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Gannot N, Li X, Phillips CD, Ozel AB, Uchima Koecklin KH, Lloyd JP, Zhang L, Emery K, Stern T, Li JZ, Li P. A vagal-brainstem interoceptive circuit for cough-like defensive behaviors in mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1734-1744. [PMID: 38977887 PMCID: PMC11374482 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01712-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Coughing is a respiratory behavior that plays a crucial role in protecting the respiratory system. Here we show that the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in mice contains heterogenous neuronal populations that differentially control breathing. Within these subtypes, activation of tachykinin 1 (Tac1)-expressing neurons triggers specific respiratory behaviors that, as revealed by our detailed characterization, are cough-like behaviors. Chemogenetic silencing or genetic ablation of Tac1 neurons inhibits cough-like behaviors induced by tussive challenges. These Tac1 neurons receive synaptic inputs from the bronchopulmonary chemosensory and mechanosensory neurons in the vagal ganglion and coordinate medullary regions to control distinct aspects of cough-like defensive behaviors. We propose that these Tac1 neurons in the NTS are a key component of the airway-vagal-brain neural circuit that controls cough-like defensive behaviors in mice and that they coordinate the downstream modular circuits to elicit the sequential motor pattern of forceful expiratory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Gannot
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xingyu Li
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Ayse Bilge Ozel
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - John P Lloyd
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lusi Zhang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katie Emery
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tomer Stern
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jun Z Li
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Peng Li
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Merkel R, Hernandez N, Weir V, Zhang Y, Rich MT, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Schmidt HD. An endogenous GLP-1 circuit engages VTA GABA neurons to regulate mesolimbic dopamine neurons and attenuate cocaine seeking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.20.599574. [PMID: 38979354 PMCID: PMC11230186 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.20.599574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies show that systemic administration of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist is sufficient to attenuate the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, an animal model of relapse. However, the neural mechanisms mediating these effects and the role of endogenous central GLP-1 signaling in cocaine seeking remain unknown. Here, we show that voluntary cocaine taking decreased plasma GLP-1 levels in rats and that chemogenetic activation of GLP-1-producing neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that project to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) decreased cocaine reinstatement. Single nuclei transcriptomics and FISH studies revealed GLP-1Rs are expressed primarily on GABA neurons in the VTA. Using in vivo fiber photometry, we found that the efficacy of a systemic GLP-1R agonist to attenuate cocaine seeking was associated with increased activity of VTA GABA neurons and decreased activity of VTA dopamine neurons. Together, these findings suggest that targeting central GLP-1 circuits may be an effective strategy toward reducing cocaine relapse and highlight a novel functional role of GABAergic GLP-1R-expressing midbrain neurons in drug seeking.
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3
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Huo L, Ye Z, Liu M, He Z, Huang M, Li D, Wu Q, Wang Q, Wang X, Cao P, Dong J, Shang C. Brain circuits for retching-like behavior. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwad256. [PMID: 38288368 PMCID: PMC10824557 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad256] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Nausea and vomiting are important defensive responses to cope with pathogens and toxins that invade the body. The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is important for initiating these responses. However, the molecular heterogeneities and cellular diversities of the NTS occlude a better understanding of these defensive responses. Here, we constructed the single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of NTS cells and found multiple populations of NTS neurons that may be involved in these defensive responses. Among these, we identified Calbindin1-positive (Calb1+) NTS neurons that are molecularly distinct from Tac1+ neurons. These Calb1+ neurons are critical for nausea and retching induced by cereulide; an emetic toxin secreted by Bacillus Cereus. Strikingly, we found that cereulide can directly modulate vagal sensory neurons that innervate Calb1+ NTS neurons, a novel mechanism distinct from that for nausea and retching induced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Together, our transcriptomic atlas of NTS neurons and the functional analyses revealed the neural mechanism for cereulide-induced retching-like behavior. These results demonstrate the molecular and cellular complexities in the brain that underlie defensive responses to the diversities of pathogens and toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Huo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Zhimin Ye
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Meiling Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Meizhu Huang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Dapeng Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Changping Life Science Laboratory, Beijing 102299, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ji Dong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Congping Shang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
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Décarie-Spain L, Gu C, Lauer LT, Subramanian KS, Chehimi SN, Kao AE, Deng I, Bashaw AG, Klug ME, Galbokke AH, Donohue KN, Yang M, de Lartigue G, Myers KP, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Hayes MR, Kanoski SE. Ventral hippocampus neurons encode meal-related memory. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.10.561731. [PMID: 37873229 PMCID: PMC10592790 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The ability to encode and retrieve meal-related information is critical to efficiently guide energy acquisition and consumption, yet the underlying neural processes remain elusive. Here we reveal that ventral hippocampus (HPCv) neuronal activity dynamically elevates during meal consumption and this response is highly predictive of subsequent performance in a foraging-related spatial memory task. Targeted recombination-mediated ablation of HPCv meal-responsive neurons impairs foraging-related spatial memory without influencing food motivation, anxiety-like behavior, or escape-mediated spatial memory. These HPCv meal-responsive neurons project to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization analyses indicate they are enriched in serotonin 2a receptors (5HT2aR). Either chemogenetic silencing of HPCv-to-LHA projections or intra-HPCv 5HT2aR antagonist yielded foraging-related spatial memory deficits, as well as alterations in caloric intake and the temporal sequence of spontaneous meal consumption. Collective results identify a population of HPCv neurons that dynamically respond to eating to encode meal-related memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Décarie-Spain
