1
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Glickman B, Wahlstrom KL, Radley JJ, LaLumiere RT. Basolateral amygdala inputs to the nucleus accumbens shell modulate the consolidation of cued-response and inhibitory avoidance learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 215:107988. [PMID: 39369810 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107988] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 09/15/2024] [Accepted: 10/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) modulates different types of memory consolidation via distinct projections to downstream brain regions in multiple memory systems. Prior studies indicate that the BLA projects to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) and that these regions interact to influence some types of behavior. Moreover, previous pharmacological work suggests the BLA and NAshell interact to influence memory. However, the precise role of the BLA-NAshell pathway has never been directly investigated in the consolidation of different types of memory including cued-response, spatial, or inhibitory avoidance (IA) learning. To address this, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received optogenetic manipulations of the BLA or BLA-NAshell pathway immediately following training in different learning tasks. An initial experiment found that optogenetically inhibiting the BLA itself immediately after training impaired cued-response retention in a Barnes maze task in males and females, confirming earlier pharmacological work in males alone. Subsequent experiments found that BLA-NAshell pathway inhibition impaired retention of cued-response and IA learning but had no effect on retention of spatial learning. However, the present work did not observe any effects of pathway stimulation immediately after cued-response or IA learning. Together, the present findings suggest the BLA modulates the consolidation of cued-response and IA, but not spatial, memory consolidation via NAshell projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bess Glickman
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
| | - Krista L Wahlstrom
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Jason J Radley
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Ryan T LaLumiere
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
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2
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Diehl MM, Moscarello JM, Trask S. Behavioral outputs and overlapping circuits between conditional fear and active avoidance. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 213:107943. [PMID: 38821256 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107943] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Aversive learning can produce a wide variety of defensive behavioral responses depending on the circumstances, ranging from reactive responses like freezing to proactive avoidance responses. While most of this initial learning is behaviorally supported by an expectancy of an aversive outcome and neurally supported by activity within the basolateral amygdala, activity in other brain regions become necessary for the execution of defensive strategies that emerge in other aversive learning paradigms such as active avoidance. Here, we review the neural circuits that support both reactive and proactive defensive behaviors that are motivated by aversive learning, and identify commonalities between the neural substrates of these distinct (and often exclusive) behavioral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Diehl
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | | | - Sydney Trask
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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3
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Xu Y, Lin Y, Yu M, Zhou K. The nucleus accumbens in reward and aversion processing: insights and implications. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1420028. [PMID: 39184934 PMCID: PMC11341389 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1420028] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a central component of the brain's reward circuitry, has been implicated in a wide range of behaviors and emotional states. Emerging evidence, primarily drawing from recent rodent studies, suggests that the function of the NAc in reward and aversion processing is multifaceted. Prolonged stress or drug use induces maladaptive neuronal function in the NAc circuitry, which results in pathological conditions. This review aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date insights on the role of the NAc in motivated behavior regulation and highlights areas that demand further in-depth analysis. It synthesizes the latest findings on how distinct NAc neuronal populations and pathways contribute to the processing of opposite valences. The review examines how a range of neuromodulators, especially monoamines, influence the NAc's control over various motivational states. Furthermore, it delves into the complex underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression and evaluates prospective interventions to restore NAc functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kuikui Zhou
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
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4
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Zhang C, Dulinskas R, Ineichen C, Greter A, Sigrist H, Li Y, Alanis-Lobato G, Hengerer B, Pryce CR. Chronic stress deficits in reward behaviour co-occur with low nucleus accumbens dopamine activity during reward anticipation specifically. Commun Biol 2024; 7:966. [PMID: 39123076 PMCID: PMC11316117 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Whilst reward pathologies are major and common in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, their neurobiology and treatment are poorly understood. Imaging studies in human reward pathology indicate attenuated BOLD activity in nucleus accumbens (NAc) coincident with reward anticipation but not reinforcement; potentially, this is dopamine (DA) related. In mice, chronic social stress (CSS) leads to reduced reward learning and motivation. Here, DA-sensor fibre photometry is used to investigate whether these behavioural deficits co-occur with altered NAc DA activity during reward anticipation and/or reinforcement. In CSS mice relative to controls: (1) Reduced discriminative learning of the sequence, tone-on + appetitive behaviour = tone-on + sucrose reinforcement, co-occurs with attenuated NAc DA activity throughout tone-on and sucrose reinforcement. (2) Reduced motivation during the sequence, operant behaviour = tone-on + sucrose delivery + sucrose reinforcement, co-occurs with attenuated NAc DA activity at tone-on and typical activity at sucrose reinforcement. (3) Reduced motivation during the sequence, operant behaviour = appetitive behaviour + sociosexual reinforcement, co-occurs with typical NAc DA activity at female reinforcement. Therefore, in CSS mice, low NAc DA activity co-occurs with low reward anticipation and could account for deficits in learning and motivation, with important implications for understanding human reward pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenfeng Zhang
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Redas Dulinskas
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Ineichen
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Greter
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Sigrist
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gregorio Alanis-Lobato
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Bastian Hengerer
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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5
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Abudureheman M, Xiao YH, Zeng LZ, Geng HY. Neurotensin Modulates Emotional Valence Assignment in the Basolateral Amygdala Through Neuromodulator Gain. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01269-0. [PMID: 39060822 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01269-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maimaitishalijiang Abudureheman
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Yu-Hao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Li-Zang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Hong-Yan Geng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
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6
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Antonoudiou P, Stone BT, Colmers PLW, Evans-Strong A, Teboul E, Walton NL, Weiss GL, Maguire J. Experience-dependent information routing through the basolateral amygdala shapes behavioral outcomes. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114489. [PMID: 38990724 PMCID: PMC11330675 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is an emotional processing hub that governs a diverse repertoire of behaviors. Selective engagement of a heterogeneous cell population in the BLA is thought to contribute to this flexibility in behavioral outcomes. However, whether this process is impacted by previous experiences that influence emotional processing remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that previous positive (enriched environment [EE]) or negative (chronic unpredictable stress [CUS]) experiences differentially influence the activity of populations of BLA principal neurons projecting to either the nucleus accumbens core or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Chemogenetic manipulation of these projection-specific neurons can mimic or occlude the effects of CUS and EE on behavioral outcomes to bidirectionally control avoidance behaviors and stress-induced helplessness. These data demonstrate that previous experiences influence the responsiveness of projection-specific BLA principal neurons, biasing information routing through the BLA, to drive divergent behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantelis Antonoudiou
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradly T Stone
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Phillip L W Colmers
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aidan Evans-Strong
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric Teboul
- Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Najah L Walton
- Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grant L Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie Maguire
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Zeisler ZR, Heslin KA, Stoll FM, Hof PR, Clem RL, Rudebeck PH. Comparative basolateral amygdala connectomics reveals dissociable single-neuron projection patterns to frontal cortex in macaques and mice. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3249-3257.e3. [PMID: 38964318 PMCID: PMC11293557 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a key hub for affect in the brain,1,2,3 and dysfunction within this area contributes to a host of psychiatric disorders.4,5 BLA is extensively and reciprocally interconnected with frontal cortex,6,7,8,9 and some aspects of its function are evolutionarily conserved across rodents, anthropoid primates, and humans.10 Neuron density in BLA is substantially lower in primates compared to murine rodents,11 and frontal cortex (FC) is dramatically expanded in primates, particularly the more anterior granular and dysgranular areas.12,13,14 Yet, how these anatomical differences influence the projection patterns of single BLA neurons to frontal cortex across rodents and primates is unknown. Using a barcoded connectomic approach, we assessed the single BLA neuron connections to frontal cortex in mice and macaques. We found that BLA neurons are more likely to project to multiple distinct parts of FC in mice than in macaques. Further, while single BLA neuron projections to nucleus accumbens were similarly organized in mice and macaques, BLA-FC connections differed substantially. Notably, BLA connections to subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex (scACC) in macaques were least likely to branch to other medial frontal cortex areas compared to perigenual ACC (pgACC). This pattern of connections was reversed in the mouse homologues of these areas, infralimbic and prelimbic cortex (IL and PL), mirroring functional differences between rodents and non-human primates. Taken together, these results indicate that BLA connections to FC are not linearly scaled from mice to macaques and instead the organization of single-neuron BLA connections is distinct between these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Zeisler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kelsey A Heslin
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Frederic M Stoll
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Center for Discovery and Innovation, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 787 11(th) Avenue, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Roger L Clem
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Peter H Rudebeck
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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8
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Wang T, Tyler RE, Ilaka O, Cooper D, Farokhnia M, Leggio L. The crosstalk between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) system and substance use. iScience 2024; 27:110389. [PMID: 39055947 PMCID: PMC11269927 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Existing literature indicates that communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system is disrupted by substance use disorders (SUDs), including alcohol use disorder (AUD). Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a liver-brain axis hormone governing energy homeostasis, has been shown to modulate alcohol intake/preference and other substances. To further elucidate the relationship between FGF21, alcohol use, and other substance use, we conducted a scoping review to explore the association between FGF21 and SUDs. Increases in FGF21 reduce alcohol consumption while suppressing FGF21 increases alcohol consumption, demonstrating an inverse relationship. Alcohol elevates FGF21 levels primarily via the liver, subsequently promoting neuronal signals to curb alcohol intake. FGF21 activation engages molecular pathways that defend against alcohol-induced fat accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Considering the bidirectional association between FGF21 and alcohol, further studies on the FGF21 system as a potential pharmacotherapy for AUD and alcohol-associated liver disease are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Wang
