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Rojek-Sito K, Meyza K, Ziegart-Sadowska K, Nazaruk K, Puścian A, Hamed A, Kiełbiński M, Solecki W, Knapska E. Optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches reveal differences in neuronal circuits that mediate initiation and maintenance of social interaction. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002343. [PMID: 38029342 PMCID: PMC10686636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
For social interaction to be successful, two conditions must be met: the motivation to initiate it and the ability to maintain it. This study uses both optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches to reveal the specific neural pathways that selectively influence those two social interaction components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Rojek-Sito
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ksenia Meyza
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Ziegart-Sadowska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kinga Nazaruk
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Puścian
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Hamed
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Kiełbiński
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropsychology, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Wojciech Solecki
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropsychology, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Schwarting RKW. Behavioral analysis in laboratory rats: Challenges and usefulness of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105260. [PMID: 37268181 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Many rodent species emit and detect vocalizations in the ultrasonic range. Rats use three classes of ultrasonic vocalizations depending on developmental stage, experience and the behavioral situation. Calls from one class emitted by juvenile and adult rats, the so-called 50-kHz calls, are typical for appetitive and social situations. This review provides a brief historical account on the introduction of 50-kHz calls in behavioral research followed by a survey of their scientific applications focusing on the last five years, where 50-kHz publications reached a climax. Then, specific methodological challenges will be addressed, like how to measure and report 50-kHz USV, the problem of assignment of acoustic signals to a specific sender in a social situation, and individual variability in call propensity. Finally, the intricacy of interpreting 50-kHz results will be discussed focusing on the most prevalent ones, namely as communicative signals and/or readouts of the sender's emotional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer K W Schwarting
- Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstrasse 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Marburg Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MCMBB), Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
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Broadfoot CK, Lenell C, Kelm-Nelson CA, Ciucci MR. Effects of social isolation on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, affective state, cognition, and neurotransmitter concentrations in the ventral tegmental and locus coeruleus of adult rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114157. [PMID: 36241070 PMCID: PMC9829432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114157] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Vocal communication, cognition, and affective state are key features of sustained health and wellness, and because vocalizations are often socially-motivated, social experience likely plays a role in these behaviors. The monoaminergic systems of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC) are associated with social and reward processing, vocalization production, and neurotransmitter changes in response to environmental stressors. The effect of social isolation on these complex behaviors and the underlying neural mechanisms is relatively unknown. To add to this body of literature, we randomized adult male Long-Evans rats to control (housed with a cagemate) or isolated (housed individually) conditions and assayed ultrasonic vocalizations, cognition (novel object recognition test), anxiety (elevated plus maze) and anhedonia (sucrose preference test) at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 months of age. At 10 months, VTA and LC samples were assayed for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin using high performance liquid chromatography. We tested the hypotheses that isolation 1) diminishes vocalizations and cognition, 2) increases anxiety and depression, and 3) increases levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the VTA and LC. Results showed isolation significantly reduced vocalization tonality (signal-to-noise ratio) and increased maximum frequency. There were no significant findings for cognition, anxiety, or anhedonia. Dopamine and serotonin and their respective metabolites were significantly increased in the VTA in isolated rats. These findings suggest chronic changes to social condition such as isolation affects vocalization production and levels of VTA neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K Broadfoot
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
| | - Charles Lenell
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 1400 Gunter Hall, Greenly, CO 80639, USA
| | - Cynthia A Kelm-Nelson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Michelle R Ciucci
