1
|
Faris P, Pischedda D, Palesi F, D’Angelo E. New clues for the role of cerebellum in schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1386583. [PMID: 38799988 PMCID: PMC11116653 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1386583] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder associated with severe cognitive dysfunction. Although research has mainly focused on forebrain abnormalities, emerging results support the involvement of the cerebellum in SZ physiopathology, particularly in Cognitive Impairment Associated with SZ (CIAS). Besides its role in motor learning and control, the cerebellum is implicated in cognition and emotion. Recent research suggests that structural and functional changes in the cerebellum are linked to deficits in various cognitive domains including attention, working memory, and decision-making. Moreover, cerebellar dysfunction is related to altered cerebellar circuit activities and connectivity with brain regions associated with cognitive processing. This review delves into the role of the cerebellum in CIAS. We initially consider the major forebrain alterations in CIAS, addressing impairments in neurotransmitter systems, synaptic plasticity, and connectivity. We then focus on recent findings showing that several mechanisms are also altered in the cerebellum and that cerebellar communication with the forebrain is impaired. This evidence implicates the cerebellum as a key component of circuits underpinning CIAS physiopathology. Further studies addressing cerebellar involvement in SZ and CIAS are warranted and might open new perspectives toward understanding the physiopathology and effective treatment of these disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Faris
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Doris Pischedda
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fulvia Palesi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Digital Neuroscience Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sieghart W. Why Can Modulation of α6-Containing GABA A Receptors Reduce the Symptoms of Multiple Neuropsychiatric Disorders? ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS 2024; 6:047. [PMID: 38283799 PMCID: PMC7615572 DOI: 10.33696/pharmacol.6.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
α6-containing GABAA receptors (α6GABAARs) are strongly expressed in cerebellar granule cells, where they mediate a correctly timed and precise coordination of all muscle groups that execute behavior and protect the brain from information overflow. Recently, it was demonstrated that positive modulators with a high selectivity for α6GABAARs (α6-modulators) can reduce the symptoms of multiple neuropsychiatric disorders in respective animal models to an extent comparable with established clinical therapeutics. Here, these incredible findings are discussed and explained. So far, the beneficial actions of α6-modulators and their lack of side effects have only been demonstrated in animal models of the respective disorders. Preclinical studies have demonstrated their suitability for further drug development. Future human studies have to investigate their safety and possible side effects, and to clarify to which extent individual symptoms of the respective disorders can be reduced by α6-modulators in patients during acute and chronic dosing. Due to their broad therapeutic potential, α6-modulators might become a valuable new treatment option for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Werner Sieghart
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cao H, Wei X, Zhang W, Xiao Y, Zeng J, Sweeney JA, Gong Q, Lui S. Cerebellar Functional Dysconnectivity in Drug-Naïve Patients With First-Episode Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:417-427. [PMID: 36200880 PMCID: PMC10016395 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbac121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellar functional dysconnectivity has long been implicated in schizophrenia. However, the detailed dysconnectivity pattern and its underlying biological mechanisms have not been well-charted. This study aimed to conduct an in-depth characterization of cerebellar dysconnectivity maps in early schizophrenia. STUDY DESIGN Resting-state fMRI data were processed from 196 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 167 demographically matched healthy controls. The cerebellum was parcellated into nine functional systems based on a state-of-the-art atlas, and seed-based connectivity for each cerebellar system was examined. The observed connectivity alterations were further associated with schizophrenia risk gene expressions using data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. STUDY RESULTS Overall, we observed significantly increased cerebellar connectivity with the sensorimotor cortex, default-mode regions, ventral part of visual cortex, insula, and striatum. In contrast, decreased connectivity was shown chiefly within the cerebellum, and between the cerebellum and the lateral prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, and dorsal visual areas. Such dysconnectivity pattern was statistically similar across seeds, with no significant group by seed interactions identified. Moreover, connectivity strengths of hypoconnected but not hyperconnected regions were significantly correlated with schizophrenia risk gene expressions, suggesting potential genetic underpinnings for the observed hypoconnectivity. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a common bidirectional dysconnectivity pattern across different cerebellar subsystems, and imply that such bidirectional alterations may relate to different biological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hengyi Cao
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY, USA
| | - Xia Wei
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Xiao
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiaxin Zeng
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Su Lui
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lee MT, Mouri A, Kubota H, Lee HJ, Chang MH, Wu CY, Knutson DE, Mihovilovic M, Cook J, Sieghart W, Nabeshima T, Chiou LC. Targeting α6GABA A receptors as a novel therapy for schizophrenia: A proof-of-concept preclinical study using various animal models. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 150:113022. [PMID: 35483195 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors containing α6 subunits (α6GABAARs) in the cerebellum have -been implicated in schizophrenia. It was reported that the GABA synthesizing enzymes were downregulated whereas α6GABAARs were upregulated in postmortem cerebellar tissues of patients with schizophrenia and in a rat model induced by chronic phencyclidine (PCP). We have previously demonstrated that pyrazoloquinolinone Compound 6, an α6GABAAR-highly selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM), can rescue the disrupted prepulse inhibition (PPI) induced by methamphetamine (METH), an animal model mimicking the sensorimotor gating deficit based on the hyper-dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia. Here, we demonstrate that not only Compound 6, but also its structural analogues, LAU463 and LAU159, with similarly high α6GABAAR selectivity and their respective deuterated derivatives (DK-I-56-1, DK-I-58-1 and DK-I-59-1) can rescue METH-induced PPI disruption. Besides, Compound 6 and DK-I-56-I can also rescue the PPI disruption induced by acute administration of PCP, an animal model based on the hypo-glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia. Importantly, Compound 6 and DK-I-56-I, at doses not affecting spontaneous locomotor activity, can also rescue impairments of social interaction and novel object recognition in mice induced by chronic PCP treatments. At similar doses, Compound 6 did not induce sedation but significantly suppressed METH-induced hyperlocomotion. Thus, α6GABAAR-selective PAMs can rescue not only disrupted PPI but also hyperlocomotion, social withdrawal, and cognitive impairment, in both METH- and PCP-induced animal models mimicking schizophrenia, suggesting that they are a potential novel therapy for the three core symptoms, i.e. positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment, of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tatt Lee
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Akihiro Mouri
- Department of Regulatory Science, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Japanese Drug Organization of Appropriate Use and Research, Aichi 468-0069, Japan
| | - Hisayoshi Kubota
- Department of Regulatory Science, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Hsin-Jung Lee
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Man-Hsin Chang
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yi Wu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Daniel E Knutson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Marko Mihovilovic
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - James Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Werner Sieghart
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Toshitaka Nabeshima
- Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Japanese Drug Organization of Appropriate Use and Research, Aichi 468-0069, Japan
| | - Lih-Chu Chiou
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sieghart W, Chiou LC, Ernst M, Fabjan J, M Savić M, Lee MT. α6-Containing GABA A Receptors: Functional Roles and Therapeutic Potentials. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:238-270. [PMID: 35017178 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors containing the α6 subunit are highly expressed in cerebellar granule cells and less abundantly in many other neuronal and peripheral tissues. Here, we for the first time summarize their importance for the functions of the cerebellum and the nervous system. The cerebellum is not only involved in motor control but also in cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors. α6βγ2 GABAA receptors located at cerebellar Golgi cell/granule cell synapses enhance the precision of inputs required for cerebellar timing of motor activity and are thus involved in cognitive processing and adequate responses to our environment. Extrasynaptic α6βδ GABAA receptors regulate the amount of information entering the cerebellum by their tonic inhibition of granule cells, and their optimal functioning enhances input filtering or contrast. The complex roles of the cerebellum in multiple brain functions can be compromised by genetic or neurodevelopmental causes that lead to a hypofunction of cerebellar α6-containing GABAA receptors. Animal models mimicking neuropsychiatric phenotypes suggest that compounds selectively activating or positively modulating cerebellar α6-containing GABAA receptors can alleviate essential tremor and motor disturbances in Angelman and Down syndrome as well as impaired prepulse inhibition in neuropsychiatric disorders and reduce migraine and trigeminal-related pain via α6-containing GABAA receptors in trigeminal ganglia. Genetic studies in humans suggest an association of the human GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene with stress-associated disorders. Animal studies support this conclusion. Neuroimaging and post-mortem studies in humans further support an involvement of α6-containing GABAA receptors in various neuropsychiatric disorders, pointing to a broad therapeutic potential of drugs modulating α6-containing GABAA receptors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: α6-Containing GABAA receptors are abundantly expressed in cerebellar granule cells, but their pathophysiological roles are widely unknown, and they are thus out of the mainstream of GABAA receptor research. Anatomical and electrophysiological evidence indicates that these receptors have a crucial function in neuronal circuits of the cerebellum and the nervous system, and experimental, genetic, post-mortem, and pharmacological studies indicate that selective modulation of these receptors offers therapeutic prospects for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders and for stress and its consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Werner Sieghart
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| | - Lih-Chu Chiou
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| | - Margot Ernst
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| | - Jure Fabjan
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| | - Miroslav M Savić
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| | - Ming Tatt Lee
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences (W.S.), and Center for Brain Research, Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System (M.E., J.F.), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Graduate Institute of Pharmacology (L.-C.C., M.T.L.), and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (L.-C.C., M.T.L.); Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia (M.M.S.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (M.T.L.); and Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (L.-C.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Myospryn deficiency leads to impaired cardiac structure and function and schizophrenia-associated symptoms. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 385:675-696. [PMID: 34037836 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03447-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The desmin-associated protein myospryn, encoded by the cardiomyopathy-associated gene 5 (CMYA5), is a TRIM-like protein associated to the BLOC-1 (Biogenesis of Lysosomes Related Organelles Complex 1) protein dysbindin. Human myospryn mutations are linked to both cardiomyopathy and schizophrenia; however, there is no evidence of a direct causative link of myospryn to these diseases. Therefore, we sought to unveil the role of myospryn in heart and brain. We have genetically inactivated the myospryn gene by homologous recombination and demonstrated that myospryn null hearts have dilated phenotype and compromised cardiac function. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that the sarcomere organization is not obviously affected; however, intercalated disk (ID) integrity is impaired, along with mislocalization of ID and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein components. Importantly, cardiac and skeletal muscles of myospryn null mice have severe mitochondrial defects with abnormal internal vacuoles and extensive cristolysis. In addition, swollen SR and T-tubules often accompany the mitochondrial defects, strongly implying a potential link of myospryn together with desmin to SR- mitochondrial physical and functional cross-talk. Furthermore, given the reported link of human myospryn mutations to schizophrenia, we performed behavioral studies, which demonstrated that myospryn-deficient male mice display disrupted startle reactivity and prepulse inhibition, asocial behavior, decreased exploratory behavior, and anhedonia. Brain neurochemical and ultrastructural analyses revealed prefrontal-striatal monoaminergic neurotransmitter defects and ultrastructural degenerative aberrations in cerebellar cytoarchitecture, respectively, in myospryn-deficient mice. In conclusion, myospryn is essential for both cardiac and brain structure and function and its deficiency leads to cardiomyopathy and schizophrenia-associated symptoms.
