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Abdel-Magid AF. Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 4 Agonists for Potential Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Central Nervous System Disorders. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:766-768. [PMID: 38894906 PMCID: PMC11181492 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The invention in this patent application relates to N-(pyrrolidine-3-yl or piperidin-4-yl)acetamide derivatives represented generally by formula 1. These compounds possess activities as somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR4) agonists and may potentially be beneficial in the treatment of diseases or disorders, associated with SSTR4 such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other CNS disorders such as epilepsy and depression.
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2
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White TA, Miller SL, Sutherland AE, Allison BJ, Camm EJ. Perinatal compromise affects development, form, and function of the hippocampus part one; clinical studies. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03105-7. [PMID: 38519794 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03105-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus is a neuron-rich specialised brain structure that plays a central role in the regulation of emotions, learning and memory, cognition, spatial navigation, and motivational processes. In human fetal development, hippocampal neurogenesis is principally complete by mid-gestation, with subsequent maturation comprising dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis in the third trimester of pregnancy and infancy. Dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis underpin connectivity. Hippocampal development is exquisitely sensitive to perturbations during pregnancy and at birth. Clinical investigations demonstrate that preterm birth, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and acute hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) are common perinatal complications that alter hippocampal development. In turn, deficits in hippocampal development and structure mediate a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including cognitive and learning problems, autism, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In this review, we summarise the developmental profile of the hippocampus during fetal and neonatal life and examine the hippocampal deficits observed following common human pregnancy complications. IMPACT: The review provides a comprehensive summary of the developmental profile of the hippocampus in normal fetal and neonatal life. We address a significant knowledge gap in paediatric research by providing a comprehensive summary of the relationship between pregnancy complications and subsequent hippocampal damage, shedding new light on this critical aspect of early neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan A White
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Suzanne L Miller
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Amy E Sutherland
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Beth J Allison
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily J Camm
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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3
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Robinson SL, Thiele TE. Somatostatin signaling modulates binge drinking behavior via the central nucleus of the amygdala. Neuropharmacology 2023; 237:109622. [PMID: 37307896 PMCID: PMC10527233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109622] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Somatostatin (SST) is a neuropeptide widely expressed in the central nervous system with dense expression in limbic regions such as the extended amygdala. It has recently gained attention for playing a role in modulating alcohol use disorders and co-morbid neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the role of SST in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), a key region for neuropeptide regulation of alcohol and anxiety related behaviors, in alcohol consumption has not been assessed. In this work we perform an initial examination of the interaction between the CeA SST system and binge ethanol intake. Binge intake is a dangerous pattern of excessive ethanol consumption associated with health complications and the transition into alcohol dependence. We use the Drinking in the Dark (DID) model of binge intake in C57BL/6J male and female mice to examine: 1) the impact of 3 DID cycles on CeA SST expression; 2) the effect of intra-CeA SST injection on binge-like ethanol consumption; and 3) if the SST receptor 2 or 4 (SST2R or SST4R) mediate any effect on consumption. Our results show binge-like ethanol intake decreases SST expression in the CeA, but not neighboring basolateral amygdala. We further found intra-SST CeA administration reduces binge ethanol intake. This decrease was replicated by the administration of an SST4R agonist. These effects were not sex-dependent. Overall, this work lends further support for SST playing a role in alcohol related behaviors and as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L Robinson
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Todd E Thiele
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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4
