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Daviu N, Molina P, Nadal R, Belda X, Serrano S, Armario A. Influence of footshock number and intensity on the behavioral and endocrine response to fear conditioning and cognitive fear generalization in male rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 135:111112. [PMID: 39094926 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111112] [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: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Foot-shock paradigms have provided valuable insights into the neurobiology of stress and fear conditioning. An extensive body of literature indicates that shock exposure can elicit both conditioned and unconditioned effects, although delineating between the two is a challenging task. This distinction holds crucial implications not only for the theoretical interpretation of fear conditioning, but also for properly evaluating putative preclinical models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involving shock exposure. The characteristics of shocks (intensity and number) affect the strength of learning, but how these characteristics interact to influence conditioned and unconditioned consequences of shocks are poorly known. In this study, we aimed to investigate in adult male rats the impact of varying shock number and intensity on the endocrine and behavioral response to contextual fear conditioning and fear generalization to a novel environment markedly distinct from the shock context (i.e., fear generalization). Classical biological markers of stress (i.e., ACTH, corticosterone, and prolactin) were sensitive to manipulations of shock parameters, whereas these parameters had a limited effect on contextual fear conditioning (evaluated by freezing and distance traveled). In contrast, behavior in different novel contexts (fear generalization) was specifically sensitive to shock intensity. Notably, altered behavior in novel contexts markedly improved, but not completely normalized after fear extinction, hypoactivity apparently being the result of both conditioned and unconditioned effects of foot-shock exposure. The present results will contribute to a better understanding of shock exposure as a putative animal model of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Molina
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Deparment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Serrano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
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Peng L, Zhang J, Feng J, Ge J, Zou Y, Chen Y, Xu L, Zeng Y, Li JX, Liu J. Activation of trace amine-associated receptor 1 ameliorates PTSD-like symptoms. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 228:116236. [PMID: 38670437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) negatively modulates monoaminergic transmission in the mammalian brain and participates in many psychiatric disorders. Preclinical evidence indicate that selective TAAR1 agonists have anxiolytic effects and anti-stress properties. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic stressors. However, it remains unknown whether TAAR1 is involved in PTSD. Here, we investigated the role of TAAR1 in two PTSD animal models, including single prolonged stress (SPS)-induced impairment of fear extinction and stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL). SPS decreased TAAR1 mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area. Acute treatment of the TAAR1 partial agonist RO5263397 attenuated SPS-induced anxiety-like behavior evaluated by the elevated-plus maze test. Compared to non-stressed animals, rats that experienced SPS showed higher freezing levels in the extinction retention test, indicating an impairment of fear extinction retention after SPS exposure. Acute and chronic treatment of RO5263397 ameliorated SPS-induced impairment of fear extinction retention. In the SEFL model, compared to the No-shock group, rats that experienced severe foot shock before fear conditioning showed higher freezing levels during the tests, indicating enhanced fear learning after stress exposure. Chronic treatment of RO5263397 partially attenuated the SEFL. Moreover, chronic treatment with the selective TAAR1 full agonist RO5166017 completely prevented the SEFL. Taken together, these data showed that pharmacological activation of TAAR1 could ameliorate PTSD-like symptoms. The present study thus provides the first evidence that TAAR1 might participate in the development of PTSD, and TAAR1 agonists could be potential pharmacological treatments for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Peng
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Jialu Feng
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Jing Ge
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Yu Zou
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Lang Xu
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China.
| | - Jun-Xu Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Institute of Brain Science and Advanced Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China; College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China.
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Armario A, Nadal R, Fuentes S, Visa J, Belda X, Serrano S, Labad J. Prenatal immune activation in rats and adult exposure to inescapable shocks reveal sex-dependent effects on fear conditioning that might be relevant for schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2024; 342:116219. [PMID: 39388806 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal infection is considered a relevant factor for neurodevelopmental alterations and psychiatric diseases. Administration of bacterial and viral components during pregnancy in rodents results in maternal immune activation (MIA), leading to schizophrenia-like neurochemical and behavioral changes. Despite some evidence for abnormal fear conditioning in schizophrenia, only a few animal studies have focused on this issue. Therefore, we addressed the impact of the administration of the viral mimetic polyI:C to pregnant Long-Evans rats on the adult offspring response to inescapable shocks (IS) and contextual fear conditioning. In males, polyI:C induced a greater endocrine (plasma ACTH) response to IS and both polyI:C and IS enhanced fear conditioning and generalization to a completely different novel environment (hole-board), with no additive effects, probably due to a ceiling effect. In contrast, a modest impact of polyI:C and a lower impact of IS on contextual fear conditioning and generalization was observed in females. Thus, the present results demonstrate that polyI:C dramatically affected fear response to IS in adult males and support the hypothesis that males are more sensitive than females to this treatment. This model might allow to explore neurobiological mechanisms underlying abnormal responsiveness to fear conditioning and stressors in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Imunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Deparment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Silvia Fuentes
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Deparment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Visa
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Imunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Serrano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Imunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Labad
- Department of Mental Health and Addictions, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
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Vazquez K, Cole KE, Parsons RG. Sex and the facilitation of cued fear by prior contextual fear conditioning in rats. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a054010. [PMID: 39327023 DOI: 10.1101/lm.054010.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the formation of new memories can be influenced by prior experience. This includes work using Pavlovian fear conditioning in rodents that has shown that an initial fear conditioning experience can become associated with and facilitate the acquisition of new fear memories, especially when they occur close together in time. However, most of the prior studies used only males as subjects, resulting in questions about the generalizability of the findings from this work. Here we tested whether prior contextual fear conditioning would facilitate later learning of cued fear conditioning in both male and female rats, and if there were differences based on the interval between the two conditioning episodes. Our results showed that levels of cued fear were not influenced by prior contextual fear conditioning or by the interval between training; however, females showed lower levels of cued fear. Freezing behavior in the initial training context differed by sex, with females showing lower levels of contextual fear, and by the type of initial training, with rats given delayed shock showing higher levels of fear than rats given immediate shock during contextual fear conditioning. These results indicate that contextual fear conditioning does not prime subsequent cued fear conditioning and that female rats express lower levels of cued and contextual fear conditioning than males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Vazquez
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Kehinde E Cole
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Ryan G Parsons
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
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Ryoke R, Hashimoto T, Kawashima R. Multiple Stressors Induce Amygdalohippocampal Volume Reduction in Adult Male Rats as Detected by Longitudinal Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100334. [PMID: 38974933 PMCID: PMC11225185 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic events can cause long-lasting and uncontrollable fear and anxiety. Posttraumatic stress disorder is an intractable mental disorder, and neurobiological mechanisms using animal models are expected to help development of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment. In this study, we combined multiple stress (MS) and longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging to reveal the effects of long-lasting anxiety-like behaviors on adult male rat brains. Methods Twelve male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were exposed to the MS of 1-mA footshocks and forced swimming, while 12 control rats were placed in a plastic cage. Contextual fear conditioning with 0.1-mA footshocks in a context different from the MS was conducted 15 days after the MS for both groups. Three retention tests were administered after 24 hours and 9 and 16 days. Two magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted, one on the day before MS induction and one the day after the third retention test, with a 32-day interval. Results The MS group showed greater freezing responses than the control group in all retention tests. Whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed reduced gray matter volume in the anterior amygdalohippocampal area in MS group rats compared with control rats. These volume changes were negatively associated with freezing time in the third retention test in the MS group. Conclusions These results suggest that individual variability in the amygdalohippocampal area may be related to long-lasting fear responses after severe stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Ryoke
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Teruo Hashimoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Gnanadesikan GE, Bray EE, Cook EN, Levy KM, Douglas LELC, Kennedy BS, Tecot SR, MacLean EL. Basal plasma oxytocin & fecal cortisol concentrations are highly heritable and associated with individual differences in behavior & cognition in dog puppies. Horm Behav 2024; 165:105612. [PMID: 39116461 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105612] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin and cortisol are hormones that can influence cognition and behavior, but the relationships between endogenous concentrations and individual differences in cognitive and behavioral phenotypes remain poorly understood. Across mammals, oxytocin has important roles in diverse social behaviors, and in dogs, it has been implicated in human-oriented behaviors such as social gaze and point-following. Cortisol, an end-product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is often studied in relation to temperament and emotional reactivity, but it is also known to modulate executive functions. In this study, we measured basal fecal cortisol (n = 247) and plasma oxytocin (n = 249) in dog puppies from a pedigreed population (Canine Companions ®). We collected cognitive and behavioral data from these subjects (n = 247), including measures of human-oriented social cognition, memory, inhibitory control, perceptual discriminations, and temperament. Oxytocin concentrations were estimated to be very highly heritable (h2 = 0.90-0.99) and cortisol concentrations were estimated to be moderately-highly heritable (h2 = 0.43-0.47). Bayesian mixed models controlling for relatedness revealed that oxytocin concentrations were positively associated with spatial working memory and displayed a negative quadratic relationship with behavioral laterality, but no credible associations were seen for social measures. Cortisol concentrations exhibited a negative linear relationship with performance on an inhibitory control task and a negative quadratic relationship with bold behavioral reactions to a novel object. Collectively, our results suggest that individual differences in oxytocin and cortisol concentrations are under strong genetic control in dogs and are associated with phenotypic variation in aspects of temperament, behavioral laterality, and executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitanjali E Gnanadesikan
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Cognitive Science Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Emily E Bray
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Erica N Cook
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kerinne M Levy
- Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, USA
| | | | | | - Stacey R Tecot
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Evan L MacLean
