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Escobedo A, Holloway SA, Votoupal M, Cone AL, Skelton H, Legaria AA, Ndiokho I, Floyd T, Kravitz AV, Bruchas MR, Norris AJ. Glutamatergic supramammillary nucleus neurons respond to threatening stressors and promote active coping. eLife 2024; 12:RP90972. [PMID: 38829200 PMCID: PMC11147510 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90972] [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: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Threat-response neural circuits are conserved across species and play roles in normal behavior and psychiatric diseases. Maladaptive changes in these neural circuits contribute to stress, mood, and anxiety disorders. Active coping in response to stressors is a psychosocial factor associated with resilience against stress-induced mood and anxiety disorders. The neural circuitry underlying active coping is poorly understood, but the functioning of these circuits could be key for overcoming anxiety and related disorders. The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) has been suggested to be engaged by threat. SuM has many projections and a poorly understood diversity of neural populations. In studies using mice, we identified a unique population of glutamatergic SuM neurons (SuMVGLUT2+::POA) based on projection to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) and found SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons have extensive arborizations. SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons project to brain areas that mediate features of the stress and threat responses including the paraventricular nucleus thalamus (PVT), periaqueductal gray (PAG), and habenula (Hb). Thus, SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons are positioned as a hub, connecting to areas implicated in regulating stress responses. Here we report SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons are recruited by diverse threatening stressors, and recruitment correlated with active coping behaviors. We found that selective photoactivation of the SuMVGLUT2+::POA population drove aversion but not anxiety like behaviors. Activation of SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons in the absence of acute stressors evoked active coping like behaviors and drove instrumental behavior. Also, activation of SuMVGLUT2+::POA neurons was sufficient to convert passive coping strategies to active behaviors during acute stress. In contrast, we found activation of GABAergic (VGAT+) SuM neurons (SuMVGAT+) neurons did not alter drive aversion or active coping, but termination of photostimulation was followed by increased mobility in the forced swim test. These findings establish a new node in stress response circuitry that has projections to many brain areas and evokes flexible active coping behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Escobedo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Salli-Ann Holloway
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Megan Votoupal
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoUnited States
| | - Aaron L Cone
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Hannah Skelton
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Alex A Legaria
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Imeh Ndiokho
- Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeUnited States
| | - Tasheia Floyd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Bioengineering University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Aaron J Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. LouisSt. LouisUnited States
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Nayana J, Shankaranarayana Rao BS, Srikumar BN. Mifepristone's effects on depression- and anxiety-like behavior in rodents. Steroids 2022; 184:109058. [PMID: 35679911 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mifepristone is a non-selective progesterone (PR), glucocorticoid (GR), and androgen receptor (AR) antagonist with antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. The dose and duration of mifepristone administration vary in rodent preclinical studies to evaluate depression-like and anxiety-like behavior. This review summarizes the findings so far and attempts to reconcile some of the differences in the results. While a few studies assessed basal depression- and anxiety-like behavior, several studies have used mifepristone in conjunction with stress, corticosterone/dexamethasone (after adrenalectomy), or progesterone administration. The effect of mifepristone on depression-like behavior appears to depend not only on the dose and duration of administration but also on the intensity or type of stress. In addition, the anxiolytic effects may depend on the species and strain of the experimental animals. More reports assess antidepressant-like or anxiolytic-like effects following acute than chronic administration. These effects are dependent on the paradigms and the nature of stressors. Most mifepristone studies implicate the role of GRs, yet only two reports have confirmed its role using a genetic approach, whereas none implicate the role of PRs/ARs. There are several novel selective GR antagonists whose effects on depression- and anxiety-like behavior are yet to be studied. Future studies could aim to confirm the role of GRs and evaluate the contribution of PRs/ARs to the effects of mifepristone. Such studies will contribute to a better understanding of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders and develop novel strategies, particularly for treatment-resistant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nayana
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India
| | - B S Shankaranarayana Rao
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India
| | - B N Srikumar
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India.