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 9531 MIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Tryon SC, Sakamoto IM, Kaigler KF, Gee G, Turner J, Bartley K, Fadel JR, Wilson MA. ChAT::Cre transgenic rats show sex-dependent altered fear behaviors, ultrasonic vocalizations and cholinergic marker expression. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12837. [PMID: 36636833 PMCID: PMC9994175 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The cholinergic system is a critical regulator of Pavlovian fear learning and extinction. As such, we have begun investigating the cholinergic system's involvement in individual differences in cued fear extinction using a transgenic ChAT::Cre rat model. The current study extends behavioral phenotyping of a transgenic ChAT::Cre rat line by examining both freezing behavior and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during a Pavlovian cued fear learning and extinction paradigm. Freezing, 22 kHz USVs, and 50 kHz USVs were compared between male and female transgenic ChAT::Cre+ rats and their wildtype (Cre-) littermates during fear learning, contextual and cue-conditioned fear recall, cued fear extinction, and generalization to a novel tone. During contextual and cued fear recall ChAT::Cre+ rats froze slightly more than their Cre- littermates, and displayed significant sex differences in contextual and cue-conditioned freezing, 22 kHz USVs, and 50 kHz USVs. Females showed more freezing than males in fear recall trials, but fewer 22 kHz distress calls during fear learning and recall. Females also produced more 50 kHz USVs during exposure to the testing chambers prior to tone (or shock) presentation compared with males, but this effect was blunted in ChAT::Cre+ females. Corroborating previous studies, ChAT::Cre+ transgenic rats overexpressed vesicular acetylcholine transporter immunolabeling in basal forebrain, striatum, basolateral amygdala, and hippocampus, but had similar levels of acetylcholinesterase and numbers of ChAT+ neurons as Cre- rats. This study suggests that variance in behavior between ChAT::Cre+ and wildtype rats is sex dependent and advances theories that distinct neural circuits and processes regulate sexually divergent fear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Tryon
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Iris M. Sakamoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kris F. Kaigler
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Gabriella Gee
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jarrett Turner
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Katherine Bartley
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jim R. Fadel
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Marlene A. Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & NeuroscienceUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
- Columbia VA Health Care SystemColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
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Hoffmeister JD, Kelm-Nelson CA, Ciucci MR. Quantification of brainstem norepinephrine relative to vocal impairment and anxiety in the Pink1-/- rat model of Parkinson disease. Behav Brain Res 2021; 414:113514. [PMID: 34358571 PMCID: PMC8393386 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vocal communication impairment and anxiety are co-occurring and interacting signs of Parkinson Disease (PD) that are common, poorly understood, and under-treated. Both vocal communication and anxiety are influenced by the noradrenergic system. In light of this shared neural substrate and considering that noradrenergic dysfunction is a defining characteristic of PD, tandem investigation of vocal impairment and anxiety in PD relative to noradrenergic mechanisms is likely to yield insights into the underlying disease-specific causes of these impairments. In order to address this gap in knowledge, we assessed vocal impairment and anxiety behavior relative to brainstem noradrenergic markers in a genetic rat model of early-onset PD (Pink1-/-) and wild type controls (WT). We hypothesized that 1) brainstem noradrenergic markers would be disrupted in Pink1-/-, and 2) brainstem noradrenergic markers would be associated with vocal acoustic changes and anxiety level. Rats underwent testing of ultrasonic vocalization and anxiety (elevated plus maze) at 4, 8, and 12 months of age. At 12 months, brainstem norepinephrine markers were quantified with immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrated that vocal impairment and anxiety were increased in Pink1-/- rats, and increased anxiety was associated with greater vocal deficit in this model of PD. Further, brainstem noradrenergic markers including TH and α1 adrenoreceptor immunoreactivity in the locus coeruleus, and β1 adrenoreceptor immunoreactivity in vagal nuclei differed by genotype, and were associated with vocalization and anxiety behavior. These findings demonstrate statistically significant relationships among vocal impairment, anxiety, and brainstem norepinephrine in the Pink1-/- rat model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Hoffmeister
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792-7375, USA.
| | - Cynthia A Kelm-Nelson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792-7375, USA.
| | - Michelle R Ciucci
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792-7375, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 9531 WIMR II, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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Extracellular Dopamine Levels in Nucleus Accumbens after Chronic Stress in Rats with Persistently High vs. Low 50-kHz Ultrasonic Vocalization Response. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040470. [PMID: 33917789 PMCID: PMC8068186 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fifty-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to an imitation of rough-and-tumble play ('tickling') have been associated with positive affective states and rewarding experience in the rat. This USV response can be used as a measure of inter-individual differences in positive affect. We have previously shown that rats with persistently low positive affectivity are more vulnerable to the effects of chronic variable stress (CVS). To examine whether these differential responses are associated with dopaminergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), juvenile male Wistar rats were categorized as of high or low positive affectivity (HC and LC, respectively), and after reaching adulthood, extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in the NAc shell were measured using in vivo microdialysis after three weeks of CVS. Baseline levels of DA were compared as well as the response to K+-induced depolarization and the effect of glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 inhibition by 4 mM l-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (PDC). DA baseline levels were higher in control LC-rats, and stress significantly lowered the DA content in LC-rats. An interaction of stress and affectivity appeared in response to depolarization where stress increased the DA output in HC-rats whereas it decreased it in LC-rats. These results show that NAc-shell DA is differentially regulated in response to stress in animals with high and low positive affect.
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