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Cognitive Science Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Derman RC, Lattal KM. Sex-dependent effects of acute stress in adolescence or adulthood on appetitive motivation. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1645-1662. [PMID: 38753027 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06587-9] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Intensely stressful experiences can lead to long-lasting changes in appetitive and aversive behaviors. In humans, post-traumatic stress disorder increases the risk of comorbid appetitive disorders including addiction and obesity. We have previously shown that an acute stressful experience in adult male rats suppresses motivation for natural reward. OBJECTIVES We examine the impact of sex and age on the effects of intense stress on action-based (instrumental) and stimulus-based (Pavlovian) motivation for natural reward (food). METHODS Rats received 15 unsignaled footshocks (stress) in a single session followed by appetitive training and testing in a distinct context. In Experiment 1, stress occurred in either adolescence (PN28) or adulthood (PN70) with appetitive training and testing beginning on PN71 for all rats. In Experiment 2, stress and appetitive training/testing occurred in adolescence. RESULTS Acute stress in adolescent females suppressed instrumental motivation assessed with progressive ratio testing when testing occurred in late adolescence or in adulthood, whereas in males stress in adolescence did not suppress instrumental motivation. Acute stress in adulthood did not alter instrumental motivation. In contrast, Pavlovian motivation assessed with single-outcome Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (SO-PIT) was consistently enhanced in females following adolescent or adult stress. In males, however, stress in adolescence had no effect, whereas stress in adulthood attenuated SO-PIT. CONCLUSIONS Acute stress in adolescence or adulthood altered instrumental motivation and stimulus-triggered Pavlovian motivation in a sex and developmentally specific manner. These findings suggest that the persistent effects of acute stress on Pavlovian and instrumental motivational processes differ in females and males, and that males may be less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of intense stress during adolescence on appetitive motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rifka C Derman
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - K Matthew Lattal
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Minshall BL, Skipper RA, Riddle CA, Wasylyshyn CF, Claflin DI, Quinn JJ. Sex differences in acute early life stress-enhanced fear learning in adult rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22511. [PMID: 38837722 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22511] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present with a spectrum of debilitating anxiety symptoms resulting from exposure to trauma. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD compared to men; however, the reason for this vulnerability remains unknown. We conducted four experiments where we first demonstrated a female vulnerability to stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) with a moderate, acute early life stress (aELS) exposure (4 footshocks in a single session), compared to a more intense aELS exposure (15 footshocks in a single session) where males and females demonstrated comparable SEFL. Next, we demonstrated that this female vulnerability does not result from differences in footshock reactivity or contextual fear conditioning during the aELS exposure. Finally, using gonadectomy or sham surgeries in adult male and female rats, we showed that circulating levels of gonadal steroid hormones at the time of adult fear conditioning do not explain the female vulnerability to SEFL. Additional research is needed to determine whether this vulnerability can be explained by organizational effects of gonadal steroid hormones or differences in sex chromosome gene expression. Doing so is critical for a better understanding of increased female vulnerability to certain psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna L Minshall
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachel A Skipper
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Collin A Riddle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine F Wasylyshyn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Dragana I Claflin
- Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer J Quinn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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Pennington ZT, LaBanca AR, Sompolpong P, Abdel-Raheim SD, Ko B, Christenson Wick Z, Feng Y, Dong Z, Francisco TR, Bacon ME, Chen L, Fulton SL, Maze I, Shuman T, Cai DJ. Dissociable contributions of the amygdala and ventral hippocampus to stress-induced changes in defensive behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.27.530077. [PMID: 36945605 PMCID: PMC10028838 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.530077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe stress can produce multiple persistent changes in defensive behavior relevant to psychiatric illness. While much is known about the circuits supporting stress-induced associative fear, how stress-induced circuit plasticity supports non-associative changes in defensive behavior remains unclear. METHODS Mice were exposed to an acute severe stressor, and subsequently, both associative and non-associative defensive behavioral responses were assessed. A mixture of local protein synthesis inhibition, pan-neuronal chemogenetic inhibition, and projection-specific chemogenetic inhibition were utilized to isolate the roles of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral hippocampus (vHC) to the induction and expression of associative and non-associative defensive behavioral changes. RESULTS Stress-induced protein synthesis in the BLA was necessary for enhancements in stress sensitivity but not enhancements in anxiety-related behaviors, whereas protein synthesis in the vHC was necessary for enhancements in anxiety-related behavior but not enhancements in stress sensitivity. Like protein synthesis, neuronal activity of the BLA and vHC were found to differentially support the expression of these same defensive behaviors. Additionally, projection-specific inhibition of BLA-vHC connections failed to alter these behaviors, indicating that these defensive behaviors are regulated by distinct BLA and vHC circuits. Lastly, contributions of the BLA and vHC to stress sensitivity and anxiety-related behavior were independent of their contributions to associative fear. CONCLUSIONS Stress-induced plasticity in the BLA and vHC were found to support dissociable non-associative behavioral changes, with BLA supporting enhancements in stress sensitivity and vHC supporting increased anxiety-related behavior. These findings demonstrate that independent BLA and vHC circuits are critical for stress-induced defensive behaviors, and that differential targeting of BLA and vHC circuits may be needed in disease treatment.
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Masella G, Silva F, Corti E, Azkona G, Madeira MF, Tomé ÂR, Ferreira SG, Cunha RA, Duarte CB, Santos M. The amygdala NT3-TrkC pathway underlies inter-individual differences in fear extinction and related synaptic plasticity. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1322-1337. [PMID: 38233468 PMCID: PMC11189811 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02412-z] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Fear-related pathologies are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions, having inappropriate learned fear and resistance to extinction as cardinal features. Exposure therapy represents a promising therapeutic approach, the efficiency of which depends on inter-individual variation in fear extinction learning, which neurobiological basis is unknown. We characterized a model of extinction learning, whereby fear-conditioned mice were categorized as extinction (EXT)-success or EXT-failure, according to their inherent ability to extinguish fear. In the lateral amygdala, GluN2A-containing NMDAR are required for LTP and stabilization of fear memories, while GluN2B-containing NMDAR are required for LTD and fear extinction. EXT-success mice showed attenuated LTP, strong LTD and higher levels of synaptic GluN2B, while EXT-failure mice showed strong LTP, no LTD and higher levels of synaptic GluN2A. Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) infusion in the lateral amygdala was sufficient to rescue extinction deficits in EXT-failure mice. Mechanistically, activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkC) with NT3 in EXT-failure slices attenuated lateral amygdala LTP, in a GluN2B-dependent manner. Conversely, blocking endogenous NT3-TrkC signaling with TrkC-Fc chimera in EXT-success slices strengthened lateral amygdala LTP. Our data support a key role for the NT3-TrkC system in inter-individual differences in fear extinction in rodents, through modulation of amygdalar NMDAR composition and synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Masella
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisca Silva
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisa Corti
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Garikoitz Azkona
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, School of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maria Francisca Madeira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ângelo R Tomé
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Samira G Ferreira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo A Cunha
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos B Duarte
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mónica Santos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (iiiUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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11
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Conoscenti MA, Weatherill DB, Huang Y, Tordjman R, Fanselow MS. Isolation of the differential effects of chronic and acute stress in a manner that is not confounded by stress severity. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100616. [PMID: 38384783 PMCID: PMC10879813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Firm conclusions regarding the differential effects of the maladaptive consequences of acute versus chronic stress on the etiology and symptomatology of stress disorders await a model that isolates chronicity as a variable for studying the differential effects of acute versus chronic stress. This is because most previous studies have confounded chronicity with the total amount of stress. Here, we have modified the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) protocol, which models some aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following an acute stressor, to create a chronic variant that does not have this confound. Comparing results from this new protocol to the acute protocol, we found that chronic stress further potentiates enhanced fear-learning beyond the nonassociative enhancement induced by acute stress. This additional component is not observed when the unconditional stimulus (US) used during subsequent fear learning is distinct from the US used as the stressor, and is enhanced when glucose is administered following stressor exposure, suggesting that it is associative in nature. Furthermore, extinction of stressor-context fear blocks this additional associative component of SEFL as well as reinstatement of generalized fear, suggesting reinstatement of generalized fear may underlie this additional SEFL component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Conoscenti
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel B. Weatherill
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuqing Huang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Raphael Tordjman
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S. Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Dirven BCJ, van Melis L, Daneva T, Dillen L, Homberg JR, Kozicz T, Henckens MJAG. Hippocampal Trauma Memory Processing Conveying Susceptibility to Traumatic Stress. Neuroscience 2024; 540:87-102. [PMID: 38220126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
While the majority of the population is ever exposed to a traumatic event during their lifetime, only a fraction develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Disrupted trauma memory processing has been proposed as a core factor underlying PTSD symptomatology. We used transgenic Targeted-Recombination-in-Active-Populations (TRAP) mice to investigate potential alterations in trauma-related hippocampal memory engrams associated with the development of PTSD-like symptomatology. Mice were exposed to a stress-enhanced fear learning paradigm, in which prior exposure to a stressor affects the learning of a subsequent fearful event (contextual fear conditioning using foot shocks), during which neuronal activity was labeled. One week later, mice were behaviorally phenotyped to identify mice resilient and susceptible to developing PTSD-like symptomatology. Three weeks post-learning, mice were re-exposed to the conditioning context to induce remote fear memory recall, and associated hippocampal neuronal activity was assessed. While no differences in the size of the hippocampal neuronal ensemble activated during fear learning were observed between groups, susceptible mice displayed a smaller ensemble activated upon remote fear memory recall in the ventral CA1, higher regional hippocampal parvalbuminneuronal density and a relatively lower activity of parvalbumininterneurons upon recall. Investigation of potential epigenetic regulators of the engram revealed rather generic (rather than engram-specific) differences between groups, with susceptible mice displaying lower hippocampal histone deacetylase 2 expression, and higher methylation and hydroxymethylation levels. These finding implicate variation in epigenetic regulation within the hippocampus, as well as reduced regional hippocampal activity during remote fear memory recall in interindividual differences in susceptibility to traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart C J Dirven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lennart van Melis
