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Jankovic-Rankovic J, Panter-Brick C. Physiological and genomic signatures of war and displacement: A comprehensive literature review and future directions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107084. [PMID: 38788460 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
There are now 108.4 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, many of whom endure adversities that result in trauma, toxic stress, and potentially, altered epigenetic development. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current literature on the biological signatures of war and forced migration among refugee populations. To consolidate evidence and identify key concerns and avenues for future research, we reviewed 36 publications and one article under review, published since 2000, most of which focused on refugees relocated in Europe and the Middle East. This body of work - including cross-sectional, observational, and experimental studies - reveals heterogenous findings regarding human biological responses to war-related adversities and their associations with health outcomes. We conclude with four main observations, regarding why genomic and physiological biomarkers are valuable, what study designs advance understanding of causality and health-promoting interventions, how to prepare for ethical challenges, and why theoretical frameworks and research procedures need more detailed consideration in scientific publications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Panter-Brick
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus 2024; 34:218-229. [PMID: 38362938 PMCID: PMC11039386 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23600] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation system in which catalytically dead Cas9 fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs, resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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3
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Shi T, Shah I, Dang Q, Taylor L, Jagannath A. Sex-specific regulation of the cortical transcriptome in response to sleep deprivation. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1303727. [PMID: 38504908 PMCID: PMC10948409 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1303727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have documented sex differences in sleep behaviour, however, the molecular determinants of such differences remain unknown. Furthermore, most studies addressing molecular mechanisms have been performed only in males, leaving the current state of knowledge biased towards the male sex. To address this, we studied the differences in the transcriptome of the cerebral cortex of male and female C57Bl/6 J mice after 6 h of sleep deprivation. We found that several genes, including the neurotrophin growth factor Bdnf, immediate early genes Fosb and Fosl2, and the adenylate cyclase Adcy7 are differentially upregulated in males compared to females. We identified the androgen-receptor activating transcription factor EZH2 as the upstream regulatory element specifying sex differences in the sleep deprivation transcriptome. We propose that the pathways downstream of these transcripts, which impact on cellular re-organisation, synaptic signalling, and learning may underpin the differential response to sleep deprivation in the two sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Shi
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, New Biochemistry Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ishani Shah
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Quang Dang
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, New Biochemistry Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Lewis Taylor
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, New Biochemistry Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aarti Jagannath
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, New Biochemistry Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Kondev V, Najeed M, Yasmin F, Morgan A, Loomba N, Johnson K, Adank DN, Dong A, Delpire E, Li Y, Winder D, Grueter BA, Patel S. Endocannabinoid release at ventral hippocampal-amygdala synapses regulates stress-induced behavioral adaptation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113027. [PMID: 37703881 PMCID: PMC10846613 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a key modulator of glutamate release within limbic neurocircuitry and thus heavily modulates stress responsivity and adaptation. The ventral hippocampus (vHPC)-basolateral amygdala (BLA) circuit has been implicated in the expression of negative affective states following stress exposure and is modulated by retrograde eCB signaling. However, the mechanisms governing eCB release and the causal relationship between vHPC-BLA eCB signaling and stress-induced behavioral adaptations are not known. Here, we utilized in vivo optogenetic- and biosensor-based approaches to determine the temporal dynamics of activity-dependent and stress-induced eCB release at vHPC-BLA synapses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that genetic deletion of cannabinoid type-1 receptors selectively at vHPC-BLA synapses decreases active stress coping and exacerbates stress-induced avoidance and anhedonia phenotypes. These data establish the in vivo determinants of eCB release at limbic synapses and demonstrate that eCB signaling within vHPC-BLA circuitry serves to counteract adverse behavioral consequences of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kondev
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mustafa Najeed
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Farhana Yasmin
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Amanda Morgan
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Niharika Loomba
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Keenan Johnson
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Danielle N Adank
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China; PKU-IDG/McGoverrn Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Eric Delpire
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China; PKU-IDG/McGoverrn Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Danny Winder
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Brad A Grueter
