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Singh P, Agrawal P, Singh KP. Prenatal exposure to vortioxetine and vilazodone: Impact on depressive- and anxiety-like behavioral manifestations in young rat offspring. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115128. [PMID: 38945303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of people worldwide, with women at a higher risk during the childbearing age. Vortioxetine (VOX) and Vilazodone (VLZ) are newer antidepressants with improved therapeutic profile commonly used, but their safety during pregnancy and long-term effects on offspring are poorly understood due to paucity of literature in preclinical and clinical studies. This study aimed to investigate whether prenatal exposure to VOX and VLZ impacts depressive- and anxiety-like neurobehavioral alterations in offspring, focusing on neurotransmitter-mediated mechanisms. Pregnant Wistar dams received either VOX or VLZ, 1 mg/day and 2 mg/day of the drug orally from gestation day (GD) 6-21. The dams naturally delivered their offspring and reared until they reached postnatal day (PND) 21. Offspring of both sexes were tested for display of depressive-and anxiety-like behaviors from PND 56-70. After PND 70, offspring were sacrificed, and their brains were collected to estimate neurotransmitter levels. As per protocol, controls were maintained simultaneously for each experimental design. Prenatal exposure to VOX or VLZ induced an increased state of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in both male and female offspring. Additionally, neurotransmitter (serotonin, dopamine, and nor-epinephrine) levels in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain were substantially reduced in exposed offspring. No sex specific neurobehavioral and neurochemical implications were observed in the present study. Our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to VOX and VLZ disrupts neurochemical balance in the fetal brain, leading to long-lasting neurobehavioral impairments in offspring of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Singh
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
| | - Priyanka Agrawal
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
| | - K P Singh
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
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2
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Boillot M, ter Horst J, López JR, Di Fazio I, Steens ILM, Cohen MX, Homberg JR. Serotonin transporter knockout in rats reduces beta- and gamma-band functional connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala during auditory discrimination. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae334. [PMID: 39128940 PMCID: PMC11317204 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala collaborate in outcome-guided decision-making through reciprocal projections. While serotonin transporter knockout (SERT-/-) rodents show changes in outcome-guided decision-making, and in orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala neuronal activity, it remains unclear whether SERT genotype modulates orbitofrontal cortex-amygdala synchronization. We trained SERT-/- and SERT+/+ male rats to execute a task requiring to discriminate between two auditory stimuli, one predictive of a reward (CS+) and the other not (CS-), by responding through nose pokes in opposite-side ports. Overall, task acquisition was not influenced by genotype. Next, we simultaneously recorded local field potentials in the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala of both hemispheres while the rats performed the task. Behaviorally, SERT-/- rats showed a nonsignificant trend for more accurate responses to the CS-. Electrophysiologically, orbitofrontal cortex-amygdala synchronization in the beta and gamma frequency bands during response selection was significantly reduced and associated with decreased hubness and clustering coefficient in both regions in SERT-/- rats compared to SERT+/+ rats. Conversely, theta synchronization at the time of behavioral response in the port associated with reward was similar in both genotypes. Together, our findings reveal the modulation by SERT genotype of the orbitofrontal cortex-amygdala functional connectivity during an auditory discrimination task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Boillot
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jordi ter Horst
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - José Rey López
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ilaria Di Fazio
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Indra L M Steens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Michael X Cohen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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3
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Homberg JR, Brivio P, Greven CU, Calabrese F. Individuals being high in their sensitivity to the environment: Are sensitive period changes in play? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105605. [PMID: 38417743 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105605] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
All individuals on planet earth are sensitive to the environment, but some more than others. These individual differences in sensitivity to environments are seen across many animal species including humans, and can influence personalities as well as vulnerability and resilience to mental disorders. Yet, little is known about the underlying brain mechanisms. Key genes that contribute to individual differences in environmental sensitivity are the serotonin transporter, dopamine D4 receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes. By synthesizing neurodevelopmental findings of these genetic factors, and discussing them through the lens of mechanisms related to sensitive periods, which are phases of heightened neuronal plasticity during which a certain network is being finetuned by experiences, we propose that these genetic factors delay but extend postnatal sensitive periods. This may explain why sensitive individuals show behavioral features that are characteristic of a young brain state at the level of sensory information processing, such as reduced filtering or blockade of irrelevant information, resulting in a sensory processing system that 'keeps all options open'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Corina U Greven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Center, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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4
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Anshu K, Nair AK, Srinath S, Laxmi TR. Altered Developmental Trajectory in Male and Female Rats in a Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:4390-4411. [PMID: 35976506 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05684-y] [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] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Early motor and sensory developmental delays precede Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis and may serve as early indicators of ASD. The literature on sensorimotor development in animal models is sparse, male centered, and has mixed findings. We characterized early development in a prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD and found sex-specific developmental delays in VPA rats. We created a developmental composite score combining 15 test readouts, yielding a reliable gestalt measure spanning physical, sensory, and motor development, that effectively discriminated between VPA and control groups. Considering the heterogeneity in ASD phenotype, the developmental composite offers a robust metric that can enable comparison across different animal models of ASD and can serve as an outcome measure for early intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari Anshu
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53705, WI, USA
| | - Ajay Kumar Nair
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53703, WI, USA
| | - Shoba Srinath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - T Rao Laxmi
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India.
