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Casarrubea M, Di Giovanni G, Aiello S, Crescimanno G. The hole-board apparatus in the study of anxiety. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114346. [PMID: 37690695 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114346] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders pose a significant challenge in contemporary society, and their impact in terms of social and economic burden is overwhelming. Behavioral research conducted on animal subjects is crucial for comprehending these disorders and, from a translational standpoint, for introducing innovative therapeutic approaches. In this context, the Hole-Board apparatus has emerged as a widely utilized test for studying anxiety-related behaviors in rodents. Although a substantial body of literature underscores the utility and reliability of the Hole-Board in anxiety research, recent decades have witnessed a range of studies that have led to uncertainties and misinterpretations regarding the validity of this behavioral assay. The objective of this review is twofold: firstly, to underscore the utility and reliability of the Hole-Board assay, and concurrently, to examine the underlying factors contributing to potential misconceptions surrounding its utilization in the study of anxiety and anxiety-related behaviors. We will present results from both conventional quantitative analyses and multivariate approaches, while referencing a comprehensive collection of studies conducted using the Hole-Board.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Corso Tukory n.129, Palermo 90134, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Aiello
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Corso Tukory n.129, Palermo 90134, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Corso Tukory n.129, Palermo 90134, Italy
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Casarrubea M, Leca JB, Gunst N, Jonsson GK, Portell M, Di Giovanni G, Aiello S, Crescimanno G. Structural analyses in the study of behavior: From rodents to non-human primates. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1033561. [PMID: 36467208 PMCID: PMC9716108 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1033561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The term "structure" indicates a set of components that, in relation to each other, shape an organic complex. Such a complex takes on essential connotations of functionally unitary entity resulting from the mutual relationships of its constituent elements. In a broader sense, we can use the word "structure" to define the set of relationships among the elements of an emergent system that is not determined by the mere algebraic sum of these elements, but by the interdependence relationships of these components from which the function of the entire structure itself derives. The behavior of an integrated living being can be described in structural terms via an ethogram, defined as an itemized list of behavioral units. Akin to an architectural structure, a behavioral structure arises from the reciprocal relationships that the individual units of behavior establish. Like an architectural structure, the function of the resulting behaving complex emerges from the relationships of the parts. Hence, studying behavior in its wholeness necessitates not only the identification of its constitutive units in their autarchic individuality, but also, and importantly, some understanding of their relationships. This paper aimed to critically review different methods to study behavior in structural terms. First, we emphasized the utilization of T-pattern analysis, i.e., one of the most effective and reliable tools to provide structural information on behavior. Second, we discussed the application of other methodological approaches that are based on the analysis of transition matrices, such as hierarchical clustering, stochastic analyses, and adjusted residuals. Unlike T-pattern analysis, these methods allow researchers to explore behavioral structure beyond its temporal characteristics and through other relational constraints. After an overview of how these methods are used in the study of animal behavior, from rodents to non-human primates, we discussed the specificities, advantages and challenges of each approach. This paper could represent a useful background for all scientists who intend to study behavior both quantitatively and structurally, that is in terms of the reciprocal relationships that the various units of a given behavioral repertoire normally weave together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section “Giuseppe Pagano”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Jean-Baptiste Leca
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- School of Natural and Engineering Sciences, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India
| | - Noëlle Gunst
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Gudberg K. Jonsson
- Human Behavior Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Mariona Portell
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Stefania Aiello