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Northwestern Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Li Y, Zhi W, Qi B, Wang L, Hu X. Update on neurobiological mechanisms of fear: illuminating the direction of mechanism exploration and treatment development of trauma and fear-related disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1216524. [PMID: 37600761 PMCID: PMC10433239 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1216524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear refers to an adaptive response in the face of danger, and the formed fear memory acts as a warning when the individual faces a dangerous situation again, which is of great significance to the survival of humans and animals. Excessive fear response caused by abnormal fear memory can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders. Fear memory has been studied for a long time, which is of a certain guiding effect on the treatment of fear-related disorders. With continuous technological innovations, the study of fear has gradually shifted from the level of brain regions to deeper neural (micro) circuits between brain regions and even within single brain regions, as well as molecular mechanisms. This article briefly outlines the basic knowledge of fear memory and reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of fear extinction and relapse, which aims to provide new insights for future basic research on fear emotions and new ideas for treating trauma and fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Weijia Zhi
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Qi
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangjun Hu
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
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6
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Lee H, Kaang BK. How engram mediates learning, extinction, and relapse. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102723. [PMID: 37030026 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Fear learning ensures survival through an expression of certain behavior as a conditioned fear response. Fear memory is processed and stored in a fear memory circuit, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. A gradual decrease in conditioned fear response can be induced by fear extinction, which is mediated through the weakening of the original fear memory traces and the newly formed inhibition of those traces. Fear memory can also recover after extinction, which shows flexible control of the fear memory state. Here, we demonstrate how fear engram, which is a physical substrate of fear memory, changes during fear extinction and relapse by reviewing recent studies regarding engram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoonwon Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Bong-Kiun Kaang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
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Therapeutic Implications of microRNAs in Depressive Disorders: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113530. [PMID: 36362315 PMCID: PMC9658840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are hidden players in complex psychophysical phenomena such as depression and anxiety related disorders though the activation and deactivation of multiple proteins in signaling cascades. Depression is classified as a mood disorder and described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. In this review, we have focused on exploration of the significant role of miRNAs in depression by affecting associated target proteins (cellular and synaptic) and their signaling pathways which can be controlled by the attachment of miRNAs at transcriptional and translational levels. Moreover, miRNAs have potential role as biomarkers and may help to cure depression through involvement and interactions with multiple pharmacological and physiological therapies. Taken together, miRNAs might be considered as promising novel therapy targets themselves and may interfere with currently available antidepressant treatments.
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Ramnauth AD, Maynard KR, Kardian AS, Phan BN, Tippani M, Rajpurohit S, Hobbs JW, Cerceo Page S, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K. Induction of Bdnf from promoter I following electroconvulsive seizures contributes to structural plasticity in neurons of the piriform cortex. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:427-433. [PMID: 35183789 PMCID: PMC8957536 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) efficacy is hypothesized to depend on induction of molecular and cellular events that trigger neuronal plasticity. Investigating how electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) impact plasticity in animal models can help inform our understanding of basic mechanisms by which ECT relieves symptoms of depression. ECS-induced plasticity is associated with differential expression of unique isoforms encoding the neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that cells expressing the Bdnf exon 1-containing isoform are important for ECS-induced structural plasticity in the piriform cortex, a highly epileptogenic region that is responsive to ECS. METHODS We selectively labeled Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons in mouse piriform cortex using Cre recombinase dependent on GFP technology (CRE-DOG). We then quantified changes in dendrite morphology and density of Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons. RESULTS Loss of promoter I-derived BDNF caused changes in spine density and morphology in Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons following ECS. CONCLUSIONS Promoter I-derived Bdnf is required for ECS-induced dendritic structural plasticity in Bdnf exon 1-expressing neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D. Ramnauth
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen R. Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alisha S. Kardian
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Madhavi Tippani
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sumita Rajpurohit
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John W. Hobbs
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie Cerceo Page