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3
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Häusl AS, Brix LM, Hartmann J, Pöhlmann ML, Lopez JP, Menegaz D, Brivio E, Engelhardt C, Roeh S, Bajaj T, Rudolph L, Stoffel R, Hafner K, Goss HM, Reul JMHM, Deussing JM, Eder M, Ressler KJ, Gassen NC, Chen A, Schmidt MV. The co-chaperone Fkbp5 shapes the acute stress response in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male mice. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3060-3076. [PMID: 33649453 PMCID: PMC8505251 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Disturbed activation or regulation of the stress response through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a fundamental component of multiple stress-related diseases, including psychiatric, metabolic, and immune disorders. The FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) is a negative regulator of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the main driver of HPA axis regulation, and FKBP5 polymorphisms have been repeatedly linked to stress-related disorders in humans. However, the specific role of Fkbp5 in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in shaping HPA axis (re)activity remains to be elucidated. We here demonstrate that the deletion of Fkbp5 in Sim1+ neurons dampens the acute stress response and increases GR sensitivity. In contrast, Fkbp5 overexpression in the PVN results in a chronic HPA axis over-activation, and a PVN-specific rescue of Fkbp5 expression in full Fkbp5 KO mice normalizes the HPA axis phenotype. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the cell-type-specific expression pattern of Fkbp5 in the PVN and showed that Fkbp5 expression is specifically upregulated in Crh+ neurons after stress. Finally, Crh-specific Fkbp5 overexpression alters Crh neuron activity, but only partially recapitulates the PVN-specific Fkbp5 overexpression phenotype. Together, the data establish the central and cell-type-specific importance of Fkbp5 in the PVN in shaping HPA axis regulation and the acute stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Häusl
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea M Brix
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Jakob Hartmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Max L Pöhlmann
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Juan-Pablo Lopez
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Danusa Menegaz
- Electrophysiology Core Unit, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elena Brivio
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Clara Engelhardt
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Roeh
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Bajaj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn Clinical Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lisa Rudolph
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Stoffel
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Hafner
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Hannah M Goss
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes M H M Reul
- Neuro-Epigenetics Research Group, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jan M Deussing
- Research Group Molecular Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Eder
- Electrophysiology Core Unit, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Nils C Gassen
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn Clinical Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mathias V Schmidt
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
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4
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van der Goot MH, Keijsper M, Baars A, Drost L, Hendriks J, Kirchhoff S, Lozeman-van T Klooster JG, van Lith HA, Arndt SS. Inter-individual variability in habituation of anxiety-related responses within three mouse inbred strains. Physiol Behav 2021; 239:113503. [PMID: 34153326 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inter-individual variability in behavioral and physiological response has become a well-established phenomenon in animal models of anxiety and other disorders. Such variability is even demonstrated within mouse inbred strains. A recent study showed that adaptive and non-adaptive anxiety phenotypes (measured as habituation and/or sensitization of anxiety responses) may differ within cohorts of 129 mice. This variability was expressed across both anxiety- and activity-related behavioral dimensions. These findings were based however on re-analysis of previously published data. The present study therefore aimed to empirically validate these findings in 129 mice. In addition, we assessed such inter-individuality in two other strains: BALB/c and C57BL/6. Males of three mouse inbred strains (BALB/c, C57BL/6 and 129S2) were behaviorally characterized through repeated exposure to a mild aversive stimulus (modified Hole Board, 4 consecutive trials). Behavioral observations were supplemented with assessment of circulating corticosterone levels. Clustering the individual response trajectories of behavioral and endocrine responses yielded two multidimensional response types of different adaptive value. Interestingly, these response types were displayed by individuals of all three strains. The response types differed significantly on anxiety and activity related behavioral dimensions but not on corticosterone concentrations. This study empirically confirms that adaptive capacities may differ within 129 cohorts. In addition, it extends this inter-individual variability in behavioral profiles to BALB/c and C57BL/6. Whether these two sub-types constitute differential anxiety phenotypes may differ per strain and requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes H van der Goot
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Melissa Keijsper
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Baars
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Drost
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith Hendriks
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne Kirchhoff
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - José G Lozeman-van T Klooster
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hein A van Lith
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia S Arndt
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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5
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Vozella V, Cruz B, Natividad LA, Benvenuti F, Cannella N, Edwards S, Zorrilla EP, Ciccocioppo R, Roberto M. Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Mifepristone Does Not Alter Innate Anxiety-Like Behavior in Genetically-Selected Marchigian Sardinian (msP) Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3095. [PMID: 33803557 PMCID: PMC8003048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats serve as a unique model of heightened alcohol preference and anxiety disorders. Their innate enhanced stress and poor stress-coping strategies are driven by a genetic polymorphism of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1) in brain areas involved in glucocorticoid signaling. The activation of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) regulates the stress response, making GRs a candidate target to treat stress and anxiety. Here, we examined whether mifepristone, a GR antagonist known to reduce alcohol drinking in dependent rats, decreases innate symptoms of anxiety in msPs. Male and female msPs were compared to non-selected Wistar counterparts across three separate behavioral tests. We assessed anxiety-like behavior via the novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) assay. Since sleep disturbances and hyperarousal are common features of stress-related disorders, we measured sleeping patterns using the comprehensive lab monitoring system (CLAMS) and stress sensitivity using acoustic startle measures. Rats received an acute administration of vehicle or mifepristone (60 mg/kg) 90 min prior to testing on NIH, acoustic startle response, and CLAMS. Our results revealed that both male and female msPs display greater anxiety-like behaviors as well as enhanced acoustic startle responses compared to Wistar counterparts. Male msPs also displayed reduced sleeping bout duration versus Wistars, and female msPs displayed greater acoustic startle responses versus male msPs. Importantly, the enhanced anxiety-like behavior and startle responses were not reduced by mifepristone. Together, these findings suggest that increased expression of stress-related behaviors in msPs are not solely mediated by acute activation of GRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Luis A. Natividad
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Federica Benvenuti
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Scott Edwards
- Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Eric P. Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
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Trait anxiety, a personality risk factor associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110124. [PMID: 33035604 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in elderly population and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. While senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles have been proposed as the principal histopathologic hallmarks of AD, the exact etiology of this disease is still far from being clearly understood. AD has been recognized as pathological consequences of complex interactions among genetic, aging, medical, life style and psychosocial factors. Recently, the roles of neuroticism personality traits in AD incidence and progression have come into focus. More specifically, increasing evidence has further shown that the trait anxiety, one major component of neuroticism predicting the individual vulnerability in response to stress, is a risk factor for AD and may correlated with various AD pathologies. In this review, we summarized recent literature on the association of trait anxiety with AD. We also discussed the possible neuroendocrinological and neurochemical mechanisms of this association, which may provide clinical implications for AD diagnosis and therapy.
