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Oliver Goral R, Lamb PW, Yakel JL. Acetylcholine Neurons Become Cholinergic during Three Time Windows in the Developing Mouse Brain. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0542-23.2024. [PMID: 38942474 PMCID: PMC11253243 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0542-23.2024] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine (ACh) neurons in the central nervous system are required for the coordination of neural network activity during higher brain functions, such as attention, learning, and memory, as well as locomotion. Disturbed cholinergic signaling has been described in many neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, cotransmission of other signaling molecules, such as glutamate and GABA, with ACh has been associated with essential roles in brain function or disease. However, it is unknown when ACh neurons become cholinergic during development. Thus, understanding the timeline of how the cholinergic system develops and becomes active in the healthy brain is a crucial part of understanding brain development. To study this, we used transgenic mice to selectively label ACh neurons with tdTomato. We imaged serial sectioned brains and generated whole-brain reconstructions at different time points during pre- and postnatal development. We found three crucial time windows-two in the prenatal and one in the postnatal brain-during which most ACh neuron populations become cholinergic in the brain. We also found that cholinergic gene expression is initiated in cortical ACh interneurons, while the cerebral cortex is innervated by cholinergic projection neurons from the basal forebrain. Taken together, we show that ACh neuron populations are present and become cholinergic before postnatal day 12, which is the onset of major sensory processes, such as hearing and vision. We conclude that the birth of ACh neurons and initiation of cholinergic gene expression are temporally separated during development but highly coordinated by brain anatomical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rene Oliver Goral
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
- Center on Compulsive Behaviors, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Patricia W Lamb
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Jerrel L Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
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2
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Ge Y, Ming L, Xu D. Sevoflurane-induced cognitive effect on α7-nicotine receptor and M 1 acetylcholine receptor expression in the hippocampus of aged rats. Neurol Res 2024; 46:593-604. [PMID: 38747300 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2024.2338031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sevoflurane treatment increases the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), and patients with POCD show a decline in cognitive abilities compared to preoperative levels. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate whether the activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and the expression of M1 acetylcholine receptor (mAChR M1) in the hippocampus affects the cognitive function of aged rats. METHODS Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of 1-week- and 12-months-old were divided into eight groups: four groups for α7nAChR and four groups for mAChR M1, respectively. All SD rats received 1.0-02% sevoflurane for α7nAChR and 1.0-02% sevoflurane for mAChR M1 for 2-6 h, respectively. The Y-maze test was used to assess the ability to learn and memory after receiving sevoflurane for 7 days at the same moment portion. RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of α7nAChR and mAChR M1 in the hippocampus of rats. RESULTS The α7nAChR mitigated the formation of sevoflurane-induced memory impairment by modulating the translocation of NR2B from the intracellular reservoir to the cell surface reservoir within the hippocampus. Next, sevoflurane-induced decline of cognitive function and significantly decreased mAChR M1 expression at mRNA levels. CONCLUSION α7nAChR regulates the trafficking of NR2B in the hippocampus of rats via the Src-family tyrosine kinase (SFK) pathway. This regulation is associated with cognitive deficits induced by sevoflurane in hippocampal development. Sevoflurane affects the cognitive function of rats by suppressing the mAChR M1 expression at mRNA levels in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ge
- Department of Anesthesiology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Ming
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Dedong Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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3
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Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage PDE, Kang S, Kim JS, Kim SH, Wang H, Shin T, Moon C. Changes in structural plasticity of hippocampal neurons in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Zool Res 2024; 45:398-414. [PMID: 38485508 PMCID: PMC11017077 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.309] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural plasticity is critical for the functional diversity of neurons in the brain. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for multiple sclerosis (MS), successfully mimicking its key pathological features (inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis) and clinical symptoms (motor and non-motor dysfunctions). Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of synaptic plasticity in EAE pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the features of behavioral alteration and hippocampal structural plasticity in EAE-affected mice in the early phase (11 days post-immunization, DPI) and chronic phase (28 DPI). EAE-affected mice exhibited hippocampus-related behavioral dysfunction in the open field test during both early and chronic phases. Dendritic complexity was largely affected in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and CA3 apical and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampus during the chronic phase, while this effect was only noted in the CA1 apical subregion in the early phase. Moreover, dendritic spine density was reduced in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 apical/basal and DG subregions in the early phase of EAE, but only reduced in the DG subregion during the chronic phase. Furthermore, mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines ( Il1β, Tnfα, and Ifnγ) and glial cell markers ( Gfap and Cd68) were significantly increased, whereas the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) was reduced during the chronic phase. Similarly, exposure to the aforementioned cytokines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons reduced dendritic complexity and ARC expression. Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons also showed significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation upon treatment with proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that autoimmune neuroinflammation alters structural plasticity in the hippocampus, possibly through the ERK-ARC pathway, indicating that this alteration may be associated with hippocampal dysfunctions in EAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poornima D E Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohi Kang
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong-Sun Kim
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Kim
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea. E-mail:
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4
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Allen AR, Jones A'V, LoBianco FV, Krager KJ, Aykin-Burns N. Effect of Sirt3 on hippocampal MnSOD activity, mitochondrial function, physiology, and cognition in an aged murine model. Behav Brain Res 2023; 444:114335. [PMID: 36804441 PMCID: PMC10081808 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase SIRT3 is a proven mitochondrial metabolic stress sensor. It has been linked to the regulation of the mitochondrial acetylome and activation of several metabolic enzymes (e.g., manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD]) to protect mitochondrial function and redox homeostasis, which are vital for survival, excitability, and synaptic signaling of neurons mediating short- and long-term memory formation as well as retention. Eighteen-month-old male and female wild-type (WT) and Sirt3-/- mice were behaviorally tested for hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance in a Morris water maze paradigm. Cognitive impairment was displayed during the probe trial by female and male Sirt3-/- mice but not WT mice. Upon sacrifice, brains were fixed, and morphological assessments were conducted on hippocampal tissues. Both female and male Sirt3-/- mice demonstrated impaired spatial memory retention implying that SIRT3 plays a role in long-term memory function. Golgi-staining studies revealed decreased dendritic arborization and dendritic length in the hippocampi of male Sirt3-/- compared to WT animals. Sirt3 deletion significantly increased NR1, NR2A, and NR2B expression in the hippocampus of female mice only. Enzymatic activity of MnSOD, a major mitochondrial deacetylation target of SIRT3, was significantly decreased in both female and male Sirt3-/- mice. Similarly, both female and male Sirt3-/- mice demonstrated a significant decrease in their respiratory control ratio during Complex I-driven respiration, which was apparent only in female Sirt3-/- mice during Complex II-driven respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - A 'Vonte Jones
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Francesca V LoBianco
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Kimberly J Krager
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Nukhet Aykin-Burns
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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5
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Useinovic N, Near M, Cabrera OH, Boscolo A, Milosevic A, Harvey R, Newson A, Chastain-Potts S, Quillinan N, Jevtovic-Todorovic V. Neonatal sevoflurane exposure induces long-term changes in dendritic morphology in juvenile rats and mice. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:641-655. [PMID: 37309741 PMCID: PMC10350807 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231170003] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
General anesthetics are potent neurotoxins when given during early development, causing apoptotic deletion of substantial number of neurons and persistent neurocognitive and behavioral deficits in animals and humans. The period of intense synaptogenesis coincides with the peak of susceptibility to deleterious effects of anesthetics, a phenomenon particularly pronounced in vulnerable brain regions such as subiculum. With steadily accumulating evidence confirming that clinical doses and durations of anesthetics may permanently alter the physiological trajectory of brain development, we set out to investigate the long-term consequences on dendritic morphology of subicular pyramidal neurons and expression on genes regulating the complex neural processes such as neuronal connectivity, learning, and memory. Using a well-established model of anesthetic neurotoxicity in rats and mice neonatally exposed to sevoflurane, a volatile general anesthetic commonly used in pediatric anesthesia, we report that a single 6 h of continuous anesthesia administered at postnatal day (PND) 7 resulted in lasting dysregulation in subicular mRNA levels of cAMP responsive element modulator (Crem), cAMP responsive element-binding protein 1 (Creb1), and Protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha, a subunit of calcineurin (Ppp3ca) (calcineurin) when examined during juvenile period at PND28. Given the critical role of these genes in synaptic development and neuronal plasticity, we deployed a set of histological measurements to investigate the implications of anesthesia-induced dysregulation of gene expression on morphology and complexity of surviving subicular pyramidal neurons. Our results indicate that neonatal exposure to sevoflurane induced lasting rearrangement of subicular dendrites, resulting in higher orders of complexity and increased branching with no significant effects on the soma of pyramidal neurons. Correspondingly, changes in dendritic complexity were paralleled by the increased spine density on apical dendrites, further highlighting the scope of anesthesia-induced dysregulation of synaptic development. We conclude that neonatal sevoflurane induced persistent genetic and morphological dysregulation in juvenile rodents, which could indicate heightened susceptibility toward cognitive and behavioral disorders we are beginning to recognize as sequelae of early-in-life anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Useinovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michelle Near