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section “Giuseppe Pagano”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section “Giuseppe Pagano”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Coexistence of chronic hyperalgesia and multilevel neuroinflammatory responses after experimental SCI: a systematic approach to profiling neuropathic pain. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:264. [PMID: 36309729 PMCID: PMC9617391 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02628-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background People with spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently develop neuropathic pain (NP) that worsens disability and diminishes rehabilitation efficacy. Chronic NP is presently incurable due to poor understanding of underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that multilocus neuroinflammation (NIF) might be a driver of SCI NP, and tested it by investigating whether NP coexisted with central NIF, neurotransmission (NTM), neuromodulation (NML) and neuroplasticity (NPL) changes post-SCI. Methods Female Sprague–Dawley rats (230–250 g) with T10 compression or laminectomy were evaluated for physical conditions, coordinated hindlimb functions, neurological reflexes, and mechanical/thermal sensitivity thresholds at 1 day post-injury (p.i.) and weekly thereafter. Eight weeks p.i., central nervous system tissues were histochemically and immunohistochemically characterized for parameters/markers of histopathology and NIF/NTM/NML/NPL. Also analyzed was the correlative relationship between levels of selected biomarkers and thermosensitivity thresholds via statistical linear regression. Results SCI impaired sensorimotor functions, altered reflexes, and produced spontaneous pain signs and hypersensitivity to evoked nociceptive, mechanical, and thermal inputs. Only injured spinal cords exhibited neural lesion, microglia/astrocyte activation, and abnormal expression of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as NIF/NTM/NML/NPL markers. Brains of SCI animals displayed similar pathophysiological signs in the gracile and parabrachial nuclei (GrN and PBN: sensory relay), raphe magnus nucleus and periaqueduct gray (RMN and PAG: pain modulation), basolateral amygdala (BLA: emotional-affective dimension of pain), and hippocampus (HPC: memory/mood/neurogenesis). SCI augmented sensory NTM/NPL (GrN and PBN); increased GAD67 (PAG) level; reduced serotonin (RMN) and fear-off neuronal NTR2 (BLA) expressions; and perturbed neurogenesis (HPC). Conclusion T10 compression caused chronic hyperalgesia that coexisted with NIF/NTM/NML/NPL responses at multilevel neuroaxis centers. The data have provided multidimensional biomarkers as new mechanistic leads to profile SCI NP for therapeutic/therapy development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02628-2.
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Tariq U, Butt MS, Pasha I, Faisal MN. Neuroprotective effects of Olea europaea L. fruit extract against cigarette smoke-induced depressive-like behaviors in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Food Biochem 2021; 45:e14014. [PMID: 34796529 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Depression is broadly acclaimed as a mental health anomaly and despite advancements in the development of antidepressant drugs, they are linked with side effects. Dietary modifications and medicinal plants like olives can be used as effective strategies due to their antioxidant, immune-modulatory, antiinflammatory, and anticonvulsant properties. Considering the compositional alterations in olive fruits during ripening, the antidepressant potential of olive fruits at different degrees of ripeness, that is, un-ripened (green) and ripened (black) was investigated. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: G0 (Normal diet), G1 (Normal diet + smoke exposure (SE), G2 (Normal diet + SE + Citalopram), G3 (Normal diet + SE + Green olive extract), and G4 (Normal diet + SE + Black olive extract). Depressive-like behaviors were induced in all groups through cigarette smoke exposure except G0 . Green and black olive extracts prevented depressive behaviors by reducing the immobility time of rats in forced swim test and tail suspension test while increased the latency to respond in hot plate assay. Moreover, lipid peroxidation in brain tissue was reduced with citalopram, green, and black olive extracts. Additionally, treatments also enhanced the antioxidant pool of brain tissues. Histological examination revealed that olive extracts and citalopram prevented cigarette smoke-induced moderate to severe necrosis and congestion in the brain parenchyma and elucidated antidepressant potential by improving the expression of monoamine oxidase-A, solute carrier family 6 member 4, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes. Conclusively, olives may act as a promising antidepressant agent in ameliorating cigarette smoke-induced depressive-like behaviors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Olive extracts at both ripening stages revealed an antidepressant-like effect almost similar to the standard antidepressant drug and also prevented oxidative damages. Therefore, from the current findings, it can be recommended that food ingredients with antidepressant potential like olives should be incorporated in future interventions to combat depression/psychiatric anomalies and diet therapy should be encouraged to alleviate lifestyle-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urwa Tariq
- Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences, National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Masood Sadiq Butt
- Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences, National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Imran Pasha
- Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences, National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naeem Faisal
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Zhang M, Cheng J, Luo J, Hu J, Zhang Y, Sun Z, Cao P, Kong H, Qu H, Zhao Y. Development of Ecofriendly Carbon Dots for Improving Solubility and Antinociceptive Activity of Glycyrrhizic Acid. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2021; 17:640-651. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) with various pharmacological properties is extremely limited owing to its poor water solubility. To solve this problem, nanocarrier-nontoxic Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-derived carbon dots (GRR-CDs) with a narrow particle