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Kähler B, Romswinkel EV, Jakovcevski M, Moses A, Schachner M, Morellini F. Hyperfunction of the stress response system and novelty-induced hyperactivity correlate with enhanced cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in NCAM-deficient mice. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12887. [PMID: 32124535 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Several studies in humans and rodents suggest an association between impulsivity and activity of the stress response on the one hand and addiction vulnerability on the other. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been related to several neuropsychiatric disorders in humans. Constitutively NCAM-deficient (-/-) mice display enhanced novelty-induced behavior and hyperfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Here we hypothesize that NCAM deficiency causes an altered response to cocaine. Cocaine-induced behaviors of NCAM-/- mice and wild-type (+/+) littermates were analyzed in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. c-fos mRNA levels were investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure neural activation after exposure to the cocaine-associated context. NCAM-/- mice showed an elevated cocaine-induced sensitization, enhanced CPP, impaired extinction, and potentiated cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion and CPP after extinction. NCAM-/- showed no potentiated CPP as compared with NCAM+/+ littermates when a natural rewarding stimulus (ie, an unfamiliar female) was used, suggesting that the behavioral alterations of NCAM-/- mice observed in the CPP test are specific to the effects of cocaine. Activation of the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens induced by the cocaine-associated context was enhanced in NCAM-/- compared with NCAM+/+ mice. Finally, cocaine-induced behavior correlated positively with novelty-induced behavior and plasma corticosterone levels in NCAM-/- mice and negatively with NCAM mRNA levels in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens in wild-type mice. Our findings indicate that NCAM deficiency affects cocaine-induced CPP in mice and support the view that hyperfunction of the stress response system and reactivity to novelty predict the behavioral responses to cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Kähler
- Institute for Biosynthesis of Neural Structures, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Viktoria Romswinkel
- Behavioral Biology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mira Jakovcevski
- Institute for Biosynthesis of Neural Structures, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ashley Moses
- Behavioral Biology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Institute for Biosynthesis of Neural Structures, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
- Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08554, USA
| | - Fabio Morellini
- Institute for Biosynthesis of Neural Structures, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Milic M, Schmitt U, Lutz B, Müller MB. Individual baseline behavioral traits predict the resilience phenotype after chronic social defeat. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 14:100290. [PMID: 33457472 PMCID: PMC7797906 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic social defeat (CSD) has been widely used as a psychosocial stress model in mice, with the magnitude of CSD-induced social avoidance as the major behavioral hallmark of the resilient and susceptible groups. Despite significant progress in the study of the neurobiology of resilient and susceptible mice, the nature and ethological relevance of CSD-induced social avoidance and social approach, particularly measured using a CD1 mouse, needs conceptual clarification. Based on the findings of a recent study revealing substantial individuality in genetically homogeneous inbred mice, we investigated whether certain baseline individual characteristics of male C57BL/6J mice predict the resilient outcome after CSD. We focused on two well-studied individual traits that seem to have heritable underpinnings—approach to novelty and avoidance of harm, which are essential for the expression of the exploratory drive. Our results showed that the exploration levels and the approach to novelty and harm were different before and after CSD in resilient and susceptible mice. Before the stress, resilient mice had higher horizontal activity in a novel environment, shorter approach latencies, and higher exploration times for social and non-social targets than susceptible mice. However, susceptible mice performed better in the passive avoidance task than resilient mice as they were more successful in learning to avoid potential adversity by suppressing the spontaneous exploratory drive. Our findings challenge the validity of the current selection criteria for the susceptible and resilient groups and encourage comprehensive assessment of both baseline and stress-induced individual behavioral signatures of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Milic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
- Corresponding author.