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Brockway DF, Griffith KR, Aloimonos CM, Clarity TT, Moyer JB, Smith GC, Dao NC, Hossain MS, Drew PJ, Gordon JA, Kupferschmidt DA, Crowley NA. Somatostatin peptide signaling dampens cortical circuits and promotes exploratory behavior. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112976. [PMID: 37590138 PMCID: PMC10542913 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We sought to characterize the unique role of somatostatin (SST) in the prelimbic (PL) cortex in mice. We performed slice electrophysiology in pyramidal and GABAergic neurons to characterize the pharmacological mechanism of SST signaling and fiber photometry of GCaMP6f fluorescent calcium signals from SST neurons to characterize the activity profile of SST neurons during exploration of an elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT). We used local delivery of a broad SST receptor (SSTR) agonist and antagonist to test causal effects of SST signaling. SSTR activation hyperpolarizes layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons, an effect that is recapitulated with optogenetic stimulation of SST neurons. SST neurons in PL are activated during EPM and OFT exploration, and SSTR agonist administration directly into the PL enhances open arm exploration in the EPM. This work describes a broad ability for SST peptide signaling to modulate microcircuits within the prefrontal cortex and related exploratory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota F Brockway
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Keith R Griffith
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Chloe M Aloimonos
- Integrative Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas T Clarity
- Integrative Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J Brody Moyer
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Grace C Smith
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nigel C Dao
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Md Shakhawat Hossain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Neural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Patrick J Drew
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Neural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Departments of Engineering Science and Mechanics and Neurosurgery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Joshua A Gordon
- Integrative Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Office of the Director, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David A Kupferschmidt
- Integrative Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicole A Crowley
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Neural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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5
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Hosseinzadeh Sahafi O, Sardari M, Alijanpour S, Rezayof A. Shared Mechanisms of GABAergic and Opioidergic Transmission Regulate Corticolimbic Reward Systems and Cognitive Aspects of Motivational Behaviors. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050815. [PMID: 37239287 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050815] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms of GABAergic and opioidergic transmission, which modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the central hub of the reward mechanisms. This review comprehensively covers the neuroanatomical and neurobiological aspects of corticolimbic inhibitory neurons that express opioid receptors, which act as modulators of corticolimbic GABAergic transmission. The presence of opioid and GABA receptors on the same neurons allows for the modulation of the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, which plays a key role in the reward mechanisms of the brain. This colocalization of receptors and their immunochemical markers can provide a comprehensive understanding for clinicians and researchers, revealing the neuronal circuits that contribute to the reward system. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of GABAergic transmission-induced neuroplasticity under the modulation of opioid receptors. It discusses their interactive role in reinforcement learning, network oscillation, aversive behaviors, and local feedback or feedforward inhibitions in reward mechanisms. Understanding the shared mechanisms of these systems may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches for addiction, reward-related disorders, and drug-induced cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oveis Hosseinzadeh Sahafi
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Maryam Sardari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
| | - Sakineh Alijanpour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous 4971799151, Iran
| | - Ameneh Rezayof
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6465, Iran
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6
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Medina AM, Hagenauer MH, Krolewski DM, Hughes E, Forrester LCT, Walsh DM, Waselus M, Richardson E, Turner CA, Sequeira PA, Cartagena PM, Thompson RC, Vawter MP, Bunney BG, Myers RM, Barchas JD, Lee FS, Schatzberg AF, Bunney WE, Akil H, Watson SJ. Neurotransmission-related gene expression in the frontal pole is altered in subjects with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:118. [PMID: 37031222 PMCID: PMC10082811 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The frontal pole (Brodmann area 10, BA10) is the largest cytoarchitectonic region of the human cortex, performing complex integrative functions. BA10 undergoes intensive adolescent grey matter pruning prior to the age of onset for bipolar disorder (BP) and schizophrenia (SCHIZ), and its dysfunction is likely to underly aspects of their shared symptomology. In this study, we investigated the role of BA10 neurotransmission-related gene expression in BP and SCHIZ. We performed qPCR to measure the expression of 115 neurotransmission-related targets in control, BP, and SCHIZ postmortem samples (n = 72). We chose this method for its high sensitivity to detect low-level expression. We then strengthened our findings by performing a meta-analysis of publicly released BA10 microarray data (n = 101) and identified sources of convergence with our qPCR results. To improve interpretation, we leveraged the unusually large database of clinical metadata accompanying our samples to explore the relationship between BA10 gene expression, therapeutics, substances of abuse, and symptom profiles, and validated these findings with publicly available datasets. Using these convergent sources of evidence, we identified 20 neurotransmission-related genes that were differentially expressed in BP and SCHIZ in BA10. These results included a large diagnosis-related decrease in two important therapeutic targets with low levels of expression, HTR2B and DRD4, as well as other findings related to dopaminergic, GABAergic and astrocytic function. We also observed that therapeutics may produce a differential expression that opposes diagnosis effects. In contrast, substances of abuse showed similar effects on BA10 gene expression as BP and SCHIZ, potentially amplifying diagnosis-related dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana M Medina
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - David M Krolewski
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Evan Hughes
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Maria Waselus
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Evelyn Richardson
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cortney A Turner
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Robert C Thompson
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Huda Akil
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stanley J Watson
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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7
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Valeri J, O’Donovan SM, Wang W, Sinclair D, Bollavarapu R, Gisabella B, Platt D, Stockmeier C, Pantazopoulos H. Altered expression of somatostatin signaling molecules and clock genes in the hippocampus of subjects with substance use disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:903941. [PMID: 36161151 PMCID: PMC9489843 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.903941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance use disorders are a debilitating group of psychiatric disorders with a high degree of comorbidity with major depressive disorder. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are commonly reported in people with substance use disorder and major depression and associated with increased risk of relapse. Hippocampal somatostatin signaling is involved in encoding and consolidation of contextual memories which contribute to relapse in substance use disorder. Somatostatin and clock genes also have been implicated in depression, suggesting that these molecules may represent key converging pathways involved in contextual memory processing in substance use and major depression. We used hippocampal tissue from a cohort of subjects with substance use disorder (n = 20), subjects with major depression (n = 20), subjects with comorbid substance use disorder and major depression (n = 24) and psychiatrically normal control subjects (n = 20) to test the hypothesis that expression of genes involved in somatostatin signaling and clock genes is altered in subjects with substance use disorder. We identified decreased expression of somatostatin in subjects with substance use disorder and in subjects with major depression. We also observed increased somatostatin receptor 2 expression in subjects with substance use disorder with alcohol in the blood at death and decreased expression in subjects with major depression. Expression of the clock genes Arntl, Nr1d1, Per2 and Cry2 was increased in subjects with substance use disorder. Arntl and Nr1d1 expression in comparison was decreased in subjects with major depression. We observed decreased expression of Gsk3β in subjects with substance use disorder. Subjects with comorbid substance use disorder and major depression displayed minimal changes across all outcome measures. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase in history of sleep disturbances in subjects with substance use disorder. Our findings represent the first evidence for altered somatostatin and clock gene expression in the hippocampus of subjects with substance use disorder and subjects with major depression. Altered expression of these molecules may impact memory consolidation and contribute to relapse risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Sinead M. O’Donovan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Sinclair
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Ratna Bollavarapu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Donna Platt
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Craig Stockmeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- *Correspondence: Harry Pantazopoulos,
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8