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Cindy Gu
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Logan Tierno Lauer
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Keshav S. Subramanian
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Samar N. Chehimi
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alicia E. Kao
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Iris Deng
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Alexander G. Bashaw
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Molly E. Klug
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Ashyah Hewage Galbokke
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Kristen N. Donohue
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Mingxin Yang
- Monell Chemical Sense Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | | | - Kevin P. Myers
- Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Richard C. Crist
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Benjamin C. Reiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Matthew R. Hayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Scott E. Kanoski
- Human & Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Leuthardt AS, Boyle CN, Raun K, Lutz TA, John LM, Le Foll C. Body weight lowering effect of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists is more efficient in RAMP1/3 KO than in WT mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 955:175912. [PMID: 37454968 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIPR) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1R) receptor agonists are insulin secretagogues that have long been shown to improve glycemic control and dual agonists have demonstrated successful weight loss in the clinic. GIPR and GLP-1R populations are located in the dorsal vagal complex where receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are also present. According to recent literature, RAMPs not only regulate the signaling of the calcitonin receptor, but also that of other class B G-protein coupled receptors, including members of the glucagon receptor family such as GLP-1R and GIPR. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the absence of RAMP1 and RAMP3 interferes with the action of GIPR and GLP-1R agonists on body weight maintenance and glucose control. To this end, WT and RAMP 1/3 KO mice were fed a 45% high fat diet for 22 weeks and were injected daily with GLP-1R agonist (2 nmol/kg/d; NN0113-2220), GIPR agonist (30 nmol/kg/d; NN0441-0329) or both for 3 weeks. While the mono-agonists exerted little to no body weight lowering and anorectic effects in WT or RAMP1/3 KO mice, but at the given doses, when both compounds were administered together, they synergistically reduced body weight, with a greater effect observed in KO mice. Finally, GLP-1R and GIP/GLP-1R agonist treatment led to improved glucose tolerance, but the absence of RAMPs resulted in an improvement of the HOMA-IR score. These data suggest that RAMPs may play a crucial role in modulating the pharmacological actions of GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Leuthardt
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christina N Boyle
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten Raun
- Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, 2760, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Thomas A Lutz
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linu M John
- Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, 2760, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Christelle Le Foll
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Borner T, Doebley SA, Furst CD, Pataro AM, Halas JG, Gao X, Choi GK, Ramadan SA, Chow A, De Jonghe BC. Screening study of anti-emetics to improve GDF15-induced malaise and anorexia: Implications for emesis control. Physiol Behav 2023; 267:114229. [PMID: 37164246 PMCID: PMC10883415 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Considerable preclinical and clinical attention has focused on the food intake and body weight suppressive effects of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and its elevated blood levels as a consequence of disease states and disease treatment therapeutics. We have previously reported that exogenous administration of GDF15 induces anorexia through nausea and emesis in multiple species. Importantly, GDF15 signaling as a meditator of chemotherapy-induced anorexia and emesis has recently been demonstrated in both murine and nonhuman primate models. The mechanism, however, by which GDF15 induces malaise and the utility of existing therapeutic targets to counteract its effects remain largely unknown. Using a dose of GDF15 that mimics stimulated levels following chemotherapy administration and reliably induces malaise, we sought to screen anti-emetics that represent distinct pharmacotherapeutic classes hypothesized to reduce GDF15-induced effects in rats. Strikingly, our results showed that none of the tested compounds were effective at preventing GDF15-induced malaise. These results illustrate the complexity of GDF15 signaling mechanism and may have important implications for medical conditions characterized by elevated GDF15 levels and incomplete symptom control, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tito Borner
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
| | - Sarah A Doebley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - C Daniel Furst
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Allison M Pataro
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Julia G Halas
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Xing Gao
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Grace K Choi
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Sarah A Ramadan
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Angela Chow
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Bart C De Jonghe
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
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7