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5
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Linhares SSG, Meurer YDSR, de Aquino ACQ, Câmara DDA, Brandão LEM, Fiuza FP, Lima RH, Engelberth RCJG, Cavalcante JS. Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine modulates emotionality and aversive memory in male and female rat offspring. Behav Pharmacol 2022; 33:575-588. [PMID: 36256730 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, women are prone to depression, for which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, are usually the first-line treatment. However, fluoxetine can cross the placental barrier and affect fetuses, causing changes in serotonin levels early in life. Long-term effects in the brain circuits that control cognitive and emotional behavior are related to early fluoxetine exposure during development. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fluoxetine exposure (10 mg/kg/day) from the 13th gestational day (GD13) to GD21 may lead to behavioral emotional-cognitive changes in male and female rat offspring approximately 90 days postnatally (~PN90). We have analyzed the performance of individuals in the open field and in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, which assesses anxiety and learning/memory processing behaviors. We have found that prenatal (GD13-GD21) exposure to fluoxetine strengthened aversive memory and induced higher anxiety levels in males, and quick extinction of aversive memory in females. Taken together, these results suggest that early exposure to fluoxetine impairs the basal state of anxiety and the cognitive functions of rats during adulthood, which may be in a sex-specific manner because males appear more susceptible than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sophia G Linhares
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ywlliane da Silva R Meurer
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Queiroz de Aquino
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Diego de Aquino Câmara
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Porto Fiuza
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Ramón Hypolito Lima
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Rovena Clara J G Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Souza Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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6
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Alachkar A. Aromatic patterns: Tryptophan aromaticity as a catalyst for the emergence of life and rise of consciousness. Phys Life Rev 2022; 42:93-114. [PMID: 35905538 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sunlight held the key to the origin of life on Earth. The earliest life forms, cyanobacteria, captured the sunlight to generate energy through photosynthesis. Life on Earth evolved in accordance with the circadian rhythms tied to sensitivity to sunlight patterns. A unique feature of cyanobacterial photosynthetic proteins and circadian rhythms' molecules, and later of nearly all photon-sensing molecules throughout evolution, is that the aromatic amino acid tryptophan (Trp) resides at the center of light-harvesting active sites. In this perspective, I review the literature and integrate evidence from different scientific fields to explore the role Trp plays in photon-sensing capabilities of living organisms through its resonance delocalization of π-electrons. The observations presented here are the product of apparently unrelated phenomena throughout evolution, but nevertheless share consistent patterns of photon-sensing by Trp-containing and Trp-derived molecules. I posit the unique capacity to transfer electrons during photosynthesis in the earliest life forms is conferred to Trp due to its aromaticity. I propose this ability evolved to assume more complex functions, serving as a host for mechanisms underlying mental aptitudes - a concept which provides a theoretical basis for defining the neural correlates of consciousness. The argument made here is that Trp aromaticity may have allowed for the inception of the mechanistic building blocks used to fabricate complexity in higher forms of life. More specifically, Trp aromatic non-locality may have acted as a catalyst for the emergence of consciousness by instigating long-range synchronization and stabilizing the large-scale coherence of neural networks, which mediate functional brain activity. The concepts proposed in this perspective provide a conceptual foundation that invites further interdisciplinary dialogue aimed at examining and defining the role of aromaticity (beyond Trp) in the emergence of life and consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Alachkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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7
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Biancardi V, Patrone LGA, Vicente MC, Marques DA, Bicego KC, Funk GD, Gargaglioni LH. Prenatal fluoxetine has long lasting, differential effects on respiratory control in male and female rats. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2022; 133:371-389. [PMID: 35708704 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00020.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is an important modulator of brain networks that control breathing. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) is the first-line antidepressant drug prescribed during pregnancy. We investigated the effects of prenatal FLX on baseline breathing, ventilatory and metabolic responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia as well as number of brainstem 5-HT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons of rats during postnatal development (P0-82). Prenatal FLX exposure of males showed a lower baseline that appeared in juveniles and remained in adulthood, with no sleep-wake state dependency. Prenatal FLX exposure of females did not affect baseline breathing. Juvenile male FLX rats showed increased CO2 and hypoxic ventilatory responses, normalizing by adulthood. Alterations in juvenile-FLX treated males were associated with greater number of 5-HT neurons in the ROB and RMAG. Adult FLX-exposed males showed greater number of 5-HT neurons in the RPA and TH neurons in the A5, while reduced number of TH neurons in A7. Prenatal FLX exposure of female rats was associated with greater hyperventilation induced by hypercapnia at P0-2 and juveniles whereas P12-14 and adult FLX (NREM sleep) rats showed an attenuation of the hypercapnic hyperventilation.FLX-exposed females had fewer 5-HT neurons in the RPA and reduced TH A6 density at P0-2; and greater number of TH neurons in the A7 at P12-14. These data indicate that prenatal FLX exposure affects the number of neurons of some monoaminergic regions in the brain and results in long lasting, sex specific changes in baseline breathing pattern and ventilatory responses to respiratory challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Biancardi