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ryan E. Tyler
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Oyenike Ilaka
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Diane Cooper
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mehdi Farokhnia
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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9
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Ghasemahmad Z, Mrvelj A, Panditi R, Sharma B, Perumal KD, Wenstrup JJ. Emotional vocalizations alter behaviors and neurochemical release into the amygdala. eLife 2024; 12:RP88838. [PMID: 39008352 PMCID: PMC11249735 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain center of emotional expression, contributes to acoustic communication by first interpreting the meaning of social sounds in the context of the listener's internal state, then organizing the appropriate behavioral responses. We propose that modulatory neurochemicals such as acetylcholine (ACh) and dopamine (DA) provide internal-state signals to the BLA while an animal listens to social vocalizations. We tested this in a vocal playback experiment utilizing highly affective vocal sequences associated with either mating or restraint, then sampled and analyzed fluids within the BLA for a broad range of neurochemicals and observed behavioral responses of adult male and female mice. In male mice, playback of restraint vocalizations increased ACh release and usually decreased DA release, while playback of mating sequences evoked the opposite neurochemical release patterns. In non-estrus female mice, patterns of ACh and DA release with mating playback were similar to males. Estrus females, however, showed increased ACh, associated with vigilance, as well as increased DA, associated with reward-seeking. Experimental groups that showed increased ACh release also showed the largest increases in an aversive behavior. These neurochemical release patterns and several behavioral responses depended on a single prior experience with the mating and restraint behaviors. Our results support a model in which ACh and DA provide contextual information to sound analyzing BLA neurons that modulate their output to downstream brain regions controlling behavioral responses to social vocalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ghasemahmad
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State UniversityKentUnited States
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State UniversityKentUnited States
| | - Aaron Mrvelj
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
| | - Rishitha Panditi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
| | - Bhavya Sharma
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
| | - Karthic Drishna Perumal
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
| | - Jeffrey J Wenstrup
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityRootstownUnited States
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State UniversityKentUnited States
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State UniversityKentUnited States
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10
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Sniffen SE, Ryu SE, Kokoska MM, Bhattarai J, Wang Y, Thomas ER, Skates GM, Johnson NL, Chavez AA, Iaconis SR, Janke E, Ma M, Wesson DW. Bidirectional modulation of negative emotional states by parallel genetically-distinct basolateral amygdala pathways to ventral striatum subregions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599749. [PMID: 38948716 PMCID: PMC11213032 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Distinct basolateral amygdala (BLA) cell populations influence emotional responses in manners thought important for anxiety and anxiety disorders. The BLA contains numerous cell types which can broadcast information into structures that may elicit changes in emotional states and behaviors. BLA excitatory neurons can be divided into two main classes, one of which expresses Ppp1r1b (encoding protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1B) which is downstream of the genes encoding the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors (drd1 and drd2 respectively). The role of drd1+ or drd2+ BLA neurons in learned and unlearned emotional responses is unknown. Here, we identified that the drd1+ and drd2+ BLA neuron populations form two parallel pathways for communication with the ventral striatum. These neurons arise from the basal nucleus of the BLA, innervate the entire space of the ventral striatum, and are capable of exciting ventral striatum neurons. Further, through three separate behavioral assays, we found that the drd1+ and drd2+ parallel pathways bidirectionally influence both learned and unlearned emotional states when they are activated or suppressed, and do so depending upon where they synapse in the ventral striatum - with unique contributions of drd1+ and drd2+ circuitry on negative emotional states. Overall, these results contribute to a model whereby parallel, genetically-distinct BLA to ventral striatum circuits inform emotional states in a projection-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Sniffen
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Sang Eun Ryu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Milayna M. Kokoska
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Janardhan Bhattarai
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yingqi Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ellyse R. Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Graylin M. Skates
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Natalie L. Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Andy A. Chavez
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Sophia R. Iaconis
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Emma Janke
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Minghong Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel W. Wesson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Smell and Taste, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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11
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Barnstedt O, Mocellin P, Remy S. A hippocampus-accumbens code guides goal-directed appetitive behavior. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3196. [PMID: 38609363 PMCID: PMC11015045 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47361-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) is a key brain region for the expression of spatial memories, such as navigating towards a learned reward location. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a prominent projection target of dHPC and implicated in value-based action selection. Yet, the contents of the dHPC→NAc information stream and their acute role in behavior remain largely unknown. Here, we found that optogenetic stimulation of the dHPC→NAc pathway while mice navigated towards a learned reward location was both necessary and sufficient for spatial memory-related appetitive behaviors. To understand the task-relevant coding properties of individual NAc-projecting hippocampal neurons (dHPC→NAc), we used in vivo dual-color two-photon imaging. In contrast to other dHPC neurons, the dHPC→NAc subpopulation contained more place cells, with enriched spatial tuning properties. This subpopulation also showed enhanced coding of non-spatial task-relevant behaviors such as deceleration and appetitive licking. A generalized linear model revealed enhanced conjunctive coding in dHPC→NAc neurons which improved the identification of the reward zone. We propose that dHPC routes specific reward-related spatial and behavioral state information to guide NAc action selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Barnstedt
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Institute for Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Petra Mocellin
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research, School for Brain & Behavior (IMPRS), 53175, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3370, USA
| | - Stefan Remy
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZGP), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
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12
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Cheng J, Wang B, Hu H, Lin X, Liu Y, Lin J, Zhang J, Niu S, Yan J. Regulation of histone acetylation by garcinol blocks the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116414. [PMID: 38460374 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug-associated long-term memories underlie substance use disorders, including heroin use disorder (HUD), which are difficult to eliminate through existing therapies. Addictive memories may become unstable when reexposed to drug-related cues and need to be stabilized again through protein resynthesis. Studies have shown the involvement of histone acetylation in the formation and reconsolidation of long-term drug-associated memory. However, it remains unknown whether and how histone acetyltransferases (HAT), the essential regulators of histone acetylation, contribute to the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memories. Herein, we investigated the function of HAT in the reconsolidation concerning heroin-conditioned memory by using a rat self-administration model. Systemic administration of the HAT inhibitor garcinol inhibited cue and heroin-priming induced reinstatement of heroin seeking, indicating the treatment potential of garcinol for relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhe Cheng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China; Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Hongkun Hu
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Xinzhu Lin
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Jiang Lin
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830001, China
| | - Shuliang Niu
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830001, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China; Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830001, China.
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13
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Lin J, Peng Y, Zhang J, Cheng J, Chen Q, Wang B, Liu Y, Niu S, Yan J. Interfering with reconsolidation by rimonabant results in blockade of heroin-associated memory. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1361838. [PMID: 38576487 PMCID: PMC10991728 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1361838] [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: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug-associated pathological memory remains a critical factor contributing to the persistence of substance use disorder. Pharmacological amnestic manipulation to interfere with drug memory reconsolidation has shown promise for the prevention of relapse. In a rat heroin self-administration model, we examined the impact of rimonabant, a selective cannabinoid receptor indirect agonist, on the reconsolidation process of heroin-associated memory. The study showed that immediately administering rimonabant after conditioned stimuli (CS) exposure reduced the cue- and herion + cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior. The inhibitory effects lasted for a minimum of 28 days. The effect of Rimonabant on reduced drug-seeking was not shown when treated without CS exposure or 6 hours after CS exposure. These results demonstrate a disruptive role of rimonabant on the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory and the therapeutic potential in relapse control concerning substance use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Lin
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yilin Peng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Junzhe Cheng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuliang Niu
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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14
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Lee Y, Kim S, Cho YK, Kong C, Chang JW, Jun SB. Amygdala electrical stimulation for operant conditioning in rat navigation. Biomed Eng Lett 2024; 14:291-306. [PMID: 38374898 PMCID: PMC10874353 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-023-00336-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
There have been several attempts to navigate the locomotion of animals by neuromodulation. The most common method is animal training with electrical brain stimulation for directional cues and rewards; the basic principle is to activate dopamine-mediated neural reward pathways such as the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) when the animal correctly follows the external commands. In this study, the amygdala, which is the brain region responsible for fear modulation, was targeted for punishment training. The brain regions of MFB, amygdala, and barrel cortex were electrically stimulated for reward, punishment, and directional cues, respectively. Electrical stimulation was applied to the amygdala of rats when they failed to follow directional commands. First, two different amygdala regions, i.e., basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA), were stimulated and compared in terms of behavior responses, success and correction rates for training, and gene expression for learning and memory. Then, the training was performed in three groups: group R (MFB stimulation for reward), group P (BLA stimulation for punishment), and group RP (both MFB and BLA stimulation for reward and punishment). In group P, after the training, RNA sequencing was conducted to detect gene expression and demonstrate the effect of punishment learning. Group P showed higher success rates than group R, and group RP exhibited the most effective locomotion control among the three groups. Gene expression results imply that BLA stimulation can be more effective as a punishment in the learning process than CeA stimulation. We developed a new method to navigate rat locomotion behaviors by applying amygdala stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjin Lee
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