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Omar Hoseá Cabrera
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Annalisa Boscolo
- Institute of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Padua University Hospital, Padua 35128. Italy
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Andjelko Milosevic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rachel Harvey
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Adre Newson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Shelby Chastain-Potts
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nidia Quillinan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Neuronal Injury and Plasticity Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Goral RO, Harper KM, Bernstein BJ, Fry SA, Lamb PW, Moy SS, Cushman JD, Yakel JL. Loss of GABA co-transmission from cholinergic neurons impairs behaviors related to hippocampal, striatal, and medial prefrontal cortex functions. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1067409. [PMID: 36505727 PMCID: PMC9730538 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1067409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Altered signaling or function of acetylcholine (ACh) has been reported in various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Tourette syndrome, epilepsy among others. Many neurons that release ACh also co-transmit the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) at synapses in the hippocampus, striatum, substantia nigra, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Although ACh transmission is crucial for higher brain functions such as learning and memory, the role of co-transmitted GABA from ACh neurons in brain function remains unknown. Thus, the overarching goal of this study was to investigate how a systemic loss of GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons affected the behavioral performance of mice. Methods: To do this, we used a conditional knock-out mouse of the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) crossed with the ChAT-Cre driver line to selectively ablate GABA co-transmission at ACh synapses. In a comprehensive series of standardized behavioral assays, we compared Cre-negative control mice with Cre-positive vGAT knock-out mice of both sexes. Results: Loss of GABA co-transmission from ACh neurons did not disrupt the animal's sociability, motor skills or sensation. However, in the absence of GABA co-transmission, we found significant alterations in social, spatial and fear memory as well as a reduced reliance on striatum-dependent response strategies in a T-maze. In addition, male conditional knockout (CKO) mice showed increased locomotion. Discussion: Taken together, the loss of GABA co-transmission leads to deficits in higher brain functions and behaviors. Therefore, we propose that ACh/GABA co-transmission modulates neural circuitry involved in the affected behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Oliver Goral
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Center on Compulsive Behaviors, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Harper
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Briana J. Bernstein
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sydney A. Fry
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Patricia W. Lamb
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jesse D. Cushman
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Health and Human Services, Neurobehavioral Core, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jerrel L. Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Jerrel L. Yakel
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7
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Letsinger AC, Gu Z, Yakel JL. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampal circuit: taming complexity. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:145-157. [PMID: 34916082 PMCID: PMC8914277 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) to coordinate neuronal circuit activity while simultaneously influencing the function of non-neuronal cell types. The α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) subtype is highly expressed throughout the hippocampus, has the highest calcium permeability compared with other subtypes of nAChRs, and is of high therapeutic interest due to its association with a variety of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we synthesize research describing α7 nAChR properties, function, and relationship to cognitive dysfunction within the hippocampal circuit and highlight approaches to help improve therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayland C. Letsinger
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Zhenglin Gu
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jerrel L. Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA,Corresponding Author,
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8
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Batool S, Akhter B, Zaidi J, Visser F, Petrie G, Hill M, Syed NI. Neuronal Menin Overexpression Rescues Learning and Memory Phenotype in CA1-Specific α7 nAChRs KD Mice. Cells 2021; 10:3286. [PMID: 34943798 PMCID: PMC8699470 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The perturbation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors is thought to underlie many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. We previously identified that the tumor suppressor gene, MEN1, regulates both the expression and synaptic targeting of α7 nAChRs in the mouse hippocampal neurons in vitro. Here we sought to determine whether the α7 nAChRs gene expression reciprocally regulates the expression of menin, the protein encoded by the MEN1 gene, and if this interplay impacts learning and memory. We demonstrate here that α7 nAChRs knockdown (KD) both in in vitro and in vivo, initially upregulated and then subsequently downregulated menin expression. Exogenous expression of menin using an AAV transduction approach rescued α7 nAChRs KD mediated functional and behavioral deficits specifically in hippocampal (CA1) neurons. These effects involved the modulation of the α7 nAChR subunit expression and functional clustering at the synaptic sites. Our data thus demonstrates a novel and important interplay between the MEN1 gene and the α7 nAChRs in regulating hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadab Batool
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.B.); (B.A.); (F.V.); (G.P.); (M.H.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Basma Akhter
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.B.); (B.A.); (F.V.); (G.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Jawwad Zaidi
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada;
| | - Frank Visser
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.B.); (B.A.); (F.V.); (G.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Gavin Petrie
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.B.); (B.A.); (F.V.); (G.P.); (M.H.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Matthew Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.B.); (B.A.); (F.V.); (G.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Naweed I. Syed
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
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9
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Vallés AS, Barrantes FJ. Dysregulation of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Cholesterol Crosstalk in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:744597. [PMID: 34803605 PMCID: PMC8604044 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.744597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of complex neurodevelopmental diseases that include impaired social interaction, delayed and disordered language, repetitive or stereotypic behavior, restricted range of interests, and altered sensory processing. The underlying causes of the core symptoms remain unclear, as are the factors that trigger their onset. Given the complexity and heterogeneity of the clinical phenotypes, a constellation of genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and immunological factors may be involved. The lack of appropriate biomarkers for the evaluation of neurodevelopmental disorders makes it difficult to assess the contribution of early alterations in neurochemical processes and neuroanatomical and neurodevelopmental factors to ASD. Abnormalities in the cholinergic system in various regions of the brain and cerebellum are observed in ASD, and recently altered cholesterol metabolism has been implicated at the initial stages of the disease. Given the multiple effects of the neutral lipid cholesterol on the paradigm rapid ligand-gated ion channel, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, we explore in this review the possibility that the dysregulation of nicotinic receptor-cholesterol crosstalk plays a role in some of the neurological alterations observed in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofía Vallés
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (UNS-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco J Barrantes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (BIOMED), UCA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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10
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Djemil S, Ressel CR, Abdel-Ghani M, Schneeweis AK, Pak DTS. Central Cholinergic Synapse Formation in Optimized Primary Septal-Hippocampal Co-cultures. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 41:1787-1799. [PMID: 32860154 PMCID: PMC7914286 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00948-6] [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: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Septal innervation of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons to the hippocampus is critical for normal learning and memory and is severely degenerated in Alzheimer's disease. To understand the molecular events underlying physiological cholinergic synaptogenesis and remodeling, as well as pathological loss, we developed an optimized primary septal-hippocampal co-culture system. Hippocampal and septal tissue were harvested from embryonic Sprague-Dawley rat brain and cultured together at varying densities, cell ratios, and in the presence of different growth factors. We identified conditions that produced robust septal-hippocampal synapse formation. We used confocal microscopy with primary antibodies and fluorescent ligands to validate that this system was capable of generating developmentally mature cholinergic synapses. Such synapses were comprised of physiological synaptic partners and mimicked the molecular composition of in vivo counterparts. This co-culture system will facilitate the study of the formation, plasticity, and dysfunction of central mammalian cholinergic synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra Djemil
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Claire R Ressel
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Mai Abdel-Ghani
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Amanda K Schneeweis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Daniel T S Pak
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA.