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Bayat M, Kohlmeier KA, Haghani M, Haghighi AB, Khalili A, Bayat G, Hooshmandi E, Shabani M. Co-treatment of vitamin D supplementation with enriched environment improves synaptic plasticity and spatial learning and memory in aged rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2297-2312. [PMID: 33991198 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05853-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown in old rats to improve learning and memory. Vitamin D (VitD) has also been shown to modulate age-related, cognitive dysfunction. As both EE and VitD could work to improve cognition via enhancement of neurotrophic factors, their effects might occlude one another. Therefore, a clinically relevant question is whether noted cognition-promoting effects of EE and VitD can co-occur. METHODS Aged rats were housed for 6 weeks in one of three housing conditions: environmentally enriched (EE), socially enriched (SE), or standard condition (SC). Further, a 4th group was co-treated with VitD supplementation (400 IU kg-1 daily, 6 weeks) under EE conditions (EE + VitD). RESULTS Treatment with VitD and EE housing were associated with higher score on measures of learning and memory and exhibited lower anxiety scores compared to EE alone, SE or SC as assayed in the elevated plus maze, Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and open field tasks. Additionally, in the EE + VitD group, mRNA expression levels of NGF, TrkA, BDNF, Nrf2, and IGF-1 were significantly higher compared to expression seen in the EE group. Furthermore, field potential recordings showed that EE + VitD resulted in a greater enhancement of hippocampal LTP and neuronal excitability when compared to EE alone. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that in aged rats exposure to EE and VitD results in effects on hippocampal cognitive dysfunction and molecular mechanisms which are greater than effects of EE alone, suggesting potential for synergistic therapeutic effects for management of age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Bayat
- Clinical Neurology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kristi A Kohlmeier
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Masoud Haghani
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Azadeh Khalili
- Evidence-Based Phytotherapy and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Bayat
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Etrat Hooshmandi
- Clinical Neurology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shabani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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Omura J, Fuchikami M, Araki M, Miyagi T, Okamoto Y, Morinobu S. Chemogenetic activation of the mPFC alleviates impaired fear memory extinction in an animal model of PTSD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110090. [PMID: 32896603 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Although impaired extinction of fear memory (EFM) is a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mechanisms underlying the impairment are unknown. Activation of the infralimbic cortex (IL) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been reported to predict successful fear extinction, whereas functionally disrupting this region impairs extinction. We examined whether chemogenetic activation of the IL could alleviate impaired EFM in a single prolonged stress (SPS) rat model of PTSD. METHODS Chemogenetic activation of IL and prelimbic (PL) excitatory neurons was undertaken to evaluate EFM using a contextual fear conditioning paradigm. Neuronal activity in the IL was recorded using a 32-multichannel silicon electrode. To examine histological changes in the mPFC, apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining. RESULTS Chemogenetic activation of excitatory neurons in the IL, but not the PL, enhanced EFM in sham rats and resulted in alleviation of EFM impairment in SPS rats. The alleviation of impaired EFM in SPS rats was observed during the extinction test session. Neuronal activity in the IL of SPS rats was lower than that of sham rats after clozapine-n-oxide administration. Increased apoptosis was found in the IL of SPS rats. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a decreased excitatory response in the IL due, at least in part, to an increase in apoptosis in SPS rats leads to impaired EFM, and that neuronal activation during extinction training could be useful for the treatment of impaired EFM in PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Omura
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Manabu Fuchikami
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Motoaki Araki
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Miyagi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Division of Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shigeru Morinobu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Science and Social Welfare, Kibi International University, Takahashi, Japan
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Hallock HL, Quillian HM, Maynard KR, Mai Y, Chen HY, Hamersky GR, Shin JH, Maher BJ, Jaffe AE, Martinowich K. Molecularly Defined Hippocampal Inputs Regulate Population Dynamics in the Prelimbic Cortex to Suppress Context Fear Memory Retrieval. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:554-565. [PMID: 32560963 PMCID: PMC7487039 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Context fear memory dysregulation is a hallmark symptom of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. The hippocampus (HC) and prelimbic (PrL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex have been linked with context fear memory retrieval in rodents, but the mechanisms by which HC-PrL circuitry regulates this process remain poorly understood. METHODS Spatial and genetic targeting of HC-PrL circuitry was used for RNA sequencing (n = 31), chemogenetic stimulation (n = 44), in vivo calcium imaging (n = 20), ex vivo electrophysiology (n = 8), and molecular regulation of plasticity cascades during fear behavior (context fear retrieval) (n = 16). RESULTS We showed that ventral HC (vHC) neurons with projections to the PrL cortex (vHC-PrL projectors) are a transcriptomically distinct subpopulation compared with adjacent nonprojecting neurons, and we showed complementary enrichment for diverse neuronal processes and central nervous system-related clinical gene sets. We further showed that stimulation of this population of vHC-PrL projectors suppresses context fear memory retrieval and impairs the ability of PrL neurons to dynamically distinguish between distinct phases of fear learning. Using transgenic and circuit-specific molecular targeting approaches, we demonstrated that unique patterns of activity-dependent gene transcription associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling within vHC-PrL projectors causally regulated activity in excitatory and inhibitory PrL neurons during context fear memory retrieval. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data show that activity-dependent brain-derived neurotrophic factor release from molecularly distinct vHC-PrL projection neurons modulates postsynaptic signaling in both inhibitory and excitatory PrL neurons, modifying activity in discrete populations of PrL neurons to suppress freezing during context fear memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yishan Mai
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | - Huei-Ying Chen