| | - Soonyoung Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
| | - Yoon Kyung Cho
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
| | - Chanho Kong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science and Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Beom Jun
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760 Republic of Korea
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15
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Poggi G, Bergamini G, Dulinskas R, Madur L, Greter A, Ineichen C, Dagostino A, Kúkeľová D, Sigrist H, Bornemann KD, Hengerer B, Pryce CR. Engagement of basal amygdala-nucleus accumbens glutamate neurons in the processing of rewarding or aversive social stimuli. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:996-1015. [PMID: 38326849 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Basal amygdala (BA) neurons projecting to nucleus accumbens (NAc) core/shell are primarily glutamatergic and are integral to the circuitry of emotional processing. Several recent mouse studies have addressed whether neurons in this population(s) respond to reward, aversion or both emotional valences. The focus has been on processing of physical emotional stimuli, and here, we extend this to salient social stimuli. In male mice, an iterative study was conducted into engagement of BA-NAc neurons in response to estrous female (social reward, SR) and/or aggressive-dominant male (social aversion, SA). In BL/6J mice, SR and SA activated c-Fos expression in a high and similar number/density of BA-NAc neurons in the anteroposterior intermediate BA (int-BA), whereas activation was predominantly by SA in posterior (post-)BA. In Fos-TRAP2 mice, compared with SR-SR or SA-SA controls, exposure to successive presentation of SR-SA or SA-SR, followed by assessment of tdTomato reporter and/or c-Fos expression, demonstrated that many int-BA-NAc neurons were activated by only one of SR and SA; these SR/SA monovalent neurons were similar in number and present in both magnocellular and parvocellular int-BA subregions. In freely moving BL/6J mice exposed to SR, bulk GCaMP6 fibre photometry provided confirmatory in vivo evidence for engagement of int-BA-NAc neurons during social and sexual interactions. Therefore, populations of BA-NAc glutamate neurons are engaged by salient rewarding and aversive social stimuli in a topographic and valence-specific manner; this novel evidence is important to the overall understanding of the roles of this pathway in the circuitry of socio-emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Poggi
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giorgio Bergamini
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Redas Dulinskas
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lorraine Madur
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Greter
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Ineichen
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amael Dagostino
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Diana Kúkeľová
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Sigrist
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Klaus D Bornemann
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Bastian Hengerer
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Mann LG, Claassen DO. Mesial temporal dopamine: From biology to behaviour. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:1141-1152. [PMID: 38057945 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16209] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
While colloquially recognized for its role in pleasure, reward, and affect, dopamine is also necessary for proficient action control. Many motor studies focus on dopaminergic transmission along the nigrostriatal pathway, using Parkinson's disease as a model of a dorsal striatal lesion. Less attention to the mesolimbic pathway and its role in motor control has led to an important question related to the limbic-motor network. Indeed, secondary targets of the mesolimbic pathway include the hippocampus and amygdala, and these are linked to the motor cortex through the substantia nigra and thalamus. The modulatory impact of dopamine in the hippocampus and amygdala in humans is a focus of current investigations. This review explores dopaminergic activity in the mesial temporal lobe by summarizing dopaminergic networks and transmission in these regions and examining their role in behaviour and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah G Mann
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniel O Claassen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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17
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Wojick JA, Paranjapye A, Chiu JK, Mahmood M, Oswell C, Kimmey BA, Wooldridge LM, McCall NM, Han A, Ejoh LL, Chehimi SN, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Korb E, Corder G. A nociceptive amygdala-striatal pathway for chronic pain aversion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.579947. [PMID: 38405972 PMCID: PMC10888915 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is essential for assigning positive or negative valence to sensory stimuli. Noxious stimuli that cause pain are encoded by an ensemble of nociceptive BLA projection neurons (BLAnoci ensemble). However, the role of the BLAnoci ensemble in mediating behavior changes and the molecular signatures and downstream targets distinguishing this ensemble remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the same BLAnoci ensemble neurons are required for both acute and chronic neuropathic pain behavior. Using single nucleus RNA-sequencing, we characterized the effect of acute and chronic pain on the BLA and identified enrichment for genes with known functions in axonal and synaptic organization and pain perception. We thus examined the brain-wide targets of the BLAnoci ensemble and uncovered a previously undescribed nociceptive hotspot of the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) that mirrors the stability and specificity of the BLAnoci ensemble and is recruited in chronic pain. Notably, BLAnoci ensemble axons transmit acute and neuropathic nociceptive information to the NAcSh, highlighting this nociceptive amygdala-striatal circuit as a unique pathway for affective-motivational responses across pain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Wojick
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alekh Paranjapye
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juliann K Chiu
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malaika Mahmood
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Corinna Oswell
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Blake A Kimmey
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lisa M Wooldridge
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nora M McCall
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alan Han
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lindsay L Ejoh
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samar Nasser Chehimi
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Richard C Crist
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin C Reiner
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erica Korb
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gregory Corder
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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18
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Lee IB, Lee E, Han NE, Slavuj M, Hwang JW, Lee A, Sun T, Jeong Y, Baik JH, Park JY, Choi SY, Kwag J, Yoon BJ. Persistent enhancement of basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum synapses causes compulsive-like behaviors in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:219. [PMID: 38191518 PMCID: PMC10774417 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44322-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Compulsive behaviors are observed in a range of psychiatric disorders, however the neural substrates underlying the behaviors are not clearly defined. Here we show that the basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum (BLA-DMS) circuit activation leads to the manifestation of compulsive-like behaviors. We revealed that the BLA neurons projecting to the DMS, mainly onto dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons, largely overlap with the neuronal population that responds to aversive predator stress, a widely used anxiogenic stressor. Specific optogenetic activation of the BLA-DMS circuit induced a strong anxiety response followed by compulsive grooming. Furthermore, we developed a mouse model for compulsivity displaying a wide spectrum of compulsive-like behaviors by chronically activating the BLA-DMS circuit. In these mice, persistent molecular changes at the BLA-DMS synapses observed were causally related to the compulsive-like phenotypes. Together, our study demonstrates the involvement of the BLA-DMS circuit in the emergence of enduring compulsive-like behaviors via its persistent synaptic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Bum Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Eugene Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Eun Han
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Marko Slavuj
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Wook Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ahrim Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyoung Sun
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yehwan Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja-Hyun Baik
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yong Park
- School of Biosystems and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Young Choi
- Department of Physiology, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehyun Kwag
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-June Yoon
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Hsu PS, Liu CH, Yang CJ, Lee LC, Li WC, Chao HT, Chen LF, Hsieh JC. Neural adaptation of the reward system in primary dysmenorrhea. Mol Pain 2024; 20:17448069241286466. [PMID: 39259583 PMCID: PMC11423385 DOI: 10.1177/17448069241286466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The brain's reward system (RS) reacts differently to pain and its alleviation. This study examined the correlation between RS activity and behavior during both painful and pain-free periods in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) to elucidate their varying responses throughout the menstrual cycle. Methods: Ninety-two individuals with PDM and 90 control participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) scans during their menstrual and peri-ovulatory phases. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analyses were used to evaluate RS responses. Psychological evaluations were conducted using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Results: ReHo analysis showed higher values in the left putamen and right amygdala of the PDM group during the peri-ovulatory phase compared to the menstrual phase. ALFF analysis revealed lower values in the putamen of the PDM group compared to controls, regardless of phase. ReHo and ALFF values in the putamen, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens were positively correlated with pain scales during menstruation, while ALFF values in the ventral tegmental area inversely correlated with pain intensity. Those with severe PDM (pain intensity ≥7) displayed distinct amygdala ALFF patterns between pain and pain-free phases. PDM participants also had lower ReHo values in the left insula during menstruation, with no direct correlation to pain compared to controls. Discussion: Our study highlights the pivotal role of the RS in dysmenorrhea management, exhibiting varied responses between menstrual discomfort and non-painful periods among individuals with PDM. During menstruation, the RS triggers mechanisms for pain avoidance and cognitive coping strategies, while it transitions to processing rewards during the peri-ovulatory phase. This demonstrates the flexibility of the RS in adapting to the recurring pain experienced by those with PDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Shan Hsu
- Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiung Liu
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ju Yang
- Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Lin-Chien Lee
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chi Li
- Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Tai Chao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Fen Chen
- Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institue of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Chuen Hsieh
- Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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20
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Sicre M, Ambroggi F, Meffre J. Two Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Rat Parafascicular Nucleus Oppositely Encode the Engagement in Stimulus-driven Reward-seeking. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1551-1565. [PMID: 38847144 PMCID: PMC11097993 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666240131114225] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thalamus is a phylogenetically well-preserved structure. Known to densely contact cortical regions, its role in the transmission of sensory information to the striatal complex has been widely reconsidered in recent years. METHODS The parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus (Pf) has been implicated in the orientation of attention toward salient sensory stimuli. In a stimulus-driven reward-seeking task, we sought to characterize the electrophysiological activity of Pf neurons in rats. RESULTS We observed a predominance of excitatory over inhibitory responses for all events in the task. Neurons responded more strongly to the stimulus compared to lever-pressing and reward collecting, confirming the strong involvement of the Pf in sensory information processing. The use of long sessions allowed us to compare neuronal responses to stimuli between trials when animals were engaged in action and those when they were not. We distinguished two populations of neurons with opposite responses: MOTIV+ neurons responded more intensely to stimuli followed by a behavioral response than those that were not. Conversely, MOTIV- neurons responded more strongly when the animal did not respond to the stimulus. In addition, the latency of excitation of MOTIV- neurons was shorter than that of MOTIV+ neurons. CONCLUSION Through this encoding, the Pf could perform an early selection of environmental stimuli transmitted to the striatum according to motivational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sicre