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11
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Borroni V, Barrantes FJ. Homomeric and Heteromeric α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Health and Some Central Nervous System Diseases. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11090664. [PMID: 34564481 PMCID: PMC8465519 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11090664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels involved in the modulation of essential brain functions such as memory, learning, and attention. Homomeric α7 nAChR, formed exclusively by five identical α7 subunits, is involved in rapid synaptic transmission, whereas the heteromeric oligomers composed of α7 in combination with β subunits display metabotropic properties and operate in slower time frames. At the cellular level, the activation of nAChRs allows the entry of Na+ and Ca2+; the two cations depolarize the membrane and trigger diverse cellular signals, depending on the type of nAChR pentamer and neurons involved, the location of the intervening cells, and the networks of which these neuronal cells form part. These features make the α7 nAChR a central player in neurotransmission, metabolically associated Ca2+-mediated signaling, and modulation of diverse fundamental processes operated by other neurotransmitters in the brain. Due to its ubiquitous distribution and the multiple functions it displays in the brain, the α7 nAChR is associated with a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders whose exact etiopathogenic mechanisms are still elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Borroni
- Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología (ITPN-UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires C1127AAR, Argentina;
| | - Francisco J. Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Biomedical Research, UCA–CONICET, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, Buenos Aires C1107AAZ, Argentina
- Correspondence:
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12
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SREBP-1c Deficiency Affects Hippocampal Micromorphometry and Hippocampus-Dependent Memory Ability in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116103. [PMID: 34198910 PMCID: PMC8201143 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in structural and functional neuroplasticity have been implicated in various neurological disorders. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c is a critical regulatory molecule of lipid homeostasis in the brain. Recently, our findings have shown the potential involvement of SREBP-1c deficiency in the alteration of novel modulatory molecules in the hippocampus and occurrence of schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice. However, the possible underlying mechanisms, related to neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus, are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the hippocampus-dependent memory function and neuronal architecture of hippocampal neurons in SREBP-1c knockout (KO) mice. During the passive avoidance test, SREBP-1c KO mice showed memory impairment. Based on Golgi staining, the dendritic complexity, length, and branch points were significantly decreased in the apical cornu ammonis (CA) 1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampi of SREBP-1c KO mice, compared with those of wild-type (WT) mice. Additionally, significant decreases in the dendritic diameters were detected in the CA3 and DG subregions, and spine density was also significantly decreased in the apical CA3 subregion of the hippocampi of KO mice, compared with that of WT mice. Alterations in the proportions of stubby and thin-shaped dendritic spines were observed in the apical subcompartments of CA1 and CA3 in the hippocampi of KO mice. Furthermore, the corresponding differential decreases in the levels of SREBP-1 expression in the hippocampal subregions (particularly, a significant decrease in the level in the CA3) were detected by immunofluorescence. This study suggests that the contributions of SREBP-1c to the structural plasticity of the mouse hippocampus may have underlain the behavioral alterations. These findings offer insights into the critical role of SREBP-1c in hippocampal functioning in mice.
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13
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Swinton C, Kiffer F, McElroy T, Wang J, Sridharan V, Boerma M, Allen AR. Effects of 16O charged-particle irradiation on cognition, hippocampal morphology and mutagenesis in female mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 407:113257. [PMID: 33794227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The effects of radiation in space on human cognition are a growing concern for NASA scientists and astronauts as the possibility for long-duration missions to Mars becomes more tangible. Oxygen (16O) radiation is of utmost interest considering that astronauts will interact with this radiation frequently. 16O radiation is a class of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) radiation and also present within spacecrafts. Whole-body exposure to high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation has been shown to affect hippocampal-dependent cognition. To assess the effects of high-LET radiation, we gave 6-month-old female C57BL/6 mice whole-body exposure to 16O at 0.25 or 0.1 Gy at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory. Three months following irradiation, animals were tested for cognitive performance using the Y-maze and Novel Object Recognition paradigms. Our behavioral data shows that 16O radiation significantly impairs object memory but not spatial memory. Also, dendritic morphology characterized by the Sholl analysis showed that 16O radiation significantly decreased dendritic branch points, ends, length, and complexity in 0.1 Gy and 0.25 Gy dosages. Finally, we found no significant effect of radiation on single nucleotide polymorphisms in hippocampal genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and immediate early genes. Our data suggest exposure to heavy ion 16O radiation modulates hippocampal neurons and induces behavioral deficits at a time point of three months after exposure in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase Swinton
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Taylor McElroy
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Vijayalakshmi Sridharan
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
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14
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Lu MH, Hsueh YP. Protein synthesis as a modifiable target for autism-related dendritic spine pathophysiologies. FEBS J 2021; 289:2282-2300. [PMID: 33511762 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15733] [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: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly recognized as a condition of altered brain connectivity. As synapses are fundamental subcellular structures for neuronal connectivity, synaptic pathophysiology has become one of central themes in autism research. Reports disagree upon whether the density of dendritic spines, namely excitatory synapses, is increased or decreased in ASD and whether the protein synthesis that is critical for dendritic spine formation and function is upregulated or downregulated. Here, we review recent evidence supporting a subgroup of ASD models with decreased dendritic spine density (hereafter ASD-DSD), including Nf1 and Vcp mutant mice. We discuss the relevance of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) insufficiency in relation to unmet protein synthesis demand in ASD-DSD. In contrast to ASD-DSD, ASD models with hyperactive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) may represent the opposite end of the disease spectrum, often characterized by increases in protein synthesis and dendritic spine density (denoted ASD-ISD). Finally, we propose personalized dietary leucine as a strategy tailored to balancing protein synthesis demand, thereby ameliorating dendritic spine pathophysiologies and autism-related phenotypes in susceptible patients, especially those with ASD-DSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsuan Lu
- Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ping Hsueh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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15
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Nicotinic Receptors in Sleep-Related Hypermotor Epilepsy: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120907. [PMID: 33255633 PMCID: PMC7761363 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) is characterized by hyperkinetic focal seizures, mainly arising in the neocortex during non-rapid eye movements (NREM) sleep. The familial form is autosomal dominant SHE (ADSHE), which can be caused by mutations in genes encoding subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), Na+-gated K+ channels, as well as non-channel signaling proteins, such as components of the gap activity toward rags 1 (GATOR1) macromolecular complex. The causative genes may have different roles in developing and mature brains. Under this respect, nicotinic receptors are paradigmatic, as different pathophysiological roles are exerted by distinct nAChR subunits in adult and developing brains. The widest evidence concerns α4 and β2 subunits. These participate in heteromeric nAChRs that are major modulators of excitability in mature neocortical circuits as well as regulate postnatal synaptogenesis. However, growing evidence implicates mutant α2 subunits in ADSHE, which poses interpretive difficulties as very little is known about the function of α2-containing (α2*) nAChRs in the human brain. Planning rational therapy must consider that pharmacological treatment could have different effects on synaptic maturation and adult excitability. We discuss recent attempts towards precision medicine in the mature brain and possible approaches to target developmental stages. These issues have general relevance in epilepsy treatment, as the pathogenesis of genetic epilepsies is increasingly recognized to involve developmental alterations.