distribution of (1.90 ±0.44) nm were developed by an ecofriendly, simple and low-cost calcination method using GRR as the sole precursor. Then, the solubility of GA was shown to be prominently improved up to 27 times by GRR-CDs via a convenient and cost-effective ultrasonic dispersion
method without needing to add any organic reagent. Various technologies were further used to demonstrate the interaction between GA and GRR-CDs. In addition, a release study in vitro exhibited a sustained release of GA for 24 h with a higher release ratio of up to 92.87% compared with
that of pure GA. A significantly higher antinociceptive activity of the GRR-CDs-GA complexes compared to unprocessed GRR-CDs and GA was further demonstrated in both hot-plate model and acetic acid-induced writhing model. These results support the promising application of GRR-CDs as a potential
tool for improving the solubility and antinociceptive activity of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as GA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jinjun Cheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Juan Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jie Hu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ziwei Sun
- National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hui Kong
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Huihua Qu
- Center of Scientific Experiment, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
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Maseroli E, Santangelo A, Lara-Fontes B, Quintana GR, Mac Cionnaith CE, Casarrubea M, Ricca V, Maggi M, Vignozzi L, Pfaus JG. The non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) facilitates sexual behavior in ovariectomized female rats primed with estradiol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 115:104606. [PMID: 32087523 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is still unclear whether Testosterone (T) increases sexual desire through a stimulation of the androgen receptor in relevant brain regions or through its conversion to estrogens. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of T facilitation of female sexual desire by assessing the effect of a non-aromatizable androgen (Dihydrotestosterone, DHT) in a validated animal model. Ovariectomized (OVX) Long-Evans rats were treated with oil (O) + O, 10 mcg Estradiol Benzoate (EB) + O, 10 mcg EB + 500 mcg Progesterone (P), O + 500 mcg DHT or 10 mcg EB + 500 mcg DHT (n = 12 per group). EB was administered 48 h, while P and DHT 4 h, prior to 4 sexual behavioral testing sessions in bisected unilevel pacing chambers. Appetitive behaviors (the frequencies of hops/darts and solicitations) were considered as the main outcome measure. Sexual receptivity indexes [lordosis magnitude, expressed as lordosis rating (LR), and lordosis quotient (LQ)], rejection responses, as well as mounts, intromissions and ejaculations received from the male were also coded. The probability of transition among sexual behaviors was evaluated by Transition Matrices; T-Pattern analysis was performed to detect hidden repeated temporal behavioral sequences. Preliminary analyses found no statistically significant differences between the O + O and EB + O groups, therefore we excluded the EB + O group from further analyses. Rats treated with EB + DHT displayed significantly more appetitive behaviors compared to negative controls (O + O and O + DHT), whereas no difference was observed between EB + DHT rats and positive controls (EB + P); noteworthy, a higher number of appetitive behaviors was observed in the O + DHT group compared to the O + O group. Furthermore, rats treated with EB + DHT showed significantly higher receptivity measures (LR and LQ) and received more mounts, intromissions and ejaculations compared to negative controls (O + O and O + DHT), to levels equivalent to EB + P. No differences were detected in female-male mounts or rejection responses among the 4 groups. Under a qualitative perspective, full solicitation was found exclusively in T-patterns of the EB + DHT group, which was also the only one to display T-patterns of higher order encompassing appetitive behaviors-only events. In conclusion, the administration of DHT in EB-primed OVX Long-Evans rats enhances sexual behavior measures. Specifically, DHT seems to stimulate sequences of appetitive behaviors separated from copulative/reproductive measures. Our data support an independent role of androgens in the facilitation of female sexual desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maseroli
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Andrea Santangelo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences. University of Florence, Italy; Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.). Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Corso Tukory 129, Palermo 90134, Italy
| | - Beatriz Lara-Fontes
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada; Centro De Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, VER 91193, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Renato Quintana
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Conall E Mac Cionnaith
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Maurizio Casarrubea
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.). Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Corso Tukory 129, Palermo 90134, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences. University of Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; I.N.B.B., Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, Viale Delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, Rome 00136, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; I.N.B.B., Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, Viale Delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, Rome 00136, Italy.