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Luis Gustavo A Patrone
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariane C Vicente
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danuzia A Marques
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Pediatrics, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Kênia C Bicego
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gregory D Funk
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Luciane H Gargaglioni
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Moraga-Amaro R, Díaz-Galarce R, Donoso-Ramos JP, Ugalde V, Linsambarth S, Doorduin J, de Vries EF, Ampuero E, Peña F, Pacheco R, Wyneken U, Stehberg J. Prenatal fluoxetine impairs non-hippocampal but not hippocampal memory in adult male rat offspring. Neuropharmacology 2021; 197:108751. [PMID: 34375626 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Fluoxetine is often prescribed to treat depression during pregnancy. Rodent studies have shown that fluoxetine exposure during early development can induce persistent changes in the emotional behavior of the offspring. However, the effects of prenatal fluoxetine on memory have not been elucidated. This study evaluates the memory of adult male offspring from rat dams orally administered with a clinically relevant dose of 0.7 mg/kg fluoxetine from 9 weeks before pregnancy to 1 week before delivery. Hippocampal-dependent (Morris Water Maze, MWM) and non-hippocampal-dependent (Novel Object Recognition, NOR) memory paradigms were assessed. Anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms were also evaluated using the Open Field Test, Tail Suspension Test and Sucrose Preference Test. Male rats exposed to fluoxetine during gestation displayed NOR memory impairments during adulthood, as well as increased anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms. In the MWM, the offspring of fluoxetine-treated dams did not show learning deficits. However, a retention impairment was found on remote memory, 15 days after the end of training. Molecular analyses showed increased expression of NMDA subunit NR2B, and a decrease in NR2A-to- NR2B ratio in the temporal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, suggesting changes in NMDA receptor composition. These results suggest that in utero exposure to fluoxetine induces detrimental effects on non-hippocampal memory and in remote retention of hippocampal-dependent memory, which is believed to be stored in the temporal cortex, possibly due to changes in cortical NMDA receptor subunit stoichiometry. The present results warrant the need for studies on potential remote memory deficits in human offspring exposed to fluoxetine in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moraga-Amaro
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Raul Díaz-Galarce
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan P Donoso-Ramos
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Ugalde
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, 7510156, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio Linsambarth
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Janine Doorduin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Fj de Vries
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Estibaliz Ampuero
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Alameda 3363, Estación Central, Santiago, 9170022, Chile
| | - Francisca Peña
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Pacheco
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, 7510156, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ursula Wyneken
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Universidad de los Andes, Chile
| | - Jimmy Stehberg
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
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9
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Willadsen M, Uengoer M, Sługocka A, Schwarting RK, Homberg JR, Wöhr M. Fear Extinction and Predictive Trait-Like Inter-Individual Differences in Rats Lacking the Serotonin Transporter. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137088. [PMID: 34209318 PMCID: PMC8268876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are associated with a failure to sufficiently extinguish fear memories. The serotonergic system (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) with the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT, SERT) is strongly implicated in the regulation of anxiety and fear. In the present study, we examined the effects of SERT deficiency on fear extinction in a differential fear conditioning paradigm in male and female rats. Fear-related behavior displayed during acquisition, extinction, and recovery, was measured through quantification of immobility and alarm 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Trait-like inter-individual differences in novelty-seeking, anxiety-related behavior, habituation learning, cognitive performance, and pain sensitivity were examined for their predictive value in forecasting fear extinction. Our results show that SERT deficiency strongly affected the emission of 22-kHz USV during differential fear conditioning. During acquisition, extinction, and recovery, SERT deficiency consistently led to a reduction in 22-kHz USV emission. While SERT deficiency did not affect immobility during acquisition, genotype differences started to emerge during extinction, and during recovery rats lacking SERT showed higher levels of immobility than wildtype littermate controls. Recovery was reflected in increased levels of immobility but not 22-kHz USV emission. Prominent sex differences were evident. Among several measures for trait-like inter-individual differences, anxiety-related behavior had the best predictive quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Willadsen