Collapse
|
7
|
Alizadeh F, Davoodian N, Kazemi H, Ghasemi-Kasman M, Shaerzadeh F. Prenatal zinc supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral impairments in maternal immune activation model. Behav Brain Res 2019; 377:112247. [PMID: 31545978 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy is considered a key risk factor for developing schizophrenia in offspring. There is evidence that maternal exposure to infectious agents is associated with fetal zinc deficiency. Due to the essential role of zinc in brain function and development, in the present study, we activated maternal immune system using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a model of schizophrenia to examine whether zinc supplementation throughout pregnancy can reverse LPS-induced deleterious effects. To test the hypothesis, pregnant rats were treated with intraperitoneal injection of either saline or LPS (0.5 mg/kg) at gestational day 15 and 16, and zinc supplementation (30 mg/kg) was administered throughout pregnancy by gavage. At postnatal day 60, Y-maze was used to evaluate working memory of offspring. Moreover, the expression levels of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) were measured in the frontal cortex of the brain samples. Only male offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed a significant impairment in working memory. In addition, prenatal LPS exposure causes a moderate decrease in GAD67 expression level in the male pups, while COMT expression was found unchanged. Interestingly, zinc supplementation restored the alterations in working memory as well as GAD67 mRNA level in the male rats. No alteration was detected for neither working memory nor COMT/GAD67 genes expression in female offspring. This study demonstrates that zinc supplementation during pregnancy can attenuate LPS-induced impairments in male pups. These results support the idea to consume zinc supplementation during pregnancy to limit neurodevelopmental deficits induced by infections in offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Alizadeh
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Nahid Davoodian
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Haniyeh Kazemi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shaerzadeh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Piras F, Piras F, Banaj N, Ciullo V, Vecchio D, Edden RAE, Spalletta G. Cerebellar GABAergic correlates of cognition-mediated verbal fluency in physiology and schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2019; 139:582-594. [PMID: 30887499 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Defective cerebellar GABAergic inhibitory control may participate to the cognitive impairments seen in SZ. We tested the prediction of a model for the relationship between cerebellar GABA concentration and the associative/executive processes required by verbal fluency in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and matched healthy controls (HC). METHOD Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA was performed using a 3 Tesla scanner and verbal fluency assessed by the Controlled Word (WFT) and Semantic (SFT) Fluency tests. Cerebellar GABA measurements were obtained using the MEGA-PRESS acquisition sequence. Linear correlations between cerebellar GABA levels and the WFT, SFT score were performed to test differences between correlation coefficients of SZ and HC. Quantile regressions between GABA levels and the WFT score were performed. RESULTS Higher cerebellar GABA concentration was associated in SZ with lower phonemic fluency and reduced number of switches among subcategories as opposed to what observed in HC (with higher cerebellar GABA associated with higher number of words and phonemic switches). GABA levels explained phonemic fluency in SZ performing above the group mean. CONCLUSION Studying cerebellar GABA provides a valid heuristic to explore the molecular mechanisms of SZ. This is crucial for developing pharmacological treatments to improve cognition and functional recovery in SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Piras
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - F Piras
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - N Banaj
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - V Ciullo
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - D Vecchio
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - R A E Edden
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,F.M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - G Spalletta
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Beth K. and Stuart C. Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sobue A, Kushima I, Nagai T, Shan W, Kohno T, Aleksic B, Aoyama Y, Mori D, Arioka Y, Kawano N, Yamamoto M, Hattori M, Nabeshima T, Yamada K, Ozaki N. Genetic and animal model analyses reveal the pathogenic role of a novel deletion of RELN in schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13046. [PMID: 30158644 PMCID: PMC6115412 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reelin protein (RELN), an extracellular matrix protein, plays multiple roles that range from embryonic neuronal migration to spine formation in the adult brain. Results from genetic studies have suggested that RELN is associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ). We previously identified a novel exonic deletion of RELN in a patient with SCZ. High-resolution copy number variation analysis revealed that this deletion included exons 52 to 58, which truncated the RELN in a similar manner to the Reln Orleans mutation (Relnrl-Orl). We examined the clinical features of this patient and confirmed a decreased serum level of RELN. To elucidate the pathophysiological role of the exonic deletion of RELN in SCZ, we conducted behavioral and neurochemical analyses using heterozygous Relnrl-Orl/+ mice. These mice exhibited abnormalities in anxiety, social behavior, and motor learning; the deficits in motor learning were ameliorated by antipsychotics. Methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and dopamine release were significantly reduced in the Relnrl-Orl/+ mice. In addition, the levels of GABAergic markers were decreased in the brain of these mice. Taken together, our results suggest that the exonic deletion of RELN plays a pathological role, implicating functional changes in the dopaminergic and GABAergic systems, in the pathophysiology of SCZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Sobue
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Taku Nagai
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Wei Shan
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takao Kohno
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Branko Aleksic
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuki Aoyama
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Arioka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoko Kawano
- Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Maeri Yamamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mitsuharu Hattori
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshitaka Nabeshima
- Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory Fujita Health University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.,Aino University, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
The role of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in the prepulse inhibition paradigms for studying schizophrenia: pharmacology, neurodevelopment, and genetics. Behav Pharmacol 2018; 29:13-27. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
11
|
Oliver RJ, Brigman JL, Bolognani F, Allan AM, Neisewander JL, Perrone-Bizzozero NI. Neuronal RNA-binding protein HuD regulates addiction-related gene expression and behavior. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 17:e12454. [PMID: 29283498 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The neuronal RNA-binding protein HuD is involved in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory mechanisms. These effects are thought to be due to HuD-mediated stabilization and translation of target mRNAs associated with plasticity. To investigate the potential role of HuD in drug addiction, we first used bioinformatics prediction algorithms together with microarray analyses to search for specific genes and functional networks upregulated within the forebrain of HuD overexpressing mice (HuDOE ). When this set was further limited to genes in the knowledgebase of addiction-related genes database (KARG) that contains predicted HuD-binding sites in their 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs), we found that HuD regulates networks that have been associated with addiction-like behavior. These genes included Bdnf and Camk2a, 2 previously validated HuD targets. Since addiction is hypothesized to be a disorder stemming from altered gene expression causing aberrant plasticity, we sought to test the role of HuD in cocaine conditioned placed preference (CPP), a model of addiction-related behaviors. HuD mRNA and protein were upregulated by CPP within the nucleus accumbens of wild-type C57BL/6J mice. These changes were associated with increased expression of Bdnf and Camk2a mRNA and protein. To test this further, we trained HuDOE and wild-type mice in CPP and found that HuDOE mice showed increased cocaine CPP compared with controls. This was also associated with elevated expression of HuD target mRNAs and proteins, CaMKIIα and BDNF. These findings suggest HuD involvement in addiction-related behaviors such as cocaine conditioning and seeking, through increased plasticity-related gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R J Oliver
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - J L Brigman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - F Bolognani
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development; Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - A M Allan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - J L Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - N I Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Manto M, Perrotta G. Toxic-induced cerebellar syndrome: from the fetal period to the elderly. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2018; 155:333-352. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64189-2.00022-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
13
|
Hippocampal GABA A antagonism reverses the novel object recognition deficit in sub-chronic phencyclidine-treated rats. Behav Brain Res 2017; 342:11-18. [PMID: 29289597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormalities in prefrontal cortical and hippocampal GABAergic function are postulated to be major causes of the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS). There are conflicting views on whether diminished or enhanced GABAergic activity contributes to the deficit in short-term novel object recognition (NOR) in the sub-chronic phencyclidine (scPCP) rodent model of CIAS. This study assessed the role of GABAA signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and ventral hippocampus (vHPC) in NOR in saline (scSAL)- and scPCP-treated rats. METHODS The effects of local administration of a GABAA agonist (muscimol) into the vHPC or mPFC and an antagonist (bicuculline) or a GABAA/benzodiazepine partial agonist (bretazenil) into the vHPC on NOR in scSAL and scPCP-treated rats were determined. RESULTS In scSAL-treated rats, injection of muscimol into the vHPC, but not mPFC, induced a deficit in NOR. The scPCP-induced NOR deficit was significantly reversed by intra-vHPC bicuculline, while intra-vHPC bretazenil produced a non-significant trend for reversal (p = .06). scPCP treatment increased mRNA expression of GABAA γ2 in PFC and GABAA α5 and GABAA β1 in the HPC. However, GABA concentration in the PFC or HPC was not altered. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the scPCP-induced NOR deficit can be rescued by reducing GABAA receptor stimulation in vHPC, indicating that increased vHPC GABAA inhibition may contribute to the scPCP-induced NOR deficit in rats. These results also indicate that excessive GABAA receptor signalling in the vHPC has a deleterious effect on NOR in normal rats.
