MOR deletion resulted in greater consumption of quinine-adulterated EtOH in male Cre+ mice (vs. Cre-). In Experiment 2, Cre+ mice demonstrated a significantly lower preference for nicotine but did not differ from Cre- mice in nicotine or nicotine + EtOH consumption. Overall fluid consumption was also heightened in the Cre+ mice. In Experiment 3, Cre+ females were found to have greater locomotor activity and preference for sucrose vs. Cre- mice. These data suggest that cholinergic MORs are not required for EtOH, drinking behaviors but may contribute to aversion resistant EtOH drinking in a sex-dependent manner.
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DePoy LM, Petersen KA, Zong W, Ketchesin KD, Matthaei RC, Yin R, Perez MS, Vadnie CA, Becker-Krail D, Scott MR, Tseng GC, McClung CA. Cell-type and sex-specific rhythmic gene expression in the nucleus accumbens. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02569-7. [PMID: 38678086 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are critical for human health and are highly conserved across species. Disruptions in these rhythms contribute to many diseases, including psychiatric disorders. Previous results suggest that circadian genes modulate behavior through specific cell types in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), particularly dopamine D1-expressing medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, diurnal rhythms in transcript expression have not been investigated in NAc MSNs. In this study we identified and characterized rhythmic transcripts in D1- and D2-expressing neurons and compared rhythmicity results to homogenate as well as astrocyte samples taken from the NAc of male and female mice. We find that all cell types have transcripts with diurnal rhythms and that top rhythmic transcripts are largely core clock genes, which peak at approximately the same time of day in each cell type and sex. While clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts are enriched for protein regulation pathways across cell type, cell signaling and signal transduction related processes are most commonly enriched in MSNs. In contrast to core clock genes, these clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts tend to reach their peak in expression about 2-h later in females than males, suggesting diurnal rhythms in reward may be delayed in females. We also find sex differences in pathway enrichment for rhythmic transcripts peaking at different times of day. Protein folding and immune responses are enriched in transcripts that peak in the dark phase, while metabolic processes are primarily enriched in transcripts that peak in the light phase. Importantly, we also find that several classic markers used to categorize MSNs are rhythmic in the NAc. This is critical since the use of rhythmic markers could lead to over- or under-enrichment of targeted cell types depending on the time at which they are sampled. This study greatly expands our knowledge of how individual cell types contribute to rhythms in the NAc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M DePoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn A Petersen
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Wei Zong
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle D Ketchesin
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ross C Matthaei
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - RuoFei Yin
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Megan S Perez
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chelsea A Vadnie
- David O. Robbins Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Ohio Wesleyan University, 43015, Delaware, OH, USA
| | - Darius Becker-Krail
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madeline R Scott
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - George C Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Colleen A McClung
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 15219, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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7
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Ye Z, Wei Y, Zhang G, Ge L, Wu C, Ren Y, Wang J, Xu X, Yang J, Wang T. Circadian rhythm regulation in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus: Insights into clock gene expression, photoperiod susceptibility, and neurohormone signaling. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 270:110930. [PMID: 38065309 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus displays the typical circadian rhythms. This present study investigated the molecular regulation of clock genes, as well as monoamines and melatonin, in multiple tissues of A. japonicus, responding to the photoperiod. In order to determine their pivotal role in circadian rhythms, the crucial clock genes, namely AjClock, AjArnt1, AjCry1, and AjTimeless, were identified and a comprehensive analysis of their expressions across various tissues in adult A. japonicus was conducted, revealing the potential existence of central and peripheral oscillators. Results demonstrated that the tissues of polian vesicle and nerve ring exhibited significant clock gene expression associated with the orchestration of circadian regulation, and that environmental light fluctuations exerted influence on the expression of these clock genes. However, a number of genes, such as AjArnt1 and AjCry1, maintained their circadian rhythmicity even under continuous light conditions. Moreover, we further investigated the circadian patterns of melatonin (MT), serotonin (5-HT), and dopamine (DA) secretion in A. japonicus, data that underscored the tissue-specific regulatory differences and the inherent adaptability to dynamic light environments. Collectively, these findings will provide the molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm in echinoderms and the candidate tissues playing the role of central oscillators in sea cucumbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqing Ye
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wei
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangbo Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifei Ge
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenqian Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yucheng Ren
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jixiu Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuwen Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwen Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianming Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, People's Republic of China.
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Holloway AL, Lerner TN. Hidden variables in stress neurobiology research. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:9-17. [PMID: 37985263 PMCID: PMC10842876 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Among the central goals of stress neurobiology research is to understand the mechanisms by which stressors change neural circuit function to precipitate or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms. Yet despite decades of effort, psychiatric medications that target the biological substrates of the stress response are largely lacking. We propose that the clinical advancement of stress response-based therapeutics for psychiatric disorders may be hindered by 'hidden variables' in stress research, including considerations of behavioral study design (stressors and outcome measures), individual variability, sex differences, and the interaction of the body's stress hormone system with endogenous circadian and ultradian rhythms. We highlight key issues and suggest ways forward in stress neurobiology research that may improve the ability to assess stress mechanisms and translate preclinical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Holloway
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN), Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Talia N Lerner
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN), Evanston, IL, USA.