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Joo Heon Shin
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD
| | - Brady J. Maher
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD,Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD,Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD,McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Arnetz BB, Sudan S, Arnetz JE, Yamin JB, Lumley MA, Beck JS, Stemmer PM, Burghardt P, Counts SE, Jamil H. Dysfunctional neuroplasticity in newly arrived Middle Eastern refugees in the U.S.: Association with environmental exposures and mental health symptoms. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230030. [PMID: 32142533 PMCID: PMC7059916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological war trauma among displaced refugees is an established risk factor for mental health disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Persons with trauma-induced disorders have heightened neuroplastic restructuring of limbic brain circuits (e.g., amygdala and hippocampus), which are critical factors in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Civilians in war are exposed to both psychological trauma and environmental hazards, such as metals. Little is known about the possible mental health impact from such environmental exposures, alone or in combination with trauma. It is of special interest to determine whether war exposures contribute to dysfunctional neuroplasticity; that is, an adverse outcome from sustained stress contributing to mental health disorders. The current study examined Middle Eastern refugees in the United States to determine the relationships among pre-displacement trauma and environmental exposures, brain derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF)-two neurotrophins reported to mediate neuroplasticity responses to stress-related exposures-and mental health. METHODS Middle Eastern refugees (n = 64; 33 men, 31 women) from Syria (n = 40) or Iraq (n = 24) were assessed 1 month after arrival to Michigan, US. Participants were interviewed in Arabic using a semi-structured survey to assess pre-displacement trauma and environmental exposure, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and self-rated mental health. Whole blood was collected, and concentrations of six heavy metals as well as BDNF and NGF levels were determined. Because these two neurotrophins have similar functions in neuroplasticity, we combined them to create a neuroplasticity index. Linear regression tested whether psychosocial trauma, environmental exposures and biomarkers were associated with mental health symptoms. FINDINGS The neuroplasticity index was associated with PTSD (standardized beta, β = 0.25, p < 0.05), depression (0.26, < 0.05) and anxiety (0.32, < 0.01) after controlling for pre-displacement trauma exposures. In addition, pre-displacement environmental exposure was associated with PTSD (0.28, < 0.05) and anxiety (0.32, < 0.05). Syrian refugees and female gender were associated with higher scores on depression (0.25, < 0.05; 0.30, < 0.05) and anxiety scales (0.35, < 0.01; 0.27, < 0.05), and worse on self-rated mental health (0.32, < 0.05; 0.34, < 0.05). In bivariate analysis, the neuroplasticity index was related to blood lead levels (r = 0.40; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The current study confirms the adverse effects of war trauma on mental health. Higher levels of biomarkers of neuroplasticity correlated with worse mental health and higher blood lead levels. Higher neurotrophin levels in refugees might indicate dysfunctional neuroplasticity with increased consolidation of adverse war memories in the limbic system. Such a process may contribute to psychiatric symptoms. Further research is needed to clarify the pathobiological mechanisms linking war trauma and environmental exposures to adverse mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bengt B. Arnetz
- Department of Family medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Sukhesh Sudan
- Department of Family medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Judith E. Arnetz
- Department of Family medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jolin B. Yamin
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - John S. Beck
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Stemmer
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Paul Burghardt
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Scott E. Counts
- Department of Family medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Hikmet Jamil
- Department of Family medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
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Abstract
MicroRNAs as critical regulators of gene expression important for functions including neuronal development, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity have been linked with the regulation of neurobiological systems that underlie anxiety processing in the brain. In this chapter, we give an update on associative evidence linking regulation of microRNAs with anxiety- and trauma-related disorders. Moving beyond correlative research, functional studies have emerged recently that explore causal relationships between microRNA expression and anxiety-like behavior. It has been demonstrated that experimental up- or downregulation of the candidate microRNAs in important nodes of the anxiety neurocircuitry can indeed modulate anxiety-related behavior in animal models. Improved methodologies for assessing microRNA-mediated modulation have aided such functional studies, revealing a number of anxiety-regulating microRNAs including miR-15a, miR-17-92, miR-34, miR-101, miR-124, miR-135, and miR-155. Important functional target genes of these identified microRNAs are associated with specific neurotransmitter/neuromodulator signaling, neurotrophin (e.g., BDNF) expression and other aspects of synaptic plasticity, as well as with stress-regulatory/hypothalamic-pituitary-axis function. Furthermore, microRNAs have been revealed that are regulated in distinct brain regions following various anxiety-attenuating strategies. These include pharmacological treatments such as antidepressants and other drugs, as well as non-pharmacological interventions such as fear extinction/exposure therapy or positive stimuli such as exposure to environmental enrichment. These are first indications for a role for microRNAs in the mechanism of action of anxiolytic treatments. As research continues, there is much hope that a deeper understanding of the microRNA-mediated mechanisms underlying anxiety-related disorders could open up possibilities for future novel biomarker and treatment strategies.