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16
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Ang MJ, Kang S, Moon C. Melatonin alters neuronal architecture and increases cysteine-rich protein 1 signaling in the male mouse hippocampus. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:2333-2348. [PMID: 32754943 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal plasticity describes changes in structure, function, and connections of neurons. The hippocampus, in particular, has been shown to exhibit considerable plasticity regarding both physiological and morphological functions. Melatonin, a hormone released by the pineal gland, promotes cell survival and dendrite maturation of neurons in the newborn brain and protects against neurological disorders. In this study, we investigated the effect of exogenous melatonin on neuronal architecture and its possible mechanism in the hippocampus of adult male C57BL/6 mice. Melatonin treatment significantly increased the total length and complexity of dendrites in the apical and basal cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and in the dentate gyrus in mouse hippocampi. Spine density in CA1 apical dendrites was increased, but no significant differences in other subregions were observed. In primary cultured hippocampal neurons, the length and arborization of neurites were significantly augmented by melatonin treatment. Additionally, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses in both in vivo and in vitro systems revealed significant increases in the level of cysteine-rich protein 1 (crp-1) protein, which is known to be involved in dendritic branching in mouse hippocampal neurons after melatonin treatment. Our results suggest that exogenous melatonin leads to significant alterations of neuronal micromorphometry in the adult hippocampus, possibly via crp-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Jasmin Ang
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Sohi Kang
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
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17
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Kiffer F, Alexander T, Anderson J, Groves T, McElroy T, Wang J, Sridharan V, Bauer M, Boerma M, Allen A. Late Effects of 1H + 16O on Short-Term and Object Memory, Hippocampal Dendritic Morphology and Mutagenesis. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:96. [PMID: 32670032 PMCID: PMC7332779 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The space extending beyond Earth’s magnetosphere is subject to a complex field of high-energy charged nuclei, which are capable of traversing spacecraft shielding and human tissues, inducing dense ionization events. The central nervous system is a major area of concern for astronauts who will be exposed to the deep-space radiation environment on a mission to Mars, as charged-particle radiation has been shown to elicit changes to the dendritic arbor within the hippocampus of rodents, and related cognitive-behavioral deficits. We exposed 6-month-old male mice to whole-body 1H (0.5 Gy; 150 MeV/n; 18–19 cGy/minute) and an hour later to 16O (0.1Gy; 600 MeV/n; 18–33 Gy/min) at NASA’s Space Radiation Laboratory as a galactic cosmic ray-relevant model. Animals were housed with bedding which provides cognitive enrichment. Mice were tested for cognitive behavior 9 months after exposure to elucidate late radiation effects. Radiation induced significant deficits in novel object recognition and short-term spatial memory (Y-maze). Additionally, we observed opposing morphological differences between the mature granular and pyramidal neurons throughout the hippocampus, with increased dendritic length in the dorsal dentate gyrus and reduced length and complexity in the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus. Dendritic spine analyses revealed a severe reduction in mushroom spine density throughout the hippocampus of irradiated animals. Finally, we detected no general effect of radiation on single-nucleotide polymorphisms in immediate early genes, and genes involved in inflammation but found a higher variant allele frequency in the antioxidants thioredoxin reductase 2 and 3 loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Tyler Alexander
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Julie Anderson
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Thomas Groves
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Taylor McElroy
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Vijayalakshmi Sridharan
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Antiño Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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18
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Casamassa A, Ferrari D, Gelati M, Carella M, Vescovi AL, Rosati J. A Link between Genetic Disorders and Cellular Impairment, Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Reveal the Functional Consequences of Copy Number Variations in the Central Nervous System-A Close Look at Chromosome 15. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051860. [PMID: 32182809 PMCID: PMC7084702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent cutting-edge human genetics technology has allowed us to identify copy number variations (CNVs) and has provided new insights for understanding causative mechanisms of human diseases. A growing number of studies show that CNVs could be associated with physiological mechanisms linked to evolutionary trigger, as well as to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disease and mental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, intellectual disabilities or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Their incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity make diagnosis difficult and hinder comprehension of the mechanistic bases of these disorders. Additional elements such as co-presence of other CNVs, genomic background and environmental factors are involved in determining the final phenotype associated with a CNV. Genetically engineered animal models are helpful tools for understanding the behavioral consequences of CNVs. However, the genetic background and the biology of these animal model systems have sometimes led to confusing results. New cellular models obtained through somatic cellular reprogramming technology that produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from human subjects are being used to explore the mechanisms involved in the pathogenic consequences of CNVs. Considering the vast quantity of CNVs found in the human genome, we intend to focus on reviewing the current literature on the use of iPSCs carrying CNVs on chromosome 15, highlighting advantages and limits of this system with respect to mouse model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Casamassa
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy;
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Abramo Lincoln 5, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Daniela Ferrari
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Gelati
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimo Carella
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy;
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy; (M.G.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.L.V.); (J.R.)
| | - Jessica Rosati
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.L.V.); (J.R.)