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Fish KN, Joffe ME. Targeting prefrontal cortex GABAergic microcircuits for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 14:936911. [PMID: 36105666 PMCID: PMC9465392 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2022.936911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing novel treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is of paramount importance for improving patient outcomes and alleviating the suffering related to the disease. A better understanding of the molecular and neurocircuit mechanisms through which alcohol alters brain function will be instrumental in the rational development of new efficacious treatments. Clinical studies have consistently associated the prefrontal cortex (PFC) function with symptoms of AUDs. Population-level analyses have linked the PFC structure and function with heavy drinking and/or AUD diagnosis. Thus, targeting specific PFC cell types and neural circuits holds promise for the development of new treatments. Here, we overview the tremendous diversity in the form and function of inhibitory neuron subtypes within PFC and describe their therapeutic potential. We then summarize AUD population genetics studies, clinical neurophysiology findings, and translational neuroscience discoveries. This study collectively suggests that changes in fast transmission through PFC inhibitory microcircuits are a central component of the neurobiological effects of ethanol and the core symptoms of AUDs. Finally, we submit that there is a significant and timely need to examine sex as a biological variable and human postmortem brain tissue to maximize the efforts in translating findings to new clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Max E. Joffe
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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9
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Sicher AR, Duerr A, Starnes WD, Crowley NA. Adolescent Alcohol and Stress Exposure Rewires Key Cortical Neurocircuitry. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:896880. [PMID: 35655755 PMCID: PMC9152326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.896880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human adolescence is a period of development characterized by wide ranging emotions and behavioral risk taking, including binge drinking (Konrad et al., 2013). These behavioral manifestations of adolescence are complemented by growth in the neuroarchitecture of the brain, including synaptic pruning (Spear, 2013) and increases in overall white matter volume (Perrin et al., 2008). During this period of profound physiological maturation, the adolescent brain has a unique vulnerability to negative perturbations. Alcohol consumption and stress exposure, both of which are heightened during adolescence, can individually and synergistically alter these neurodevelopmental trajectories in positive and negative ways (conferring both resiliency and susceptibility) and influence already changing neurotransmitter systems and circuits. Importantly, the literature is rapidly changing and evolving in our understanding of basal sex differences in the brain, as well as the interaction between biological sex and life experiences. The animal literature provides the distinctive opportunity to explore sex-specific stress- and alcohol- induced changes in neurocircuits on a relatively rapid time scale. In addition, animal models allow for the investigation of individual neurons and signaling molecules otherwise inaccessible in the human brain. Here, we review the human and rodent literature with a focus on cortical development, neurotransmitters, peptides, and steroids, to characterize the field’s current understanding of the interaction between adolescence, biological sex, and exposure to stress and alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery R. Sicher
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Arielle Duerr
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - William D. Starnes
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Nicole A. Crowley
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Nicole A. Crowley,
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10
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Identification of an allatostatin C signaling system in mollusc Aplysia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1213. [PMID: 35075137 PMCID: PMC8786951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides, as pervasive intercellular signaling molecules in the CNS, modulate a variety of behavioral systems in both protostomes and deuterostomes. Allatostatins are neuropeptides in arthropods that inhibit the biosynthesis of juvenile hormones. Based on amino acid sequences, they are divided into three different types in arthropods: allatostatin A, allatostatin B, allatostatin C. Allatostatin C (AstC) was first isolated from Manduca sexta, and it has an important conserved feature of a disulfide bridge formed by two cysteine residues. Moreover, AstC appears to be the ortholog of mammalian somatostatin, and it has functions in common with somatostatin, such as modulating feeding behaviors. The AstC signaling system has been widely studied in arthropods, but minimally studied in molluscs. In this study, we seek to identify the AstC signaling system in the marine mollusc Aplysia californica. We cloned the AstC precursor from the cDNA of Aplysia. We predicted a 15-amino acid peptide with a disulfide bridge, i.e., AstC, using NeuroPred. We then cloned two putative allatostatin C-like receptors and through NCBI Conserved Domain Search we found that they belonged to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. In addition, using an inositol monophosphate 1 (IP1) accumulation assay, we showed that Aplysia AstC could activate one of the putative receptors, i.e., the AstC-R, at the lowest EC50, and AstC without the disulfide bridge (AstC') activated AstC-R with the highest EC50. Moreover, four molluscan AstCs with variations of sequences from Aplysia AstC but with the disulfide bridge activated AstC-R at intermediate EC50. In summary, our successful identification of the Aplysia AstC precursor and its receptor (AstC-R) represents the first example in molluscs, and provides an important basis for further studies of the AstC signaling system in Aplysia and other molluscs.