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teya Daneva
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Dillen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Individualized Medicine, Department of Clinical Genomics, and Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; University of Pecs Medical School, Department of Anatomy, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Plas SL, Tuna T, Bayer H, Juliano VAL, Sweck SO, Arellano Perez AD, Hassell JE, Maren S. Neural circuits for the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1352797. [PMID: 38370858 PMCID: PMC10869525 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1352797] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of fear memories is critical for adaptive behaviors and dysregulation of these processes is implicated in trauma- and stress-related disorders. Treatments for these disorders include pharmacological interventions as well as exposure-based therapies, which rely upon extinction learning. Considerable attention has been directed toward elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying fear and extinction learning. In this review, we will discuss historic discoveries and emerging evidence on the neural mechanisms of the adaptive regulation of fear and extinction memories. We will focus on neural circuits regulating the acquisition and extinction of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rodent models, particularly the role of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the contextual control of extinguished fear memories. We will also consider new work revealing an important role for the thalamic nucleus reuniens in the modulation of prefrontal-hippocampal interactions in extinction learning and memory. Finally, we will explore the effects of stress on this circuit and the clinical implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Plas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Tuğçe Tuna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Hugo Bayer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vitor A. L. Juliano
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samantha O. Sweck
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Angel D. Arellano Perez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - James E. Hassell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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14
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Bao L, Rao J, Yu D, Zheng B, Yin B. Decoding the language of fear: Unveiling objective and subjective indicators in rodent models through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105537. [PMID: 38215801 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
While rodent models are vital for studying mental disorders, the underestimation of construct validity of fear indicators has led to limitations in translating to effective clinical treatments. Addressing this gap, we systematically reviewed 5054 articles from the 1960 s, understanding underlying theoretical advancement, and selected 68 articles with at least two fear indicators for a three-level meta-analysis. We hypothesized correlations between different indicators would elucidate similar functions, while magnitude differences could reveal distinct neural or behavioral mechanisms. Our findings reveal a shift towards using freezing behavior as the primary fear indicator in rodent models, and strong, moderate, and weak correlations between freezing and conditioned suppression ratios, 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, and autonomic nervous system responses, respectively. Using freezing as a reference, moderator analysis shows treatment types and fear stages significantly influenced differences in magnitudes between two indicators. Our analysis supports a two-system model of fear in rodents, where objective and subjective fears could operate on a threshold-based mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Bao
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China
| | - Jiaojiao Rao
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China
| | - Delin Yu
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China
| | - Benhuiyuan Zheng
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China
| | - Bin Yin
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, China; Key Laboratory for Learning and Behavioral Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China.
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15
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Cisler JM, Dunsmoor JE, Fonzo GA, Nemeroff CB. Latent-state and model-based learning in PTSD. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:150-162. [PMID: 38212163 PMCID: PMC10923154 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.12.002] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by altered emotional and behavioral responding following a traumatic event. In this article, we review the concepts of latent-state and model-based learning (i.e., learning and inferring abstract task representations) and discuss their relevance for clinical and neuroscience models of PTSD. Recent data demonstrate evidence for brain and behavioral biases in these learning processes in PTSD. These new data potentially recast excessive fear towards trauma cues as a problem in learning and updating abstract task representations, as opposed to traditional conceptualizations focused on stimulus-specific learning. Biases in latent-state and model-based learning may also be a common mechanism targeted in common therapies for PTSD. We highlight key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to further elaborate how latent-state learning and its associated neurocircuitry mechanisms function in PTSD and how to optimize treatments to target these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh M Cisler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Joseph E Dunsmoor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Fonzo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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16
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Giovanniello J, Bravo-Rivera C, Rosenkranz A, Matthew Lattal K. Stress, associative learning, and decision-making. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 204:107812. [PMID: 37598745 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107812] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to acute and chronic stress has significant effects on the basic mechanisms of associative learning and memory. Stress can both impair and enhance associative learning depending on type, intensity, and persistence of the stressor, the subject's sex, the context that the stress and behavior is experienced in, and the type of associative learning taking place. In some cases, stress can cause or exacerbate the maladaptive behavior that underlies numerous psychiatric conditions including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and others. Therefore, it is critical to understand how the varied effects of stress, which may normally facilitate adaptive behavior, can also become maladaptive and even harmful. In this review, we highlight several findings of associative learning and decision-making processes that are affected by stress in both human and non-human subjects and how they are related to one another. An emerging theme from this work is that stress biases behavior towards less flexible strategies that may reflect a cautious insensitivity to changing contingencies. We consider how this inflexibility has been observed in different associative learning procedures and suggest that a goal for the field should be to clarify how factors such as sex and previous experience influence this inflexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Bravo-Rivera
- Departments of Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR 00935, United States.
| | - Amiel Rosenkranz
- Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, United States.
| | - K Matthew Lattal
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, United States.
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17
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Yamada J, Maeda S, Tojo M, Hayashida M, Iinuma KM, Jinno S. Altered regulation of oligodendrocytes associated with parvalbumin neurons in the ventral hippocampus underlies fear generalization in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1668-1679. [PMID: 37277574 PMCID: PMC10516901 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01611-6] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Fear generalization is a neurobiological process by which an organism interprets a novel stimulus as threatening because of its similarity to previously learned fear-inducing stimuli. Because recent studies have suggested that the communication between oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GABAergic neurons (PV neurons) may play critical roles in stress-related disorders, we examined the involvement of these cells in fear generalization. We first tested the behavioral characteristics of mouse models for conventional fear conditioning (cFC) and modified FC (mFC) with severe electric foot shocks and found that fear generalization was observed in mice treated with mFC but not in mice treated with cFC. The expression levels of genes related to OPCs, oligodendrocytes (OLs), and myelin in the ventral hippocampus were lower in mFC mice than in cFC mice. The densities of OPCs and OLs were decreased in the ventral hippocampus of mFC mice compared to cFC mice. The myelination ratios of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus were lower in mFC mice than in cFC mice. The chemogenetic activation of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus of mFC mice reduced fear generalization. The expression levels of genes related to OPCs, OLs, and myelin were recovered following the activation of PV neurons. Finally, the myelination ratios of PV neurons were increased after the activation of PV neurons. Our results suggest that altered regulation of OLs specifically associated with axons of PV neurons in the ventral hippocampus may underlie the generalization of remote fear memory following severe stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yamada
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Shoichiro Maeda
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Miori Tojo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Miyuki Hayashida
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kyoko M Iinuma
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shozo Jinno
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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18
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Walton NL, Antonoudiou P, Maguire JL. Neurosteroid influence on affective tone. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105327. [PMID: 37499891 PMCID: PMC10528596 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Affective disorders such as depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses and causes of disability worldwide. The recent FDA-approval of a novel antidepressant treatment, ZULRESSO® (Brexanolone), a synthetic neurosteroid has fueled interest into the role of neurosteroids in the pathophysiology of depression as well as the mechanisms mediating the antidepressant effects of these compounds. The majority of studies examining the impact of neurosteroids on affective states have relied on the administration of exogenous neurosteroids; however, neurosteroids can also be synthesized endogenously from cholesterol or steroid hormone precursors. Despite the well-established influence of exogenous neurosteroids on affective states, we still lack an understanding of the role of endogenous neurosteroids in modulating affective tone. This review aims to summarize the current literature supporting the influence of neurosteroids on affective states in clinical and preclinical studies, as well as recent evidence suggesting that endogenous neurosteroids may set a baseline affective tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najah L Walton
- Program of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pantelis Antonoudiou
- Program of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie L Maguire
- Program of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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19
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Lo Y, Yi PL, Hsiao YT, Lee TY, Chang FC. A prolonged stress rat model recapitulates some PTSD-like changes in sleep and neuronal connectivity. Commun Biol 2023; 6:716. [PMID: 37438582 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits psychological abnormalities during fear memory processing in rodent models. To simulate long-term impaired fear extinction in PTSD patients, we constructed a seven-day model with multiple prolonged stress (MPS) by modifying manipulation repetitions, intensity, and unpredictability of stressors. Behavioral and neural changes following MPS conveyed longitudinal PTSD-like effects in rats for 6 weeks. Extended fear memory was estimated through fear retrieval induced-freezing behavior and increased long-term serum corticosterone concentrations after MPS manipulation. Additionally, memory retrieval and behavioral anxiety tasks continued enhancing theta oscillation activity in the prefrontal cortex-basal lateral amygdala-ventral hippocampus pathway for an extended period. Moreover, MPS and remote fear retrieval stimuli disrupted sleep-wake activities to consolidate fear memory. Our prolonged fear memory, neuronal connectivity, anxiety, and sleep alteration results demonstrated integrated chronic PTSD symptoms in an MPS-induced rodent model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lu Yi
- Department of Sport Management, College of Tourism, Leisure and Sports, Aletheia University, New Taipei City, 25103, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Tse Hsiao
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Yen Lee
- Graduate Institute of Brain & Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 110225, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Chia Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Brain & Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 110225, Taiwan.