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada; Centro De Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, VER 91193, Mexico
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Zhang M, Cheng J, Zhang Y, Kong H, Wang S, Luo J, Qu H, Zhao Y. Green synthesis of Zingiberis rhizoma-based carbon dots attenuates chemical and thermal stimulus pain in mice. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2020; 15:851-869. [PMID: 32238028 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the analgesic activity of Zingiberis rhizoma-based carbon dots (ZR-CDs). Materials & methods: Novel ZR-CDs were prepared via a facile, green pyrolysis method. Microstructure, optical and functional group properties were characterized. Acetic acid writhing, hot-plate and tail-immersion tests were performed using mice to evaluate the analgesic activity of ZR-CDs, followed by a preliminary study on the analgesic mechanism. Results: ZR-CDs with a quantum yield of 5.2% had a diameter ranging from 2.23 to 3.77 nm. Remarkable analgesic effect of ZR-CDs was observed against both thermal and chemical stimulus tests, possibly mediated by an opioid-like mechanism and the regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine levels. Conclusion: ZR-CDs have a promising potential for biomedical application in relieving pain-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Jinjun Cheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Hui Kong
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Suna Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Juan Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Huihua Qu
- Center of Scientific Experiment, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
| | - Yan Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, PR China
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Casarrubea M, Aiello S, Santangelo A, Di Giovanni G, Crescimanno G. Different Representation Procedures Originated from Multivariate Temporal Pattern Analysis of the Behavioral Response to Pain in Wistar Rats Tested in a Hot-Plate under Morphine. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E233. [PMID: 31547468 PMCID: PMC6770233 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9090233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal pattern analysis is an advanced multivariate technique able to investigate the structure of behavior by unveiling the existence of statistically significant constraints among the interval length separating events in sequence. If on the one hand, such an approach allows investigating the behavioral response to pain in its most intimate and inner features, on the other hand, due to the meaning of the studies on pain, it is of relevant importance that the results utilize intuitive and easily comprehensible ways of representation. The aim of this paper is to show various procedures useful to represent the results originating from the multivariate T-pattern analysis of the behavioral response to pain in Wistar rats tested in a hot-plate and IP injected morphine or saline as a control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo 90133, Italy.
| | - Stefania Aiello
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo 90133, Italy.
| | - Andrea Santangelo
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo 90133, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida 2080, Malta.
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo 90133, Italy.