Collapse
|
14
|
Sex differences in animal models of schizophrenia shed light on the underlying pathophysiology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 67:41-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
15
|
Engel M, Snikeris P, Matosin N, Newell KA, Huang XF, Frank E. mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 rescues NMDA and GABAA receptor level deficits induced in a two-hit mouse model of schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:1349-59. [PMID: 26861891 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission underlies the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. Agonists of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR2/3, have been proposed as novel therapeutic agents to correct this imbalance. However, the influence of mGluR2/3 activity on excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors has not been explored. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the ability of a novel mGluR2/3 agonist, LY379268, to modulate the availability of the excitatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) and the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyrate-A receptor (GABAA-R), in a two-hit mouse model of schizophrenia. METHODS Wild type (WT) and heterozygous neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain mutant mice (NRG1 HET) were treated daily with phencyclidine (10 mg/kg ip) or saline for 14 days. After a 14-day washout, an acute dose of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 (3 mg/kg), olanzapine (antipsychotic drug comparison, 1.5 mg/kg), or saline was administered. NMDA-R and GABAA-R binding densities were examined by receptor autoradiography in several schizophrenia-relevant brain regions. RESULTS In both WT and NRG1 HET mice, phencyclidine treatment significantly reduced NMDA-R and GABAA-R binding density in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Acute treatment with LY379268 restored NMDA-R and GABAA-R levels in the two-hit mouse model comparable to olanzapine. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 restores excitatory and inhibitory deficits with similar efficiency as olanzapine in our two-hit schizophrenia mouse model. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of LY379268 and supports the use of agents aimed at mGluR2/3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Engel
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. .,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. .,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
| | - Peta Snikeris
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Natalie Matosin
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Kelly Anne Newell
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Elisabeth Frank
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Landek-Salgado MA, Faust TE, Sawa A. Molecular substrates of schizophrenia: homeostatic signaling to connectivity. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:10-28. [PMID: 26390828 PMCID: PMC4684728 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a devastating psychiatric condition affecting numerous brain systems. Recent studies have identified genetic factors that confer an increased risk of SZ and participate in the disease etiopathogenesis. In parallel to such bottom-up approaches, other studies have extensively reported biological changes in patients by brain imaging, neurochemical and pharmacological approaches. This review highlights the molecular substrates identified through studies with SZ patients, namely those using top-down approaches, while also referring to the fruitful outcomes of recent genetic studies. We have subclassified the molecular substrates by system, focusing on elements of neurotransmission, targets in white matter-associated connectivity, immune/inflammatory and oxidative stress-related substrates, and molecules in endocrine and metabolic cascades. We further touch on cross-talk among these systems and comment on the utility of animal models in charting the developmental progression and interaction of these substrates. Based on this comprehensive information, we propose a framework for SZ research based on the hypothesis of an imbalance in homeostatic signaling from immune/inflammatory, oxidative stress, endocrine and metabolic cascades that, at least in part, underlies deficits in neural connectivity relevant to SZ. Thus, this review aims to provide information that is translationally useful and complementary to pathogenic hypotheses that have emerged from genetic studies. Based on such advances in SZ research, it is highly expected that we will discover biomarkers that may help in the early intervention, diagnosis or treatment of SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Landek-Salgado
- Department of Psychiatry, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - T E Faust
- Department of Psychiatry, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Sawa
- Department of Psychiatry, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sapkota K, Mao Z, Synowicki P, Lieber D, Liu M, Ikezu T, Gautam V, Monaghan DT. GluN2D N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Subunit Contribution to the Stimulation of Brain Activity and Gamma Oscillations by Ketamine: Implications for Schizophrenia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2015; 356:702-11. [PMID: 26675679 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.115.230391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The dissociative anesthetic ketamine elicits symptoms of schizophrenia at subanesthetic doses by blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). This property led to a variety of studies resulting in the now well-supported theory that hypofunction of NMDARs is responsible for many of the symptoms of schizophrenia. However, the roles played by specific NMDAR subunits in different symptom components are unknown. To evaluate the potential contribution of GluN2D NMDAR subunits to antagonist-induced cortical activation and schizophrenia symptoms, we determined the ability of ketamine to alter regional brain activity and gamma frequency band neuronal oscillations in wild-type (WT) and GluN2D-knockout (GluN2D-KO) mice. In WT mice, ketamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased [(14)C]-2-deoxyglucose ([(14)C]-2DG) uptake in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), entorhinal cortex and other brain regions, and decreased activity in the somatosensory cortex and inferior colliculus. In GluN2D-KO mice, however, ketamine did not significantly increase [(14)C]-2DG uptake in any brain region examined, yet still decreased [(14)C]-2DG uptake in the somatosensory cortex and inferior colliculus. Ketamine also increased locomotor activity in WT mice but not in GluN2D-KO mice. In electrocorticographic analysis, ketamine induced a 111% ± 16% increase in cortical gamma-band oscillatory power in WT mice, but only a 15% ± 12% increase in GluN2D-KO mice. Consistent with GluN2D involvement in schizophrenia-related neurologic changes, GluN2D-KO mice displayed impaired spatial memory acquisition and reduced parvalbumin (PV)-immunopositive staining compared with control mice. These results suggest a critical role of GluN2D-containing NMDARs in neuronal oscillations and ketamine's psychotomimetic, dissociative effects and hence suggests a critical role for GluN2D subunits in cognition and perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Sapkota
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Zhihao Mao
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Paul Synowicki
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Dillon Lieber
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Vivek Gautam
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| | - Daniel T Monaghan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (K.S., Z.M., P.S., D.L., M.L., D.T.M.); Departments of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.I.); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (V.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