- Neurobiology & Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
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20
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Ketlyn Lazzarim M, Luiza Paiva Krepel G, Zolet D, Fantin Sardi N, José Polato Gomes H, Jacson Martynhak B. Social buffering reduces fear expression in Wistar rats when tested in pairs, but not when retested alone. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023:107798. [PMID: 37422207 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107798] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Social buffering is a phenomenon in which the stress response of an individual can be reduced by the presence of another individual. However, little is known about the effect of social buffering on aversive after memory extinction, especially when animals are tested alone afterwards. The aim of this study was to verify the social buffering effect in rats during the extinction session of the contextual fear conditioning model and the fear response when animals are tested alone in the following day. Animals were divided into subjects and associates, with the subjects undergoing the fear conditioning protocol and the associates paired with the subjects during the fear extinction session. Across five different experiments, we tested moderate and high intensity contextual fear conditioning protocols, as well four variations of pairs: (i) two conditioned subjects, (ii) a conditioned subject and a non-conditioned associate, (iii) a conditioned subject and an associate who observed the conditioning of the partner and (iv) two conditioned subjects, with one treated with diazepam. The social buffering effect was found efficient to reduce the fear memory expression during the fear extinction session. In the moderate intensity protocol, the reduction in freezing time occurred only in subjects accompanied by non-conditioned associates and observer associates. In the high intensity protocol, the social buffering effect occurred in subjects accompanied by either conditioned or non-conditioned associates, although the effect was more evident in the presence of non-conditioned subjects. Treatment of the conditioned associates with diazepam did not improve the social buffering effect. Moreover, social buffering effects were not correlated with self-grooming or prosocial behaviors, which indicates that the presence of another animal might decrease freezing by promotion of exploratory activity. Finally, the social buffering effect was not observed in the extinction test, either because the extinction was too effective in the moderate intensity protocol or because the extinction was equally ineffective in the high intensity protocol. Our results suggest that social buffering does not improve fear extinction consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniela Zolet
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
| | - Natalia Fantin Sardi
- Department of Physiology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
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21
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Derman RC, Matthew Lattal K. Acute stress persistently alters instrumental motivation without affecting appetitive Pavlovian conditioning, extinction, or contextual renewal. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 202:107771. [PMID: 37182757 PMCID: PMC10404028 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107771] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In two experiments, we adapted the stress-enhanced fear learning approach to evaluate the persistent effects of acute stress on appetitive learning and motivation in adult male Long Evans rats. In Experiment 1, we found that exposure to a battery of footshocks in one context had no effect on the acquisition, extinction, or contextual renewal of an appetitive Pavlovian discrimination in different contexts. However, when rats were subsequently trained to respond on a progressive ratio instrumental schedule, rats with a history of shock showed lower response rates and progressive ratio break points. Extinction of the shock-associated context had little effect on progressive ratio responding. In Experiment 2, we replicated this instrumental responding deficit with a continuous reinforcement schedule when the Pavlovian phases did not intervene in the time between shock and instrumental testing. Our findings here demonstrate that highly stressful acute experiences produce long-lasting deficits in instrumental motivation for food in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rifka C Derman
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, United States
| | - K Matthew Lattal
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, United States.
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22
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Kaye AP, Rao MG, Kwan AC, Ressler KJ, Krystal JH. A computational model for learning from repeated traumatic experiences under uncertainty. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 23:894-904. [PMID: 37165181 PMCID: PMC11149767 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01085-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic events can lead to lifelong, inflexible adaptations in threat perception and behavior, which characterize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This process involves associations between sensory cues and internal states of threat and then generalization of the threat responses to previously neutral cues. However, most formulations neglect adaptations to threat that are not specific to those associations. To incorporate nonassociative responses to threat, we propose a computational theory of PTSD based on adaptation to the frequency of traumatic events by using a reinforcement learning momentum model. Recent threat prediction errors generate momentum that influences subsequent threat perception in novel contexts. This model fits primary data acquired from a mouse model of PTSD, in which unpredictable footshocks in one context accelerate threat learning in a novel context. The theory is consistent with epidemiological data that show that PTSD incidence increases with the number of traumatic events, as well as the disproportionate impact of early life trauma. Because the theory proposes that PTSD relates to the average of recent threat prediction errors rather than the strength of a specific association, it makes novel predictions for the treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred P Kaye
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA.
- VA National Center for PTSD Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Manasa G Rao
- Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex C Kwan
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA
- Cornell University Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorder, Belmont, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA
- VA National Center for PTSD Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA
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On making (and turning adaptive to) maladaptive aversive memories in laboratory rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105101. [PMID: 36804263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and avoidance tasks usually elicit adaptive aversive memories. Traumatic memories are more intense, generalized, inflexible, and resistant to attenuation via extinction- and reconsolidation-based strategies. Inducing and assessing these dysfunctional, maladaptive features in the laboratory are crucial to interrogating posttraumatic stress disorder's neurobiology and exploring innovative treatments. Here we analyze over 350 studies addressing this question in adult rats and mice. There is a growing interest in modeling several qualitative and quantitative memory changes by exposing already stressed animals to freezing- and avoidance-related tests or using a relatively high aversive training magnitude. Other options combine aversive/fearful tasks with post-acquisition or post-retrieval administration of one or more drugs provoking neurochemical or epigenetic alterations reported in the trauma aftermath. It is potentially instructive to integrate these procedures and incorporate the measurement of autonomic and endocrine parameters. Factors to consider when defining the organismic and procedural variables, partially neglected aspects (sex-dependent differences and recent vs. remote data comparison) and suggestions for future research (identifying reliable individual risk and treatment-response predictors) are discussed.
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Al Jowf GI, Ahmed ZT, Reijnders RA, de Nijs L, Eijssen LMT. To Predict, Prevent, and Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065238. [PMID: 36982313 PMCID: PMC10049301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can become a chronic and severely disabling condition resulting in a reduced quality of life and increased economic burden. The disorder is directly related to exposure to a traumatic event, e.g., a real or threatened injury, death, or sexual assault. Extensive research has been done on the neurobiological alterations underlying the disorder and its related phenotypes, revealing brain circuit disruption, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Psychotherapy remains the first-line treatment option for PTSD given its good efficacy, although pharmacotherapy can also be used as a stand-alone or in combination with psychotherapy. In order to reduce the prevalence and burden of the disorder, multilevel models of prevention have been developed to detect the disorder as early as possible and to reduce morbidity in those with established diseases. Despite the clinical grounds of diagnosis, attention is increasing to the discovery of reliable biomarkers that can predict susceptibility, aid diagnosis, or monitor treatment. Several potential biomarkers have been linked with pathophysiological changes related to PTSD, encouraging further research to identify actionable targets. This review highlights the current literature regarding the pathophysiology, disease development models, treatment modalities, and preventive models from a public health perspective, and discusses the current state of biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazi I. Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
| | - Ziyad T. Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukairyah 52726, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars M. T. Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioinformatics—BiGCaT, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
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25
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Gong W, Li X, Feng Y, Ji M, Zhang D, Chen B, Wang S, Wu X, Cui L, Li B, Xia M. Novel pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder studied in transgenic mice. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 161:188-198. [PMID: 36933445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.042] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very common after exposure to trauma, mental stress or violence. Because objective biological markers for PTSD are lacking, exactly diagnosing PTSD is a challenge for clinical psychologists. In-depth research on the pathogenesis of PTSD is a key for solving this problem. In this work, we used male Thy1-YFP transgenic mice, in which neurons are fluorescently labeled, to research the effects of PTSD on neurons in vivo. We initially discovered that pathological stress associated with PTSD increased the activation of glycogen synthesis kinase-beta (GSK-3β) in neurons and induced the translocation of the transcription factor forkhead box-class O3a (FoxO3a) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which decreased the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and increased mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to trigger neuronal apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Furthermore, the PTSD model mice showed increased freezing and anxiety-like behaviors and more severe decrease of memory and exploratory behavior. Additionally, leptin attenuated neuronal apoptosis by increasing the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which further elevated the expression of UCP2 and inhibited the mitochondrial production of ROS induced by PTSD, thus reducing neuronal apoptosis and ameliorating PTSD-related behaviors. Our study is expected to promote the exploration of PTSD-related pathogenesis in neural cells and the clinical effectiveness of leptin for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenliang Gong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, PR China; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Yuliang Feng
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Ming Ji
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Dianjun Zhang
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Binjie Chen
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Siman Wang
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Xiafang Wu
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Lulu Cui
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China
| | - Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China.
| | - Maosheng Xia
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, PR China; Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China; China Medical University Centre of Forensic Investigation, PR China; Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, PR China.
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26
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The lifetime impact of stress on fear regulation and cortical function. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109367. [PMID: 36464208 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
A variety of stressful experiences can influence the ability to form and subsequently inhibit fear memory. While nonsocial stress can impact fear learning and memory throughout the lifespan, psychosocial stressors that involve negative social experiences or changes to the social environment have a disproportionately high impact during adolescence. Here, we review converging lines of evidence that suggest that development of prefrontal cortical circuitry necessary for both social experiences and fear learning is altered by stress exposure in a way that impacts both social and fear behaviors throughout the lifespan. Further, we suggest that psychosocial stress, through its impact on the prefrontal cortex, may be especially detrimental during early developmental periods characterized by higher sociability. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Fear, Anxiety and PTSD'.