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Rabelo-da-Ponte FD, Pessoa Gomes JM, Torres NL, Barbosa JIC, de Andrade GM, Macedo D, Ceppi B. Behavioral, affective, and cognitive alterations induced by individual and combined environmental stressors in rats. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2019; 41:289-296. [PMID: 30892378 PMCID: PMC6804305 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2018-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether exposing rats to individual or combined environmental stressors triggers endophenotypes related to mood and anxiety disorders, and whether this effect depends on the nature of the behavior (i.e., innate or learned). METHODS We conducted a three-phase experimental protocol. In phase I (baseline), animals subjected to mixed schedule of reinforcement were trained to press a lever with a fixed interval of 1 minute and a limited hold of 3 seconds. On the last day of phase I, an open-field test was performed and the animals were divided into four experimental groups (n=8/group). In phase II (repeated stress), each group was exposed to either hot air blast (HAB), paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) or both (HAB+PSD group) on alternate days over a 10-day period. Control group animals were not exposed to stressors. In phase III (post-stress evaluation), behavior was analyzed on the first (short-term effects), third (mid-term effects), and fifth (long-term effects) days after repeated stress. RESULTS The PSD group presented operant hyperactivity, the HAB group presented spontaneous hypoactivity and anxiety, and the HAB+PSD group presented spontaneous hyperactivity, operant hypoactivity, impulsivity, loss of interest, and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION A combination of environmental stressors (HAB and PSD) may induce endophenotypes related to bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nathércia Lima Torres
- Departamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | - Geanne Matos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Neurociências e Comportamento, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Danielle Macedo
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Medicamentos, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina (INCT-TM), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Ceppi
- Laboratório de Neurociências e Comportamento, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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Repeated “Day 1” FOB testing in ICH S7A safety assessment protocols: The influence of within- and between-session learning. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2017; 85:61-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Effects of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG7142 on the structure of anxiety-related behavior of male Wistar rats tested in hole board. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:381-391. [PMID: 27838748 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4474-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Little is known about the structural characteristics of the behavior of rats with enhanced anxiety level. To fill this gap, a study was undertaken where effects of an anxiogenic drug were examined on behavioral structure of rats tested in hole board. OBJECTIVES This study investigates effects of increased anxiety level on the structure of the behavior of rats tested in hole board METHODS: Different doses of FG7142 (1, 4, 8 mg/kg IP), a potent anxiety-inducing drug, were administered to three groups of male Wistar rats. A further group was administered saline. Experiments were recorded through a digital camera. Quantitative and multivariate approaches were applied. RESULTS Percent distributions and durations showed increases of immobile sniffing, rearing, head dip, and edge sniff and a significant reduction of grooming activities and of walking. In addition, a decrease of head dip/edge sniff ratio was detected. Transition matrices evidenced that FG7142 provoked evident modifications of behavioral structure mainly of general exploration of environment and focused exploration of the hole. Finally, adjusted residuals showed a reduced effectiveness of FG7142 on transitions from head dip to edge sniff; on the contrary, transitions from edge sniff to head dip underwent evident dose-dependent changes. CONCLUSIONS Present study provides a useful tool to analyze behavioral responses to different anxiety conditions. Accordingly, it is demonstrated that a condition of increased anxiety deeply modifies the structure of male Wistar rat's behavior in hole board. In addition, our results suggest that evaluation of head dip/edge sniff ratio can be considered a reliable index to appraise effects of pharmacological manipulation of anxiety and related behavioral elements.
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Li CL, Liu XF, Li GX, Ban MQ, Chen JZ, Cui Y, Zhang JH, Wu CF. Antinociceptive Effects of AGAP, a Recombinant Neurotoxic Polypeptide: Possible Involvement of the Tetrodotoxin-Resistant Sodium Channels in Small Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:496. [PMID: 28066245 PMCID: PMC5168466 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Antitumor-analgesic peptide (AGAP) is a novel recombinant polypeptide. The primary study showed that AGAP 1.0 mg/kg exhibited strong analgesic and antitumor effects. The tail vein administration of AGAP potently reduced pain behaviors in mice induced by intraplantar injection of formalin or intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid, without affecting basal pain perception. To further assess the mechanisms of AGAP, the effects of AGAP on sodium channels were assessed using the whole-cell patch clamp recordings in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. The results showed that AGAP (3–1000 nM) inhibited the sodium currents in small-diameter DRG neurons in a dose-dependent manner. 1000 nM AGAP could inhibit the current density-voltage relationship curve of sodium channels in a voltage-dependent manner and negatively shift the activation curves. 