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19
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Felix RA, Chavez VA, Novicio DM, Morley BJ, Portfors CV. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α 7-knockout mice exhibit degraded auditory temporal processing. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:451-465. [PMID: 31116647 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00170.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The CHRNA7 gene that encodes the α7-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) has been associated with some autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental conditions characterized, in part, by auditory and language impairment. These conditions may include auditory processing disorders that represent impaired timing of neural activity, often accompanied by problems understanding speech. Here, we measure timing properties of sound-evoked activity via the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of α7-nAChR knockout mice of both sexes and wild-type colony controls. We find a significant timing delay in evoked ABR signals that represents midbrain activity in knockouts. We also examine spike-timing properties of neurons in the inferior colliculus, a midbrain nucleus that exhibits high levels of α7-nAChR during development. We find delays of evoked responses along with degraded spiking precision in knockout animals. We find similar timing deficits in responses of neurons in the superior paraolivary nucleus and ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, which are brainstem nuclei thought to shape temporal precision in the midbrain. In addition, we find that other measures of temporal acuity including forward masking and gap detection are impaired for knockout animals. We conclude that altered temporal processing at the level of the brainstem in α7-nAChR-deficient mice may contribute to degraded spike timing in the midbrain, which may underlie the observed timing delay in the ABR signals. Our findings are consistent with a role for the α7-nAChR in types of neurodevelopmental and auditory processing disorders and we identify potential neural targets for intervention.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Disrupted signaling via the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders that include impaired auditory processing. The underlying causes of dysfunction are not known but a common feature is abnormal timing of neural activity. We examined temporal processing of α7-nAChR knockout mice and wild-type controls. We found degraded spike timing of neurons in knockout animals, which manifests at the level of the auditory brainstem and midbrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Felix
- School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Integrated Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington
| | - Vicente A Chavez
- School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Integrated Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington
| | - Dyana M Novicio
- School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Integrated Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington
| | | | - Christine V Portfors
- School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Integrated Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington
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20
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Alexander TC, Kiffer F, Groves T, Anderson J, Wang J, Hayar A, Chen MT, Rodriguez A, Allen AR. Effects of thioTEPA chemotherapy on cognition and motor coordination. Synapse 2019; 73:e22085. [PMID: 30586195 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer survivorship has increased greatly as therapies have become more advanced and effective. Thus, we must now focus on improving the quality of life of patients after treatment. After chemotherapy, many patients experience chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline, indicating a need to investigate pathologies associated with this condition. In this study, we addressed cognitive impairment after thioTEPA treatment by assessing behavior and assaying cytokine production and the structure of dendrites in the hippocampus. Male mice were given three intraperitoneal injections of thioTEPA. Five weeks later, the mice underwent behavior testing, and brains were collected for Golgi staining and cytokine analysis. Behavior tests included y-maze and Morris water maze and licking behavioral task. Cytokines measured include: IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12p70, MCP-1, TNF-α, GMCSF, and RANTES. We observed decreased memory retention in behavioral tasks. Also, dendritic arborization and length were decreased after chemotherapy treatment. Finally, thioTEPA decreased cytokine production in animals treated with chemotherapy, compared to saline-treated controls. Here, we used a mouse model to correlate the decreases in dendritic complexity and inflammatory cytokine production with cognitive impairment after chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler C Alexander
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Thomas Groves
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Ocala West Veterans Affairs, Ocala, Florida
| | - Julie Anderson
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Abdallah Hayar
- Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | | | - Analiz Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
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21
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Mazumder MK, Paul R, Bhattacharya P, Borah A. Neurological sequel of chronic kidney disease: From diminished Acetylcholinesterase activity to mitochondrial dysfunctions, oxidative stress and inflammation in mice brain. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3097. [PMID: 30816118 PMCID: PMC6395638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37935-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing prevalence, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global health problem. Due to the retention of uremic toxins, electrolytes and water, and the resultant metabolic disturbances, CKD affects several organs, including the nervous system. Thus, CKD patients suffer from several neurological complications, including dementia, cognitive impairment, motor abnormalities, depression, and mood and sleep disturbances. However, the mechanisms underlying the neurological complications are least elucidated. We have recently reported a highly reproducible mice model of CKD induced by high adenine diet, which exhibited psychomotor behavioral abnormalities and blood-brain barrier disruption. In the present study, using the mice model, we have investigated psycho-motor and cognitive behaviour, and the neurochemical and histopathological alterations in brain relevant to the observed behavioural abnormalities. The results demonstrate global loss of Acetylcholinesterase activity, and decrease in neuronal arborisation and dendritic spine density in discrete brain regions, of the CKD mice. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunctions were found in specific brain regions of the mice, which have been regarded as the underlying causes of the observed neurochemical and histopathological alterations. Thus, the present study is of immense importance, and has therapeutic implications in the management of CKD-associated neurological complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Khairujjaman Mazumder
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar - 788011, Assam, India
| | - Rajib Paul
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar - 788011, Assam, India.,Department of Zoology, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidyalaya (PDUAM), Eraligool-788723, Karimganj, Assam, India
| | - Pallab Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar - 382355, Gujarat, India
| | - Anupom Borah
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar - 788011, Assam, India.
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Loss of C/EBPδ Exacerbates Radiation-Induced Cognitive Decline in Aged Mice due to Impaired Oxidative Stress Response. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040885. [PMID: 30781689 PMCID: PMC6412914 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is characterized by increased inflammation and deterioration of the cellular stress responses such as the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium, DNA damage repair fidelity, and telomeric attrition. All these factors contribute to the increased radiation sensitivity in the elderly as shown by epidemiological studies of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. There is a global increase in the aging population, who may be at increased risk of exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) as part of cancer therapy or accidental exposure. Therefore, it is critical to delineate the factors that exacerbate age-related radiation sensitivity and neurocognitive decline. The transcription factor CCAAT enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) is implicated with regulatory roles in neuroinflammation, learning, and memory, however its role in IR-induced neurocognitive decline and aging is not known. The purpose of this study was to delineate the role of C/EBPδ in IR-induced neurocognitive decline in aged mice. We report that aged Cebpd−/− mice exposed to acute IR exposure display impairment in short-term memory and spatial memory that correlated with significant alterations in the morphology of neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 apical and basal regions. There were no significant changes in the expression of inflammatory markers. However, the expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) were altered post-IR in the hippocampus of aged Cebpd−/− mice. These results suggest that Cebpd may protect from IR-induced neurocognitive dysfunction by suppressing oxidative stress in aged mice.
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Bello-Medina PC, Prado-Alcalá RA, Rivas-Arancibia S. Effect of Ozone Exposure on Dendritic Spines of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons of the Dorsal Hippocampus and on Object-place Recognition Memory in Rats. Neuroscience 2019; 402:1-10. [PMID: 30685541 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The growth of many cities has generated an increase in the emission of environmental pollutants. Exposure to these pollutants has been associated with increased mortality worldwide. These pollutants, such as ozone, produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative stress throughout the body. It has been observed that there is a relationship between chronic oxidative stress and the development of degenerative diseases typical of old age such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether chronic exposure to ozone produces a deleterious effect on density and morphology of dendritic spines in CA1 of dorsal hippocampus and on learning and memory of object-place recognition. Rats were exposed to ozone or to ozone-free air for a period of 15, 30, 60, or 90 days. The principal results indicate that chronic oxidative stress induced by ozone produces a decrease in the density of dendritic spines, a decrease in thin and mushroom spine ratios, and an increase in stubby spine ratio, as well as a deficit in learning and memory of the object-place recognition task. These results indicate that chronic ozone exposure produces a loss in the inputs of CA1 neurons of the dorsal hippocampus, which may be the source of the cognitive deficits observed in the object-place recognition task, as indicated by the decrease in density of dendritic spines; these alterations are similar to those reported in some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Bello-Medina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - R A Prado-Alcalá
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Qro. 76230, Mexico.
| | - S Rivas-Arancibia
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.