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
| | - Metin Uengoer
- Associative Learning, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Anna Sługocka
- Department for Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 4, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Rainer K.W. Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenberg-Str. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
- KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32–16–19–45–57
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10
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Adjimann TS, Argañaraz CV, Soiza-Reilly M. Serotonin-related rodent models of early-life exposure relevant for neurodevelopmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:280. [PMID: 33976122 PMCID: PMC8113523 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01388-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are continuously rising their prevalence across the globe. Early-life experience of individuals emerges as a main risk factor contributing to the developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. That is, perturbing environmental conditions during neurodevelopmental stages can have detrimental effects on adult mood and emotional responses. However, the possible maladaptive neural mechanisms contributing to such psychopathological phenomenon still remain poorly understood. In this review, we explore preclinical rodent models of developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, focusing on the impact of early-life environmental perturbations on behavioral aspects relevant to stress-related and psychiatric disorders. We limit our analysis to well-established models in which alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) system appear to have a crucial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms. We analyze long-term behavioral outcomes produced by early-life exposures to stress and psychotropic drugs such as the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or the anticonvulsant valproic acid (VPA). We perform a comparative analysis, identifying differences and commonalities in the behavioral effects produced in these models. Furthermore, this review discusses recent advances on neurodevelopmental substrates engaged in these behavioral effects, emphasizing the possible existence of maladaptive mechanisms that could be shared by the different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S. Adjimann
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla V. Argañaraz
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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11
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Chen MX, Cheng S, Lei L, Zhang XF, Liu Q, Lin A, Wallis CU, Lukowicz MJ, Sham PC, Li Q, Ao LJ. The effects of maternal SSRI exposure on the serotonin system, prefrontal protein expression and behavioral development in male and female offspring rats. Neurochem Int 2021; 146:105041. [PMID: 33836218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fluoxetine (FLX), a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is often used to treat depression during pregnancy. However, prenatal exposure to FLX has been associated with a series of neuropsychiatric illnesses. The use of a rodent model can provide a clear indication as to whether prenatal exposure to SSRIs, independent of maternal psychiatric disorders or genetic syndromes, can cause long-term behavioral abnormalities in offspring. Thus, the present study aimed to explore whether prenatal FLX exposure causes long-term neurobehavioral effects, and identify the underlying mechanism between FLX and abnormal behaviors. In our study, 12/mg/kg/day of FLX or equal normal saline (NS) was administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (FLX = 30, NS = 27) on gestation day 11 till birth. We assessed the physical development and behavior of offspring, and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was conducted to quantify biochemical alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Ex vivo measurements of brain serotonin level and a proteomic analysis were also undertaken. Our results showed that the offspring (male offspring in particular) of fluoxetine exposed mothers showed delayed physical development, increased anxiety-like behavior, and impaired social interaction. Moreover, down-regulation of 5-HT and SERT expression were identified in the PFC. We also found that prenatal FLX exposure significantly decreased NAA/tCr with 1H-MRS in the PFC of offspring. Finally, a proteomic study revealed sex-dependent differential protein expression. These findings may have translational importance suggesting that using SSRI medication alone in pregnant mothers may result in developmental delay in their offspring. Our results also help guide the choice of outcome measures in identifying of molecular and developmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Xian Chen
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Shu Cheng
- Department of Rehabilitation, China Resources & WISCO General Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Tai Ping Road, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Fan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Aijin Lin
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | | | | | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; Centre for Genomic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Li Juan Ao
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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12