| | - Ulrich Schmitt
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marianne B. Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
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9
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Muir J, Tse YC, Iyer ES, Biris J, Cvetkovska V, Lopez J, Bagot RC. Ventral Hippocampal Afferents to Nucleus Accumbens Encode Both Latent Vulnerability and Stress-Induced Susceptibility. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:843-854. [PMID: 32682566 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is a major risk factor for depression, but not everyone responds to stress in the same way. Identifying why certain individuals are more susceptible is essential for targeted treatment and prevention. In rodents, nucleus accumbens (NAc) afferents from the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) are implicated in stress-induced susceptibility, but little is known about how this pathway might encode future vulnerability or specific behavioral phenotypes. METHODS We used fiber photometry to record in vivo activity in vHIP-NAc afferents during tests of depressive- and anxiety-like behavior in male and female mice, both before and after a sex-specific chronic variable stress protocol, to probe relationships between prestress neural activity and behavior and potential predictors of poststress behavioral adaptation. Furthermore, we examined chronic variable stress-induced alterations in vHIP-NAc activity in vivo and used ex vivo slice electrophysiology to identify the mechanism of this change. RESULTS We identified behavioral specificity of the vHIP-NAc pathway to anxiety-like and social interaction behavior. We also showed that this activity is broadly predictive of stress-induced susceptibility in both sexes, while prestress behavior is predictive only of anxiety-like behavior. We observed a stress-induced increase in in vivo vHIP-NAc activity coincident with an increase in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. CONCLUSIONS We implicate vHIP-NAc in social interaction and anxiety-like behavior and identify markers of vulnerability in this neural signal, with elevated prestress vHIP-NAc activity predicting increased susceptibility across behavioral domains. Our findings indicate that individual differences in neural activity and behavior play a role in predetermining susceptibility to later stress, providing insight into mechanisms of vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Muir
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yiu Chung Tse
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eshaan S Iyer
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julia Biris
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Joëlle Lopez
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rosemary C Bagot
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
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10
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Rilett KC, Luo OD, McVey-Neufeld KA, MacKenzie RN, Foster JA. Loss of T cells influences sex differences in stress-related gene expression. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 343:577213. [PMID: 32278229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deficiencies in the adaptive immune system have been linked to anxiety-like behaviours and stress reactivity. Mice lacking T lymphocytes through knockout of the T cell receptor (TCR) β and δ chains were compared to wild type C57Bl/6 mice. Central stress circuitry gene expression was assessed following repeated restraint stress. TCRβ-/-δ-/- mice showed an increased baseline plasma corticosterone and exaggerated changes in stress-related gene expression after repeated restraint stress. Sexual dimorphic stress responses were observed in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice but not in TCRβ-/-δ-/- mice. These data suggest that T cell-brain interactions influence sex-differences in CNS stress circuitry and stress reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly C Rilett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Owen D Luo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Karen-Anne McVey-Neufeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Robyn N MacKenzie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jane A Foster
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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11
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Williams S, Ghosh C. Neurovascular glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoids: implications in health, neurological disorders and drug therapy. Drug Discov Today 2019; 25:89-106. [PMID: 31541713 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are ubiquitous transcription factors widely studied for their role in controlling events related to inflammation, stress and homeostasis. Recently, GRs have reemerged as crucial targets of investigation in neurological disorders, with a focus on pharmacological strategies to direct complex mechanistic GR regulation and improve therapy. In the brain, GRs control functions necessary for neurovascular integrity, including responses to stress, neurological changes mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain-specific responses to corticosteroids. Therefore, this review will examine GR regulation at the neurovascular interface in normal and pathological conditions, pharmacological GR modulation and glucocorticoid insensitivity in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherice Williams
- Brain Physiology Laboratory/Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chaitali Ghosh
- Brain Physiology Laboratory/Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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12