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Kiffer F, Alexander T, Anderson JE, Groves T, Wang J, Sridharan V, Boerma M, Allen AR. Late Effects of 16O-Particle Radiation on Female Social and Cognitive Behavior and Hippocampal Physiology. Radiat Res 2019; 191:278-294. [PMID: 30664396 DOI: 10.1667/rr15092.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The radiation environment in space remains a major concern for manned space exploration, as there is currently no shielding material capable of fully protecting flight crews. Additionally, there is growing concern for the social and cognitive welfare of astronauts, due to prolonged radiation exposure and confinement they will experience on a mission to Mars. In this artice, we report on the late effects of 16O-particle radiation on social and cognitive behavior and neuronal morphology in the hippocampus of adult female mice. Six-month-old mice received 16O-particle whole-body irradiation at doses of either 0.25 or 0.1 Gy (600 MeV/n; 18-33 cGy/min) at the NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory in Upton, NY. At nine months postirradiation, the animals underwent behavioral testing in the three-chamber sociability, novel object recognition and Y-maze paradigms. Exposure to 0.1 or 0.25 Gy 16O significantly impaired object memory, a 0.25 Gy dose impaired social novelty learning, but neither dosage impaired short-term spatial memory. We observed significant decreases in mushroom spine density and dendrite morphology in the dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis 3, 2 and 1 of the hippocampus, which are critical areas for object novelty and sociability processing. Our data suggest exposure to 16O modulates hippocampal pyramidal and granular neurons and induces behavioral deficits at a time point of nine months after exposure in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Tyler Alexander
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Julie E Anderson
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Thomas Groves
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,c Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Jing Wang
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Vijayalakshmi Sridharan
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Marjan Boerma
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Antiño R Allen
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,c Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
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Kang S, Lee S, Kim J, Kim JC, Kim SH, Son Y, Shin T, Youn B, Kim JS, Wang H, Yang M, Moon C. Chronic Treatment with Combined Chemotherapeutic Agents Affects Hippocampal Micromorphometry and Function in Mice, Independently of Neuroinflammation. Exp Neurobiol 2018; 27:419-436. [PMID: 30429651 PMCID: PMC6221841 DOI: 10.5607/en.2018.27.5.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic agents induce long-term side effects, including cognitive impairment and mood disorders, particularly in breast cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning chemotherapy-induced hippocampal dysfunction remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the detrimental effects of chronic treatment with a combination of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) on the neuronal architecture and functions of the hippocampi of female C57BL/6 mice. After chronic AC administration, mice showed memory impairment (measured using a novel object recognition memory task) and depression-like behavior (measured using the tail suspension test and forced swim test). According to Golgi staining, chronic AC treatment significantly reduced the total dendritic length, ramification, and complexity as well as spine density and maturation in hippocampal neurons in a sub-region-specific manner. Additionally, the AC combination significantly reduced adult neurogenesis, the extent of the vascular network, and the levels of hippocampal angiogenesis-related factors. However, chronic AC treatment did not increase the levels of inflammation-related signals (microglial or astrocytic distribution, or the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines or M1/M2 macrophage markers). Thus, chronic AC treatment changed the neuronal architecture of the adult hippocampus, possibly by reducing neurogenesis and the extent of the vasculature, independently of neuroinflammation. Such detrimental changes in micromorphometric parameters may explain the hippocampal dysfunction observed after cancer chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohi Kang
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Sueun Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Juhwan Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Jong-Choon Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Yeonghoon Son
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.,Primate Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup 56216, Korea
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - BuHyun Youn
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Joong-Sun Kim
- K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
| | - Miyoung Yang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Institute for Environmental Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
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Carr H, Alexander TC, Groves T, Kiffer F, Wang J, Price E, Boerma M, Allen AR. Early effects of 16O radiation on neuronal morphology and cognition in a murine model. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2018; 17:63-73. [PMID: 29753415 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Astronauts exposed to high linear energy transfer radiation may experience cognitive injury. The pathogenesis of this injury is unknown but may involve glutamate receptors or modifications to dendritic structure and/or dendritic spine density and morphology. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, where it acts on ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors located at the presynaptic terminal and in the postsynaptic membrane at synapses in the hippocampus. Dendritic spines are sites of excitatory synaptic transmission, and changes in spine structure and dendrite morphology are thought to be morphological correlates of altered brain function associated with hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. The aim of the current study is to assess whether behavior, glutamate receptor gene expression, and dendritic structure in the hippocampus are altered in mice after early exposure to 16O radiation in mice. Two weeks post-irradiation, animals were tested for hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance in the Y-maze. During Y-maze testing, mice exposed to 0.1 Gy and 0.25 Gy radiation failed to distinguish the novel arm, spending approximately the same amount of time in all 3 arms during the retention trial. Exposure to 16O significantly reduced the expression of Nr1 and GluR1 in the hippocampus and modulated spine morphology in the dentate gyrus and cornu Ammon 1 within the hippocampus. The present data provide evidence that 16O radiation has early deleterious effects on mature neurons that are associated with hippocampal learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Carr
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Tyler C Alexander
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Thomas Groves
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Elvin Price
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
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27
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Kiffer F, Howe AK, Carr H, Wang J, Alexander T, Anderson JE, Groves T, Seawright JW, Sridharan V, Carter G, Boerma M, Allen AR. Late effects of 1H irradiation on hippocampal physiology. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2018; 17:51-62. [PMID: 29753414 PMCID: PMC7063743 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
NASA's Missions to Mars and beyond will expose flight crews to potentially dangerous levels of charged-particle radiation. Of all charged nuclei, 1H is the most abundant charged particle in both the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar particle event (SPE) spectra. There are currently no functional spacecraft shielding materials that are able to mitigate the charged-particle radiation encountered in space. Recent studies have demonstrated cognitive injuries due to high-dose 1H exposures in rodents. Our study investigated the effects of 1H irradiation on neuronal morphology in the hippocampus of adult male mice. 6-month-old mice received whole-body exposure to 1H at 0.5 and 1 Gy (150 MeV/n; 0.35-0.55 Gy/min) at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory in Upton, NY. At 9-months post-irradiation, we tested each animal's open-field exploratory performance. After sacrifice, we dissected the brains along the midsagittal plane, and then either fixed or dissected further and snap-froze them. Our data showed that exposure to 0.5 Gy or 1 Gy 1H significantly increased animals' anxiety behavior in open-field testing. Our micromorphometric analyses revealed significant decreases in mushroom spine density and dendrite morphology in the Dentate Gyrus, Cornu Ammonis 3 and 1 of the hippocampus, and lowered expression of synaptic markers. Our data suggest 1H radiation significantly increased exploration anxiety and modulated the dendritic spine and dendrite morphology of hippocampal neurons at a dose of 0.5 or 1 Gy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Alexis K Howe
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Hannah Carr
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Tyler Alexander
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Julie E Anderson
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Thomas Groves
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - John W Seawright
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Vijayalakshmi Sridharan
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Gwendolyn Carter
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Suite 441B-2, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
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Alexander TC, Butcher H, Krager K, Kiffer F, Groves T, Wang J, Carter G, Allen AR. Behavioral Effects of Focal Irradiation in a Juvenile Murine Model. Radiat Res 2018; 189:605-617. [PMID: 29584587 DOI: 10.1667/rr14847.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy has been successfully used to reduce radiation dose and volume for most pediatric patients. However, because of the failure of chemotherapeutic agents to cross the blood-brain barrier and the lack of response of some brain tumors to these agents, radiation therapy is still used to treat many childhood cancers with CNS involvement. In this study, we investigated the radiation effects on cognition and dendritic structure in the hippocampus in juvenile male mice. Twenty-one-day-old male C57BL/6 mice were irradiated using the small animal radiation research platform (SARRP). Animals were exposed to either a 10 Gy single dose or 10 Gy × 2 fractionated doses of X-ray cranial radiation. Five weeks after irradiation, animals were tested for hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance in the Morris water maze. Significant impairment in spatial memory retention was observed in the probe trial after the first day of hidden-platform training (first probe trial) in animals that received either 10 Gy single-dose or 10 Gy × 2 fractionated doses. However, by day 5, mice that received a 10 Gy single dose showed spatial memory retention in the probe trials, whereas mice that received the 20 Gy fractionated doses remained impaired. During Y-maze testing, animals exposed to radiation were impaired; the irradiated mice were not able to distinguish among the three Y-maze arms and spent approximately the same amount of time in all three arms during the retention trial. Radiation significantly compromised the dendritic architecture and reduced spine density throughout the hippocampal trisynaptic network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler C Alexander
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Hannah Butcher
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Kimberly Krager
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Frederico Kiffer
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Thomas Groves
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,c Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Jing Wang
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Gwendolyn Carter
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Antiño R Allen
- a Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.,c Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
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Role of α7nAChR-NMDAR in sevoflurane-induced memory deficits in the developing rat hippocampus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192498. [PMID: 29401517 PMCID: PMC5798850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Detrimental effects of volatile anaesthetics, including sevoflurane, on the structure and function of the developing brain have been reported. The internalization of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) contributes to anaesthetic neurotoxicity. Both nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and NMDAR play a critical role in the development of the nervous system. Moreover, nAChR can interact with NMDAR, and previous studies have demonstrated modulation of NMDAR by nAChR. In our study, we used an α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) agonist and α7nAChR antagonist to explore the role of α7nAChR and NMDAR in sevoflurane-induced long-term effects on memory and dendritic spine both in vivo and in vitro. The results revealed that the activation of α7nAChR attenuated the development of sevoflurane-induced memory deficit and dendritic spine changes, which might be by regulating NR2B-containing NMDAR trafficking from the intracellular pool to the cell surface pool in the hippocampus. Moreover, we demonstrated that α7nAChR could regulate NR2B-containing NMDAR via Src-family tyrosine kinase (SFK). Thus, our current study indicates that the trafficking of NR2B-containing NMDAR is regulated by α7nAChR via SFK in neonatal rat hippocampus, which may be secondary to sevoflurane-induced cognitive deficits in the developing hippocampus.