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Van der Knaap N, Wiedermann D, Schubert D, Hoehn M, Homberg JR. Perinatal SSRI exposure affects brain functional activity associated with whisker stimulation in adolescent and adult rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1680. [PMID: 33462357 PMCID: PMC7814075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81327-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as fluoxetine, are used as first-line antidepressant medication during pregnancy. Since SSRIs cross the placenta the unborn child is exposed to the maternal SSRI medication, resulting in, amongst others, increased risk for autism in offspring. This likely results from developmental changes in brain function. Studies employing rats lacking the serotonin transporter have shown that elevations in serotonin levels particularly affect the development of the whisker related part of the primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex. Therefore, we hypothesized that serotonin level disturbances during development alter brain activity related to whisker stimulation. We treated female dams with fluoxetine or vehicle from gestational day 11 onwards for 21 days. We investigated offspring's brain activity during whisker stimulation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at adolescence and adulthood. Our results indicate that adolescent offspring displayed increased activity in hippocampal subareas and the mammillary body in the thalamus. Adult offspring exhibited increased functional activation of areas associated with (higher) sensory processing and memory such as the hippocampus, perirhinal and entorhinal cortex, retrospinal granular cortex, piriform cortex and secondary visual cortex. Our data imply that perinatal SSRI exposure leads to complex alterations in brain networks involved in sensory perception and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noortje Van der Knaap
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Wiedermann
- In-Vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Hoehn
- In-Vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Hanswijk SI, Spoelder M, Shan L, Verheij MMM, Muilwijk OG, Li W, Liu C, Kolk SM, Homberg JR. Gestational Factors throughout Fetal Neurodevelopment: The Serotonin Link. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5850. [PMID: 32824000 PMCID: PMC7461571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical player in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Fetal 5-HT levels can be influenced by several gestational factors, such as maternal genotype, diet, stress, medication, and immune activation. In this review, addressing both human and animal studies, we discuss how these gestational factors affect placental and fetal brain 5-HT levels, leading to changes in brain structure and function and behavior. We conclude that gestational factors are able to interact and thereby amplify or counteract each other's impact on the fetal 5-HT-ergic system. We, therefore, argue that beyond the understanding of how single gestational factors affect 5-HT-ergic brain development and behavior in offspring, it is critical to elucidate the consequences of interacting factors. Moreover, we describe how each gestational factor is able to alter the 5-HT-ergic influence on the thalamocortical- and prefrontal-limbic circuitry and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical-axis. These alterations have been associated with risks to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and/or anxiety. Consequently, the manipulation of gestational factors may be used to combat pregnancy-related risks for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina I. Hanswijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Marcia Spoelder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Ling Shan
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Otto G. Muilwijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Weizhuo Li
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Chunqing Liu
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Sharon M. Kolk
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
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14
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Perinatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure and behavioral outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analyses of animal studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 114:53-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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15
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Perinatal exposure of rats to the HIV drug efavirenz affects medial prefrontal cortex cytoarchitecture. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 178:114050. [PMID: 32446887 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114050] [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: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Efavirenz (EFV) is used for antiretroviral treatment of HIV infection, and successfully inhibits viral replication and mother-to-child transmission of HIV during pregnancy and childbirth. Unfortunately, the drug induces neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depressed mood and potentially affects cognitive performance. EFV acts on, among others, the serotonin transporter and serotonin receptors that are expressed in the developing brain. Yet, how perinatal EFV exposure affects brain cytoarchitecture remains unclear. Here, we exposed pregnant and lactating rats to EFV, and examined in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of their adult offspring the effects of the maternal EFV exposure on cortical architecture. We observed a significant decrease in the number of cells, mainly mature neurons, in the infra/prelimbic and cingulate cortices of adult offspring. Next, we found an altered cortical cytoarchitecture characterized by a significant reduction in deep- and superficial-layer cells. This was accompanied by a sharp increase in programmed cell death, as we identified a significantly higher number of cleaved Caspase-3-positive cells. Finally, the serotonergic and dopaminergic innervation of the mPFC subdomains was increased. Thus, the perinatal exposure to EFV provoked in the mPFC of adult offspring cell death, significant changes in cytoarchitecture, and disturbances in serotonergic and dopaminergic innervation. Our results are important in the light of EFV treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women, and its effect on brain development and cognitive behavior.