De Luca A, Parmigiani E, Tosatto G, Martire S, Hoshino M, Buffo A, Leto K, Rossi F. Exogenous Sonic hedgehog modulates the pool of GABAergic interneurons during cerebellar development. THE CEREBELLUM 2015; 14:72-85. [PMID: 25245619 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-014-0596-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
All cerebellar GABAergic interneurons were derived from a common pool of precursor cells residing in the embryonic ventricular zone (VZ) and migrating in the prospective white matter (PWM) after birth, where both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to regulate their amplification. Among the environmental factors, we focused on Sonic hedgehog (Shh), a morphogen well known to regulate neural progenitor cell proliferation. We asked if and how exogenous Shh treatment affects the lineage of cerebellar GABAergic interneurons. To address these issues, exogenous Shh was administered to embryonic and postnatal organotypic slices. We found that Shh is able to expand the pool of interneuron progenitors residing in the embryonic epithelium and in the postnatal PWM. In particular, Shh signalling pathway was highly mitogenic at early developmental stages of interneuron production, whereas its effect decreased after the first postnatal week. Gene expression analysis of sorted cells and in situ hybridization further showed that immature interneurons express both the Shh receptor patched and the Shh target gene Gli1. Thus, within the interneuron lineage, Shh might exert regulatory functions also in postmitotic cells. On the whole, our data enlighten the role of Shh during cerebellar maturation and further broaden our knowledge on the amplification mechanisms of the interneuron progenitor pool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A De Luca
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, via Cherasco 15, 10026, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Janhunen SK, Svärd H, Talpos J, Kumar G, Steckler T, Plath N, Lerdrup L, Ruby T, Haman M, Wyler R, Ballard TM. The subchronic phencyclidine rat model: relevance for the assessment of novel therapeutics for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:4059-83. [PMID: 26070547 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-3954-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Current treatments for schizophrenia have modest, if any, efficacy on cognitive dysfunction, creating a need for novel therapies. Their development requires predictive animal models. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) hypothesis of schizophrenia indicates the use of NMDA antagonists, like subchronic phencyclidine (scPCP) to model cognitive dysfunction in adult animals. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the scPCP model by (1) reviewing published findings of scPCP-induced neurochemical changes and effects on cognitive tasks in adult rats and (2) comparing findings from a multi-site study to determine scPCP effects on standard and touchscreen cognitive tasks. METHODS Across four research sites, the effects of scPCP (typically 5 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days, followed by at least 7-day washout) in adult male Lister Hooded rats were studied on novel object recognition (NOR) with 1-h delay, acquisition and reversal learning in Morris water maze and touchscreen-based visual discrimination. RESULTS Literature findings showed that scPCP impaired attentional set-shifting (ASST) and NOR in several labs and induced a variety of neurochemical changes across different labs. In the multi-site study, scPCP impaired NOR, but not acquisition or reversal learning in touchscreen or water maze. Yet, this treatment regimen induced locomotor hypersensitivity to acute PCP until 13-week post-cessation. CONCLUSIONS The multi-site study confirmed that scPCP impaired NOR and ASST only and demonstrated the reproducibility and usefulness of the touchscreen approach. Our recommendation, prior to testing novel therapeutics in the scPCP model, is to be aware that further work is required to understand the neurochemical changes and specificity of the cognitive deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K Janhunen
- CNS Research, Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation, Tengstrominkatu 8, P.O. Box 425, 20101, Turku, Finland.
| | - Heta Svärd
- CNS Research, Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation, Tengstrominkatu 8, P.O. Box 425, 20101, Turku, Finland
| | - John Talpos
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Gaurav Kumar
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Thomas Steckler
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Niels Plath
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Linda Lerdrup
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Trine Ruby
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Marie Haman
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roger Wyler
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Theresa M Ballard
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
O'Connor WT, O'Shea SD. Clozapine and GABA transmission in schizophrenia disease models. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 150:47-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
21
|
Barnes SA, Sawiak SJ, Caprioli D, Jupp B, Buonincontri G, Mar AC, Harte MK, Fletcher PC, Robbins TW, Neill JC, Dalley JW. Impaired limbic cortico-striatal structure and sustained visual attention in a rodent model of schizophrenia. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 18:pyu010. [PMID: 25552430 PMCID: PMC4368881 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Accordingly, NMDAR antagonists such as phencyclidine (PCP) are used widely in experimental animals to model cognitive impairment associated with this disorder. However, it is unclear whether PCP disrupts the structural integrity of brain areas relevant to the profile of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. METHODS Here we used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry to investigate structural alterations associated with sub-chronic PCP treatment in rats. RESULTS Sub-chronic exposure of rats to PCP (5mg/kg twice daily for 7 days) impaired sustained visual attention on a 5-choice serial reaction time task, notably when the attentional load was increased. In contrast, sub-chronic PCP had no significant effect on the attentional filtering of a pre-pulse auditory stimulus in an acoustic startle paradigm. Voxel-based morphometry revealed significantly reduced grey matter density bilaterally in the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, ventral striatum, and amygdala. PCP-treated rats also exhibited reduced cortical thickness in the insular cortex. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that sub-chronic NMDA receptor antagonism is sufficient to produce highly-localized morphological abnormalities in brain areas implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Furthermore, PCP exposure resulted in dissociable impairments in attentional function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Barnes
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Stephen J Sawiak
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Daniele Caprioli
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Bianca Jupp
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Guido Buonincontri
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Adam C Mar
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Michael K Harte
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Paul C Fletcher
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Jo C Neill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill)
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Dr Barnes); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge UK (Drs Sawiak, Caprioli, Jupp, Mar, Fletcher, Robbins, and Dalley); Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Sawiak and Buonincontri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (Drs Fletcher and Dalley); Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, UK (Drs Harte and Neill).