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
| | - Frederic Ambroggi
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Marseille, France
| | - Julie Meffre
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
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21
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Ottenheimer DJ, Vitale KR, Ambroggi F, Janak PH, Saunders BT. Basolateral amygdala population coding of a cued reward seeking state depends on orbitofrontal cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.31.573789. [PMID: 38260546 PMCID: PMC10802313 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.31.573789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Basolateral amygdala (BLA) neuronal responses to conditioned stimuli are closely linked to the expression of conditioned behavior. An area of increasing interest is how the dynamics of BLA neurons relate to evolving behavior. Here, we recorded the activity of individual BLA neurons across the acquisition and extinction of conditioned reward seeking and employed population-level analyses to assess ongoing neural dynamics. We found that, with training, sustained cue-evoked activity emerged that discriminated between the CS+ and CS- and correlated with conditioned responding. This sustained population activity continued until reward receipt and rapidly extinguished along with conditioned behavior during extinction. To assess the contribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a major reciprocal partner to BLA, to this component of BLA neural activity, we inactivated OFC while recording in BLA and found blunted sustained cue-evoked activity in BLA that accompanied reduced reward seeking. Optogenetic disruption of BLA activity and OFC terminals in BLA also reduced reward seeking. Our data suggest that sustained cue-driven activity in BLA, which in part depends on OFC input, underlies conditioned reward-seeking states.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Ottenheimer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington
| | | | - Frederic Ambroggi
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseilles Universite, CNRS, INT
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Benjamin T Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota
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22
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Sakurai N, Nagasaka K, Sasaki K, Yuguchi Y, Takahashi S, Kasai S, Onishi H, Kodama N. The relaxation effect of autonomous sensory meridian response depends on personal preference. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1249176. [PMID: 38116234 PMCID: PMC10728270 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1249176] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a sensory response such as tingling and pleasantness from audiovisual stimuli. ASMR videos come in a wide variety of types, and personal preferences are biased. There are many reports of the effects os ASMR on sleep onset, anxiety relief, and other relaxation effects. However, prior task-oriented studies have used ASMR videos provided by the experimenter. We hypothesized that ASMR movies of a personal preference would show significantly increased activity in the nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, and insular cortex, which are brain areas associated with relaxation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the neuroscientific basis for the relaxation effects of ASMR videos that match someone's personal preferences. Methods This study included 30 healthy individuals aged ≥18 years. ASMR enthusiasts were included as the target population due to the need to have a clear preference for ASMR videos. A control video (1 type) and ASMR videos (20 types) were used as the stimulus tasks. Among the ASMR videos, those with high and low evaluation scores were considered liked and dislikedASMR videos, respectively. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed while the participants viewed a block design with a resting task in between. The data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 to identify the areas activated by control, disliked, and liked ASMR videos. Results Emotion-related areas (the amygdala, frontal cortex, and insular cortex) not activated by control and unliked ASMR videos were activated only by liked ASMR videos. Conclusion The amygdala, frontal cortex, and insular cortex may be involved in the limbic dopamine circuits of the amygdala and middle frontal gyrus and the autonomic balance of the left and right insular cortices. This suggests the potential of positive mood and its use as a treatment for patients with anxiety and depression. These results suggest that the use of ASMR videos to match individual preferences may induce relaxation and have beneficial effects on depression and other disorders, and also support the introduction of ASMR videos in mental health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Sakurai
- Department of Radiological Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nagasaka
- Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kei Sasaki
- Graduate School of Health and Welfare, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yukina Yuguchi
- Graduate School of Health and Welfare, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shingo Takahashi
- Department of Healthcare Informatics, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Gunma, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kasai
- Department of Radiological Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Onishi
- Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Naoki Kodama
- Department of Radiological Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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23
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Marron Fernandez de Velasco E, Tipps ME, Haider B, Souders A, Aguado C, Rose TR, Vo BN, DeBaker MC, Luján R, Wickman K. Ethanol-Induced Suppression of G Protein-Gated Inwardly Rectifying K +-Dependent Signaling in the Basal Amygdala. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:863-874. [PMID: 37068702 PMCID: PMC10576835 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The basolateral amygdala (BLA) regulates mood and associative learning and has been linked to the development and persistence of alcohol use disorder. The GABABR (gamma-aminobutyric acid B receptor) is a promising therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder, and previous work suggests that exposure to ethanol and other drugs can alter neuronal GABABR-dependent signaling. The effect of ethanol on GABABR-dependent signaling in the BLA is unknown. METHODS GABABR-dependent signaling in the mouse BLA was examined using slice electrophysiology following repeated ethanol exposure. Neuron-specific viral genetic manipulations were then used to understand the relevance of ethanol-induced neuroadaptations in the basal amygdala subregion (BA) to mood-related behavior. RESULTS The somatodendritic inhibitory effect of GABABR activation on principal neurons in the basal but not the lateral subregion of the BLA was diminished following ethanol exposure. This adaptation was attributable to the suppression of GIRK (G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+) channel activity and was mirrored by a redistribution of GABABR and GIRK channels from the surface membrane to internal sites. While GIRK1 and GIRK2 subunits are critical for GIRK channel formation in BA principal neurons, GIRK3 is necessary for the ethanol-induced neuroadaptation. Viral suppression of GIRK channel activity in BA principal neurons from ethanol-naïve mice recapitulated some mood-related behaviors observed in C57BL/6J mice during ethanol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS The ethanol-induced suppression of GIRK-dependent signaling in BA principal neurons contributes to some of the mood-related behaviors associated with ethanol withdrawal in mice. Approaches designed to prevent this neuroadaptation and/or strengthen GIRK-dependent signaling may prove useful for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan E Tipps
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Bushra Haider
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Anna Souders
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Carolina Aguado
- Departmento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, Campus Biosanitario, La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Timothy R Rose
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Baovi N Vo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Margot C DeBaker
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Rafael Luján
- Departmento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, Campus Biosanitario, La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Kevin Wickman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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24
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He Y, Huang YH, Schlüter OM, Dong Y. Cue- versus reward-encoding basolateral amygdala projections to nucleus accumbens. eLife 2023; 12:e89766. [PMID: 37963179 PMCID: PMC10645419 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In substance use disorders, drug use as unconditioned stimulus (US) reinforces drug taking. Meanwhile, drug-associated cues (conditioned stimulus [CS]) also gain incentive salience to promote drug seeking. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is implicated in both US- and CS-mediated responses. Here, we show that two genetically distinct BLA neuronal types, expressing Rspo2 versus Ppp1r1b, respectively, project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and form monosynaptic connections with both dopamine D1 and D2 receptor-expressing neurons. While intra-NAc stimulation of Rspo2 or Ppp1r1b presynaptic terminals establishes intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), only Ppp1r1b-stimulated mice exhibit cue-induced ICSS seeking. Furthermore, increasing versus decreasing the Ppp1r1b-to-NAc, but not Rspo2-to-NAc, subprojection increases versus decreases cue-induced cocaine seeking after cocaine withdrawal. Thus, while both BLA-to-NAc subprojections contribute to US-mediated responses, the Ppp1r1b subprojection selectively encodes CS-mediated reward and drug reinforcement. Such differential circuit representations may provide insights into precise understanding and manipulation of drug- versus cue-induced drug seeking and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi He
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Yanhua H Huang
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Oliver M Schlüter
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Yan Dong
- Departments of Neuroscience, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
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25
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Fraser KM, Collins VL, Wolff AR, Ottenheimer DJ, Bornhoft KN, Pat F, Chen BJ, Janak PH, Saunders BT. Contexts facilitate dynamic value encoding in the mesolimbic dopamine system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.05.565687. [PMID: 37961363 PMCID: PMC10635154 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.05.565687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive behavior in a dynamic environment often requires rapid revaluation of stimuli that deviates from well-learned associations. The divergence between stable value-encoding and appropriate behavioral output remains a critical test to theories of dopamine's function in learning, motivation, and motor control. Yet how dopamine neurons are involved in the revaluation of cues when the world changes to alter our behavior remains unclear. Here we make use of pharmacology, in vivo electrophysiology, fiber photometry, and optogenetics to resolve the contributions of the mesolimbic dopamine system to the dynamic reorganization of reward-seeking. Male and female rats were trained to discriminate when a conditioned stimulus would be followed by sucrose reward by exploiting the prior, non-overlapping presentation of a separate discrete cue - an occasion setter. Only when the occasion setter's presentation preceded the conditioned stimulus did the conditioned stimulus predict sucrose delivery. As a result, in this task we were able to dissociate the average value of the conditioned stimulus from its immediate expected value on a trial-to-trial basis. Both the activity of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons and dopamine signaling in the nucleus accumbens were essential for rats to successfully update behavioral responding in response to the occasion setter. Moreover, dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens following the conditioned stimulus only occurred when the occasion setter indicated it would predict reward. Downstream of dopamine release, we found that single neurons in the nucleus accumbens dynamically tracked the value of the conditioned stimulus. Together these results reveal a novel mechanism within the mesolimbic dopamine system for the rapid revaluation of motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt M Fraser
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
| | | | - Amy R Wolff
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
| | | | | | - Fiona Pat
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Bridget J Chen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Benjamin T Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota
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26