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Alexander TC, Simecka CM, Kiffer F, Groves T, Anderson J, Carr H, Wang J, Carter G, Allen AR. Changes in cognition and dendritic complexity following intrathecal methotrexate and cytarabine treatment in a juvenile murine model. Behav Brain Res 2017; 346:21-28. [PMID: 29229546 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent childhood cancer and accounts for 26.8% of cancer diagnoses among children, worldwide-approximately 3000 children each year. While advancements in treating ALL have led to a remission rate of more than 90%, many survivors experience adverse neurocognitive and/or neurobehavioral effects as a result of intrathecal chemotherapy. Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly administered with cytosine arabinoside (AraC, cytarabine) during intrathecal chemotherapy for ALL. To date, few studies exist that test the cognitive effects of intrathecal injections of MTX/AraC on juvenile populations. The purpose of our study was to investigate the combined effects of MTX/AraC on cognition and dendritic structure in the hippocampus in juvenile male mice. Twenty, 21-day-old male C57BL/6 mice were used in this study; 10 mice received intrathecal MTX/AraC treatment, and 10 were given intrathecal saline injections. Five weeks after injections, we tested the animals' hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance in the Morris water maze. After the first day of hidden-platform training, we observed that the mice that received MTX/AraC treatment showed signs of significant impairment in spatial memory retention. MTX/AraC treatment significantly compromised the dendritic architecture and reduced mushroom spine density in the dorsal ganglion (DG), CA1, and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. The present data provided evidence that MTX/AraC compromised the dendritic architecture and impaired hippocampal dependent cognition. This could provide insight into chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline in juvenile patients treated for ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler C Alexander
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Christy M Simecka
- Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Thomas Groves
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Julie Anderson
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Hannah Carr
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Gwendolyn Carter
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
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Kiffer F, Carr H, Groves T, Anderson JE, Alexander T, Wang J, Seawright JW, Sridharan V, Carter G, Boerma M, Allen AR. Effects of 1H + 16O Charged Particle Irradiation on Short-Term Memory and Hippocampal Physiology in a Murine Model. Radiat Res 2017; 189:53-63. [PMID: 29136391 DOI: 10.1667/rr14843.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) poses a significant health risk for deep-space flight crews. GCR are unique in their extremely high-energy particles. With current spacecraft shielding technology, some of the predominant particles astronauts would be exposed to are 1H + 16O. Radiation has been shown to cause cognitive deficits in mice. The hippocampus plays a key role in memory and cognitive tasks; it receives information from the cortex, undergoes dendritic-dependent processing and then relays information back to the cortex. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined 1H + 16O irradiation on cognition and dendritic structures in the hippocampus of adult male mice three months postirradiation. Six-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were irradiated first with 1H (0.5 Gy, 150 MeV/n) and 1 h later with 16O (0.1 Gy, 600 MeV/n) at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (Upton, NY). Three months after irradiation, animals were tested for hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance using the Y-maze. Upon sacrifice, molecular and morphological assessments were performed on hippocampal tissues. During Y-maze testing, the irradiated mice failed to distinguish the novel arm, spending approximately the same amount of time in all three arms during the retention trial relative to sham-treated controls. Irradiated animals also showed changes in expression of glutamate receptor subunits and synaptic density-associated proteins. 1H + 16O radiation compromised dendritic morphology in the cornu ammonis 1 and dentate gyrus within the hippocampus. These data indicate cognitive injuries due to 1H + 16O at three months postirradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Hannah Carr
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Thomas Groves
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.,c Center for Translational Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Julie E Anderson
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Tyler Alexander
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Jing Wang
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - John W Seawright
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | | | - Gwendolyn Carter
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Marjan Boerma
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Antiño R Allen
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.,c Center for Translational Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
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Groves TR, Wang J, Boerma M, Allen AR. Assessment of Hippocampal Dendritic Complexity in Aged Mice Using the Golgi-Cox Method. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28671647 DOI: 10.3791/55696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the protuberances from the neuronal dendritic shafts that contain excitatory synapses. The morphological and branching variations of the neuronal dendrites within the hippocampus are implicated in cognition and memory formation. There are several approaches to Golgi staining, all of which have been useful for determining the morphological characteristics of dendritic arbors and produce a clear background. The present Golgi-Cox method, (a slight variation of the protocol that is provided with a commercial Golgi staining kit), was designed to assess how a relatively low dose of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-flurouracil (5-Fu) would affect dendritic morphology, the number of spines, and the complexity of arborization within the hippocampus. The 5-Fu significantly modulated the dendritic complexity and decreased the spine density throughout the hippocampus in a region-specific manner. The data presented show that the Golgi staining method effectively stained the mature neurons in the CA1, the CA3, and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. This protocol reports the details for each step so that other researchers can reliably stain tissue throughout the brain with high quality results and minimal troubleshooting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Groves
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
| | - Jing Wang
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
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5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy upregulates cytokines and alters hippocampal dendritic complexity in aged mice. Behav Brain Res 2016; 316:215-224. [PMID: 27599618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) is commonly used chemotherapy drug, but it can lead to the impairment of cognitive function. The pathogenesis of this injury is unknown but may involve modifications to dendritic structure and/or alterations in dendritic spine density and morphology. Dendritic spines are sites of excitatory synaptic transmission and changes in spine structure and dendrite morphology are thought to represent a morphological correlate of altered brain functions associated with hippocampal dependent learning and memory. A total of 28 one-year-old C57BL6/J male mice were used in this study; 14 mice received 5-Fu treatment and 14 were given saline injections. One month post treatment, 14 cytokines were measured at the same time Golgi samples were taken. 8 analytes were significantly elevated in mice treated with 5-Fu. 5-Fu significantly compromised the dendritic architecture and reduced spine density throughout the hippocampal tri-synaptic network. The present data provide the evidence that 5-Fu has deleterious effects on mature neurons associated with hippocampal learning and memory.