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Deidda G, Bozarth IF, Cancedda L. Modulation of GABAergic transmission in development and neurodevelopmental disorders: investigating physiology and pathology to gain therapeutic perspectives. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:119. [PMID: 24904277 PMCID: PMC4033255 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
During mammalian ontogenesis, the neurotransmitter GABA is a fundamental regulator of neuronal networks. In neuronal development, GABAergic signaling regulates neural proliferation, migration, differentiation, and neuronal-network wiring. In the adult, GABA orchestrates the activity of different neuronal cell-types largely interconnected, by powerfully modulating synaptic activity. GABA exerts these functions by binding to chloride-permeable ionotropic GABAA receptors and metabotropic GABAB receptors. According to its functional importance during development, GABA is implicated in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Fragile X, Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome and neurofibromatosis. The strength and polarity of GABAergic transmission is continuously modulated during physiological, but also pathological conditions. For GABAergic transmission through GABAA receptors, strength regulation is achieved by different mechanisms such as modulation of GABAA receptors themselves, variation of intracellular chloride concentration, and alteration in GABA metabolism. In the never-ending effort to find possible treatments for GABA-related neurological diseases, of great importance would be modulating GABAergic transmission in a safe and possibly physiological way, without the dangers of either silencing network activity or causing epileptic seizures. In this review, we will discuss the different ways to modulate GABAergic transmission normally at work both during physiological and pathological conditions. Our aim is to highlight new research perspectives for therapeutic treatments that reinstate natural and physiological brain functions in neuro-pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Deidda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy
| | - Ignacio F Bozarth
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Chronic phencyclidine treatment induces long-lasting glutamatergic activation of VTA dopamine neurons. Neurosci Lett 2014; 564:72-7. [PMID: 24525246 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Use of phencyclidine (PCP) can mimic some aspects of schizophrenia. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Administration of PCP is known to activate mesolimbic dopamine pathway. In this study, we focused on ventral tegmental area (VTA) of mesolimbic dopamine pathway as target of PCP for inducing schizophrenia-like symptoms. Single VTA neuron was isolated and its neural activity was monitored by measuring cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) followed by immunocytochemical identification of dopamine neurons. Administration of glutamate increased [Ca(2+)]i in dopamine neurons from control rats, and the [Ca(2+)]i increase was inhibited in the presence of PCP. In contrast, in VTA dopamine neurons from rats chronically treated with PCP for 7 days, administration of glutamate was able to induce [Ca(2+)]i increase in the presence of PCP. Furthermore, this glutamate-induced [Ca(2+)]i increase in the presence of PCP continued even after washout of glutamate and this effect lasted as long as PCP was present. This long-lasting glutamate-induced [Ca(2+)]i increase in the presence of PCP was not observed or significantly attenuated under Ca(2+) free condition and by N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker ω-conotoxin. The results indicate that chronic treatment with PCP reverses the acute PCP effect on VTA dopamine neurons from inhibitory to stimulatory tone, and consequently induces long-lasting activation of dopamine neurons by glutamate.
Collapse
|
24
|
Leading compounds for the validation of animal models of psychopathology. Cell Tissue Res 2013; 354:309-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-013-1692-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
25
|
Kjaerby C, Broberg BV, Kristiansen U, Dalby NO. Impaired GABAergic inhibition in the prefrontal cortex of early postnatal phencyclidine (PCP)-treated rats. Cereb Cortex 2013; 24:2522-32. [PMID: 23613110 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A compromised γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system is hypothesized to be part of the underlying pathophysiology of schizophrenia. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction during neurodevelopment is proposed to disrupt maturation of interneurons causing an impaired GABAergic transmission in adulthood. The present study examines prefrontal GABAergic transmission in adult rats administered with the NMDA receptor channel blocker, phencyclidine (PCP), for 3 days during the second postnatal week. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from pyramidal cells in PCP-treated rats showed a 22% reduction in the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in layer II/III, but not in layer V pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, early postnatal PCP treatment caused insensitivity toward effects of the GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) inhibitor, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-[2-[[(diphenyl-methylene)amino]oxy]ethyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, and also diminished currents passed by δ-subunit-containing GABAA receptors in layer II/III pyramidal neurons. The observed impairments in GABAergic function are compatible with the alteration of GABAergic markers as well as cognitive dysfunction observed in early postnatal PCP-treated rats and support the hypothesis that PCP administration during neurodevelopment affects the functionality of interneurons in later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celia Kjaerby
- Synaptic Transmission I, H. Lundbeck A/S, 2500 Valby, Denmark Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brian V Broberg
- Synaptic Transmission I, H. Lundbeck A/S, 2500 Valby, Denmark Center for Psychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Psychiatric Center Glostrup, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Uffe Kristiansen
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nils Ole Dalby
- Synaptic Transmission I, H. Lundbeck A/S, 2500 Valby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Curley AA, Eggan SM, Lazarus MS, Huang ZJ, Volk DW, Lewis DA. Role of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 in regulating cortical parvalbumin and GABA membrane transporter 1 expression: implications for schizophrenia. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 50:179-86. [PMID: 23103418 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Revised: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Markers of GABA neurotransmission are altered in multiple regions of the neocortex in individuals with schizophrenia. Lower levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) mRNA and protein, which is responsible for most cortical GABA synthesis, are accompanied by lower levels of GABA membrane transporter 1 (GAT1) mRNA. These alterations are thought to be most prominent in the parvalbumin (PV)-containing subclass of interneurons, which also contain lower levels of PV mRNA. Since GAT1 and PV each reduce the availability of GABA at postsynaptic receptors, lower levels of GAT1 and PV mRNAs have been hypothesized to represent compensatory responses to an upstream reduction in cortical GABA synthesis in schizophrenia. However, such cause-and-effect hypotheses cannot be directly tested in a human illness. Consequently, we used two mouse models with reduced GAD67 expression specifically in PV neurons (PV(GAD67+/-)) or in all interneurons (GABA(GAD67+/-)) and quantified GAD67, GAT1 and PV mRNA levels using methods identical to those employed in studies of schizophrenia. Cortical levels of PV or GAT1 mRNAs were not altered in PV(GAD67+/-) mice during postnatal development or in adulthood. Furthermore, cellular analyses confirmed the predicted reduction in GAD67 mRNA, but failed to show a deficit in PV mRNA in these animals. Levels of PV and GAT1 mRNAs were also unaltered in GABA(GAD67+/-) mice. Thus, mouse lines with cortical reductions in GAD67 mRNA that match or exceed those present in schizophrenia, and that differ in the developmental timing and cell type-specificity of the GAD67 deficit, failed to provide proof-of-concept evidence that lower PV and GAT1 expression in schizophrenia are a consequence of lower GAD67 expression. Together, these findings suggest that the correlated decrements in cortical GAD67, PV and GAT1 mRNAs in schizophrenia may be a common consequence of some other upstream factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Curley
- Department of Psychiatry, W1653 Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop St. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Increased expression of axogenesis-related genes and mossy fibre length in dentate granule cells from adult HuD overexpressor mice. ASN Neuro 2012; 3:259-70. [PMID: 22004431 PMCID: PMC3234101 DOI: 10.1042/an20110015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal RNA-binding protein HuD plays a critical role in the post-transcriptional regulation of short-lived mRNAs during the initial establishment and remodelling of neural connections. We have generated transgenic mice overexpressing this protein (HuD-Tg) in adult DGCs (dentate granule cells) and shown that their mossy fibres contain high levels of GAP-43 (growth-associated protein 43) and exhibit distinct morphological and electrophysiological properties. To investigate the basis for these changes and identify other molecular targets of HuD, DGCs from HuD-Tg and control mice were collected by LCM (laser capture microscopy) and RNAs analysed using DNA microarrays. Results show that 216 known mRNAs transcripts and 63 ESTs (expressed sequence tags) are significantly up-regulated in DGCs from these transgenic mice. Analyses of the 3'-UTRs (3'-untranslated regions) of these transcripts revealed an increased number of HuD-binding sites and the presence of several known instability-conferring sequences. Among these, the mRNA for TTR (transthyretin) shows the highest level of up-regulation, as confirmed by qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription-PCR) and ISH (in situ hybridization). GO (gene ontology) analyses of up-regulated transcripts revealed a large over-representation of genes associated with neural development and axogenesis. In correlation with these gene expression changes, we found an increased length of the infrapyramidal mossy fibre bundle in HuD-Tg mice. These results support the notion that HuD stabilizes a number of developmentally regulated mRNAs in DGCs, resulting in increased axonal elongation.