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Domingues AV, Rodrigues AJ, Soares-Cunha C. A novel perspective on the role of nucleus accumbens neurons in encoding associative learning. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2601-2610. [PMID: 37643893 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14727] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been considered a key brain region for encoding reward/aversion and cue-outcome associations. These processes are encoded by medium spiny neurons that express either dopamine receptor D1 (D1-MSNs) or D2 (D2-MSNs). Despite the well-established role of NAc neurons in encoding reward/aversion, the underlying processing by D1-/D2-MSNs remains largely unknown. Recent electrophysiological, optogenetic and calcium imaging studies provided insight on the complex role of D1- and D2-MSNs in these behaviours and helped to clarify their involvement in associative learning. Here, we critically discuss findings supporting an intricate and complementary role of NAc D1- and D2-MSNs in associative learning, emphasizing the need for additional studies in order to fully understand the role of these neurons in behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Verónica Domingues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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27
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Lyons S, Depue BE. Not all bad decisions are alike: approach and avoidant bad decisions are associated with distinct network organization. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1249008. [PMID: 37877010 PMCID: PMC10591088 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1249008] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Decisions under ambiguity occurs daily for everyone. Subsequently, we all deliberate upon options to initiate an action most appropriate for current goal demands. Researchers has attempted to identify factors which contribute to risk taking, alongside the neurocircuitry underpinning it. Empirically, uncertain decision making is frequently assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Research have reliably identified varying regions implicating two broader circuits known as the reward and salience networks. However, considerable work has focused on contrasting "good" versus "bad" decisions. Methods The present investigation attempted a unique approach to analyzing the modified IGT acquired during fMRI (n = 24) and focused on active and passive bad decisions to identify potential internetwork connectivity, dissociable connectivity patterns between approach and avoidant bad decisions, and their relationship with personality traits, which can be linked with behavioral approach styles. Results Network cluster analyses revealed general internetwork connectivity when passing (avoiding) good decks; however, the OFC was functionally disconnected from the rest of the selected brain regions when playing (approaching) bad decks. Decreased reward responsiveness was linked to increased functional connectivity between the lateral OFC and aSMG, while drive was associated with increased functional connectivity between dACC and aINS. Discussion We report evidence that approach and avoidant bad decisions are associated with distinct neural communication patterns. Avoidant decisions were marked by substantial network integration and coherence, contrasted with the general scarcity of internetwork communication observed for approach decisions. Furthermore, the present investigation observed preliminary evidence of personality traits linked with neural communication between salience and reward evaluative networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siraj Lyons
- Neuroimaging Laboratory of Cognitive, Affective, and Motoric Processes, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Brendan Eliot Depue
- Neuroimaging Laboratory of Cognitive, Affective, and Motoric Processes, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
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28
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Schmill MP, Thompson Z, Lee D, Haddadin L, Mitra S, Ezzat R, Shelton S, Levin P, Behnam S, Huffman KJ, Garland T. Hippocampal, Whole Midbrain, Red Nucleus, and Ventral Tegmental Area Volumes Are Increased by Selective Breeding for High Voluntary Wheel-Running Behavior. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2023; 98:245-263. [PMID: 37604130 DOI: 10.1159/000533524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Uncovering relationships between neuroanatomy, behavior, and evolution are important for understanding the factors that control brain function. Voluntary exercise is one key behavior that both affects, and may be affected by, neuroanatomical variation. Moreover, recent studies suggest an important role for physical activity in brain evolution. We used a unique and ongoing artificial selection model in which mice are bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior, yielding four replicate lines of high runner (HR) mice that run ∼3-fold more revolutions per day than four replicate nonselected control (C) lines. Previous studies reported that, with body mass as a covariate, HR mice had heavier whole brains, non-cerebellar brains, and larger midbrains than C mice. We sampled mice from generation 66 and used high-resolution microscopy to test the hypothesis that HR mice have greater volumes and/or cell densities in nine key regions from either the midbrain or limbic system. In addition, half of the mice were given 10 weeks of wheel access from weaning, and we predicted that chronic exercise would increase the volumes of the examined brain regions via phenotypic plasticity. We replicated findings that both selective breeding and wheel access increased total brain mass, with no significant interaction between the two factors. In HR compared to C mice, adjusting for body mass, both the red nucleus (RN) of the midbrain and the hippocampus (HPC) were significantly larger, and the whole midbrain tended to be larger, with no effect of wheel access nor any interactions. Linetype and wheel access had an interactive effect on the volume of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), such that wheel access increased PAG volume in C mice but decreased volume in HR mice. Neither linetype nor wheel access affected volumes of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum (VP), or basolateral amygdala. We found no main effect of either linetype or wheel access on neuronal densities (numbers of cells per unit area) for any of the regions examined. Taken together, our results suggest that the increased exercise phenotype of HR mice is related to increased RN and hippocampal volumes, but that chronic exercise alone does not produce such phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret P Schmill
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Zoe Thompson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, USA
| | - Daisy Lee
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Laurence Haddadin
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shaarang Mitra
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Raymond Ezzat
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Samantha Shelton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Phillip Levin
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Sogol Behnam
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Theodore Garland
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
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29
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Dong Z, Xiang S, Pan C, Jiang C, Bao S, Shangguan W, Zeng R, Li J, Lian Q, Wu B. The excitatory transmission from basolateral nuclues of amygdala to nucleus accumbens shell regulates propofol self-administration through AMPA receptors. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13310. [PMID: 37500486 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Propofol addictive properties have been demonstrated in humans and rats. The glutamatergic transmission from basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) modulates reward-seeking behaviour; especially, NAc shell (NAsh) is implicated in reward-seeking response. Previous studies indicated the interactions between AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) in NAc mediated drug addiction, but whether the circuit of BLA-to-NAsh and AMPARs regulate propofol addiction remains unclear. We trained adult male Sprague-Dawley rats for propofol self-administration to examine the changes of action potentials (APs) and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in the NAsh. Thereafter, optogenetic stimulation with adeno-associated viral vectors microinjections in BLA was used to explore the effect of BLA-to-NAsh on propofol self-administration behaviour (1.7 mg/kg/injection). The pretreatment effects with NBQX (0.25-1.0 μg/0.3 μl/site) or vehicle in the NAsh on propofol self-administration behaviour, the expressions of AMPARs subunits and D1R/ERK/CREB signalling pathway in the NAc were detected. The results showed that the number of APs, amplitude and frequency of sEPSCs were enhanced in propofol self-administrated rats. Propofol self-administration was inhibited in the NpHR3.0-EYFP group, but in the ChR2-EYFP group, there was a promoting effect, which could be weakened by NBQX pretreatment. NBQX pretreatment also significantly decreased the expressions of GluA2 subunit and D1R in the NAc but did not change the expressions of GluA1 and ERK/CREB signalling pathway. The evidence supports a vital role of BLA-to-NAsh circuit in regulating propofol self-administration and suggests this central reward processing may function through the interaction between AMPARs and D1R in the NAsh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanglei Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Saiqiong Xiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chi Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chenchen Jiang
- Clinical Research Unit, The Second Affiliated and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Suhao Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wangning Shangguan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ruifeng Zeng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qingquan Lian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Binbin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Monroe SC, Radke AK. Opioid withdrawal: role in addiction and neural mechanisms. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:1417-1433. [PMID: 37162529 PMCID: PMC11166123 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06370-2] [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] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Withdrawal from opioids involves a negative affective state that promotes maintenance of drug-seeking behavior and relapse. As such, understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying withdrawal from opioid drugs is critical as scientists and clinicians seek to develop new treatments and therapies. In this review, we focus on the neural systems known to mediate the affective and somatic signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, basolateral amygdala, extended amygdala, and brain and hormonal stress systems. Evidence from preclinical studies suggests that these systems are altered following opioid exposure and that these changes mediate behavioral signs of negative affect such as aversion and anxiety during withdrawal. Adaptations in these systems also parallel the behavioral and psychological features of opioid use disorder (OUD), highlighting the important role of withdrawal in the development of addictive behavior. Implications for relapse and treatment are discussed as well as promising avenues for future research, with the hope of promoting continued progress toward characterizing neural contributors to opioid withdrawal and compulsive opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Monroe
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Anna K Radke
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, USA.
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31
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Madur L, Ineichen C, Bergamini G, Greter A, Poggi G, Cuomo-Haymour N, Sigrist H, Sych Y, Paterna JC, Bornemann KD, Viollet C, Fernandez-Albert F, Alanis-Lobato G, Hengerer B, Pryce CR. Stress deficits in reward behaviour are associated with and replicated by dysregulated amygdala-nucleus accumbens pathway function in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:422. [PMID: 37061616 PMCID: PMC10105726 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced reward interest/learning and reward-to-effort valuation are distinct, common symptoms in neuropsychiatric disorders for which chronic stress is a major aetiological factor. Glutamate neurons in basal amygdala (BA) project to various regions including nucleus accumbens (NAc). The BA-NAc neural pathway is activated by reward and aversion, with many neurons being monovalent. In adult male mice, chronic social stress (CSS) leads to reduced discriminative reward learning (DRL) associated with decreased BA-NAc activity, and to reduced reward-to-effort valuation (REV) associated, in contrast, with increased BA-NAc activity. Chronic tetanus toxin BA-NAc inhibition replicates the CSS-DRL effect and causes a mild REV reduction, whilst chronic DREADDs BA-NAc activation replicates the CSS effect on REV without affecting DRL. This study provides evidence that stress disruption of reward processing involves the BA-NAc neural pathway; the bi-directional effects implicate opposite activity changes in reward (learning) neurons and aversion (effort) neurons in the BA-NAc pathway following chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Madur
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Ineichen
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giorgio Bergamini
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Greter
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Poggi
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nagiua Cuomo-Haymour
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Sigrist
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yaroslav Sych
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Klaus D Bornemann
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Coralie Viollet
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Francesc Fernandez-Albert
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Gregorio Alanis-Lobato
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Bastian Hengerer
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich (PUK) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland.