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Prowse N, Dwyer Z, Thompson A, Fortin T, Elson K, Robeson H, Fenner B, Hayley S. Early life selective knockdown of the TrkB receptor and maternal separation modulates adult stress phenotype. Behav Brain Res 2020; 378:112260. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Duman RS, Shinohara R, Fogaça MV, Hare B. Neurobiology of rapid-acting antidepressants: convergent effects on GluA1-synaptic function. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1816-1832. [PMID: 30894661 PMCID: PMC6754322 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Efforts to develop efficacious antidepressant agents with novel mechanisms have been largely unsuccessful since the 1950's until the discovery of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that produces rapid and sustained antidepressant actions even in treatment-resistant patients. This finding has ushered in a new era for the development of novel rapid-acting antidepressants that act at the NMDA receptor complex, but without dissociative and psychotomimetic side effects of ketamine. Here, we review the current state of rapid-acting antidepressant drug development, including NMDA channel blockers, glycine site agents, and allosteric modulators, as well as ketamine stereoisomers and metabolites. In addition, we focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the actions of these diverse agents and discuss evidence of convergent mechanisms including increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling, increased synthesis of synaptic proteins, and most notably increased GluR1 and synaptic connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex. These convergent mechanisms provide insight for potential additional novel targets for drug development (e.g., agents that increase synaptic protein synthesis and plasticity). Importantly, the convergent effects on synapse formation and plasticity also reverse the well-documented neuronal and synaptic deficits associated with stress and depression, and thereby target the underlying pathophysiology of major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald S Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ryota Shinohara
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manoela V Fogaça
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Brendan Hare
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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16
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Hallock HL, Quillian HM, Mai Y, Maynard KR, Hill JL, Martinowich K. Manipulation of a genetically and spatially defined sub-population of BDNF-expressing neurons potentiates learned fear and decreases hippocampal-prefrontal synchrony in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:2239-2246. [PMID: 31170726 PMCID: PMC6898598 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling regulates synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus (HC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and has been extensively linked with fear memory expression in rodents. Notably, disrupting BDNF production from promoter IV-derived transcripts enhances fear expression in mice, and decreases fear-associated HC-PFC synchrony, suggesting that Bdnf transcription from promoter IV plays a key role in HC-PFC function during fear memory retrieval. To better understand how promoter IV-derived BDNF controls HC-PFC connectivity and fear expression, we generated a viral construct that selectively targets cells expressing promoter IV-derived Bdnf transcripts ("p4-cells") for tamoxifen-inducible Cre-mediated recombination (AAV8-p4Bdnf-ERT2CreERT2-PEST). Using this construct, we found that ventral hippocampal (vHC) p4-cells are recruited during fear expression, and that activation of these cells causes exaggerated fear expression that co-occurs with disrupted vHC-PFC synchrony in mice. Our data highlight how this novel construct can be used to interrogate genetically defined cell types that selectively contribute to BDNF-dependent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry L. Hallock
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Henry M. Quillian
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Yishan Mai
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kristen R. Maynard
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Julia L. Hill
- grid.429552.dThe Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855N. Wolfe St., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Zhang QH, Hao JW, Li GL, Ji XJ, Zhou M, Yao YM. Long-lasting neurobehavioral alterations in burn-injured mice resembling post-traumatic stress disorder in humans. Exp Neurol 2019; 323:113084. [PMID: 31697945 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To establish an animal model for posttraumatic stress disorder in burn-injured patients. METHODS Thermal-injured mice with 15% total body surface area were subjected to a series of neurobehavioral tests at 1 and 3 months postburn. Brains were collected for analysis of key molecules expression, spleens for T cell function analysis, and blood for biochemistry and hormones detection. RESULTS Comparison with sham mice, burn mice showed extremely high locomotion in homecage, open field, and forced swimming tests, indicating a hyper-arousal state. Burn mice exhibited improved spatial memory in Morris Water Maze test and heightened context fear memory in context fear conditioning, suggesting re-experiencing behavior. Although burn mice showed pronounced passive avoidance in the step-through test, their active avoidance capability in response to the conditional stimulus in the shuttle box test was relatively deteriorated. Likewise, the retention of cue-feared memory was impaired in fear conditioning test. The above negative alterations in mood were recapitulated in open-field test, in which the burn mice displayed an anxiety-like behavior with less time spent in the center. However, no sign of depression was found in the forced swimming and sucrose preference tests. The negative mood of burn mice was reinforced by a deficit in sociality and preference for social novelty in social interaction test. These neurobehavioral alterations were associated with an increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor along with a remarkable microgliosis and a moderate astrocytosis in the brain of burn vs. sham mice. Moreover, a prominent Th2 switch and consequent increased nuclear NF-κB translocation were seen in the splenic T cells from burn relative to sham mice. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that even mild burn injury could lead to long-lasting cognitive and effective alterations in mice. These findings shed light on the interactions among neuropsychology, neurobiology, and immunology throughout the recovery period of burn injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hong Zhang
- Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, PR China.