Collapse
|
28
|
Hickey AJ, Reynolds JN, Beninger RJ. Post-weaning social isolation and subchronic NMDA glutamate receptor blockade: effects on locomotor activity and GABA signaling in the rat suggest independent mechanisms. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2012; 101:231-8. [PMID: 22293110 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2012.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2011] [Revised: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of schizophrenia symptoms include administration of noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonists, such as MK-801, and post-weaning social isolation (SI). We tested the hypothesis that a "double-hit" model, in which MK-801 administration during adulthood [post-natal day (P) 56-62] and SI are combined, produces greater behavioral and neurochemical effects than either insult alone. Rats obtained at weaning (P21) were either SI (n=21) or group housed (n=16) for the duration of the experiment. Subgroups received subchronic treatment with MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg i.p., 2 times daily for 7 days) or saline injections from P56-62. At P70, all groups were tested for locomotor activity and subsequently sacrificed to assess GAT-1 activity and GABA(A) receptor expression in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. SI resulted in increased locomotor activity, GAT-1 activity in frontal cortex and hippocampus and GABA(A) receptor expression in the frontal cortex; MK-801 increased GABA(A) receptor expression in the hippocampus. Activity changes were correlated with changes in hippocampal GAT-1 and frontocortical GABA(A) receptor number. There was no evidence that the double-hit produced a greater effect. Increased GAT-1 activity may be associated with suppression of GABA-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission and increased GABA(A) receptor expression may be a compensatory response to decreased availability of GABA. Results suggest that SI and subchronic MK-801 may act through independent mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Hickey
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jones CA, Watson DJG, Fone KCF. Animal models of schizophrenia. Br J Pharmacol 2011; 164:1162-94. [PMID: 21449915 PMCID: PMC3229756 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01386.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 529] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Revised: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing reliable, predictive animal models for complex psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is essential to increase our understanding of the neurobiological basis of the disorder and for the development of novel drugs with improved therapeutic efficacy. All available animal models of schizophrenia fit into four different induction categories: developmental, drug-induced, lesion or genetic manipulation, and the best characterized examples of each type are reviewed herein. Most rodent models have behavioural phenotype changes that resemble 'positive-like' symptoms of schizophrenia, probably reflecting altered mesolimbic dopamine function, but fewer models also show altered social interaction, and learning and memory impairment, analogous to negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia respectively. The negative and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia are resistant to treatment with current antipsychotics, even after remission of the psychosis, which limits their therapeutic efficacy. The MATRICS initiative developed a consensus on the core cognitive deficits of schizophrenic patients, and recommended a standardized test battery to evaluate them. More recently, work has begun to identify specific rodent behavioural tasks with translational relevance to specific cognitive domains affected in schizophrenia, and where available this review focuses on reporting the effect of current and potential antipsychotics on these tasks. The review also highlights the need to develop more comprehensive animal models that more adequately replicate deficits in negative and cognitive symptoms. Increasing information on the neurochemical and structural CNS changes accompanying each model will also help assess treatments that prevent the development of schizophrenia rather than treating the symptoms, another pivotal change required to enable new more effective therapeutic strategies to be developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C A Jones
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Opposite effects of acute ethanol exposure on GAP-43 and BDNF expression in the hippocampus versus the cerebellum of juvenile rats. Alcohol 2011; 45:461-71. [PMID: 21367572 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2010.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Revised: 12/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, with intoxications at this developmental age often producing long-lasting effects. The present study addresses the effects of a single acute ethanol exposure on growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression in neurons in the cerebellum and hippocampus of adolescent rats. Male postnatal day 23 (P23) Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ethanol vapors for 2h and after a recovery period of 2h, the cerebellum and hippocampus were harvested and samples were taken for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) determinations. We found that this exposure resulted in a mean BAC of 174 mg/dL, which resembles levels in human adolescents after binge drinking. Analyses of total RNA and protein by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting, respectively, revealed that this single ethanol exposure significantly decreased the levels of GAP-43 mRNA and protein in the cerebellum but increased the levels of mRNA and protein in the hippocampus. BDNF mRNA and protein levels were also increased in the hippocampus but not in the cerebellum of these animals. In situ hybridizations revealed that GAP-43 and BDNF mRNA levels were primarily increased by alcohol exposure in hippocampal dentate granule cells and CA3 neurons. Overall, the reported alterations in the expression of the plasticity-associated genes GAP-43 and BDNF in juvenile rats are consistent with the known deleterious effects of binge drinking on motor coordination and cognitive function.