1000 nM AGAP could reduce the tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium currents by 42.8% in small-diameter DRG neurons. Further analysis revealed that AGAP potently inhibited NaV1.8 currents by 59.4%, and negatively shifted the activation and inactivation kinetics. 1000 nM AGAP also reduced the NaV1.9 currents by 33.7%, but had no significant effect on activation and inactivation kinetics. Thus, our results demonstrated that submicromolar concentrations of AGAP inhibited TTX-R sodium channel in rat small-diameter DRG neurons. It is concluded that these new results may better explain, at least in part, the analgesic properties of this polypeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Li Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Xi-Fang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Gui-Xia Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Meng-Qi Ban
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Jian-Zhao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Yong Cui
- Department of Biochemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Jing-Hai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
| | - Chun-Fu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Shenyang, China
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Casarrubea M, Faulisi F, Magnusson MS, Crescimanno G. The effects of morphine on the temporal structure of Wistar rat behavioral response to pain in hot-plate. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:2891-900. [PMID: 27235015 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4334-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The largest amount of researches on the hot-plate test was carried out using quantitative assessments. However, the evaluation of the relationships among the different elements that compose the behavioral response to pain requires different approaches. Although previous studies have provided clear information on the behavioral structure of the response, no data are available on its temporal structure. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate the temporal structure of the behavioral response to pain in Wistar rat tested in hot-plate and how this structure was influenced by morphine-induced analgesia. METHODS The behavior of four groups of subjects tested in hot-plate, one administered saline and three with different doses (3, 6, 12 mg/kg) of morphine IP, was analyzed by means of quantitative and t-pattern analyses. The latter is a multivariate technique able to detect the existence of statistically significant temporal relationships among the behavioral events in time. RESULTS A clear-cut influence of morphine on quantitative parameters of the response to the noxious stimulation was observed. T-pattern analysis evidenced profound structural changes of behavior. Twenty-four different t-patterns were identified following saline, whereas a dose-dependent reduction was observed following morphine. Such a reduction was accompanied by a decrease of the total amount of t-patterns detected. CONCLUSIONS Morphine, by reducing the effects of the noxious stimulation, orients animal behavior prevalently toward exploratory t-patterns. In addition, it is suggested that the temporal structure of the response is very quickly organized and adapted to environmental noxious cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabiana Faulisi
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134, Palermo, Italy.
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14
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Casarrubea M, Faulisi F, Caternicchia F, Santangelo A, Di Giovanni G, Benigno A, Magnusson MS, Crescimanno G. Temporal patterns of rat behaviour in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. Comparative analysis between male subjects of strains with different basal levels of emotionality. J Neurosci Methods 2015; 268:155-62. [PMID: 26247889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We have analyzed the temporal patterns of behaviour of male rats of the Wistar and DA/Han strains on the central platform of the elevated plus maze. The ethogram encompassed 10 behavioural elements. Durations, frequencies and latencies showed quantitative differences as to walking and sniffing activities. Wistar rats displayed significantly lower latency and significantly higher durations and frequencies of walking activities. DA/Han rats showed a significant increase of sniffing duration. In addition, DA/Han rats showed a significantly higher amount of time spent in the central platform. Multivariate T-pattern analysis revealed differences in the temporal organization of behaviour of the two rat strains. DA/Han rats showed (a) higher behavioural complexity and variability and (b) a significantly higher mean number of T-patterns than Wistar rats. Taken together, T-pattern analysis of behaviour in the centre of the elevated plus maze can noticeably improve the detection of subtle features of anxiety related behaviour. We suggest that T-pattern analysis could be used as sensitive tool to test the action of anxiolytic and anxiogenic manipulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Casarrubea
- Dept of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - F Faulisi
- Dept of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - F Caternicchia
- Dept of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - A Santangelo
- Dept of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - G Di Giovanni
- Dept of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - A Benigno
- Dept of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - M S Magnusson
- Human Behavior Laboratory, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - G Crescimanno
- Dept of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
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15