| | - Ji-Wei Hao
- Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Guang-Lei Li
- Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Xiao-Jing Ji
- Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, PR China; Department of Emergency, First Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, PR China
| | - Min Zhou
- Neurocritical Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, PR China
| | - Yong-Ming Yao
- Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, PR China
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18
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Loewenstern J, You X, Merchant J, Gordon EM, Stollstorff M, Devaney J, Vaidya CJ. Interactive effect of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphisms on amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity and anxiety. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 285:1-8. [PMID: 30711709 PMCID: PMC6699775 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms have been associated with risk for affective disorders and functional variability of the amygdala. We examined whether the two genotypes interactively influence intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) of the amygdala and whether FC mediates the genetic association with anxiety. Eighty genotyped healthy adults underwent resting state fMRI and completed the self-reported State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Interactive genetic association with anxiety was observed such that effects of 5-HTTLPR depended on the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265 variant), with higher anxiety scores in short and Met carriers compared to the other allelic groups. Voxel-wise FC with left and right amygdala seeds identified regions that were sensitive to variability in anxiety scores. A significant moderated mediation model demonstrated that the effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype on anxiety, moderated by BDNF Val66Met genotype, was fully mediated by FC between the left amygdala and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a cognitive control-related region, during a task-free state. FC was highest in carriers of the 5-HTTLPR short allele and BDNF Met allele. These findings establish intrinsic amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity as a potential intermediate phenotype for anxiety, an important step toward identification of causal pathways for vulnerability to affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Loewenstern
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Xiaozhen You
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States; Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Junaid Merchant
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Evan M Gordon
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, United States; Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Melanie Stollstorff
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Joseph Devaney
- Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Chandan J Vaidya
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States; Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States.
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19
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Tatsukawa T, Raveau M, Ogiwara I, Hattori S, Miyamoto H, Mazaki E, Itohara S, Miyakawa T, Montal M, Yamakawa K. Scn2a haploinsufficient mice display a spectrum of phenotypes affecting anxiety, sociability, memory flexibility and ampakine CX516 rescues their hyperactivity. Mol Autism 2019; 10:15. [PMID: 30962870 PMCID: PMC6437867 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0265-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations of the SCN2A gene encoding a voltage-gated sodium channel alpha-II subunit Nav1.2 are associated with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. However, causal relationships and pathogenic mechanisms underlying these neurological defects, especially social and psychiatric features, remain to be elucidated. Methods We investigated the behavior of mice with a conventional or conditional deletion of Scn2a in a comprehensive test battery including open field, elevated plus maze, light-dark box, three chambers, social dominance tube, resident-intruder, ultrasonic vocalization, and fear conditioning tests. We further monitored the effects of the positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors CX516 on these model mice. Results Conventional heterozygous Scn2a knockout mice (Scn2aKO/+) displayed novelty-induced exploratory hyperactivity and increased rearing. The increased vertical activity was reproduced by heterozygous inactivation of Scn2a in dorsal-telencephalic excitatory neurons but not in inhibitory neurons. Moreover, these phenotypes were rescued by treating Scn2aKO/+ mice with CX516. Additionally, Scn2aKO/+ mice displayed mild social behavior impairment, enhanced fear conditioning, and deficient fear extinction. Neuronal activity was intensified in the medial prefrontal cortex of Scn2aKO/+ mice, with an increase in the gamma band. Conclusions Scn2aKO/+ mice exhibit a spectrum of phenotypes commonly observed in models of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Treatment with the CX516 ampakine, which ameliorates hyperactivity in these mice, could be a potential therapeutic strategy to rescue some of the disease phenotypes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-019-0265-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Tatsukawa
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Matthieu Raveau
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Ikuo Ogiwara
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan.,2Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8602 Japan
| | - Satoko Hattori
- 3Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake-shi, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Miyamoto
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Emi Mazaki
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Shigeyoshi Itohara
- 4Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan.,5FIRST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012 Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- 3Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake-shi, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