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Holtyn AF, Weerts EM. Evaluation of mifepristone effects on alcohol-seeking and self-administration in baboons. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2019; 27:227-235. [PMID: 30570274 PMCID: PMC6727199 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mifepristone, a type II glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, is under investigation as a potential pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder. This study examined effects of chronic administration of mifepristone on alcohol-seeking and self-administration in large nonhuman primates. Adult baboons (n = 5) self-administered alcohol 7 days/week under a chained schedule of reinforcement (CSR). The CSR comprised 3 components in which distinct cues were paired with different schedule requirements, with alcohol available for self-administration only in the final component, to model different phases of alcohol anticipation, seeking, and consumption. Under baseline conditions, baboons self-administered an average of 1g/kg/day of alcohol in the self-administration period. Mifepristone (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered orally 30 min before each CSR session for 7 consecutive days. In a separate group of baboons (n = 5) acute doses of mifepristone (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) were administered, and blood samples were collected over 72 hr to examine mifepristone pharmacokinetics. Some samples also were collected from the baboons that self-administered alcohol under the CSR after the chronic mifepristone condition. Mifepristone did not alter alcohol-seeking or self-administration under the CSR when compared with the vehicle condition. Mifepristone pharmacokinetics were nonlinear, and appear to be capacity limited. In sum, mifepristone did not reduce alcohol-maintained behaviors when administered to baboons drinking 1g/kg daily. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- August F. Holtyn
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5200 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Elise M. Weerts
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Dr, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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13
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Weger M, Sandi C. High anxiety trait: A vulnerable phenotype for stress-induced depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 87:27-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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14
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Yanovich C, Kirby ML, Michaelevski I, Yadid G, Pinhasov A. Social rank-associated stress vulnerability predisposes individuals to cocaine attraction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1759. [PMID: 29379100 PMCID: PMC5789078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19816-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of personality have suggested that dissimilarities in ability to cope with stressful situations results in differing tendency to develop addictive behaviors. The present study used selectively bred stress-resilient, socially-dominant (Dom) and stress-vulnerable, socially-submissive (Sub) mice to investigate the interaction between environmental stress and inbred predisposition to develop addictive behavior to cocaine. In a Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) paradigm using cocaine, Sub mice displayed an aversion to drug, whereas Dom mice displayed drug attraction. Following a 4-week regimen of Chronic Mild Stress (CMS), Sub mice in CPP displayed a marked increase (>400%) in cocaine attraction, whereas Dom mice did not differ in attraction from their non-stressed state. Examination of hippocampal gene expression revealed in Sub mice, exposure to external stimuli, stress or cocaine, increased CRH expression (>100%), which was evoked in Dom mice only by cocaine exposure. Further, stress-induced decreases in DRD1 (>60%) and DRD2 (>50%) expression in Sub mice differed markedly from a complete lack of change in Dom mice. From our findings, we propose that social stratification dictates vulnerability to stress-induced attraction that may lead to addiction via differential regulation of hippocampal response to dopaminergic input, which in turn may influence differing tendency to develop addictive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yanovich
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michael L Kirby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Gal Yadid
- Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center and the Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
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Barker T, Bobrovskaya L, Howarth G, Whittaker A. Female rats display fewer optimistic responses in a judgment bias test in the absence of a physiological stress response. Physiol Behav 2017; 173:124-131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Verdouw PM, van Esterik JC, Peeters BW, Millan MJ, Groenink L. CRF1 but not glucocorticoid receptor antagonists reduce separation-induced distress vocalizations in guinea pig pups and CRF overexpressing mouse pups. A combination study with paroxetine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 154:11-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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17
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Chen AL, Sun X, Wang W, Liu JF, Zeng X, Qiu JF, Liu XJ, Wang Y. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis contributes to the immunosuppression of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:266. [PMID: 27733201 PMCID: PMC5062856 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0743-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppression has been described as a consequence of brain injury and infection by different mechanisms. Angiostrongylus cantonensis can cause injury to the central nervous system and eosinophilic meningitis to human. Both T cell and B cell immunity play an essential role in the resistance of the infection. However, whether brain injury caused by A. cantonensis infection can lead to immunosuppression is not clear. Therefore, the present study sought to observe the alteration of immune responses in mice infected with A. cantonensis. METHODS Mice were infected with 20 third-stage A. cantonensis larvae. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of inflammatory mediators in brain tissues was observed by qRT-PCR. Cell surface markers including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, B220, 7-AAD, annexin-V, IgM, AA4.1, and CD23 were evaluated by using flow cytometry. The immune functions of T and B lymphocytes were detected upon stimulation by ConA and antibody responses to a nonself antigen OVA, respectively. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was evaluated by analyzing the concentration of plasma corticosterone and levels of mRNA for corticotropin-releasing hormone, tyrosine hydroxylase, and c-fos. RESULTS A. cantonensis infection results in obvious immunosuppression evidenced as progressive spleen and thymus atrophy and significant decrease in the number of lymphocyte subsets including B cells, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells, as well as reduced T cell proliferation at 21 days post-infection and antibody reaction to exogenous protein after infection. However, the sharp decrease of splenic and thymic cells was not due to cell apoptosis but to B cell genesis cessation and impairing thymocyte development. In addition, helminthicide treatment with albendazole on infected mice at 7 days post-infection could prevent immunosuppressive symptoms. Importantly, infected mice displayed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, with peak responses occurring at 16 days post-infection, and glucocorticoid receptor antagonist could partially restore the infection-induced cessation of B cell genesis. CONCLUSIONS Brain injury caused by A. cantonensis infection, like that of brain stroke and trauma, enhanced endogenous corticosteroid activity, resulting in peripheral immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ling Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.,Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Jin-Feng Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Jing-Fan Qiu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Xin-Jian Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
