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Sherman ER, Li J, Cahill EN. No impairment of contextual fear memory consolidation by oxytocin receptor antagonism in male rats. Physiol Behav 2024; 279:114545. [PMID: 38580203 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a peptide released into brain regions associated with the processing of aversive memory and threat responses. Given the expression of oxytocin receptors across this vigilance surveillance system of the brain, we investigated whether pharmacological antagonism of the receptor would impact contextual aversive conditioning and memory. Adult male rats were conditioned to form an aversive contextual memory. The effects of peripheral administration of either the competitive antagonist Atosiban or noncompetitive antagonist L-368,899 were compared to saline controls. Oxytocin receptor antagonism treatment did not significantly impact the consolidation of aversive contextual memory in any of the groups. We conclude that peripheral antagonism of oxytocin signalling did not impact the formation of aversive memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Sherman
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Jialu Li
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Emma N Cahill
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK; School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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2
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Hou Y, Li Y, Yang D, Zhao Y, Feng T, Zheng W, Xian P, Liu X, Wu S, Wang Y. Involvement and regulation of the left anterior cingulate cortex in the ultrasonic communication deficits of autistic mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1387447. [PMID: 38813469 PMCID: PMC11133516 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1387447] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of diseases often characterized by poor sociability and challenges in social communication. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a core brain region for social function. Whether it contributes to the defects of social communication in ASD and whether it could be physiologically modulated to improve social communication have been poorly investigated. This study is aimed at addressing these questions. Methods Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) mutant and valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD mice were used. Male-female social interaction was adopted to elicit ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate USV-activated neurons. Optogenetic and precise target transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were utilized to modulate anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neuronal activity. Results In wild-type (WT) mice, USV elicited rapid expression of c-Fos in the excitatory neurons of the left but not the right ACC. Optogenetic inhibition of the left ACC neurons in WT mice effectively suppressed social-induced USV. In FMR1-/-- and VPA-induced ASD mice, significantly fewer c-Fos/CaMKII-positive neurons were observed in the left ACC following USV compared to the control. Optogenetic activation of the left ACC neurons in FMR1-/- or VPA-pretreated mice significantly increased social activity elicited by USV. Furthermore, precisely stimulating neuronal activity in the left ACC, but not the right ACC, by repeated TMS effectively rescued the USV emission in these ASD mice. Discussion The excitatory neurons in the left ACC are responsive to socially elicited USV. Their silence mediates the deficiency of social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-induced ASD mice. Precisely modulating the left ACC neuronal activity by repeated TMS can promote the social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-pretreated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Hou
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yuqian Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dingding Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Youyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Engineering Research, Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tingwei Feng
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wei’an Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Panpan Xian
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
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Sterling ML, Teunisse R, Englitz B. Rodent ultrasonic vocal interaction resolved with millimeter precision using hybrid beamforming. eLife 2023; 12:e86126. [PMID: 37493217 PMCID: PMC10522333 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) fulfill an important role in communication and navigation in many species. Because of their social and affective significance, rodent USVs are increasingly used as a behavioral measure in neurodevelopmental and neurolinguistic research. Reliably attributing USVs to their emitter during close interactions has emerged as a difficult, key challenge. If addressed, all subsequent analyses gain substantial confidence. We present a hybrid ultrasonic tracking system, Hybrid Vocalization Localizer (HyVL), that synergistically integrates a high-resolution acoustic camera with high-quality ultrasonic microphones. HyVL is the first to achieve millimeter precision (~3.4-4.8 mm, 91% assigned) in localizing USVs, ~3× better than other systems, approaching the physical limits (mouse snout ~10 mm). We analyze mouse courtship interactions and demonstrate that males and females vocalize in starkly different relative spatial positions, and that the fraction of female vocalizations has likely been overestimated previously due to imprecise localization. Further, we find that when two male mice interact with one female, one of the males takes a dominant role in the interaction both in terms of the vocalization rate and the location relative to the female. HyVL substantially improves the precision with which social communication between rodents can be studied. It is also affordable, open-source, easy to set up, can be integrated with existing setups, and reduces the required number of experiments and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max L Sterling
- Computational Neuroscience Lab, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Visual Neuroscience Lab, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ruben Teunisse
- Computational Neuroscience Lab, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Englitz
- Computational Neuroscience Lab, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Fu P, Luo S, Liu Z, Furuhara K, Tsuji T, Higashida H, Yokoyama S, Zhong J, Tsuji C. Oral Supplementation with Maca Improves Social Recognition Deficits in the Valproic Acid Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020316. [PMID: 36831858 PMCID: PMC9954495 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020316] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a congenital, lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder whose main symptom is impaired social communication and interaction. However, no drug can treat social deficits in patients with ASD, and treatments to alleviate social behavioral deficits are sorely needed. Here, we examined the effect of oral supplementation of maca (Lepidium meyenii) on social deficits of in utero-exposed valproic acid (VPA) mice, widely used as an ASD model. Although maca is widely consumed as a fertility enhancer and aphrodisiac, it possesses multiple beneficial activities. Additionally, it benefits learning and memory in experimental animal models. Therefore, the effect of maca supplementation on the social behavioral deficit of VPA mice was assessed using a social interaction test, a three-stage open field test, and a five-trial social memory test. The oral supplementation of maca attenuated social interaction behavior deficit and social memory impairment. The number of c-Fos-positive cells and the percentage of c-Fos-positive oxytocin neurons increased in supraoptic and paraventricular neurons of maca-treated VPA mice. These results reveal for the first time that maca is beneficial to social memory and that it restores social recognition impairments by augmenting the oxytocinergic neuronal pathways, which play an essential role in diverse social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinyue Fu
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Division of Socio-Cognitive-Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Shuxin Luo
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Physiological Department, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Zhongyu Liu
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Physiological Department, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Kazumi Furuhara
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tsuji
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
- Life Science Innovation Center, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Division of Socio-Cognitive-Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Jing Zhong
- Physiological Department, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); or (C.T.); Tel.: +81-(0)-76-265-2458 (C.T.)
| | - Chiharu Tsuji
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); or (C.T.); Tel.: +81-(0)-76-265-2458 (C.T.)