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Asch RH, Pothula S, Toyonaga T, Fowles K, Groman SM, Garcia-Milian R, DiLeone RJ, Taylor JR, Esterlis I. Examining sex differences in responses to footshock stress and the role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5: an [ 18F]FPEB and positron emission tomography study in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:489-497. [PMID: 36100654 PMCID: PMC9852230 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01441-y] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Clinical investigations suggest involvement of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the pathophysiology of fear learning that underlies trauma-related disorders. Here, we utilized a 4-day fear learning paradigm combined with positron emission tomography (PET) to examine the relationship between mGluR5 availability and differences in the response of rats to repeated footshock exposure (FE). Specifically, on day 1, male (n = 16) and female (n = 12) rats received 15 footshocks and were compared with control rats who did not receive footshocks (n = 7 male; n = 4 female). FE rats were classified as low responders (LR) or high responders (HR) based on freezing to the context the following day (day 2). PET with [18F]FPEB was used to calculate regional mGluR5 binding potential (BPND) at two timepoints: prior to FE (i.e., baseline), and post-behavioral testing. Additionally, we used an unbiased proteomics approach to assess group and sex differences in prefrontal cortex (PFC) protein expression. Post-behavioral testing we observed decreased BPND in LR females, but increased BPND in HR males relative to baseline. Further, individuals displaying the greatest freezing during the FE context memory test had the largest increases in PFC BPND. Males and females displayed unique post-test molecular profiles: in males, the greatest differences were between FE and CON, including upregulation of mGluR5 and related molecular networks in FE, whereas the greatest differences among females were between the LR and HR groups. These findings suggest greater mGluR5 availability increases following footshock exposure may be related to greater contextual fear memory. Results additionally reveal sex differences in the molecular response to footshock, including differential involvement of mGluR5-related molecular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth H Asch
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Santosh Pothula
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Takuya Toyonaga
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Krista Fowles
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephanie M Groman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rolando Garcia-Milian
- Bioinformatics Support Program, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ralph J DiLeone
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jane R Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University, Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University, Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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28
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Asch RH, Fowles K, Pietrzak RH, Taylor JR, Esterlis I. Examining mGlu5 Receptor Availability as a Predictor of Vulnerability to PTSD: An [ 18F]FPEB and PET Study in Male and Female Rats. CHRONIC STRESS (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2023; 7:24705470231215001. [PMID: 38024327 PMCID: PMC10666551 DOI: 10.1177/24705470231215001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Females are twice as likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than males, yet specific factors contributing to this greater risk are not fully understood. Our clinical and recent preclinical findings suggest a role for the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) in PTSD and differential involvement between males and females. Methods Here, we further investigate whether mGlu5 receptor availability may contribute to individual and sex differences in PTSD susceptibility by quantifying receptor availability using the mGlu5 receptor-specific radiotracer, [18F]FPEB, and positron emission tomography in male (n = 16) and female (n = 16) rats before and after traumatic footshock exposure (FE) and assessment of stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) susceptibility, as compared with no-shock controls (CON; n = 7 male; n = 8 female). Results Overall, FE rats displayed greater fear generalization as compared with CON (p < .001). Further, greater mGlu5 receptor availability at baseline (p = .003) and post-test (p = .005) was significantly associated with expression of the SEFL phenotype. Notably, FE female rats displayed a shift to more passive coping (ie, freezing), and displayed greater SEFL susceptibility (p = .01), and had lower baseline mGlu5 availability (p = .03) relative to their FE male rat counterparts. Conclusion Results are consistent with clinical findings of higher mGlu5 receptor availability in PTSD, and add to growing evidence implicating these receptors in the pathophysiology of PTSD and sex-differences in susceptibility for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth H. Asch
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Krista Fowles
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert H. Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jane R. Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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29
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Redei EE, Udell ME, Solberg Woods LC, Chen H. The Wistar Kyoto Rat: A Model of Depression Traits. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1884-1905. [PMID: 36453495 PMCID: PMC10514523 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221129120902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate about the value of animal research in psychiatry with valid lines of reasoning stating the limits of individual animal models compared to human psychiatric illnesses. Human depression is not a homogenous disorder; therefore, one cannot expect a single animal model to reflect depression heterogeneity. This limited review presents arguments that the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats show intrinsic depression traits. The phenotypes of WKY do not completely mirror those of human depression but clearly indicate characteristics that are common with it. WKYs present despair- like behavior, passive coping with stress, comorbid anxiety, and enhanced drug use compared to other routinely used inbred or outbred strains of rats. The commonly used tests identifying these phenotypes reflect exploratory, escape-oriented, and withdrawal-like behaviors. The WKYs consistently choose withdrawal or avoidance in novel environments and freezing behaviors in response to a challenge in these tests. The physiological response to a stressful environment is exaggerated in WKYs. Selective breeding generated two WKY substrains that are nearly isogenic but show clear behavioral differences, including that of depression-like behavior. WKY and its substrains may share characteristics of subgroups of depressed individuals with social withdrawal, low energy, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and specific cognitive dysfunction. The genomes of the WKY and WKY substrains contain variations that impact the function of many genes identified in recent human genetic studies of depression. Thus, these strains of rats share characteristics of human depression at both phenotypic and genetic levels, making them a model of depression traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva E. Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mallory E. Udell
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Leah C. Solberg Woods
- Section on Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Qin B, Hu Z, Liu W, Sun Y, Wang Y, Zhang H, Yang F, He Y. Anxiety and Depression Among College Students During the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Jiangsu, China. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:711-723. [PMID: 37077533 PMCID: PMC10106787 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s404478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to explore the levels of anxiety and depression in a sample of home-quarantined college students to identify the risk factors for psychological distress during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods A total of 1156 college students studying in Jiangsu, China, participated from August 5 to August 14. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data anonymously, including demographic characteristics, the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a physical activity scale, and items related to COVID-19. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were employed to establish the differences in levels of anxiety and depression across sociodemographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was applied to measure the predictors of levels of anxiety and depression, and associations were considered significant at p <0.05. Results The estimates of anxiety and depression were 48.1% and 57.6%, respectively. The univariate analysis indicated a significant difference in anxiety levels across student grades, whether the student was an only child, the distance from the worst-hit areas, and physical activity/exercise intensity. Physical activity intensity and living in communities with infected people were statistically correlated with the level of depression. Binary logistic regression results indicated that the predictive factors for anxiety were living within a short distance from the worst-hit areas (10~20 km), engaging in higher education (graduate students), and low-intensity daily exercise. Factors statistically predicting depression symptoms were having siblings, a COVID-19 diagnosis in the community and low-intensity daily exercise. Conclusion During outbreaks, students in an extremely stressful state are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, particularly postgraduates. Psychological interventions to reduce fears and encourage exercise should be available to home-quarantined college students. Students who live in the worst-hit areas and are not the only child in the family should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banghui Qin
- Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marxism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqing Hu
- Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marxism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wuqianhui Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanjun Sun
- Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marxism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiping Wang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huiying Zhang
- Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marxism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan He
- Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marxism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Yuan He; Fan Yang, Tel +86 18651625286; +86 18936356069, Email ;
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Immunization with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659 enhances auditory-cued fear extinction in a stress-dependent manner. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:1-15. [PMID: 36108946 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-related psychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma and stressor-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affect millions of people world-wide each year. Individuals with stress-related psychiatric disorders have been found to have poor immunoregulation, increased proinflammatory markers, and dysregulation of fear memory. The "Old Friends" hypothesis proposes that a lack of immunoregulatory inputs has led to a higher prevalence of inflammatory disorders and stress-related psychiatric disorders, in which inappropriate inflammation is thought to be a risk factor. Immunization with a soil-derived saprophytic bacterium with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties, Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659, can lower proinflammatory biomarkers, increase stress resilience, and, when given prior to or after fear conditioning in a rat model of fear-potentiated startle, enhance fear extinction. In this study, we investigated whether immunization with heat-killed M. vaccae NCTC 11659 would enhance fear extinction in contextual or auditory-cued fear conditioning paradigms and whether M. vaccae NCTC 11659 would prevent stress-induced exaggeration of fear expression or stress-induced resistance to extinction learning. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were immunized with M. vaccae NCTC 11659 (subcutaneous injections once a week for three weeks), and underwent either: Experiment 1) one-trial contextual fear conditioning; Experiment 2) two-trial contextual fear conditioning; Experiment 3) stress-induced enhancement of contextual fear conditioning; Experiment 4) stress-induced enhancement of auditory-cued fear conditioning; or Experiment 5) stress-induced enhancement of auditory-cued fear conditioning exploring short-term memory. Immunizations with M. vaccae NCTC 11659 had no effect on one- or two-trial contextual fear conditioning or contextual fear extinction, with or without exposure to inescapable stress. However, inescapable stress increased resistance to auditory-cued fear extinction. Immunization with M. vaccae NCTC 11659 prevented the stress-induced increase in resistance to auditory-cued fear extinction learning. Finally, in an auditory-cued fear conditioning paradigm exploring short-term memory and fear acquisition, immunization with M. vaccae did not prevent fear acquisition, either with or without exposure to inescapable stress, consistent with the hypothesis that M. vaccae NCTC 11659 has no effect on fear acquisition but enhances fear extinction. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that increased immunoregulation following immunization with M. vaccae NCTC 11659 promotes stress resilience, in particular by preventing stress-induced resistance to fear extinction, and may be a potential therapeutic intervention for trauma- and stressor-related disorders such as PTSD.