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16
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Schipper P, Brivio P, de Leest D, Madder L, Asrar B, Rebuglio F, Verheij MMM, Kozicz T, Riva MA, Calabrese F, Henckens MJAG, Homberg JR. Impaired Fear Extinction Recall in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats Is Transiently Alleviated during Adolescence. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9050118. [PMID: 31121975 PMCID: PMC6562656 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9050118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is a developmental phase characterized by emotional turmoil and coincides with the emergence of affective disorders. Inherited serotonin transporter (5-HTT) downregulation in humans increases sensitivity to these disorders. To reveal whether and how 5-HTT gene variance affects fear-driven behavior in adolescence, we tested wildtype and serotonin transporter knockout (5-HTT-/-) rats of preadolescent, adolescent, and adult age for cued fear extinction and extinction recall. To analyze neural circuit function, we quantified inhibitory synaptic contacts and, through RT-PCR, the expression of c-Fos, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and NDMA receptor subunits, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala. Remarkably, the impaired recall of conditioned fear that characterizes preadolescent and adult 5-HTT-/- rats was transiently normalized during adolescence. This did not relate to altered inhibitory neurotransmission, since mPFC inhibitory immunoreactivity was reduced in 5-HTT-/- rats across all ages and unaffected in the amygdala. Rather, since mPFC (but not amygdala) c-Fos expression and NMDA receptor subunit 1 expression were reduced in 5-HTT-/- rats during adolescence, and since PFC c-Fos correlated negatively with fear extinction recall, the temporary normalization of fear extinction during adolescence could relate to altered plasticity in the developing mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Schipper
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - David de Leest
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Leonie Madder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Beenish Asrar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Federica Rebuglio
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Michel M M Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayp Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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17
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Neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences of perinatal exposure to the HIV drug efavirenz in a rodent model. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:84. [PMID: 30745561 PMCID: PMC6370772 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0420-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Efavirenz is recommended as a preferred first-line drug for women of childbearing potential living with human immunodeficiency virus. Efavirenz is known for its central nervous system side effects, which are partly mediated by serotonergic actions. The neurotransmitter serotonin exerts neurotrophic effects during neurodevelopment and antenatal exposure to serotonergic agents has been linked to developmental delay. Although the teratogenic risks of efavirenz appear to be minimal, data on long-term developmental effects remain scarce. Here, we aimed to investigate the short- and long-term behavioral and neurodevelopmental effects of perinatal efavirenz exposure. We treated pregnant rats from gestation day 1 until postnatal day 7 with efavirenz (100 mg/kg) or vehicle. We measured behavioral outcomes in male offspring during the first 3 postnatal weeks, adolescence and adulthood, and conducted brain immunohistochemistry analyses after sacrifice. Perinatal efavirenz exposure resulted in reduced body weight and delayed reflex and motor development. During adulthood, we observed a decrease in the total number of cells and mature neurons in the motor cortex, as well as an increase in the number of Caspase-3-positive cells and serotonergic fibers. Together, our data show a developmental delay and persistent changes in the brain motor cortex of rats exposed to efavirenz perinatally. Because over 1 million children born annually are exposed to antiretroviral therapy, our findings underline the need for clinical studies on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of perinatal exposure to efavirenz.