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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32
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Wang L, Hu F, Li W, Li Q, Li Y, Zhu J, Wei X, Yang J, Guo J, Qin Y, Shi H, Wang W, Wang Y. Relapse risk revealed by degree centrality and cluster analysis in heroin addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2216-2228. [PMID: 34702384 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on hubs of neural circuits associated with addiction and their degree centrality (DC), this study aimed to construct the addiction-related brain networks for patients diagnosed with heroin dependence undertaking stable methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and further prospectively identify the ones at high risk for relapse with cluster analysis. METHODS Sixty-two male MMT patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HC) underwent brain resting-state functional MRI data acquisition. The patients received 26-month follow-up for the monthly illegal-drug-use information. Ten addiction-related hubs were chosen to construct a user-defined network for the patients. Then the networks were discriminated with K-means-clustering-algorithm into different groups and followed by comparative analysis to the groups and HC. Regression analysis was used to investigate the brain regions significantly contributed to relapse. RESULTS Sixty MMT patients were classified into two groups according to their brain-network patterns calculated by the best clustering-number-K. The two groups had no difference in the demographic, psychological indicators and clinical information except relapse rate and total heroin consumption. The group with high-relapse had a wider range of DC changes in the cortical-striatal-thalamic circuit relative to HC and a reduced DC in the mesocorticolimbic circuit relative to the low-relapse group. DC activity in NAc, vACC, hippocampus and amygdala were closely related with relapse. CONCLUSION MMT patients can be identified and classified into two subgroups with significantly different relapse rates by defining distinct brain-network patterns even if we are blind to their relapse outcomes in advance. This may provide a new strategy to optimize MMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Feng Hu
- Department of Radiology, The Hospital of Shaanxi Provincial Geology and Mineral Resources Bureau, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Yongbin Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jia Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Wei
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jianxin Guo
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yue Qin
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Hong Shi
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an No.1 Hospital, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Yarong Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China
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Gregoriou GC, Patel SD, Pyne S, Winters BL, Bagley EE. Opioid Withdrawal Abruptly Disrupts Amygdala Circuit Function by Reducing Peptide Actions. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1668-1681. [PMID: 36781220 PMCID: PMC10010477 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1317-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
While the physical signs of opioid withdrawal are most readily observable, withdrawal insidiously drives relapse and contributes to compulsive drug use, by disrupting emotional learning circuits. How these circuits become disrupted during withdrawal is poorly understood. Because amygdala neurons mediate relapse, and are highly opioid sensitive, we hypothesized that opioid withdrawal would induce adaptations in these neurons, opening a window of disrupted emotional learning circuit function. Under normal physiological conditions, synaptic transmission between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the neighboring main island (Im) of GABAergic intercalated cells (ITCs) is strongly inhibited by endogenous opioids. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology in brain slices prepared from male rats, we reveal that opioid withdrawal abruptly reduces the ability of these peptides to inhibit neurotransmission, a direct consequence of a protein kinase A (PKA)-driven increase in the synaptic activity of peptidases. Reduced peptide control of neurotransmission in the amygdala shifts the excitatory/inhibitory balance of inputs onto accumbens-projecting amygdala cells involved in relapse. These findings provide novel insights into how peptidases control synaptic activity within the amygdala and presents restoration of endogenous peptide activity during withdrawal as a viable option to mitigate withdrawal-induced disruptions in emotional learning circuits and rescue the relapse behaviors exhibited during opioid withdrawal and beyond into abstinence.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We find that opioid withdrawal dials down inhibitory neuropeptide activity in the amygdala. This disrupts both GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission through amygdala circuits, including reward-related outputs to the nucleus accumbens. This likely disrupts peptide-dependent emotional learning processes in the amygdala during withdrawal and may direct behavior toward compulsive drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle C Gregoriou
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2111
| | - Sahil D Patel
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2111
| | - Sebastian Pyne
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2111
| | - Bryony L Winters
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2111
| | - Elena E Bagley
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2111
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Montanez-Miranda C, Bramlett SN, Hepler JR. RGS14 expression in CA2 hippocampus, amygdala, and basal ganglia: Implications for human brain physiology and disease. Hippocampus 2023; 33:166-181. [PMID: 36541898 PMCID: PMC9974931 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RGS14 is a multifunctional scaffolding protein that is highly expressed within postsynaptic spines of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal area CA2. Known roles of RGS14 in CA2 include regulating G protein, H-Ras/ERK, and calcium signaling pathways to serve as a natural suppressor of synaptic plasticity and postsynaptic signaling. RGS14 also shows marked postsynaptic expression in major structures of the limbic system and basal ganglia, including the amygdala and both the ventral and dorsal subdivisions of the striatum. In this review, we discuss the signaling functions of RGS14 and its role in postsynaptic strength (long-term potentiation) and spine structural plasticity in CA2 hippocampal neurons, and how RGS14 suppression of plasticity impacts linked behaviors such as spatial learning, object memory, and fear conditioning. We also review RGS14 expression in the limbic system and basal ganglia and speculate on its possible roles in regulating plasticity in these regions, with a focus on behaviors related to emotion and motivation. Finally, we explore the functional implications of RGS14 in various brain circuits and speculate on its possible roles in certain disease states such as hippocampal seizures, addiction, and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John R. Hepler
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322-3090
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35
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Fraser KM, Janak PH. Basolateral amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex, but not dorsal hippocampus, are necessary for the control of reward-seeking by occasion setters. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:623-635. [PMID: 36056949 PMCID: PMC9931670 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06227-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Reward-seeking in the world is driven by cues that can have ambiguous predictive and motivational value. To produce adaptive, flexible reward-seeking, it is necessary to exploit occasion setters, other distinct features in the environment, to resolve the ambiguity of Pavlovian reward-paired cues. Despite this, very little research has investigated the neurobiological underpinnings of occasion setting, and as a result little is known about which brain regions are critical for occasion setting. To address this, we exploited a recently developed task that was amenable to neurobiological inquiry where a conditioned stimulus is only predictive of reward delivery if preceded in time by the non-overlapping presentation of a separate cue-an occasion setter. This task required male rats to maintain and link cue-triggered expectations across time to produce adaptive reward-seeking. We interrogated the contributions of the basolateral amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex to occasion setting as these regions are thought to be critical for the computation and exploitation of state value, respectively. Reversible inactivation of either structure prior to the occasion-setting task resulted in a profound inability of rats to use the occasion setter to guide reward-seeking. In contrast, inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus, a region fundamental for context-specific responding was without effect nor did inactivation of the basolateral amygdala or orbitofrontal cortex in a standard Pavlovian conditioning preparation affect conditioned responding. We conclude that neural activity within the orbitofrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala circuit is necessary to update and resolve ambiguity in the environment to promote cue-driven reward-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt M Fraser
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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36
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Servonnet A, Rompré PP, Samaha AN. Optogenetic activation of basolateral amygdala-to-nucleus accumbens core neurons promotes Pavlovian approach responses but not instrumental pursuit of reward cues. Behav Brain Res 2023; 440:114254. [PMID: 36516942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114254] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Reward-associated conditioned stimuli (CSs) can acquire predictive value, evoking conditioned approach behaviours that prepare animals to engage with forthcoming rewards. Such CSs can also acquire conditioned reinforcing value, becoming attractive and pursued. Through their conditioned effects, CSs can promote adaptive (e.g., locating food) but also maladaptive behaviours (e.g., drug use). Basolateral amygdala neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens core (BLA→NAc core neurons) mediate the response to appetitive CSs, but the extent to which this involves effects on the predictive and/or conditioned reinforcing properties of CSs is unclear. Thus, we examined the effects of optogenetic stimulation of BLA→NAc core neurons on i) CS-triggered approach to the site of reward delivery, a Pavlovian conditioned approach response and ii) the instrumental pursuit of a CS, a measure of conditioned reinforcement. Water-restricted, adult male rats learned that a light-tone compound cue (the CS) predicts water delivery into a receptacle. Pairing optogenetic stimulation of BLA→NAc core neurons with CS presentation potentiated CS-triggered water receptacle visits. This suggests that activity in BLA→NAc core neurons promotes Pavlovian goal-approach behaviour. Next, rats could lever press for CS presentations, without water delivery. Optogenetic stimulation of BLA→NAc core neurons either during instrumental test sessions or during prior CS-water conditioning did not influence lever responding for the CS. This suggests that activity in BLA→NAc core neurons does not influence the instrumental pursuit of a water-paired CS. We conclude that activation of BLA→NAc core neurons promotes cue-induced control over behaviour by increasing conditioned goal-approach responses, without affecting the operant pursuit of reward cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne-Noël Samaha
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (Faculty of Medicine), Canada; Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Edouard-Montpetit Boulevard, Montreal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada.