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Möhrle D, Yuen M, Zheng A, Haddad FL, Allman BL, Schmid S. Characterizing maternal isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in a gene-environment interaction rat model for autism. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023:e12841. [PMID: 36751016 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in social communication and language development belong to the earliest diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorders. Of the many risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, the contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene, CNTNAP2, is thought to be important for language development. The present study used a rat model to investigate the potential compounding effects of autism spectrum disorder risk gene mutation and environmental challenges, including breeding conditions or maternal immune activation during pregnancy, on early vocal communication in the offspring. Maternal isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations from Cntnap2 wildtype and knockout rats at selected postnatal days were analyzed for their acoustic, temporal and syntax characteristics. Cntnap2 knockout pups from heterozygous breeding showed normal numbers and largely similar temporal structures of ultrasonic vocalizations to wildtype controls, whereas both parameters were affected in homozygously bred knockouts. Homozygous breeding further exacerbated altered pitch and transitioning between call types found in Cntnap2 knockout pups from heterozygous breeding. In contrast, the effect of maternal immune activation on the offspring's vocal communication was confined to call type syntax, but left ultrasonic vocalization acoustic and temporal organization intact. Our results support the "double-hit hypothesis" of autism spectrum disorder risk gene-environment interactions and emphasize that complex features of vocal communication are a useful tool for identifying early autistic-like features in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Möhrle
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan Yuen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alice Zheng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faraj L Haddad
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Tsuji C, Furuhara K, Mizutani R, Minami K, Fu P, Zhong J, Higashida H, Yokoyama S, Tsuji T. Early-onset of social communication and locomotion activity in F2 pups of a valproic acid-induced mouse model of autism. Neurosci Lett 2022; 788:136827. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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7
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Zhao F, Zhang H, Wang P, Cui W, Xu K, Chen D, Hu M, Li Z, Geng X, Wei S. Oxytocin and serotonin in the modulation of neural function: Neurobiological underpinnings of autism-related behavior. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:919890. [PMID: 35937893 PMCID: PMC9354980 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.919890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of generalized neurodevelopmental disorders. Its main clinical features are social communication disorder and repetitive stereotyped behavioral interest. The abnormal structure and function of brain network is the basis of social dysfunction and stereotyped performance in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The number of patients diagnosed with ASD has increased year by year, but there is a lack of effective intervention and treatment. Oxytocin has been revealed to effectively improve social cognitive function and significantly improve the social information processing ability, empathy ability and social communication ability of ASD patients. The change of serotonin level also been reported affecting the development of brain and causes ASD-like behavioral abnormalities, such as anxiety, depression like behavior, stereotyped behavior. Present review will focus on the research progress of serotonin and oxytocin in the pathogenesis, brain circuit changes and treatment of autism. Revealing the regulatory effect and neural mechanism of serotonin and oxytocin on patients with ASD is not only conducive to a deeper comprehension of the pathogenesis of ASD, but also has vital clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Cui
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaiyong Xu
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Minghui Hu
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zifa Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Zifa Li,
| | - Xiwen Geng
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Xiwen Geng,
| | - Sheng Wei
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- TAIYUE Postdoctoral Innovation and Practice Base, Jinan, China
- Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Core Facility, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Sheng Wei,
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Medina C, Krawczyk MC, Millan J, Blake MG, Boccia MM. Oxytocin-Cholinergic Central Interaction: Implications for Non-Social Memory Formation. Neuroscience 2022; 497:73-85. [PMID: 35752429 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are two closely related neuropeptides implicated in learning and memory processes, anxiety, nociception, addiction, feeding behavior and social information processing. Regarding learning and memory, OT has induced long-lasting impairment in different behaviors, while the opposite was observed with AVP. We have previously evaluated the effect of peripheral administration of OT or its antagonist (AOT) on the inhibitory avoidance response of mice and on the modulation of cholinergic mechanisms. Here, we replicate and validate those results, but this time through central administration of neuropeptides, considering their poor passage through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). When we delivered OT (0.10 ng/mouse) and its antagonist (0.10 ng/mouse) through intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections, the neuropeptide impaired and AOT enhanced the behavioral performance on an inhibitory avoidance response evaluated 48 h after training in a dose-dependent manner. On top of that, we investigated a possible central interaction between OT and the cholinergic system. Administration of anticholinesterases inhibitors with access to the central nervous system (CNS), the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine (Ach) receptors and the increase of evoked ACh release using linopirdine (Lino) (3-10 µg/kg, IP), reversed the impairment of retention performance induced by OT. Besides, either muscarinic or nicotinic antagonists with unrestricted access to the CNS reduced the magnitude of the performance-facilitating effect of AOT's central infusion. We suggest that OT might induce a cholinergic hypofunction state, resulting in an impairment of IA memory formation, a process for which the cholinergic system is crucially necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Medina
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M C Krawczyk
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Millan
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M G Blake
- Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica (IFIBIO UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M M Boccia
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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