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Silva AF, Sousa DS, Medeiros AM, Macêdo PT, Leão AH, Ribeiro AM, Izídio GS, Silva RH. Sex and estrous cycle influence diazepam effects on anxiety and memory: Possible role of progesterone. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 70:68-76. [PMID: 27208614 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Studies with rodents and humans show the relationship between female sex hormones and cognitive/emotional tasks. However, despite the greater incidence of anxiety disorders in women, the data are still inconclusive regarding the mechanisms related to this phenomenon. We evaluated the effects of a classical anxiolytic/amnestic drug (diazepam; DZP) on female (at different estrous cycle phases) and male rats tested in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PMDAT), that allows the concomitant evaluation of memory and anxiety-like behavior. Further, in order to investigate the role of progesterone and its metabolites in the effects of DZP in the PMDAT, female rats were pre-treated with the progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone or the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride. The main findings were: (1) DZP caused memory impairment and anxiolysis in both sexes, but only the highest dose induced the anxiolytic effect in females; (2) females in proestrus did not present the amnestic and anxiolytic effects of DZP (at 2.0 and 4.0mg/kg, respectively) and (3) the co-administration of mifepristone reestablished both amnestic and anxiolytic effects of DZP, while finasteride reinstated the amnestic effect in proestrus female rats. These results suggest that changes in the endogenous levels of progesterone and its metabolites are important in the modulation of emotional/cognitive behavior in female rats. Based on the influence on different aspects of DZP action, the mechanisms related to this modulation are probably linked to GABAergic transmission, but this point remains to be investigated. Further, the variation in therapeutic and adverse effects of DZP depending on sex and hormonal state is of great relevance considering the higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatildes Feitosa Silva
- Memory Studies Laboratory, Physiology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Diego Silveira Sousa
- Memory Studies Laboratory, Physiology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - André Macêdo Medeiros
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Pharmacology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila Tavares Macêdo
- Memory Studies Laboratory, Physiology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Anderson Henrique Leão
- Memory Studies Laboratory, Physiology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Bioprospecting of Natural Products, Biosciences Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Geison Souza Izídio
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Memory Studies Laboratory, Physiology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Pharmacology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis Modulates Fear Learning through Associative and Nonassociative Mechanisms. J Neurosci 2015; 35:11330-45. [PMID: 26269640 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0483-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is believed to support hippocampus-dependent learning and emotional regulation. These putative functions of adult neurogenesis have typically been studied in isolation, and little is known about how they interact to produce adaptive behavior. We used trace fear conditioning as a model system to elucidate mechanisms through which adult hippocampal neurogenesis modulates processing of aversive experience. To achieve a specific ablation of neurogenesis, we generated transgenic mice that express herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase specifically in neural progenitors and immature neurons. Intracerebroventricular injection of the prodrug ganciclovir caused a robust suppression of neurogenesis without suppressing gliogenesis. Neurogenesis ablation via this method or targeted x-irradiation caused an increase in context conditioning in trace but not delay fear conditioning. Data suggest that this phenotype represents opposing effects of neurogenesis ablation on associative and nonassociative components of fear learning. Arrest of neurogenesis sensitizes mice to nonassociative effects of fear conditioning, as evidenced by increased anxiety-like behavior in the open field after (but not in the absence of) fear conditioning. In addition, arrest of neurogenesis impairs associative trace conditioning, but this impairment can be masked by nonassociative fear. The results suggest that adult neurogenesis modulates emotional learning via two distinct but opposing mechanisms: it supports associative trace conditioning while also buffering against the generalized fear and anxiety caused by fear conditioning. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in fear learning is controversial, with some studies suggesting neurogenesis is needed for aspects of fear learning and others suggesting it is dispensable. We generated transgenic mice in which neural progenitors can be selectively and inducibly ablated. Our data suggest that adult neurogenesis supports fear learning through two distinct mechanisms: it supports the ability to learn associations between traumatic events (unconditioned stimuli) and predictors (conditioned stimuli) while also buffering against nonassociative, anxiogenic effects of a traumatic experience. As a result, arrest of neurogenesis can enhance or impair learned fear depending on intensity of the traumatic experience and the extent to which it recruits associative versus nonassociative learning.