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11
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Somatostatin receptor 4 agonism normalizes stress-related excessive amygdala glutamate release and Pavlovian aversion learning and memory in rodents. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 2:470-479. [PMID: 36324659 PMCID: PMC9616361 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Excessive processing of aversive life events is a major pathology in stress-related anxiety and depressive disorders. Current pharmacological treatments have rather nonspecific mechanisms of action. Somatostatin is synthesized and released as an inhibitory co-neurotransmitter by specific GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) interneurons, and one of its receptors, SSTR4 (somatostatin receptor 4), is localized in brain regions involved in adaptive aversion processing and implicated in negative valence neuropathology, including the amygdala. Methods Rat and mouse experiments were conducted to investigate effects of specific SSTR4 agonism on neurobehavioral aversion processing, including any normalization of stress-related hyperresponsiveness. A mouse experiment to investigate stress and SSTR4 agonism effects on reward processing was also conducted. Results In male rats (n = 5–10/group) fitted with glutamate biosensors in basolateral amygdala, SSTR4 agonism attenuated glutamate release to restraint stress in control rats and particularly in rats previously exposed to chronic corticosterone. In male mice (n = 10–18/group), SSTR4 agonism dose-dependently attenuated Pavlovian tone/footshock learning and memory measured as freezing behavior, in both control mice and mice exposed to chronic social stress, which induces excessive Pavlovian aversion learning and memory. Specificity of SSTR4 agonism effects to aversion learning/memory was demonstrated by absence of effects on discriminative reward (sucrose) learning/memory in both control mice and mice exposed to chronic social stress; SSTR4 agonism did increase reward-to-effort valuation in a dose-dependent manner and in both control mice and mice exposed to chronic social stress, which attenuates reward motivation. Conclusions These neuropsychopharmacological findings add substantially to the preclinical proof-of-concept evidence for SSTR4 agonism as a treatment in anxiety and depressive disorders.
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12
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Downregulation of kainate receptors regulating GABAergic transmission in amygdala after early life stress is associated with anxiety-like behavior in rodents. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:538. [PMID: 34663781 PMCID: PMC8523542 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01654-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is a well-characterized risk factor for mood and anxiety disorders. GABAergic microcircuits in the amygdala are critically implicated in anxiety; however, whether their function is altered after ELS is not known. Here we identify a novel mechanism by which kainate receptors (KARs) modulate feedforward inhibition in the lateral amygdala (LA) and show that this mechanism is downregulated after ELS induced by maternal separation (MS). Specifically, we show that in control rats but not after MS, endogenous activity of GluK1 subunit containing KARs disinhibit LA principal neurons during activation of cortical afferents. GluK1 antagonism attenuated excitability of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons, resulting in loss of PV-dependent inhibitory control and an increase in firing of somatostatin-expressing interneurons. Inactivation of Grik1 expression locally in the adult amygdala reduced ongoing GABAergic transmission and was sufficient to produce a mild anxiety-like behavioral phenotype. Interestingly, MS and GluK1-dependent phenotypes showed similar gender specificity, being detectable in male but not female rodents. Our data identify a novel KAR-dependent mechanism for cell-type and projection-specific functional modulation of the LA GABAergic microcircuit and suggest that the loss of GluK1 KAR function contributes to anxiogenesis after ELS.
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Covey DP, Yocky AG. Endocannabinoid Modulation of Nucleus Accumbens Microcircuitry and Terminal Dopamine Release. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:734975. [PMID: 34497503 PMCID: PMC8419321 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.734975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is located in the ventromedial portion of the striatum and is vital to valence-based predictions and motivated action. The neural architecture of the NAc allows for complex interactions between various cell types that filter incoming and outgoing information. Dopamine (DA) input serves a crucial role in modulating NAc function, but the mechanisms that control terminal DA release and its effect on NAc neurons continues to be elucidated. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has emerged as an important filter of neural circuitry within the NAc that locally shapes terminal DA release through various cell type- and site-specific actions. Here, we will discuss how eCB signaling modulates terminal DA release by shaping the activity patterns of NAc neurons and their afferent inputs. We then discuss recent technological advancements that are capable of dissecting how distinct cell types, their afferent projections, and local neuromodulators influence valence-based actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan P Covey
- Department of Neuroscience, Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Alyssa G Yocky
- Department of Neuroscience, Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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14