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9
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Ronström JW, Williams SB, Payne A, Obray DJ, Hafen C, Burris M, Scott Weber K, Steffensen SC, Yorgason JT. Interleukin-10 enhances activity of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons resulting in increased dopamine release. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:145-155. [PMID: 37453452 PMCID: PMC10530119 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) regulates important aspects of motivation and is influenced by the neuroimmune system. The neuroimmune system is a complex network of leukocytes, microglia and astrocytes that detect and remove foreign threats like bacteria or viruses and communicate with each other to regulate non-immune (e.g neuronal) cell activity through cytokine signaling. Inflammation is a key regulator of motivational states, though the effects of specific cytokines on VTA circuitry and motivation are largely unknown. Therefore, electrophysiology, neurochemical, immunohistochemical and behavioral studies were performed to determine the effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) on mesolimbic activity, dopamine transmission and conditioned behavior. IL-10 enhanced VTA dopamine firing and NAc dopamine levels via decreased VTA GABA currents in dopamine neurons. The IL-10 receptor was localized on VTA dopamine and non-dopamine cells. The IL-10 effects on dopamine neurons required post-synaptic phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity, and IL-10 appeared to have little-to-no efficacy on presynaptic GABA terminals. Intracranial IL-10 enhanced NAc dopamine levels in vivo and produced conditioned place aversion. Together, these studies identify the IL-10R on VTA dopamine neurons as a potential regulator of motivational states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim W Ronström
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Stephanie B Williams
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Andrew Payne
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Daniel J Obray
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Caylor Hafen
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Matthew Burris
- Brigham Young University, Department of Cellular Biology and Physiology, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - K Scott Weber
- Brigham Young University, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States
| | - Jordan T Yorgason
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology/Neuroscience, Provo, UT 84602, United States; Brigham Young University, Department of Cellular Biology and Physiology, Provo, UT 84602, United States.
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10
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Francis TC, Porcu A. Emotionally clocked out: cell-type specific regulation of mood and anxiety by the circadian clock system in the brain. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1188184. [PMID: 37441675 PMCID: PMC10333695 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1188184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are self-sustained oscillations of biological systems that allow an organism to anticipate periodic changes in the environment and optimally align feeding, sleep, wakefulness, and the physiological and biochemical processes that support them within the 24 h cycle. These rhythms are generated at a cellular level by a set of genes, known as clock genes, which code for proteins that inhibit their own transcription in a negative feedback loop and can be perturbed by stress, a risk factor for the development of mood and anxiety disorders. A role for circadian clocks in mood and anxiety has been suggested for decades on the basis of clinical observations, and the dysregulation of circadian rhythms is a prominent clinical feature of stress-related disorders. Despite our understanding of central clock structure and function, the effect of circadian dysregulation in different neuronal subtypes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master pacemaker region, as well as other brain systems regulating mood, including mesolimbic and limbic circuits, is just beginning to be elucidated. In the brain, circadian clocks regulate neuronal physiological functions, including neuronal activity, synaptic plasticity, protein expression, and neurotransmitter release which in turn affect mood-related behaviors via cell-type specific mechanisms. Both animal and human studies have revealed an association between circadian misalignment and mood disorders and suggest that internal temporal desynchrony might be part of the etiology of psychiatric disorders. To date, little work has been conducted associating mood-related phenotypes to cell-specific effects of the circadian clock disruptions. In this review, we discuss existing literature on how clock-driven changes in specific neuronal cell types might disrupt phase relationships among cellular communication, leading to neuronal circuit dysfunction and changes in mood-related behavior. In addition, we examine cell-type specific circuitry underlying mood dysfunction and discuss how this circuitry could affect circadian clock. We provide a focus for future research in this area and a perspective on chronotherapies for mood and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Chase Francis
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Alessandra Porcu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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Jameson AN, Siemann JK, Melchior J, Calipari ES, McMahon DG, Grueter BA. Photoperiod Impacts Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Dynamics. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0361-22.2023. [PMID: 36781229 PMCID: PMC9937087 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0361-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian photoperiod, or day length, changes with the seasons and influences behavior to allow animals to adapt to their environment. Photoperiod is also associated with seasonal rhythms of affective state, as evidenced by seasonality of several neuropsychiatric disorders. Interestingly, seasonality tends to be more prevalent in women for affective disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the underlying neurobiological processes contributing to sex-linked seasonality of affective behaviors are largely unknown. Mesolimbic dopamine input to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) contributes to the regulation of affective state and behaviors. Additionally, sex differences in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway are well established. Therefore, we hypothesize that photoperiod may drive differential modulation of NAc dopamine in males and females. Here, we used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to explore whether photoperiod can modulate subsecond dopamine signaling dynamics in the NAc core of male and female mice raised in seasonally relevant photoperiods. We found that photoperiod modulates dopamine signaling in the NAc core, and that this effect is sex-specific to females. Both release and uptake of dopamine were enhanced in the NAc core of female mice raised in long, summer-like photoperiods, whereas we did not find photoperiodic effects on NAc core dopamine in males. These findings uncover a potential neural circuit basis for sex-linked seasonality in affective behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis N Jameson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Justin K Siemann
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - James Melchior
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Douglas G McMahon
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Brad A Grueter
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
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