| | - Mauricio Montal
- 6Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Kazuhiro Yamakawa
- 1Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
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Kataoka T, Fuchikami M, Nojima S, Nagashima N, Araki M, Omura J, Miyagi T, Okamoto Y, Morinobu S. Combined brain-derived neurotrophic factor with extinction training alleviate impaired fear extinction in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12520. [PMID: 30246290 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Impaired fear memory extinction (Ext) is one of the hallmark symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, since the precise mechanism of impaired Ext remains unknown, effective interventions have not yet been established. Recently, hippocampal-prefrontal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity was shown to be crucial for Ext in naïve rats. We therefore examined whether decreased hippocampal-prefrontal BDNF activity is also involved in the Ext of rats subjected to a single prolonged stress (SPS) as a model of PTSD. BDNF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and phosphorylation of TrkB was measured by immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of SPS rats. We also examined whether BDNF infusion into the ventral mPFC or hippocampus alleviated the impaired Ext of SPS rats in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. SPS significantly decreased the levels of BDNF in both the hippocampus and mPFC and TrkB phosphorylation in the ventral mPFC. Infusion of BDNF 24 hours after conditioning in the infralimbic cortex (ILC), but not the prelimbic cortex (PLC) nor hippocampus, alleviated the impairment of Ext. Since amelioration of impaired Ext by BDNF infusion did not occur without extinction training, it seems the two interventions must occur consecutively to alleviate impaired Ext. Additionally, BDNF infusion markedly increased TrkB phosphorylation in the ILC of SPS rats. These findings suggest that decreased BDNF signal transduction might be involved in the impaired Ext of SPS rats, and that activation of the BDNF-TrkB signal might be a novel therapeutic strategy for the impaired Ext by stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Kataoka
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Manabu Fuchikami
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shinji Nojima
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Nagashima
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Motoaki Araki
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Jun Omura
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Miyagi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shigeru Morinobu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Science and Social Welfare, Kibi International University, Takahashi, Japan
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald S. Duman
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Yale University School
of Medicine, New Haven, Conn
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22
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Vogel E, Krabbe S, Gründemann J, Wamsteeker Cusulin JI, Lüthi A. Projection-Specific Dynamic Regulation of Inhibition in Amygdala Micro-Circuits. Neuron 2017; 91:644-51. [PMID: 27497223 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R)-expressing CCK interneurons are key regulators of cortical circuits. Here we report that retrograde endocannabinoid signaling and CB1R-mediated regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto basal amygdala principal neurons strongly depend on principal neuron projection target. Projection-specific asymmetries in the regulation of local inhibitory micro-circuits may contribute to the selective activation of distinct amygdala output pathways during behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Vogel
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4000 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Krabbe
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Gründemann
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Andreas Lüthi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4000 Basel, Switzerland.
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23
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Kabir ZD, Martínez-Rivera A, Rajadhyaksha AM. From Gene to Behavior: L-Type Calcium Channel Mechanisms Underlying Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Neurotherapeutics 2017; 14:588-613. [PMID: 28497380 PMCID: PMC5509628 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-017-0532-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, encoded by the CACNA1C and CACNA1D genes, respectively, are important regulators of calcium influx into cells and are critical for normal brain development and plasticity. In humans, CACNA1C has emerged as one of the most widely reproduced and prominent candidate risk genes for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Separately, CACNA1D has been found to be associated with BD and autism spectrum disorder, as well as cocaine dependence, a comorbid feature associated with psychiatric disorders. Despite growing evidence of a significant link between CACNA1C and CACNA1D and psychiatric disorders, our understanding of the biological mechanisms by which these LTCCs mediate neuropsychiatric-associated endophenotypes, many of which are shared across the different disorders, remains rudimentary. Clinical studies with LTCC blockers testing their efficacy to alleviate symptoms associated with BD, SCZ, and drug dependence have provided mixed results, underscoring the importance of further exploring the neurobiological consequences of dysregulated Cav1.2 and Cav1.3. Here, we provide a review of clinical studies that have evaluated LTCC blockers for BD, SCZ, and drug dependence-associated symptoms, as well as rodent studies that have identified Cav1.2- and Cav1.3-specific molecular and cellular cascades that underlie mood (anxiety, depression), social behavior, cognition, and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeba D Kabir