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Fanselow MS. Negative valence systems: sustained threat and the predatory imminence continuum. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:467-477. [PMID: 36286244 PMCID: PMC9788377 DOI: 10.1042/etls20220003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This review describes the relationship between the National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.A.) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Negative Valence System related to responses to threat and the Predatory Imminence Continuum model of antipredator defensive behavior. While the original RDoC constructs of Potential Threat (anxiety) and Acute Threat (fear) fit well with the pre-encounter and post-encounter defense modes of the predatory imminence model, the Sustained Threat construct does not. Early research on the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) suggested that when fear responding needed to be sustained for a prolonged duration this region was important. However, follow-up studies indicated that the BST becomes critical not because responses needed to be sustained but rather when the stimuli triggering fear were more difficult to learn about, particularly when aversive stimuli were difficult to accurately predict. Instead, it is argued that the BST and the hippocampus act to expand the range of conditions that can trigger post-encounter defense (Acute Threat). It is further suggested that sustained threat refers to situations where the predatory imminence continuum becomes distorted causing defensive behavior to intrude into times when organisms should be engaging in other adaptive behaviors. Stress is seen as something that can cause a long-term disturbance of the continuum and this disturbance is a state of sustained threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Fanselow
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
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Barkell GA, Parekh SV, Paniccia JE, Martin AJ, Reissner KJ, Knapp DJ, Robinson SL, Thiele TE, Lysle DT. Chronic ethanol consumption exacerbates future stress-enhanced fear learning, an effect mediated by dorsal hippocampal astrocytes. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:2177-2190. [PMID: 36349797 PMCID: PMC10187052 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14963] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid, yet there is a lack of preclinical research investigating how prior ethanol (EtOH) dependence influences the development of a PTSD-like phenotype. Furthermore, the neuroimmune system has been implicated in the development of both AUD and PTSD, but the extent of glial involvement in this context remains unclear. A rodent model was developed to address this gap in the literature. METHODS We used a 15-day exposure to the 5% w/v EtOH low-fat Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet in combination with the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) paradigm to investigate the effects of chronic EtOH consumption on the development of a PTSD-like phenotype. Next, we used a reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to quantify mRNA expression of glial cell markers GFAP (astrocytes) and CD68 (microglia) following severe footshock stress in EtOH-withdrawn rats. Finally, we tested the functional contribution of dorsal hippocampal (DH) astrocytes in the development of SEFL in EtOH-dependent rats using astrocyte-specific Gi designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (Gi -DREADD). RESULTS Results demonstrate that chronic EtOH consumption and withdrawal exacerbate future SEFL. Additionally, we found significantly increased GFAP mRNA expression in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus and amygdalar complex following the severe stressor in EtOH-withdrawn animals. Finally, the stimulation of the astroglial Gi -DREADD during EtOH withdrawal prevented the EtOH-induced enhancement of SEFL. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, results indicate that prior EtOH dependence and withdrawal combined with a severe stressor potentiate future enhanced fear learning. Furthermore, DH astrocytes significantly contribute to this change in behavior. Overall, these studies provide insight into the comorbidity of AUD and PTSD and the potential neurobiological mechanisms behind increased susceptibility to a PTSD-like phenotype in individuals with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian A Barkell
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shveta V Parekh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacqueline E Paniccia
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alia J Martin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kathryn J Reissner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Darin J Knapp
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stacey L Robinson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Todd E Thiele
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Donald T Lysle
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Parekh SV, Adams LO, Barkell GA, Lysle DT. MDMA administration attenuates hippocampal IL-β immunoreactivity and subsequent stress-enhanced fear learning: An animal model of PTSD. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 26:100542. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Van Assche IA, Padilla MS, Stupart OSRP, Milton AL. Refinement of the stress-enhanced fear learning model of post-traumatic stress disorder: a behavioral and molecular analysis. Lab Anim (NY) 2022; 51:293-300. [PMID: 36266512 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-022-01054-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition for which current treatments have long-term efficacy in 50% of patients. There is a clear need for better understanding of the mechanisms underlying PTSD and the development of new treatment approaches. Analog trauma procedures in animals, such as the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) procedure, can be used to produce behavioral and neurobiological changes that have validity in modeling PTSD. However, by necessity, the modeling of PTSD in animals requires them to potentially experience pain and suffering. Consistent with the '3Rs' (reduction, refinement and replacement) of animal research, this study aimed to determine whether the SEFL procedure can be refined to reduce potential animal pain and suffering while retaining the same behavioral and neurobiological changes. Here we showed that PTSD-relevant changes could be produced in both behavior and the brain of rats that were group- rather than single-housed and that received lower-magnitude electric shocks in the 'trauma analog' session. We also varied the number of shock exposures in the trauma analog session, finding SEFL-susceptible and SEFL-resilient populations at all levels of shock exposure, but with greater levels of shock increasing the proportion of rats showing the SEFL-susceptible phenotype. These data demonstrate that the SEFL procedure can be used as an animal analog of PTSD with reduced potential pain and suffering to the animals and that variations in the procedure could be used to generate specific proportions of SEFL-susceptible and SEFL-resilient animals in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra A Van Assche
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK.,Biomedical Sciences Group: Woman and Child, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mc Stephen Padilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Amy L Milton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK.
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Dirven BCJ, Botan A, van der Geugten D, Kraakman B, van Melis L, Merjenburgh S, van Rijn R, Waajen L, Homberg JR, Kozicz T, Henckens MJAG. Longitudinal assessment of amygdala activity in mice susceptible to trauma. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 145:105912. [PMID: 36113379 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Resilience to consequences of trauma exposure contains relevant information about the processes that contribute to the maintenance of mental health in the face of adversity; information that is essential to improve treatment success of stress-related mental diseases. Prior literature has implicated aberrant amygdala (re)activity as potential factor contributing to trauma susceptibility. However, it remains to be resolved which amygdalar subregions and neuronal subclasses are involved, and when - i.e., pre-, peri- or post-trauma exposure - and under what conditions changes in amygdala (re)activity manifest themselves. Here, we implemented a preclinical rodent model for PTSD that entailed exposure to a traumatic event (severe, unpredictable foot shock) followed by a trigger (mild, predictable foot shock). Using behavioral phenotyping, trauma susceptible vs. resilient mice were identified and pre-, peri- or post-trauma amygdala activity was compared. Neuronal activity was tagged in living mice by the use of the ArcTRAP transgenic mouse line, labeling all activated (i.e., Arc-expressing) neurons by a systemic injection of tamoxifen. Furthermore, we assessed amygdala responses during fear memory recall, induced by either (re-)exposure to the trauma, trigger, or a novel, yet similar context, and analyzed behavioral fear responses under these conditions, as well as basal anxiety in the mice. Results revealed no major differences dissociating susceptible vs. resilient mice prior to trauma exposure, but exaggerated activity in specifically the basolateral amygdala (BLA) peri-trauma that predicted susceptibility to later PTSD-like symptoms. Post-trauma, susceptible mice did not display altered basal amygdala activity, but BLA hyperreactivity in response to trigger context re-exposure, and BLA hyporesponsivity in response to the trauma context. Exposure to the novel, similar context evoked a differential temporal pattern of freezing behavior in susceptible mice and an increased activity of amygdalar somatostatin-expressing neurons specifically. As such, these results for the first time show that deviant BLA activity during fear learning predicts susceptibility to its long-term consequences and that aberrant subsequent BLA responses to stressful contexts depend on the exact context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart C J Dirven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Andriana Botan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Dewi van der Geugten
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Blom Kraakman
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Lennart van Melis
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Merjenburgh
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Rebecca van Rijn
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Liz Waajen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genomics, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the Netherlands.