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Borner T, Reiner BC, Crist RC, Furst CD, Doebley SA, Halas JG, Ai M, Samms RJ, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR. GIP receptor agonism blocks chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Mol Metab 2023; 73:101743. [PMID: 37245848 PMCID: PMC10326744 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nausea and vomiting remain life-threatening obstacles to successful treatment of chronic diseases, despite a cadre of available antiemetic medications. Our inability to effectively control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) highlights the need to anatomically, molecularly, and functionally characterize novel neural substrates that block CINV. METHODS Behavioral pharmacology assays of nausea and emesis in 3 different mammalian species were combined with histological and unbiased transcriptomic analyses to investigate the beneficial effects of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) agonism on CINV. RESULTS Single-nuclei transcriptomics and histological approaches in rats revealed a topographical, molecularly distinct, GABA-ergic neuronal population in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) that is modulated by chemotherapy but rescued by GIPR agonism. Activation of DVCGIPR neurons substantially decreased behaviors indicative of malaise in cisplatin-treated rats. Strikingly, GIPR agonism blocks cisplatin-induced emesis in both ferrets and shrews. CONCLUSION Our multispecies study defines a peptidergic system that represents a novel therapeutic target for the management of CINV, and potentially other drivers of nausea/emesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tito Borner
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin C Reiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Richard C Crist
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - C Daniel Furst
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sarah A Doebley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia G Halas
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Minrong Ai
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46285, USA
| | - Ricardo J Samms
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46285, USA
| | - Bart C De Jonghe
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Matthew R Hayes
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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8
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Sanchez-Navarro MJ, Borner T, Reiner BC, Crist RC, Samson WK, Yosten GLC, Stein L, Hayes MR. GPR-160 Receptor Signaling in the Dorsal Vagal Complex of Male Rats Modulates Meal Microstructure and CART-Mediated Hypophagia. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15102268. [PMID: 37242151 DOI: 10.3390/nu15102268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The g-protein coupled receptor GPR-160, recently identified as a putative receptor for the cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide, shows abundant expression in the energy-balance control nuclei, including the dorsal vagal complex (DVC). However, its physiological role in the control of food intake has yet to be fully explored. Here, we performed a virally mediated, targeted knockdown (KD) of Gpr160 in the DVC of male rats to evaluate its physiological role in control of feeding. Our results indicate that DVC Gpr160 KD affects meal microstructure. Specifically, DVC Gpr160 KD animals consumed more frequent, but shorter meals during the dark phase and showed decreased caloric intake and duration of meals during the light phase. Cumulatively, however, these bidirectional effects on feeding resulted in no difference in body weight gain. We next tested the role of DVC GPR-160 in mediating the anorexigenic effects of exogenous CART. Our results show that DVC Gpr160 KD partially attenuates CART's anorexigenic effects. To further characterize Gpr160+ cells in the DVC, we utilized single-nucleus RNA sequencing data to uncover abundant GPR-160 expression in DVC microglia and only minimal expression in neurons. Altogether, our results suggest that DVC CART signaling may be mediated by Gpr160+ microglia, which in turn may be modulating DVC neuronal activity to control food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos J Sanchez-Navarro
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tito Borner
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin C Reiner
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richard C Crist
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Willis K Samson
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Gina L C Yosten
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Lauren Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew R Hayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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9
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Single nucleus transcriptomic analysis of rat nucleus accumbens reveals cell type-specific patterns of gene expression associated with volitional morphine intake. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:374. [PMID: 36075888 PMCID: PMC9458645 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02135-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid exposure is known to cause transcriptomic changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, no studies to date have investigated cell type-specific transcriptomic changes associated with volitional opioid taking. Here, we use single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) to comprehensively characterize cell type-specific alterations of the NAc transcriptome in rats self-administering morphine. One cohort of male Brown Norway rats was injected with acute morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. A second cohort of rats was allowed to self-administer intravenous morphine (1.0 mg/kg/infusion) for 10 consecutive days. Each morphine-experienced rat was paired with a yoked saline control rat. snRNAseq libraries were generated from NAc punches and used to identify cell type-specific gene expression changes associated with volitional morphine taking. We identified 1106 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the acute morphine group, compared to 2453 DEGs in the morphine self-administration group, across 27 distinct cell clusters. Importantly, we identified 1329 DEGs that were specific to morphine self-administration. DEGs were identified in novel clusters of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and D1R- and D2R-expressing medium spiny neurons in the NAc. Cell type-specific DEGs included Rgs9, Celf5, Oprm1, and Pde10a. Upregulation of Rgs9 and Celf5 in D2R-expressing neurons was validated by RNAscope. Approximately 85% of all oligodendrocyte DEGs, nearly all of which were associated with morphine taking, were identified in two subtypes. Bioinformatic analyses identified cell type-specific upstream regulatory mechanisms of the observed transcriptome alterations and downstream signaling pathways, including both novel and previously identified molecular pathways. These findings show that volitional morphine taking is associated with distinct cell type-specific transcriptomic changes in the rat NAc and highlight specific striatal cell populations and novel molecular substrates that could be targeted to reduce compulsive opioid taking.
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