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37
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Birnie MT, Short AK, de Carvalho GB, Taniguchi L, Gunn BG, Pham AL, Itoga CA, Xu X, Chen LY, Mahler SV, Chen Y, Baram TZ. Stress-induced plasticity of a CRH/GABA projection disrupts reward behaviors in mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1088. [PMID: 36841826 PMCID: PMC9968307 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36780-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted operations of the reward circuit underlie major emotional disorders, including depression, which commonly arise following early life stress / adversity (ELA). However, how ELA enduringly impacts reward circuit functions remains unclear. We characterize a stress-sensitive projection connecting basolateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) that co-expresses GABA and the stress-reactive neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). We identify a crucial role for this projection in executing disrupted reward behaviors provoked by ELA: chemogenetic and optogenetic stimulation of the projection in control male mice suppresses several reward behaviors, recapitulating deficits resulting from ELA and demonstrating the pathway's contributions to normal reward behaviors. In adult ELA mice, inhibiting-but not stimulating-the projection, restores typical reward behaviors yet has little effect in controls, indicating ELA-induced maladaptive plasticity of this reward-circuit component. Thus, we discover a stress-sensitive, reward inhibiting BLA → NAc projection with unique molecular features, which may provide intervention targets for disabling mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Birnie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Annabel K Short
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gregory B de Carvalho
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lara Taniguchi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin G Gunn
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Aidan L Pham
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Christy A Itoga
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lulu Y Chen
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephen V Mahler
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yuncai Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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38
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Guarino S, Hagen C, Nguyen Q, Papini MR. Frustrative nonreward and the basal ganglia: Chemogenetic inhibition and excitation of the nucleus accumbens and globus pallidus externus during reward downshift. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2023; 200:107736. [PMID: 36822464 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107736] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Frustrative nonreward contributes to anxiety disorders and addiction, and is included in the Research Domain Criteria initiative as a relevant endophenotype. These experiments explored the role of the basal ganglia in consummatory reward downshift (cRD) using inhibitory and excitatory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) infused in either the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or one of its downstream targets, the globus pallidus externus (GPe). NAc inhibition did not disrupt consummatory suppression during a 32-to-2% (Experiment 1) or 8-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 2). However, NAc excitation enhanced consummatory suppression during a 32-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 1). GPe inhibition caused a trend toward increased consummatory suppression after a 32-to-2% sucrose downshift, whereas GPe excitation eliminated consummatory suppression after an 8-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 3). Chemogenetic manipulations of NAc and GPe had no detectable effects on open field activity. The effects of DREADD activation via clozapine N-oxide (CNO) administration were compared to controls that carried the DREADDs, but received vehicle injections. There was no evidence that CNO or vehicle injections in virus vector control (VVC) animals affected cRD or OF activity after either CNO or vehicle injections. NAc and GPe excitation led to opposite results in the cRD task, providing evidence that the basal ganglia circuit has a function in frustrative nonreward in the absence of detectable motor effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Guarino
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA
| | - Christopher Hagen
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA
| | - Quynh Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA
| | - Mauricio R Papini
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA.
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Loh MK, Rosenkranz JA. The medial orbitofrontal cortex governs reward-related circuits in an age-dependent manner. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1913-1924. [PMID: 35551358 PMCID: PMC9977359 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons integrate excitatory inputs from cortical and limbic structures, contributing to critical cognitive functions, including decision-making. As these afferents mature from adolescence through adulthood, incoming signals to the NAc may summate differently between age groups. Decision-making evaluates both reward and risk before action selection, suggesting an interplay between reward- and risk-related circuits. Medial orbitofrontal cortex (MO)-NAc circuits permit risk assessment behaviors and likely underlie risk information incorporation. As adolescents make reward-centric choices regardless of risk, we hypothesized the impact of MO activity alters reward-related NAc circuits in an age-dependent manner. To test this hypothesis, we used single-unit electrophysiology to measure MO train stimulation's effect on reward-related pathways, specifically the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-NAc circuit, in adult and adolescent rats. MO train stimulation altered the strength but not the timing of BLA-NAc interactions in a frequency-dependent manner. In adults, MO train stimulation produced a frequency-dependent, bidirectional effect on BLA-evoked NAc AP probability. Contrastingly, MO train stimulation uniformly attenuated BLA-NAc interactions in adolescents. While the mature MO can govern reward-related circuits in an activity-dependent manner, perhaps to adapt to positive or negative decision-making outcomes, the adolescent MO may be less able to bidirectionally impact reward-related pathways resulting in biased decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxine K Loh
- Department of Foundational Sciences and Humanities, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.,Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - J Amiel Rosenkranz
- Department of Foundational Sciences and Humanities, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.,Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
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Carney AE, Clarke C, Pratt WE. Administration of neuropeptide Y into the rat nucleus accumbens shell, but not core, attenuates the motivational impairment from systemic dopamine receptor antagonism by α-flupenthixol. Neurosci Lett 2023; 797:137069. [PMID: 36641044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137069] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that dopamine and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) promote motivated behavior, and there is evidence to suggest that they interact within neural circuitry involved in motivation. NPY and dopamine both modulate appetitive motivation towards food through direct actions in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), although how they interact in this region to promote motivation is presently unclear. In this study, we sought to further elucidate the relationship between NAc NPY and dopamine and their effects on motivated behavior. Specifically, we examined whether NAc injections of NPY might reverse behavioral deficits caused by reduced dopamine signaling due to systemic dopamine receptor antagonism. Appetitive motivation was measured using a progressive ratio-2 paradigm. Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with systemic injections of the dopamine antagonist, α-flupenthixol or a saline vehicle. Two hours following injections, they were administered infusions of NPY (at 0, 156, or 235 pmol) into either the NAc shell (n = 12) or the NAc core (n = 10) and were placed in operant chambers. In both groups, α-flupenthixol impaired performance on the PR-2 task. NPY receptor stimulation of the NAc shell significantly increased both breakpoint and active lever presses during the PR-2 task, and dose-dependently increased responding following systemic dopamine receptor blockade. NPY did not affect appetitive motivation when injected into the NAc core. These data demonstrate that NPY in the NAc shell can improve motivational impairments that result from dopamine antagonism, and that these effects are site specific. These results also suggest that upregulation of NPY in neurodegenerative diseases may possibly buffer early motivational deficits caused by dopamine depletion in Parkinson's and Huntington's disease patients, both of which show increased NPY expression after disease onset.
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Li JY, Yu YJ, Su CL, Shen YQ, Chang CH, Gean PW. Modulation of methamphetamine memory reconsolidation by neural projection from basolateral amygdala to nucleus accumbens. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:478-488. [PMID: 36109595 PMCID: PMC9852248 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01417-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Drug-associated conditioned cues promote subjects to recall drug reward memory, resulting in drug-seeking and reinstatement. A consolidated memory becomes unstable after recall, such that the amnestic agent can disrupt the memory during the reconsolidation stage, which implicates a potential therapeutic strategy for weakening maladaptive memories. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) involves the association of conditioned cues with reward and aversive valences and projects the information to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) that mediates reward-seeking. However, whether the BLA-NAc projection plays a role in drug-associated memory reactivation and reconsolidation is unknown. We used methamphetamine (MeAM) conditioned place preference (CPP) to investigate the role of BLA-NAc neural projection in the memory reconsolidation. Two weeks before CPP training, we infused adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) or control constructs. We infused clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) after the recall test to manipulate the neural activity of BLA-NAc projections in mice. We found that after recall, DREADD-mediated inhibition of BLA neurons projecting to the NAc core blunted consolidated MeAM-associated memory. Inhibition of BLA glutamatergic nerve terminals in the NAc core 1 h after recall disrupted consolidated MeAM-associated memory. However, inhibiting this pathway after the time window of reconsolidation failed to affect memory. Furthermore, under the condition without memory retrieval, DREADD-mediated activation of BLA-NAc core projection was required for amnesic agents to disrupt consolidated MeAM-associated memory. Our findings provide evidence that the BLA-NAc pathway activity is involved in the post-retrieval processing of MeAM-associated memory in CPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ying Li
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yang-Jung Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Lin Su
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Qi Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Hua Chang
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC.
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Po-Wu Gean
- Department of Pharmacology, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC.
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, ROC.
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Distinctive Neuroanatomic Regions Involved in Cocaine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization in Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020383. [PMID: 36830920 PMCID: PMC9953661 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020383] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to characterize the phenomenon of behavioral sensitization to cocaine and to identify neuroanatomical structures involved in the induction and expression phases of this phenomenon. For this, in experiment 1 (induction phase), mice were treated with saline or cocaine every second day for 15 days (conditioning period), in the open-field or in their home-cages. In experiment 2 (expression phase), the same protocol was followed, except that after the conditioning period the animals were not manipulated for 10 days, and after this interval, animals were challenged with cocaine. Neuroanatomical structures involved in the induction and expression phases were identified by stereological quantification of c-Fos staining in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), nucleus accumbens core (NAc core and shell (NAc shell), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Neuroanatomical analysis indicated that in the induction phase, cocaine-conditioned animals had higher expression of c-Fos in the dmPFC, NAc core, BLA, and VTA, whereas in the expression phase, almost all areas had higher expression except for the VTA. Therefore, environmental context plays a major role in the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization, although not all structures that compose the mesolimbic system contribute to this phenomenon.