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Casarrubea M, Faulisi F, Sorbera F, Crescimanno G. The effects of different basal levels of anxiety on the behavioral shift analyzed in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. Behav Brain Res 2014; 281:55-61. [PMID: 25510198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present research was to study the effects of different basal levels of anxiety on the behavioral shift studied in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. To this purpose, quantitative and multivariate analyses, the latter based on transition matrix elaboration, were carried out on Wistar and on DA/Han rats the latter belonging to a strain characterized by different reactivity to anxiogenic stimuli. Wistar rats spent 74.11±5.11 s in the central platform, whereas DA/Han significantly more: 127.08±9.87. Per cent distributions evidenced a clear-cut difference in walking activities (46.25% in Wistar, 28.4% in DA/Han rats) and in the sniffing activities (45.82% in Wistar, 62.54% in DA/Han). Mean frequencies of each behavioral element showed in DA/Han strain a value significantly lower than in Wistar for central-platform entry, open arm-entry and closed-arm entry and a significant higher value for central- platform sniffing, open-arm sniffing and corner-rearing. Moreover, the ratio open-arm entry/open-arm sniffing and closed-arm entry/closed-arm-sniffing showed significant higher values in the Wistar strain. Finally, by means of hierarchical clustering analysis, strong differences between the two strains were observed in the behavioral architecture: a cascade-shaped dendrogram, branching from Walking activities, indicates that Wistar rat behavior is oriented to cross the central platform so to rapidly reach an arm; on the contrary, the dendrogram of DA/Han rats displays a behavior heavily oriented toward the permanence in the central platform. The results show that different basal levels of anxiety provoke significant differences in the behavioral shift studied in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. Such differences, evidenced by means of transition matrices elaboration, might represent the behavioral expression of anxiety-induced modifications of decision making process underlying behavioral shift activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Casarrubea
- Dept. of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Faulisi
- Dept. of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Filippina Sorbera
- Dept. of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Dept. of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Human Physiology Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-sixth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2013 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia; stress and social status; tolerance and dependence; learning and memory; eating and drinking; alcohol and drugs of abuse; sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology; mental illness and mood; seizures and neurologic disorders; electrical-related activity and neurophysiology; general activity and locomotion; gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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17
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Jiang H, Fang D, Kong LY, Jin ZR, Cai J, Kang XJ, Wan Y, Xing GG. Sensitization of neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala via the decreased GABAergic inhibition contributes to the development of neuropathic pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in rats. Mol Brain 2014; 7:72. [PMID: 25277376 PMCID: PMC4201706 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-014-0072-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite high prevalence of anxiety accompanying with chronic pain, the mechanisms underlying pain-related anxiety are largely unknown. With its well-documented role in pain and emotion processing, the amygdala may act as a key player in pathogenesis of neuropathic pain-related anxiety. Pain-related plasticity and sensitization of CeA (central nucleus of the amygdala) neurons have been shown in several models of chronic pain. In addition, firing pattern of neurons with spike output can powerfully affect functional output of the brain nucleus, and GABAergic neurons are crucial in the modulation of neuronal excitability. In this study, we first investigated whether pain-related plasticity (e.g. alteration of neuronal firing patterns) and sensitization of CeA neurons contribute to nerve injury-evoked anxiety in neuropathic rats. Furthermore, we explored whether GABAergic disinhibition is responsible for regulating firing patterns and intrinsic excitabilities of CeA neurons as well as for pain-related anxiety in neuropathic rats. RESULTS We discovered that spinal nerve ligation (SNL) produced neuropathic pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in rats, which could be specifically inhibited by intra-CeA administration of anti-anxiety drug diazepam. Moreover, we found potentiated plasticity and sensitization of CeA neurons in SNL-induced anxiety rats, of which including: 1) increased burst firing pattern and early-adapting firing pattern; 2) increased spike frequency and intrinsic excitability; 3) increased amplitude of both after-depolarized-potential (ADP) and sub-threshold membrane potential oscillation. In addition, we observed a remarkable reduction of GABAergic inhibition in CeA neurons in SNL-induced anxiety rats, which was proved to be important for altered firing patterns and hyperexcitability of CeA neurons, thereby greatly contributing to the development of neuropathic pain-related anxiety. Accordantly, activation of GABAergic inhibition by intra-CeA administration of muscimol, a selective GABAA receptors agonist, could inhibit SNL-induced anxiety-like behaviors in neuropathic rats. By contrast, suppression of GABAergic inhibition by intra-CeA administration of bicuculline, a selective GABAA receptors antagonist, produced anxiety-like behavior in normal rats. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that reduction of GABAergic inhibition may be responsible for potentiated plasticity and sensitization of CeA neurons, which likely underlie the enhanced output of amygdala and neuropathic pain-related anxiety in SNL rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Dong Fang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Ling-Yu Kong