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Nishimura KJ, Poulos A, Drew MR, Rajbhandari AK. Know thy SEFL: Fear sensitization and its relevance to stressor-related disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104884. [PMID: 36174795 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Extreme stress can cause long-lasting changes in affective behavior manifesting in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the biological mechanisms that govern trauma-induced behavioral dysregulation requires reliable and rigorous pre-clinical models that recapitulate multiple facets of this complex disease. For decades, Pavlovian fear conditioning has been a dominant paradigm for studying the effects of trauma through an associative learning framework. However, severe stress also causes long-lasting nonassociative fear sensitization, which is often overlooked in Pavlovian fear conditioning studies. This paper synthesizes recent research on the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) paradigm, a valuable rodent model that can dissociate associative and nonassociative effects of stress. We discuss evidence that the SEFL paradigm produces nonassociative fear sensitization that is distinguishable from Pavlovian fear conditioning. We also discuss key biological variables, such as age and sex, neural circuit mechanisms, and crucial gaps in knowledge. We argue that nonassociative fear sensitization deserves more attention within current PTSD models and that SEFL provides a valuable complement to Pavlovian conditioning research on trauma-related pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji J Nishimura
- Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, 78712
| | - Andrew Poulos
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience Research, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, USA, 12222
| | - Michael R Drew
- Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, 78712
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Conoscenti MA, Smith NJ, Fanselow MS. Dissociable consequences of moderate and high volume stress are mediated by the differential energetic demands of stress. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273803. [PMID: 36048782 PMCID: PMC9436037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to traumatic stress leads to persistent, deleterious behavioral and biological changes in both human and non-human species. The effects of stress are not always consistent, however, as exposure to different stressors often leads to heterogeneous effects. The intensity of the stressor may be a key factor in determining the consequences of stress. While it is difficult to quantify intensity for many stress types, electric shock exposure provides us with a stressor that has quantifiable parameters (presentation length x intensity x number = shock volume). Therefore, to test the procedural differences in shock volume that may account for some reported heterogeneity, we used two common shock procedures. Learned helplessness is a commonly reported behavioral outcome, highlighted by a deficit in subsequent shuttle-box escape, which requires a relatively high-volume stress (HVS) of about 100 uncontrollable shocks. Conversely, stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) is another common behavioral outcome that requires a relatively moderate-volume stress (MVS) of only 15 shocks. We exposed rats to HVS, MVS, or no stress (NS) and examined the effects on subsequent fear learning and normal weight gain. We found doubly dissociable effects of the two levels of stress. MVS enhanced contextual fear learning but did not impact weight, while HVS produced the opposite pattern. In other words, more stress does not simply lead to greater impairment. We then tested the hypothesis that the different stress-induced sequalae arouse from an energetic challenge imposed on the hippocampus by HVS but not MVS. HVS rats that consumed a glucose solution did exhibit SEFL. Furthermore, rats exposed to MVS and glucoprivated during single-trial context conditioning did not exhibit SEFL. Consistent with the hypothesis that the inability of HVS to enhance fear learning is because of an impact on the hippocampus, HVS did enhance hippocampus-independent auditory fear learning. Finally, we provide evidence that stressors of different volumes produce dissociable changes in glutamate receptor proteins in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and dorsal hippocampus (DH). The data indicate that while the intensity of stress is a critical determinant of stress-induced phenotypes that effect is nonlinear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Conoscenti
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Staglin Center for Brain & Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Nancy J. Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Staglin Center for Brain & Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Fanselow
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Staglin Center for Brain & Behavioral Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Hoffman AN, Trott JM, Makridis A, Fanselow MS. Anxiety, fear, panic: An approach to assessing the defensive behavior system across the predatory imminence continuum. Learn Behav 2022; 50:339-348. [PMID: 35112315 PMCID: PMC9343476 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-021-00509-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In order to effectively thwart predation, antipredator defensive behaviors must be matched to the current spatio-temporal relationship to the predator. We have proposed a model where different defensive responses are organized along a predatory imminence continuum (PIC). The PIC is a behavior system organized as a sequence of innately programmed behavioral modes, each representing a different interaction with the predator or threat. Ranging from low threat to predator contact, the PIC categorizes defense modes as pre-encounter, post-encounter, and circa-strike, corresponding to states of anxiety, fear, and panic, respectively. This experiment examined if the same significant stressor caused overexpression of all defensive responses along the PIC, including anxiety-like behavior, freezing, and panic-like responses. Female and male mice were exposed to acute stress that consisted of a series of ten pseudorandomly presented unsignaled footshocks (or no shocks). Mice were subsequently tested on a battery of tasks to assess stress effects on pre-encounter (anxiety-like), post-encounter (fear), and circa-strike (panic-like) behaviors. Results revealed that following stress, mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior shown through reduced average velocity within a modified open field. Furthermore, stressed mice showed increased fear following a single footshock in a new context as well as an increase in reactivity to white noise in the original stress context, with stressed mice exhibiting a more robust circa-strike-like response than controls. Therefore, significant stress exposure influenced the defensive states of anxiety, fear, and panic across the predatory imminence continuum. This research could therefore reveal how such responses become maladaptive following traumatic stress in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann N Hoffman
- Department Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jeremy M Trott
- Department Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anna Makridis
- Department Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Fanselow
- Department Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Staglin Center for Brain and Behavioral Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Rosen JB, Schulkin J. Hyperexcitability: From Normal Fear to Pathological Anxiety and Trauma. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:727054. [PMID: 35993088 PMCID: PMC9387392 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.727054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperexcitability in fear circuits is suggested to be important for development of pathological anxiety and trauma from adaptive mechanisms of fear. Hyperexcitability is proposed to be due to acquired sensitization in fear circuits that progressively becomes more severe over time causing changing symptoms in early and late pathology. We use the metaphor and mechanisms of kindling to examine gains and losses in function of one excitatory and one inhibitory neuropeptide, corticotrophin releasing factor and somatostatin, respectively, to explore this sensitization hypothesis. We suggest amygdala kindling induced hyperexcitability, hyper-inhibition and loss of inhibition provide clues to mechanisms for hyperexcitability and progressive changes in function initiated by stress and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Rosen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- *Correspondence: Jeffrey B. Rosen,
| | - Jay Schulkin
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Raghuraman R, Manakkadan A, Richter-Levin G, Sajikumar S. Inhibitory Metaplasticity in Juvenile Stressed Rats Restores Associative Memory in Adulthood by Regulating Epigenetic Complex G9a/GLP. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:576-589. [PMID: 35089327 PMCID: PMC9352179 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to juvenile stress was found to have long-term effects on the plasticity and quality of associative memory in adulthood, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. METHODS Three- to four week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to a 3-day juvenile stress paradigm. Their electrophysiological correlates of memory using the adult hippocampal slice were inspected to detect alterations in long-term potentiation and synaptic tagging and capture model of associativity. These cellular alterations were tied in with the behavioral outcome by subjecting the rats to a step-down inhibitory avoidance paradigm to measure strength in their memory. Given the role of epigenetic response in altering plasticity as a repercussion of juvenile stress, we aimed to chart out the possible epigenetic marker and its regulation in the long-term memory mechanisms using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS We demonstrate that even long after the elimination of actual stressors, an inhibitory metaplastic state is evident, which promotes synaptic competition over synaptic cooperation and decline in latency of associative memory in the behavioral paradigm despite the exposure to novelty. Mechanistically, juvenile stress led to a heightened expression of the epigenetic marker G9a/GLP complex, which is thus far ascribed to transcriptional silencing and goal-directed behavior. CONCLUSIONS The blockade of the G9a/GLP complex was found to alleviate deficits in long-term plasticity and associative memory during the adulthood of animals exposed to juvenile stress. Our data provide insights on the long-term effects of juvenile stress that involve epigenetic mechanisms, which directly impact long-term plasticity, synaptic tagging and capture, and associative memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Raghuraman
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anoop Manakkadan
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol department of Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sreedharan Sajikumar
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute Neurobiology Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Youssef MMM, Hamada HT, Lai ESK, Kiyama Y, El-Tabbal M, Kiyonari H, Nakano K, Kuhn B, Yamamoto T. TOB is an effector of the hippocampus-mediated acute stress response. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:302. [PMID: 35906220 PMCID: PMC9338090 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02078-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress affects behavior and involves critical dynamic changes at multiple levels ranging from molecular pathways to neural circuits and behavior. Abnormalities at any of these levels lead to decreased stress resilience and pathological behavior. However, temporal modulation of molecular pathways underlying stress response remains poorly understood. Transducer of ErbB2.1, known as TOB, is involved in different physiological functions, including cellular stress and immediate response to stimulation. In this study, we investigated the role of TOB in psychological stress machinery at molecular, neural circuit, and behavioral levels. Interestingly, TOB protein levels increased after mice were exposed to acute stress. At the neural circuit level, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suggested that intra-hippocampal and hippocampal-prefrontal connectivity were dysregulated in Tob knockout (Tob-KO) mice. Electrophysiological recordings in hippocampal slices showed increased postsynaptic AMPAR-mediated neurotransmission, accompanied by decreased GABA neurotransmission and subsequently altered Excitatory/Inhibitory balance after Tob deletion. At the behavioral level, Tob-KO mice show abnormal, hippocampus-dependent, contextual fear conditioning and extinction, and depression-like behaviors. On the other hand, increased anxiety observed in Tob-KO mice is hippocampus-independent. At the molecular level, we observed changes in factors involved in stress response like decreased stress-induced LCN2 expression and ERK phosphorylation, as well as increased MKP-1 expression. This study introduces TOB as an important modulator in the hippocampal stress signaling machinery. In summary, we reveal a molecular pathway and neural circuit mechanism by which Tob deletion contributes to expression of pathological stress-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohieldin M M Youssef
- Cell Signal Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - Hiro Taiyo Hamada
- Neural Computation Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Esther Suk King Lai
- Neural Circuit Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuji Kiyama
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate school of medical and dental sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Mohamed El-Tabbal
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyonari
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kohei Nakano
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tadashi Yamamoto
- Cell Signal Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
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Leite L, Esper NB, Junior JRML, Lara DR, Buchweitz A. An exploratory study of resting-state functional connectivity of amygdala subregions in posttraumatic stress disorder following trauma in adulthood. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9558. [PMID: 35688847 PMCID: PMC9187646 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We carried out an exploratory study aimed at identifying differences in resting-state functional connectivity for the amygdala and its subregions, right and left basolateral, centromedial and superficial nuclei, in patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), relative to controls. The study included 10 participants with PTSD following trauma in adulthood (9 females), and 10 controls (9 females). The results suggest PTSD was associated with a decreased (negative) functional connectivity between the superficial amygdala and posterior brain regions relative to controls. The differences were observed between right superficial amygdala and right fusiform gyrus, and between left superficial amygdala and left lingual and left middle occipital gyri. The results suggest that among PTSD patients, the worse the PTSD symptoms, the lower the connectivity. The results corroborate the fMRI literature that shows PTSD is associated with weaker amygdala functional connectivity with areas of the brain involved in sensory and perceptual processes. The results also suggest that though the patients traumatic experience occured in adulthood, the presence of early traumatic experiences were associated with negative connectivity between the centromedial amygdala and sensory and perceptual regions. We argue that the understanding of the mechanisms of PTSD symptoms, its behaviors and the effects on quality of life of patients may benefit from the investigation of brain function that underpins sensory and perceptual symptoms associated with the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Leite
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil.
| | - Nathalia Bianchini Esper
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil
- Brain Institute (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, 90610-000, Brazil
| | - José Roberto M Lopes Junior
- School of Psychology and Health, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, 90050-170, Brazil
| | | | - Augusto Buchweitz
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil.
- Brain Institute (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, 90610-000, Brazil.
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Stamford, 06269-1020, United States of America.