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Hilz EN, Lee HJ. Estradiol and progesterone in female reward-learning, addiction, and therapeutic interventions. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 68:101043. [PMID: 36356909 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones like estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) guide the sexual organization and activation of the developing brain and control female reproductive behavior throughout the lifecycle; importantly, these hormones modulate functional activity of not just the endocrine system, but most of the nervous system including the brain reward system. The effects of E2 and P4 can be seen in the processing of and memory for rewarding stimuli and in the development of compulsive reward-seeking behaviors like those seen in substance use disorders. Women are at increased risk of developing substance use disorders; however, the origins of this sex difference are not well understood and therapeutic interventions targeting ovarian hormones have produced conflicting results. This article reviews the contribution of the E2 and P4 in females to functional modulation of the brain reward system, their possible roles in origins of addiction vulnerability, and the development and treatment of compulsive reward-seeking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N Hilz
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Pharmacology, USA.
| | - Hongjoo J Lee
- The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, USA; The University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Neuroscience, USA
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Rodríguez-Flores TC, Palomo-Briones GA, Robles F, Ramos F. Proposal for a computational model of incentive memory. COGN SYST RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogsys.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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45
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Djerdjaj A, Ng AJ, Rieger NS, Christianson JP. The basolateral amygdala to posterior insular cortex tract is necessary for social interaction with stressed juvenile rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 435:114050. [PMID: 35973470 PMCID: PMC10440830 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Vocalizations, chemosignals, and behaviors are influenced by one's internal affective state and are used by others to shape social behaviors. A network of interconnected brain structures, often called the social behavior network or social decision-making network, integrates these stimuli and coordinates social behaviors, and in-network connectivity deficits underlie several psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Here, we investigated the role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and its projections to the posterior insular cortex, regions independently implicated in a range of sociocognitive processes, in a social affective preference (SAP) test. Viral vectors containing the gene coding for inhibitory chemogenetic receptors (AAV5-hSyn-hM4Di-mCherry) were injected into the BLA. SAP tests, which allow for the observation of unconditioned behavioral responses to the affective states of others, were conducted after inhibition of the BLA by systemic administration of the hM4Di agonist clozapine-n-oxide (CNO), or inhibition of BLA-insula terminals by direct infusion of CNO to the insula. After vehicle infusions, rats displayed preference for interactions with stressed juvenile conspecifics. However, CNO treatment eliminated preference behavior. The current results suggest that social decision making involves the transfer of emotional information from the BLA to the insula which represents a previously unrecognized anatomical substrate for social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Djerdjaj
- Boston College, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
| | - Alexandra J Ng
- Boston College, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Nathaniel S Rieger
- Boston College, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - John P Christianson
- Boston College, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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Limoges A, Yarur HE, Tejeda HA. Dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system regulation on amygdaloid circuitry: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:963691. [PMID: 36276608 PMCID: PMC9579273 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.963691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amygdaloid circuits are involved in a variety of emotional and motivation-related behaviors and are impacted by stress. The amygdala expresses several neuromodulatory systems, including opioid peptides and their receptors. The Dynorphin (Dyn)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system has been implicated in the processing of emotional and stress-related information and is expressed in brain areas involved in stress and motivation. Dysregulation of the Dyn/KOR system has also been implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there is limited information about the role of the Dyn/KOR system in regulating amygdala circuitry. Here, we review the literature on the (1) basic anatomy of the amygdala, (2) functional regulation of synaptic transmission by the Dyn/KOR system, (3) anatomical architecture and function of the Dyn/KOR system in the amygdala, (4) regulation of amygdala-dependent behaviors by the Dyn/KOR system, and (5) future directions for the field. Future work investigating how the Dyn/KOR system shapes a wide range of amygdala-related behaviors will be required to increase our understanding of underlying circuitry modulation by the Dyn/KOR system. We anticipate that continued focus on the amygdala Dyn/KOR system will also elucidate novel ways to target the Dyn/KOR system to treat neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Limoges
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
- NIH-Columbia University Individual Graduate Partnership Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hector E. Yarur
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hugo A. Tejeda
- Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Hugo A. Tejeda,
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Keefer SE, Petrovich GD. Necessity and recruitment of cue-specific neuronal ensembles within the basolateral amygdala during appetitive reversal learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 194:107663. [PMID: 35870716 PMCID: PMC10326893 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Through Pavlovian appetitive conditioning, environmental cues can become predictors of food availability. Over time, however, the food, and thus the value of the associated cues, can change based on environmental variations. This change in outcome necessitates updating of the value of the cue to appropriately alter behavioral responses to these cues. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical in updating the outcomes of learned cues. However, it is unknown if the same BLA neuronal ensembles that are recruited in the initial associative memory are required when the new cue-outcome association is formed during reversal learning. The current study used the Daun02 inactivation method that enables selective targeting and disruption of activated neuronal ensembles in Fos-lacZ transgenic rats. Rats were implanted with bilateral cannulas that target the BLA and underwent appetitive discriminative conditioning in which rats had to discriminate between two auditory stimuli. One stimulus (CS+) co-terminated with food delivery, and the other stimulus was unrewarded (CS-; counterbalanced). Rats were then tested for CS+ or CS- memory retrieval and infused with either Daun02 or a vehicle solution into the BLA to inactivate either CS+ or CS- neuronal ensembles that were activated during that test. To assess if the same neuronal ensembles are necessary to update the value of the new association when the outcomes are changed, rats underwent reversal learning: the CS+ was no longer followed by food (reversal CS-, rCS-), and the CS- was now followed by food (reversal CS+; rCS+). The group that received Daun02 following CS+ session showed a decrease in conditioned responding and increased latency to the rCS- (previously CS+) during the first session of reversal learning, specifically during the first trial. This indicates that the neuronal ensemble that was activated during the recall of the CS+ memory was the same neuronal ensemble needed for learning the new outcome of the same CS, now rCS-. Additionally, the group that received Daun02 following CS- session was slower to respond to the rCS+ (previously CS-) during reversal learning. This indicates that the neuronal ensemble that was activated during the recall of the CS- memory was the same neuronal ensemble needed for learning the new outcome of the same CS. These results demonstrate that different neuronal ensembles within the BLA mediate memory recall of CS+ and CS- cues and reactivation of each cue-specific neuronal ensemble is necessary to update the value of that specific cue to respond appropriately during reversal learning. These results also indicate substantial plasticity within the BLA for behavioral flexibility as both groups eventually showed similar terminal levels of reversal learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Keefer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
| | - Gorica D Petrovich
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
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López-Gutiérrez MF, Mejía-Chávez S, Alcauter S, Portillo W. The neural circuits of monogamous behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:978344. [PMID: 36247729 PMCID: PMC9559370 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.978344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in studying the neural circuits related to mating behavior and mate choice in monogamous species lies in the parallels found between human social structure and sexual behavior and that of other mammals that exhibit social monogamy, potentially expanding our understanding of human neurobiology and its underlying mechanisms. Extensive research has suggested that social monogamy, as opposed to non-monogamy in mammals, is a consequence of the neural encoding of sociosensory information from the sexual partner with an increased reward value. Thus, the reinforced value of the mate outweighs the reward value of mating with any other potential sexual partners. This mechanism reinforces the social relationship of a breeding pair, commonly defined as a pair bond. In addition to accentuated prosocial behaviors toward the partner, other characteristic behaviors may appear, such as territorial and partner guarding, selective aggression toward unfamiliar conspecifics, and biparental care. Concomitantly, social buffering and distress upon partner separation are also observed. The following work intends to overview and compare known neural and functional circuits that are related to mating and sexual behavior in monogamous mammals. We will particularly discuss reports on Cricetid rodents of the Microtus and Peromyscus genus, and New World primates (NWP), such as the Callicebinae subfamily of the titi monkey and the marmoset (Callithrix spp.). In addition, we will mention the main factors that modulate the neural circuits related to social monogamy and how that modulation may reflect phenotypic differences, ultimately creating the widely observed diversity in social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wendy Portillo
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Querétaro, Mexico
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Ca 2+-modulated photoactivatable imaging reveals neuron-astrocyte glutamatergic circuitries within the nucleus accumbens. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5272. [PMID: 36071061 PMCID: PMC9452556 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33020-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are key elements of brain circuits that are involved in different aspects of the neuronal physiology relevant to brain functions. Although much effort is being made to understand how the biology of astrocytes affects brain circuits, astrocytic network heterogeneity and plasticity is still poorly defined. Here, we have combined structural and functional imaging of astrocyte activity recorded in mice using the Ca2+-modulated photoactivatable ratiometric integrator and specific optostimulation of glutamatergic pathways to map the functional neuron-astrocyte circuitries in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We showed pathway-specific astrocytic responses induced by selective optostimulation of main inputs from the prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, and ventral hippocampus. Furthermore, co-stimulation of glutamatergic pathways induced non-linear Ca2+-signaling integration, revealing integrative properties of NAc astrocytes. All these results demonstrate the existence of specific neuron-astrocyte circuits in the NAc, providing an insight to the understanding of how the NAc integrates information. Neuron-astrocyte communication is fundamental for brain physiology, yet the heterogeneity in the functional interaction between these two elements remains poorly understood. Here we show how different neuron-astrocyte networks integrate information from distinct glutamatergic inputs.
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50
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Zhang J, Song C, Dai J, Li L, Yang X, Chen Z. Mechanism of opioid addiction and its intervention therapy: Focusing on the reward circuitry and mu-opioid receptor. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e148. [PMID: 35774845 PMCID: PMC9218544 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid abuse and addiction have become a global pandemic, posing tremendous health and social burdens. The rewarding effects and the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms are the two mainstays of opioid addiction. Mu-opioid receptors (MORs), a member of opioid receptors, play important roles in opioid addiction, mediating both the rewarding effects of opioids and opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS). The underlying mechanism of MOR-mediated opioid rewarding effects and withdrawal syndrome is of vital importance to understand the nature of opioid addiction and also provides theoretical basis for targeting MORs to treat drug addiction. In this review, we first briefly introduce the basic concepts of MORs, including their structure, distribution in the nervous system, endogenous ligands, and functional characteristics. We focused on the brain circuitry and molecular mechanism of MORs-mediated opioid reward and withdrawal. The neuroanatomical and functional elements of the neural circuitry of the reward system underlying opioid addiction were thoroughly discussed, and the roles of MOR within the reward circuitry were also elaborated. Furthermore, we interrogated the roles of MORs in OWS, along with the structural basis and molecular adaptions of MORs-mediated withdrawal syndrome. Finally, current treatment strategies for opioid addiction targeting MORs were also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia‐Jia Zhang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell BiologyThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Chang‐Geng Song
- Department of NeurologyXijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Ji‐Min Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing HospitalThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Ling Li
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell BiologyThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xiang‐Min Yang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell BiologyThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Zhi‐Nan Chen
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell BiologyThe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
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