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Zi-Run Jin
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Jie Cai
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Xue-Jing Kang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - You Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China. .,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Guo-Gang Xing
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xue-Yuan Road, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China. .,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China. .,Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
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18
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Hånell A, Marklund N. Structured evaluation of rodent behavioral tests used in drug discovery research. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:252. [PMID: 25100962 PMCID: PMC4106406 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A large variety of rodent behavioral tests are currently being used to evaluate traits such as sensory-motor function, social interactions, anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior, substance dependence and various forms of cognitive function. Most behavioral tests have an inherent complexity, and their use requires consideration of several aspects such as the source of motivation in the test, the interaction between experimenter and animal, sources of variability, the sensory modality required by the animal to solve the task as well as costs and required work effort. Of particular importance is a test’s validity because of its influence on the chance of successful translation of preclinical results to clinical settings. High validity may, however, have to be balanced against practical constraints and there are no behavioral tests with optimal characteristics. The design and development of new behavioral tests is therefore an ongoing effort and there are now well over one hundred tests described in the contemporary literature. Some of them are well established following extensive use, while others are novel and still unproven. The task of choosing a behavioral test for a particular project may therefore be daunting and the aim of the present review is to provide a structured way to evaluate rodent behavioral tests aimed at drug discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Hånell
- Department of Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden ; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Niklas Marklund
- Department of Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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Heinla I, Leidmaa E, Visnapuu T, Philips MA, Vasar E. Enrichment and individual housing reinforce the differences in aggressiveness and amphetamine response in 129S6/SvEv and C57BL/6 strains. Behav Brain Res 2014; 267:66-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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20
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Casarrubea M, Magnusson MS, Roy V, Arabo A, Sorbera F, Santangelo A, Faulisi F, Crescimanno G. Multivariate temporal pattern analysis applied to the study of rat behavior in the elevated plus maze: methodological and conceptual highlights. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 234:116-26. [PMID: 24932963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aim of this article is to illustrate the application of a multivariate approach known as t-pattern analysis in the study of rat behavior in elevated plus maze. By means of this multivariate approach, significant relationships among behavioral events in the course of time can be described. Both quantitative and t-pattern analyses were utilized to analyze data obtained from fifteen male Wistar rats following a trial 1-trial 2 protocol. In trial 2, in comparison with the initial exposure, mean occurrences of behavioral elements performed in protected zones of the maze showed a significant increase counterbalanced by a significant decrease of mean occurrences of behavioral elements in unprotected zones. Multivariate t-pattern analysis, in trial 1, revealed the presence of 134 t-patterns of different composition. In trial 2, the temporal structure of behavior become more simple, being present only 32 different t-patterns. Behavioral strings and stripes (i.e. graphical representation of each t-pattern onset) of all t-patterns were presented both for trial 1 and trial 2 as well. Finally, percent distributions in the three zones of the maze show a clear-cut increase of t-patterns in closed arm and a significant reduction in the remaining zones. Results show that previous experience deeply modifies the temporal structure of rat behavior in the elevated plus maze. In addition, this article, by highlighting several conceptual, methodological and illustrative aspects on the utilization of t-pattern analysis, could represent a useful background to employ such a refined approach in the study of rat behavior in elevated plus maze.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Casarrubea
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - M S Magnusson
- Human Behavior Laboratory, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - V Roy
- PSY-NCA, EA4700, Laboratoire de Psychologie et de Neurosciences de la Cognition et de l'Affectivité, Université de Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
| | - A Arabo
- PSY-NCA, EA4700, Laboratoire de Psychologie et de Neurosciences de la Cognition et de l'Affectivité, Université de Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
| | - F Sorbera
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - A Santangelo
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - F Faulisi
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - G Crescimanno
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Laboratory of Behavioral Physiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
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