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18
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Alterations of hippocampal neurogenesis during development of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in OXYS rats. Exp Gerontol 2018; 115:32-45. [PMID: 30415068 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis is the key mechanism of neuronal plasticity in the adult mammalian brain. Alterations of neurogenesis happen concurrently with (and contribute to) development and progression of numerous neuropathological conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Being the most common type of dementia, AD is studied extensively; however, the data concerning changes in neurogenesis in the pathogenesis of this disease are inconsistent. Here, using OXYS rats as a suitable model of the most common (sporadic) form of AD, we examined neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in early ontogenesis prior to appearance of any signs of neurodegeneration and during development and progression of AD-like pathology. We demonstrated retardation of hippocampal development in OXYS rats at an early age; this problem may contribute to the emergence of AD signs late in life. Manifestation and progression of AD-like pathology are accompanied by transcriptome changes affecting genes involved in neurogenesis in the hippocampus. These genes are associated with the extracellular matrix and angiogenesis; this observation points to alteration of a cellular microenvironment. This change along with an increased TrkA/p75NTR ratio of nerve growth factor receptors in the hippocampus may contribute to increased density of immature neurons that we observed at the progressive stage of AD-like pathology in OXYS rats. These changes may be considered a compensatory reaction intended to slow down AD-associated neurodegeneration at the progressive stage of the disease. Collectively, these data suggest that alterations of neurogenesis may not only accompany the course of Alzheimer's disease but also play a causative role in this disorder.
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19
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Rodrigues Junior WDS, Oliveira-Silva P, Faria-Melibeu ADC, Campello-Costa P, Serfaty CA. Serotonin transporter immunoreactivity is modulated during development and after fluoxetine treatment in the rodent visual system. Neurosci Lett 2017; 657:38-44. [PMID: 28756191 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) regulates serotonin homeostasis and has been used as a target for different drugs in depression treatment. Although the serotonergic system has received a lot of attention, little is known about the effects of these drugs over serotonin transporters. In this work, we investigated the expression pattern of 5-HTT during development of the visual system and the influence of fluoxetine on different signaling pathways. Our data showed that the expression of 5-HTT has a gradual increase from postnatal day 0 until 42 and decrease afterwards. Moreover, chronic fluoxetine treatment both in childhood and adolescence induces down regulation of 5-HTT expression and phosphorylation of ERK and AKT signaling pathways. Together these data suggest that the levels of 5-HTT protein could be important for the development of the central nervous system and suggest that the ERK and AKT are involved in the molecular pathways of antidepressants drugs, acting in concert to improve serotonergic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wandilson Dos Santos Rodrigues Junior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Oliveira-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adriana da Cunha Faria-Melibeu
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Campello-Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudio Alberto Serfaty
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
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20
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Leandro VC, Martha DOG, Vera MP, Rita DCDSES. Effect of the extract of Hypericum perforatum on neurodevelopment of regions related to pain control and convulsion. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.5897/jmpr2016.6305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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21
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Miceli S, Nadif Kasri N, Joosten J, Huang C, Kepser L, Proville R, Selten MM, van Eijs F, Azarfar A, Homberg JR, Celikel T, Schubert D. Reduced Inhibition within Layer IV of Sert Knockout Rat Barrel Cortex is Associated with Faster Sensory Integration. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:933-949. [PMID: 28158484 PMCID: PMC5390402 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural activity is essential for the maturation of sensory systems. In the rodent primary somatosensory cortex (S1), high extracellular serotonin (5-HT) levels during development impair neural transmission between the thalamus and cortical input layer IV (LIV). Rodent models of impaired 5-HT transporter (SERT) function show disruption in their topological organization of S1 and in the expression of activity-regulated genes essential for inhibitory cortical network formation. It remains unclear how such alterations affect the sensory information processing within cortical LIV. Using serotonin transporter knockout (Sert-/-) rats, we demonstrate that high extracellular serotonin levels are associated with impaired feedforward inhibition (FFI), fewer perisomatic inhibitory synapses, a depolarized GABA reversal potential and reduced expression of KCC2 transporters in juvenile animals. At the neural population level, reduced FFI increases the excitatory drive originating from LIV, facilitating evoked representations in the supragranular layers II/III. The behavioral consequence of these changes in network excitability is faster integration of the sensory information during whisker-based tactile navigation, as Sert-/- rats require fewer whisker contacts with tactile targets and perform object localization with faster reaction times. These results highlight the association of serotonergic homeostasis with formation and excitability of sensory cortical networks, and consequently with sensory perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Miceli
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Neural Networks, Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (caesar), Max Planck Society, Germany
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joep Joosten
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Chao Huang
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lara Kepser
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rémi Proville
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn M. Selten
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Fenneke van Eijs
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alireza Azarfar
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tansu Celikel
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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