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Hornstein EA, Eisenberger NI. Exploring the effect of loneliness on fear: Implications for the effect of COVID-19-induced social disconnection on anxiety. Behav Res Ther 2022; 153:104101. [PMID: 35490455 PMCID: PMC9013316 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in many disruptions to daily life, including an abrupt increase in social disconnection. As measures were put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, people across the globe began living in states of limited social contact, fostering feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Previous literature suggests that these increases in social disconnection can have profound effects on both physical and mental health, perhaps especially in the case of fear disorders. The combination of feeling disconnected from others and the high level of daily threat experienced due to COVID-19 created conditions under which dysfunctional and persistent fears were especially likely to develop. Building on current understanding of the harmful effects of social disconnection on well-being in general as well as specific implications for fear, here we present findings from three preliminary investigations that are the first to directly examine the effects of loneliness on how fears are learned and maintained. The Results of this work show that loneliness impairs the process by which fears are extinguished, which is central to both the regulation of fear and treatment of fear disorders, and provide insight into potential avenues to mitigate such effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Hornstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Naomi I Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Dunsmoor JE, Cisler JM, Fonzo GA, Creech SK, Nemeroff CB. Laboratory models of post-traumatic stress disorder: The elusive bridge to translation. Neuron 2022; 110:1754-1776. [PMID: 35325617 PMCID: PMC9167267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental illness composed of a heterogeneous collection of symptom clusters. The unique nature of PTSD as arising from a precipitating traumatic event helps simplify cross-species translational research modeling the neurobehavioral effects of stress and fear. However, the neurobiological progress on these complex neural circuits informed by animal models has yet to produce novel, evidence-based clinical treatment for PTSD. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of popular laboratory models of PTSD and provide concrete ideas for improving the validity and clinical translational value of basic research efforts in humans. We detail modifications to simplified animal paradigms to account for myriad cognitive factors affected in PTSD, which may contribute to abnormalities in regulating fear. We further describe new avenues for integrating different areas of psychological research underserved by animal models of PTSD. This includes incorporating emerging trends in the cognitive neuroscience of episodic memory, emotion regulation, social-emotional processes, and PTSD subtyping to provide a more comprehensive recapitulation of the human experience to trauma in laboratory research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph E Dunsmoor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Josh M Cisler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Fonzo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Suzannah K Creech
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA.
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Lee RX, Stephens GJ, Kuhn B. Social Relationship as a Factor for the Development of Stress Incubation in Adult Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:854486. [PMID: 35685272 PMCID: PMC9172995 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.854486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While stress reactions can emerge long after the triggering event, it remains elusive how they emerge after a protracted, seemingly stress-free period during which stress incubates. Here, we study the behavioral development in mice isolated after observing an aggressive encounter inflicted upon their pair-housed partners. We developed a spatially resolved fine-scale behavioral analysis and applied it to standard behavioral tests. It reveals that the seemingly sudden behavioral changes developed gradually. These behavioral changes were not observed if the aggressive encounter happened to a stranger mouse, suggesting that social bonding is a prerequisite for stress incubation in this paradigm. This finding was corroborated by hemisphere-specific morphological changes in cortex regions centering at the anterior cingulate cortex, a cognitive and emotional center. Our non-invasive analytical methods to capture informative behavioral details may have applications beyond laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray X. Lee
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- Biological Physics Theory Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Ray X. Lee,
| | - Greg J. Stephens
- Biological Physics Theory Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
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Bose M, Nawaz MS, Pal R, Chattarji S. Stress Elicits Contrasting Effects on Rac1-Cofilin Signaling in the Hippocampus and Amygdala. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:880382. [PMID: 35592113 PMCID: PMC9110925 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.880382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence for contrasting patterns of stress-induced morphological and physiological plasticity in glutamatergic synapses of the hippocampus and amygdala. The same chronic stress that leads to the formation of dendritic spines in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of rats, leads to a loss of spines in the hippocampus. However, the molecular underpinnings of these divergent effects of stress on dendritic spines are not well understood. Since the activity of the Rho GTPase Rac1 and the actin-depolymerizing factor cofilin are known to play a pivotal role in spine morphogenesis, we investigated if alterations in this signaling pathway reflect the differential effects of stress on spine plasticity in the hippocampus and amygdala. A day after the end of chronic immobilization stress (2 h/day for 10 days), we found a reduction in the activity of Rac1, as well as its effector p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), in the rat hippocampus. These changes, in turn, decreased cofilin phosphorylation alongside a reduction in the levels of profilin isoforms. In striking contrast, the same chronic stress increased Rac1, PAK1 activity, cofilin phosphorylation, and profilin levels in the BLA, which is consistent with enhanced actin polymerization leading to spinogenesis in the BLA. In the hippocampus, on the other hand, the same stress caused the opposite changes, the functional consequences of which would be actin depolymerization leading to the elimination of spines. Together, these findings reveal a role for brain-region specific differences in the dysregulation of Rac1-to-cofilin signaling in the effects of repeated stress on two brain areas that are implicated in the emotional and cognitive symptoms of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Nordman JC, Bartsch CJ, Li Z. Opposing effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on early life stress-induced aggression in mice. Aggress Behav 2022; 48:365-373. [PMID: 35122262 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Rates of childhood trauma are high amongst violent offenders who frequently recidivate. Few clinical options are available to treat excessive and recurring violent aggression associated with childhood trauma. Those that do exist are largely ineffective and often replete with side effects. One promising pharmacological target is the glutamate binding N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Clinically available NMDAR antagonists have proven successful in mitigating violent and aggressive behavior associated with a host of psychiatric diseases and have both immediate and long-term effects on nervous system function and behavior. This study examined the impact of three NMDAR antagonists on long-lasting aggression brought on by early-life stress: MK-801, memantine, and ketamine. We find that social isolation early in adolescence followed by acute traumatic stress in the form of noncontingent foot shock (FS) late in adolescence works in tandem to promote long-lasting excessive aggression in mice when measured 1 week later. Systemic injections of MK-801 and memantine 30 min before FS suppressed the long-lasting attack behavior induced by our early life stress induction protocol. Systemic injections of ketamine, on the other hand, significantly enhanced the long-lasting attack behavior when injected before FS. These findings indicate that MK-801, memantine, and ketamine have distinct and opposing effects on early life stress-induced aggression, suggesting these drugs may be mechanistically distinct. This study identifies memantine as a promising pharmacological treatment for aggressive behavior associated with early life stress and demonstrates the need for greater care when using glutamate receptor antagonists to treat aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob C. Nordman
- Department of Physiology Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Carbondale Illinois USA
| | - Caitlyn J. Bartsch
- Department of Physiology Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois USA
| | - Zheng Li
- Section on Synapse Development and Plasticity National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health Bethesda Maryland USA
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Han X, Song X, Song D, Xie G, Guo H, Wu N, Li J. Comparison between cannabidiol and sertraline for the modulation of post-traumatic stress disorder-like behaviors and fear memory in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1605-1620. [PMID: 35396940 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06132-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by poor adaptation to a traumatic experience and disturbances in fear memory regulation, and currently lacks effective medication. Cannabidiol is a main constituent of Cannabis sativa; it has no psychotomimetic effects and has been implicated in modulating fear learning in mammals. Using a mouse PTSD model, we investigated the effects of CBD on PTSD-like behaviors and the modulation of trauma-related fear memory, a crucial process leading to core symptoms of PTSD. METHODS We applied the modified pre-shock model to evaluated PTSD-like behaviors from days 3 to 26. The measures included the freezing time to the conditioned context, open field test, elevated plus maze test, and social interaction test. CBD and sertraline were administered at different stages of fear memory. RESULTS CBD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) administration alleviated main PTSD-like symptoms in the mouse pre-shock model by attenuating trauma-related fear memory and anxiety-like behavior, and increasing social interaction behavior. The effects of CBD were apparent irrespective of whether it was administered before, during, or after re-exposure to the aversive context. However, sertraline (15 mg/kg, p.o.) was only effective when administered before the behavioral test. CBD also reduced the consolidation, retrieval, and reconsolidation of trauma-related fear memory, whereas sertraline only reduced fear-memory retrieval. CONCLUSION CBD produced anti-PTSD-like actions in mice and disrupted trauma-related fear memory by interfering with multiple aspects of fear memory processing. These findings indicate that CBD may be a promising candidate for treating PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Xiankui Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Dake Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Guanbo Xie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Hongyan Guo
- Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Ning Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27th Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
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TrkA-cholinergic signaling modulates fear encoding and extinction learning in PTSD-like behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:111. [PMID: 35301275 PMCID: PMC8931170 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01869-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that the use of cognitive enhancers as adjuncts to exposure-based therapy in individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be beneficial. Brain cholinergic signaling through basal forebrain projections to the hippocampus is an established pathway mediating fear response and cognitive flexibility. Here we employed a genetic strategy to enhance cholinergic activity through increased signaling of the NGF receptor TrkA. This strategy leads to increased levels of the marker of cholinergic activation, acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase, in forebrain cholinergic regions and their projection areas such as the hippocampus. Mice with increased cholinergic activity do not display any neurobehavioral abnormalities except a selective attenuation of fear response and lower fear expression in extinction trials. Reduction in fear response is rescued by the GABA antagonist picrotoxin in mutant mice, and, in wild-type mice, is mimicked by the GABA agonist midazolam suggesting that GABA can modulate cholinergic functions on fear circuitries. Importantly, mutant mice also show a reduction in fear processing under stress conditions in a single prolonged stress (SPS) model of PTSD-like behavior, and augmentation of cholinergic signaling by the drug donepezil in wild-type mice promotes extinction learning in a similar SPS model of PTSD-like behavior. Donepezil is already in clinical use for the treatment of dementia suggesting a new translational application of this drug for improving exposure-based psychotherapy in PTSD patients.
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