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20
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Reynolds AR, Saunders MA, Brewton HW, Winchester SR, Elgumati IS, Prendergast MA. Acute oral administration of the novel, competitive and selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist ORG 34517 reduces the severity of ethanol withdrawal and related hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 154:100-4. [PMID: 26143299 PMCID: PMC4536150 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of ethanol dependence is associated with alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and activation of type II glucocorticoid receptors (GR). These effects may contribute to withdrawal-associated anxiety, craving and relapse to drinking. The present studies examined acute and oral administration of the novel, selective and competitive GR antagonist ORG 34517 on the severity of ethanol withdrawal. METHODS Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol (4g/kg/i.g.) twice daily for 5 days followed by 2 days of withdrawal for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive cycles. Blood ethanol levels (BELs) were determined at 0930 on Day 4 of each week, while blood corticosterone levels (BCLs) were obtained at 11:00hours on the first day of each ethanol withdrawal. During early withdrawal, subjects received oral administration of ORG 345617 (60mg/kg/i.g.) or a placebo and withdrawal was monitored. RESULTS Peak BELs of 225.52mg/dl were observed during the third week. Withdrawal from three cycles of the regimen produced marked behavioral abnormalities (e.g., aggression, rigidity, and hypoactivity) and significant increases in BCLs of ethanol-dependent subjects. Acute, oral administration of ORG 34517 during early withdrawal significantly reduced both the severity of ethanol withdrawal, as reflected in reduced rigidity, aggression, and hypoactivity, and elevations in BCL without producing any sedative-like effects. CONCLUSIONS The present findings demonstrate that repeated ethanol exposure and withdrawal is associated with significant behavioral abnormalities and dysregulation of HPA axis activation. Further these data suggest that selective GR antagonists should be further considered as putative pharmacotherapies for treatment of ethanol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Reynolds
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
| | - Meredith A. Saunders
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
| | - Honoree’ W. Brewton
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
| | - Sydney R. Winchester
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
| | - Ibrahim S. Elgumati
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
| | - Mark A. Prendergast
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology,Universities of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
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Suri D, Vaidya VA. The adaptive and maladaptive continuum of stress responses – a hippocampal perspective. Rev Neurosci 2015; 26:415-42. [DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2014-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractExposure to stressors elicits a spectrum of responses that span from potentially adaptive to maladaptive consequences at the structural, cellular and physiological level. These responses are particularly pronounced in the hippocampus where they also appear to influence hippocampal-dependent cognitive function and emotionality. The factors that influence the nature of stress-evoked consequences include the chronicity, severity, predictability and controllability of the stressors. In addition to adult-onset stress, early life stress also elicits a wide range of structural and functional responses, which often exhibit life-long persistence. However, the outcome of early stress exposure is often contingent on the environment experienced in adulthood, and could either aid in stress coping or could serve to enhance susceptibility to the negative consequences of adult stress. This review comprehensively examines the consequences of adult and early life stressors on the hippocampus, with a focus on their effects on neurogenesis, neuronal survival, structural and synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent behaviors. Further, we discuss potential factors that may tip stress-evoked consequences from being potentially adaptive to largely maladaptive.
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22
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Chester JA, Kirchhoff AM, Barrenha GD. Relation between corticosterone and fear-related behavior in mice selectively bred for high or low alcohol preference. Addict Biol 2014; 19:663-75. [PMID: 23331637 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Blunted cortisol responses to stress or trauma have been linked with genetic (familial) risk for both alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mouse lines selectively bred for high (HAP) or low (LAP) alcohol preference may be a relevant model of genetic risk for co-morbid alcoholism and PTSD in humans. HAP mice show greater fear-potentiated startle (FPS), a model used to study PTSD, than LAP mice. The relation between corticosterone (CORT) and FPS behavior was explored in four experiments. Naïve male and female HAP2 and LAP2 mice received fear-conditioning or control treatments, and CORT levels were measured before and immediately after fear-conditioning or FPS testing. In two other experiments, HAP2 mice received CORT (1.0, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg) or a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (mifepristone; 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg) 30 minutes before fear conditioning. HAP2 mice exposed to fear conditioning and to control foot shock exposures showed lower CORT after the fear-conditioning and FPS testing sessions than LAP2 mice. A trend toward higher FPS was seen in HAP2 mice pretreated with 10.0 mg/kg CORT, and CORT levels were the lowest in this group, suggesting negative feedback inhibition of CORT release. Mifepristone did not alter FPS. Overall, these results are consistent with data in humans and rodents indicating that lower cortisol/CORT levels after stress are associated with PTSD/PTSD-like behavior. These findings in HAP2 and LAP2 mice suggest that a blunted CORT response to stress may be a biological marker for greater susceptibility to develop PTSD in individuals with increased genetic risk for alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Chester
- Department of Psychological Sciences; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
| | - Aaron M. Kirchhoff
- Department of Psychological Sciences; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
| | - Gustavo D. Barrenha
- Department of Psychological Sciences; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