Collapse
|
31
|
Abnormalities of neuronal oscillations and temporal integration to low- and high-frequency auditory stimulation in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 69:989-96. [PMID: 21216392 PMCID: PMC3174270 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Revised: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography studies indicate among schizophrenia patients (SZ) abnormal, often reduced, entrained steady-state (aSSR) and transient (N100/M100) neural responses to auditory stimuli. We complement this literature by focusing analyses on auditory cortices, assessing a wide range of stimulation frequencies with long driving periods and evaluating relationships between aSSR and M100 reductions in SZ. METHODS Seventeen SZ and 17 healthy subjects (H) participated. Stimuli were 1500 msec binaural broadband noise sequences modulated at 5, 20, 40, 80, or 160 Hz. Magnetoencephalography data were collected and co-registered with structural magnetic resonance images. The aSSRs and M100s projected into brain space were analyzed as a function of hemisphere, stimulus density, and time. RESULTS For aSSR, SZ displayed weaker entrainment bilaterally at low (5-Hz) and high (80-Hz) modulation frequencies. To 40-Hz stimuli, SZ showed weaker entrainment only in right auditory cortex. For M100, while responses for H increased linearly with stimulus density, this effect was weaker or absent in SZ. A principal components analysis of SZ deficits identified low (5-Hz entrainment and M100) and high (40- to 80-Hz entrainment) frequency components. Discriminant analysis indicated that the low-frequency component uniquely differentiated SZ from H. The high-frequency component correlated with negative symptoms among SZ. CONCLUSIONS The SZ auditory cortices were unable to 1) generate healthy levels of theta and high gamma band (80-Hz) entrainment (aSSR), and 2) augment transient responses (M100s) to rapidly presented auditory information (an index of temporal integration). Only the latter was most apparent in left hemisphere and may reflect a prominent neurophysiological deficit in schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
32
|
Vinkers CH, Mirza NR, Olivier B, Kahn RS. The inhibitory GABA system as a therapeutic target for cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia: investigational agents in the pipeline. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2011; 19:1217-33. [PMID: 20812877 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2010.513382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia include neuropsychological deficits in attention, working memory, learning and executive function. Because these cognitive deficits precede the onset of psychosis, are present in non-affected relatives and constitute the best predictor of functional outcome, they are a cardinal clinical feature in schizophrenia. Currently, no effective treatment for the cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia exists. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW There is evidence that the inhibitory GABA system is affected in schizophrenia, suggesting that cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia may be effectively treated by drugs that modulate the GABA(A) receptor. However, classical benzodiazepines produce cognitive impairments and are associated with numerous side effects. The recent development of compounds with selective efficacy for different α subunits at the benzodiazepine site of the GABA(A) receptor has renewed interest for the therapeutic potential of GABAergic drugs. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN This review summarizes the involvement of the inhibitory GABA system in the cognitive abnormalities of schizophrenia and discusses putative (selective) GABAergic cognition-enhancing drugs for schizophrenia. TAKE HOME MESSAGE If cognitive abnormalities in schizophrenic individuals are the result of GABAergic dysfunction, selectively modulating the GABA system could comprise a promising therapeutic intervention for cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan H Vinkers
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yeganeh-Doost P, Gruber O, Falkai P, Schmitt A. The role of the cerebellum in schizophrenia: from cognition to molecular pathways. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2011; 66 Suppl 1:71-7. [PMID: 21779725 PMCID: PMC3118440 DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322011001300009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Accepted: 03/03/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Beside its role in motor coordination, the cerebellum is involved in cognitive function such as attention, working memory, verbal learning, and sensory discrimination. In schizophrenia, a disturbed prefronto-thalamo-cerebellar circuit has been proposed to play a role in the pathophysiology. In addition, a deficit in the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDAf) receptor has been hypothesized. The risk gene neuregulin 1 may play a major role in this process. We demonstrated a higher expression of the NMDA receptor subunit 2D in the right cerebellar regions of schizophrenia patients, which may be a secondary upregulation due to a dysfunctional receptor. In contrast, the neuregulin 1 risk variant containing at least one C-allele was associated with decreased expression of NMDA receptor subunit 2C, leading to a dysfunction of the NMDA receptor, which in turn may lead to a dysfunction of the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) system. Accordingly, from post-mortem studies, there is accumulating evidence that GABAergic signaling is decreased in the cerebellum of schizophrenia patients. As patients in these studies are treated with antipsychotics long term, we evaluated the effect of long-term haloperidol and clozapine treatment in an animal model. We showed that clozapine may be superior to haloperidol in restoring a deficit in NMDA receptor subunit 2C expression in the cerebellum. We discuss the molecular findings in the light of the role of the cerebellum in attention and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
34
|
Jacome LF, Burket JA, Herndon AL, Cannon WR, Deutsch SI. D-serine improves dimensions of the sociability deficit of the genetically-inbred Balb/c mouse strain. Brain Res Bull 2010; 84:12-6. [PMID: 21056638 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2010.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Revised: 10/26/2010] [Accepted: 10/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Balb/c mouse strain shows quantitative deficits of sociability and is behaviorally-hypersensitive to MK-801 (dizocilpine), a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. D-Serine (560mg/kg, intraperitoneally), a full agonist for the obligatory glycine co-agonist binding site on the NMDA receptor, increased the amount of time Balb/c mice spend in a compartment containing the enclosed social stimulus mouse and the amount of time Balb/c mice spend exploring (sniffing) an inverted cup containing the enclosed social stimulus mouse in a standard sociability apparatus. These effects of D-serine on the impaired sociability of the Balb/c mouse strain were not due to a "nonspecific" effect on locomotor activity; importantly, the locomotor activity of the Balb/c mouse strain decreases in the presence of an enclosed or freely-moving social stimulus mouse. The data suggest that dimensions of the impaired sociability of the Balb/c mouse strain may be improved by targeted NMDA receptor agonist interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis F Jacome
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507-1912, United States
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Seres I, Kelemen O, Benedek G, Kéri S. Neuregulin 1-induced AKT phosphorylation in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. Neurochem Int 2010; 56:906-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2010.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2009] [Revised: 03/28/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
36
|
Abstract
Most complex psychiatric disorders cannot be explained by pathology of a single brain region, but arise as a consequence of dysfunctional interactions between brain regions. Schizophrenia, in particular, has been described as a 'disconnection syndrome', but similar principles are likely to apply to depression and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). All these diseases are associated with impaired co-ordination of neural population activity, which manifests as abnormal EEG (electroencephalogram) and LFP (local field potential) oscillations both within and across subcortical and cortical brain regions. Importantly, it is increasingly possible to link oscillations and interactions at distinct frequencies to the physiology and/or pathology of distinct classes of neurons and interneurons. Such analyses increasingly implicate abnormal levels, timing or modulation of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)-ergic inhibition in brain disease. The present review discusses the evidence suggesting that dysfunction of a particular class of interneurons, marked by their expression of the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, could contribute to the broad range of neurophysiological and behavioural symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia.
Collapse
|