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Li M, Cabrera-Garcia D, Salling MC, Au E, Yang G, Harrison NL. Alcohol reduces the activity of somatostatin interneurons in the mouse prefrontal cortex: A neural basis for its disinhibitory effect? Neuropharmacology 2021; 188:108501. [PMID: 33636191 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in executive ("top-down") control of behavior and its function is especially susceptible to the effects of alcohol, leading to behavioral disinhibition that is associated with alterations in decision making, response inhibition, social anxiety and working memory. The circuitry of the PFC involves a complex interplay between pyramidal neurons (PNs) and several subclasses of inhibitory interneurons (INs), including somatostatin (SST)-expressing INs. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we showed that alcohol dose-dependently altered network activity in layers 2/3 of the prelimbic subregion of the mouse PFC. Low doses of alcohol (1 g/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) caused moderate activation of SST INs and weak inhibition of PNs. At moderate to high doses, alcohol (2-3 g/kg) strongly inhibited the activity of SST INs in vivo, and this effect may result in disinhibition, as the activity of a subpopulation of PNs was simultaneously enhanced. In contrast, recordings in brain slices using ex vivo electrophysiology revealed no direct effect of alcohol on the excitability of either SST INs or PNs over a range of concentrations (20 and 50 mM) consistent with the blood alcohol levels reached in the in vivo experiments. This dose-dependent effect of alcohol on SST INs in vivo may reveal a neural basis for the disinhibitory effect of alcohol in the PFC mediated by other neurons within or external to the PFC circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Columbia University, Department of Anesthesiology, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David Cabrera-Garcia
- Columbia University, Department of Anesthesiology, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Michael C Salling
- Louisiana State University, Department of Anatomy, New Orleans, LA, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Edmund Au
- Columbia University, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology and Rehabilitative Medicine and Regeneration, Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative Scholar, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Columbia University, Department of Anesthesiology, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Neil L Harrison
- Columbia University, Department of Anesthesiology, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Columbia University, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Shamsi BH, Chatoo M, Xu XK, Xu X, Chen XQ. Versatile Functions of Somatostatin and Somatostatin Receptors in the Gastrointestinal System. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:652363. [PMID: 33796080 PMCID: PMC8009181 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.652363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatostatin (SST) and somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) play an important role in the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) system. SST is produced in various organs and cells, and the inhibitory function of somatostatin-containing cells is involved in a range of physiological functions and pathological modifications. The GI system is the largest endocrine organ for digestion and absorption, SST-endocrine cells and neurons in the GI system are a critical effecter to maintain homeostasis via SSTRs 1-5 and co-receptors, while SST-SSTRs are involved in chemo-sensory, mucus, and hormone secretion, motility, inflammation response, itch, and pain via the autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and exoendocrine pathways. It is also a power inhibitor for tumor cell proliferation, severe inflammation, and post-operation complications, and is a first-line anti-cancer drug in clinical practice. This mini review focuses on the current function of producing SST endocrine cells and local neurons SST-SSTRs in the GI system, discusses new development prognostic markers, phosphate-specific antibodies, and molecular imaging emerging in diagnostics and therapy, and summarizes the mechanism of the SST family in basic research and clinical practice. Understanding of endocrines and neuroendocrines in SST-SSTRs in GI will provide an insight into advanced medicine in basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Haider Shamsi
- Department of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mahanand Chatoo
- Department of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Kang Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xun Xu
- College of Renji, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xue Qun Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education (MOE), Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xue Qun Chen,
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Brockway DF, Crowley NA. Turning the 'Tides on Neuropsychiatric Diseases: The Role of Peptides in the Prefrontal Cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:588400. [PMID: 33192369 PMCID: PMC7606924 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.588400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in technology have enabled researchers to probe the brain with the greater region, cell, and receptor specificity. These developments have allowed for a more thorough understanding of how regulation of the neurophysiology within a region is essential for maintaining healthy brain function. Stress has been shown to alter the prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning, and evidence links functional impairments in PFC brain activity with neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, a growing body of literature highlights the importance of neuropeptides in the PFC to modulate neural signaling and to influence behavior. The converging evidence outlined in this review indicates that neuropeptides in the PFC are specifically impacted by stress, and are found to be dysregulated in numerous stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders including substance use disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia. This review explores how neuropeptides in the PFC function to regulate the neural activity, and how genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, lead to dysregulation in neuropeptide systems, which may ultimately contribute to the pathology of neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota F Brockway
- Neuroscience Curriculum, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Nicole A Crowley
- Neuroscience Curriculum, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.,The Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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