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Brandewiede J, Jakovcevski M, Stork O, Schachner M. Role of stress system disturbance and enhanced novelty response in spatial learning of NCAM-deficient mice. Stress 2013; 16:638-46. [PMID: 24000815 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2013.840773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays a crucial role in stress-related brain function, emotional behavior and memory formation. In this study, we investigated the functions of the glucocorticoid and serotonergic systems in mice constitutively deficient for NCAM (NCAM-/- mice). Our data provide evidence for a hyperfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with enlarged adrenal glands and increased stress-induced corticosterone release, but reduced hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor expression in NCAM-/- mice when compared to NCAM+/+ mice. We also obtained evidence for a hypofunction of 5-HT1A autoreceptors as indicated by increased 8-0H-DPAT-induced hypothermia. These findings suggest a disturbance of both humoral and neural stress systems in NCAM-/- mice. Accordingly, we not only confirmed previously observed hyperarousal of NCAM-/- mice in various anxiety tests, but also observed an increased response to novelty exposure in these animals. Spatial learning deficits of the NCAM-/- mice in a Morris Water maze persisted, even when mice were pretrained to prevent effects of novelty or stress. We suggest that NCAM-mediated processes are involved in both novelty/stress-related emotional behavior and in cognitive function during spatial learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Brandewiede
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg , Hamburg , Germany
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Blockade of corticosteroid receptors induces anxiolytic-like effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and synergizes with diazepam. Behav Pharmacol 2013; 24:320-7. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e3283637de2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Morellini F. Spatial memory tasks in rodents: what do they model? Cell Tissue Res 2013; 354:273-86. [PMID: 23793547 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-013-1668-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of spatial learning and memory in rodents is commonly used to investigate the mechanisms underlying certain forms of human cognition and to model their dysfunction in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Proper interpretation of rodent behavior in terms of spatial memory and as a model of human cognitive functions is only possible if various navigation strategies and factors controlling the performance of the animal in a spatial task are taken into consideration. The aim of this review is to describe the experimental approaches that are being used for the study of spatial memory in rats and mice and the way that they can be interpreted in terms of general memory functions. After an introduction to the classification of memory into various categories and respective underlying neuroanatomical substrates, I explain the concept of spatial memory and its measurement in rats and mice by analysis of their navigation strategies. Subsequently, I describe the most common paradigms for spatial memory assessment with specific focus on methodological issues relevant for the correct interpretation of the results in terms of cognitive function. Finally, I present recent advances in the use of spatial memory tasks to investigate episodic-like memory in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Morellini
- AG Experimentelle Neuropädiatrie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany,
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Predicting PTSD: pre-existing vulnerabilities in glucocorticoid-signaling and implications for preventive interventions. Brain Behav Immun 2013; 30:12-21. [PMID: 22981834 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop in response to a traumatic event. Approximately 10% of trauma-exposed individuals subsequently develop PTSD. It is hypothesized that the development of PTSD is associated with biological vulnerability factors, which are already present prior to the onset of symptoms. In this review we present an overview of currently identified vulnerability factors in the glucocorticoid (GC) signaling pathway for the development of PTSD. In addition, the implications of the identified vulnerability factors for potential preventive intervention strategies, including glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonists and oxytocin, are discussed. Summarized, the findings of these studies indicate that individuals vulnerable for development of PTSD have dysregulations on various levels of the GC-signaling cascade: i.e. low levels of circulating levels of cortisol shortly after trauma, high GR number in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), high GILZ mRNA expression and low FKBP5 expression in PBMCs prior to trauma, and high sensitivity of T-cells for regulation by GCs prior to trauma. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GR and FKBP5 genes have been found to be associated with increased risk for PTSD. Collectively, the identified vulnerability factors tentatively suggest that the development of PTSD may be preceded by a high sensitivity of various cells for regulation by GCs. The identification of these vulnerability factors may ultimately aid selective targeting of preventive interventions towards individuals at risk for PTSD. In addition, the identification of these vulnerability factors may eventually result in new preventive pharmacological strategies for PTSD.
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Glucocorticoid receptor number predicts increase in amygdala activity after severe stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012; 37:1837-44. [PMID: 22503140 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Revised: 03/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Individuals who are exposed to a traumatic event are at increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have shown that increased amygdala activity is frequently found in patients with PTSD. In addition, pre-trauma glucocorticoid receptor (GR) number in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been found to be a significant predictor for the development of PTSD symptoms. Research in rodents has shown that the response of basolateral amygdala neurons to corticosterone is mediated by GR. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous study has investigated GR number in PBMCs and amygdala function in humans. METHODS To investigate whether peripheral GR number is related to amygdala functioning, we assessed GR number in PBMCs of healthy soldiers before their deployment to Afghanistan. Amygdala functioning was assessed with fMRI before and after deployment. RESULTS We found that pre-deployment GR number was significantly negatively correlated to pre-deployment amygdala activity. More importantly, pre-deployment GR number predicted the increase in amygdala activity by deployment. DISCUSSION Our results demonstrate that peripheral GR number is associated with amygdala functioning and predicts the increase in amygdala activity following military deployment in healthy individuals who did not develop PTSD. It is uncertain how this relationship is mediated mechanistically, but future studies should examine the relation of GR and amygdala activity to determine whether this is part of a common pathway leading to increased vulnerability to stress-related disorders.
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