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arlene Martínez-Rivera
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali M Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Aoki C, Chowdhury TG, Wable GS, Chen YW. Synaptic changes in the hippocampus of adolescent female rodents associated with resilience to anxiety and suppression of food restriction-evoked hyperactivity in an animal model for anorexia nervosa. Brain Res 2017; 1654:102-115. [PMID: 26779892 PMCID: PMC4947030 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness that emerges primarily during early adolescence, with mortality rate that is 200 times higher than that of suicide. The illness is characterized by intense fear of gaining weight, heightened anxiety, obstinate food restriction, often accompanied by excessive exercise, in spite of mounting hunger. The illness affects females nine times more often than males, suggesting an endocrine role in its etiology. Its relapse rate exceeds 25%, yet there are no accepted pharmacological treatments to prevent this. Here, we summarize studies from this laboratory that have used adolescent female rodents in activity-based anorexia (ABA), an animal model of anorexia nervosa, with the goal of identifying neurobiological underpinnings of this disease. We put forth a hypothesis that a GABAergic mechanism within the hippocampus is central to regulating an individual׳s anxiety which, in turn, strongly influences the individual׳s resilience/vulnerability to ABA. In particular, we propose that ionotropic GABAA receptors containing the subunits alpha4 and delta, are at play for exerting shunting inhibition upon hippocampal pyramidal neurons that become more excitable during ABA. Since these receptors confer insensitivity to benzodiazepines, this pharmacological profile of ABA fits with lack of report indicating efficacy of benzodiazepines in reducing the anxiety experienced by individuals with anorexia nervosa. The idea that the GABAergic system of the hippocampus regulates resilience/vulnerability to anorexia nervosa complements current opinions about the important roles of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, striatum, gustatory pathways and feeding centers of the hypothalamus and of the neuromodulators, serotonin and dopamine, in the etiology of the disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Adolescent plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiye Aoki
- Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, NY 10003, United States.
| | - Tara G Chowdhury
- Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Gauri S Wable
- Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, NY 10003, United States
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Hill JL, Hardy NF, Jimenez DV, Maynard KR, Kardian AS, Pollock CJ, Schloesser RJ, Martinowich K. Loss of promoter IV-driven BDNF expression impacts oscillatory activity during sleep, sensory information processing and fear regulation. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e873. [PMID: 27552586 PMCID: PMC5022093 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder is characterized by hyperarousal, sensory processing impairments, sleep disturbances and altered fear regulation; phenotypes associated with changes in brain oscillatory activity. Molecules associated with activity-dependent plasticity, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), may regulate neural oscillations by controlling synaptic activity. BDNF synthesis includes production of multiple Bdnf transcripts, which contain distinct 5' noncoding exons. We assessed arousal, sensory processing, fear regulation and sleep in animals where BDNF expression from activity-dependent promoter IV is disrupted (Bdnf-e4 mice). Bdnf-e4 mice display sensory hyper-reactivity and impaired electrophysiological correlates of sensory information processing as measured by event-related potentials (ERP). Utilizing electroencephalogram, we identified a decrease in slow-wave activity during non-rapid eye movement sleep, suggesting impaired sleep homeostasis. Fear extinction is controlled by hippocampal-prefrontal cortical BDNF signaling, and neurophysiological communication patterns between the hippocampus (HPC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) correlate with behavioral performance during extinction. Impaired fear extinction in Bdnf-e4 mice is accompanied by increased HPC activation and decreased HPC-mPFC theta phase synchrony during early extinction, as well as increased mPFC activation during extinction recall. These results suggest that activity-dependent BDNF signaling is critical for regulating oscillatory activity, which may contribute to altered behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Hill
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - N F Hardy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D V Jimenez
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - K R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A S Kardian
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - C J Pollock
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - R J Schloesser
- Sheppard Pratt-Lieber Research Institute, Inc., Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - K Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Lieber Institute for Brain Development, 855 North Wolfe Street, 347B, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. E-mail:
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Cossio R, Carreira MB, Vásquez CE, Britton GB. Sex differences and estrous cycle effects on foreground contextual fear conditioning. Physiol Behav 2016; 163:305-311. [PMID: 27195460 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Cossio
- Centro de Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama
| | - María B Carreira
- Centro de Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama
| | - Carol E Vásquez
- Centro de Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama; Department of Biotechnology, AcharyaNagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Gabrielle B Britton
- Centro de Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama.
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