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Allen AR, Raber J, Chakraborti A, Sharma S, Fike JR. 56Fe Irradiation Alters Spine Density and Dendritic Complexity in the Mouse Hippocampus. Radiat Res 2015; 184:586-94. [DOI: 10.1667/rr14103.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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35
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Hu S, Cui W, Mak S, Xu D, Hu Y, Tang J, Choi C, Lee M, Pang Y, Han Y. Substantial Neuroprotective and Neurite Outgrowth-Promoting Activities by Bis(propyl)-cognitin via the Activation of Alpha7-nAChR, a Promising Anti-Alzheimer's Dimer. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:1536-45. [PMID: 26147504 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be ascribed to the progressive loss of functional neurons in the brain, and hence, agents with neuroprotection and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities that allow for the replacement of lost neurons may have significant therapeutic value. In the current study, the neuroprotective and the neurite outgrowth-promoting activities and molecular mechanisms of bis(propyl)-cognitin (B3C), a multifunctional anti-AD dimer, were investigated. Briefly, B3C (24 h pretreatment) fully protected against glutamate-induced neuronal death in primary cerebellar granule neurons with an IC50 value of 0.08 μM. The neuroprotection of B3C could be abrogated by methyllycaconitine, a specific antagonist of alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR). In addition, B3C significantly promoted neurite outgrowth in both PC12 cells and primary cortical neurons, as evidenced by the increase in the percentage of cells with extended neurites as well as the up-regulation of neuronal markers growth-associated protein-43 and β-III-tubulin. Furthermore, B3C rapidly upregulated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a critical signaling molecule in neurite outgrowth that is downstream of the α7-nAChR signal pathway. Specific inhibitors of ERK and α7-nAChR, but not those of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, blocked the neurite outgrowth as well as ERK activation in PC12 cells induced by B3C. Most importantly, genetic depletion of α7-nAChR significantly abolished B3C-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that B3C provided neuroprotection and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities through the activation of α7-nAChR, which offers a novel molecular insight into the potential application of B3C in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengquan Hu
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of New Drug Research, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic, Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine & New Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangdong, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute
of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shinghung Mak
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Daping Xu
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanjia Hu
- State
Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute
of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Mayo
Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
| | - Chunglit Choi
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingyuen Lee
- State
Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute
of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Yuanping Pang
- Mayo
Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
| | - Yifan Han
- Department
of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese
Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
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Sinkus ML, Graw S, Freedman R, Ross RG, Lester HA, Leonard S. The human CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A genes: A review of the genetics, regulation, and function. Neuropharmacology 2015; 96:274-88. [PMID: 25701707 PMCID: PMC4486515 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The human α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene (CHRNA7) is ubiquitously expressed in both the central nervous system and in the periphery. CHRNA7 is genetically linked to multiple disorders with cognitive deficits, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Rett syndrome. The regulation of CHRNA7 is complex; more than a dozen mechanisms are known, one of which is a partial duplication of the parent gene. Exons 5-10 of CHRNA7 on chromosome 15 were duplicated and inserted 1.6 Mb upstream of CHRNA7, interrupting an earlier partial duplication of two other genes. The chimeric CHRFAM7A gene product, dupα7, assembles with α7 subunits, resulting in a dominant negative regulation of function. The duplication is human specific, occurring neither in primates nor in rodents. The duplicated α7 sequence in exons 5-10 of CHRFAM7A is almost identical to CHRNA7, and thus is not completely queried in high throughput genetic studies (GWAS). Further, pre-clinical animal models of the α7nAChR utilized in drug development research do not have CHRFAM7A (dupα7) and cannot fully model human drug responses. The wide expression of CHRNA7, its multiple functions and modes of regulation present challenges for study of this gene in disease. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Sinkus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Sharon Graw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Robert Freedman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Research Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
| | - Randal G Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Henry A Lester
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Sherry Leonard
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Research Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
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37
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Koukouli F, Maskos U. The multiple roles of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in modulating glutamatergic systems in the normal and diseased nervous system. Biochem Pharmacol 2015. [PMID: 26206184 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in a variety of modulatory and regulatory processes including neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission in various brain regions of the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and the glutamatergic system participates in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders. Underpinning the importance of nAChRs, many studies demonstrated that nAChRs containing the α7 subunit facilitate glutamate release. Here, we review the currently available body of experimental evidence pertaining to α7 subunit containing nAChRs in their contribution to the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, and we highlight the role of α7 in synaptic plasticity, the morphological and functional maturation of the glutamatergic system and therefore its important contribution in the modulation of neural circuits of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani Koukouli
- Institut Pasteur, Neurobiologie intégrative des systèmes cholinergiques, CNRS UMR 3571, Paris, France.
| | - Uwe Maskos
- Institut Pasteur, Neurobiologie intégrative des systèmes cholinergiques, CNRS UMR 3571, Paris, France.
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38
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Hu SQ, Cui W, Mak SH, Choi CL, Hu YJ, Li G, Tsim KWK, Pang YP, Han YF. Robust Neuritogenesis-Promoting Activity by Bis(heptyl)-Cognitin Through the Activation of alpha7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/ERK Pathway. CNS Neurosci Ther 2015; 21:520-9. [PMID: 25917415 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Neurodegenerative disorders are caused by progressive neuronal loss in the brain, and hence, compounds that could promote neuritogenesis may have therapeutic values. In this study, the effects of bis(heptyl)-cognitin (B7C), a multifunctional dimer, on neurite outgrowth were investigated in both PC12 cells and primary cortical neurons. METHODS Immunocytochemical staining was used to evaluate the proneuritogenesis effects, and Western blot and short hairpin RNA assays were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS B7C (0.1-0.5 μM) induced robust neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, as evidenced by the neurite-bearing morphology and upregulation of growth-associated protein-43 expression. In addition, B7C markedly promoted neurite outgrowth in primary cortical neurons as shown by the increase in the length of β-III-tubulin-positive neurites. Furthermore, B7C rapidly increased ERK phosphorylation. Specific inhibitors of alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) and MEK, but not those of p38 or JNK, blocked the neurite outgrowth as well as ERK phosphorylation induced by B7C. Most importantly, genetic depletion of α7-nAChR significantly abolished B7C-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. CONCLUSION B7C promoted neurite outgrowth through the activation of α7-nAChR/ERK pathway, which offers novel insight into the potential application of B7C in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Quan Hu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of New Drug Research, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic, Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine & New Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangdong, China.,The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.,The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shing-Hung Mak
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.,The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chung-Lit Choi
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuan-Jia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Gang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Karl Wah-Keung Tsim
- Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuan-Ping Pang
- Mayo Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yi-Fan Han
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.,The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
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Molas S, Gener T, Güell J, Martín M, Ballesteros-Yáñez I, Sanchez-Vives MV, Dierssen M. Hippocampal changes produced by overexpression of the human CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene cluster may underlie cognitive deficits rescued by nicotine in transgenic mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2:147. [PMID: 25384568 PMCID: PMC4236452 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-014-0147-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Addiction involves long-lasting maladaptive changes including development of disruptive drug-stimuli associations. Nicotine-induced neuroplasticity underlies the development of tobacco addiction but also, in regions such as the hippocampus, the ability of this drug to enhance cognitive capabilities. Here, we propose that the genetic locus of susceptibility to nicotine addiction, the CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene cluster, encoding the α5, α3 and β4 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), may influence nicotine-induced neuroadaptations. We have used transgenic mice overexpressing the human cluster (TgCHRNA5/A3/B4) to investigate hippocampal structure and function in genetically susceptible individuals. TgCHRNA5/A3/B4 mice presented a marked reduction in the dendrite complexity of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons along with an increased dendritic spine density. In addition, TgCHRNA5/A3/B4 exhibited increased VGLUT1/VGAT ratio in the CA1 region, suggesting an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance. These hippocampal alterations were accompanied by a significant impairment in short-term novelty recognition memory. Interestingly, chronic infusion of nicotine (3.25 mg/kg/d for 7 d) was able to rescue the reduced dendritic complexity, the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and the cognitive impairment in TgCHRNA5/A3/B4. Our results suggest that chronic nicotine treatment may represent a compensatory strategy in individuals with altered expression of the CHRNA5/A3/B4 region.
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40
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Molas S, Dierssen M. The role of nicotinic receptors in shaping and functioning of the glutamatergic system: a window into cognitive pathology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 46 Pt 2:315-25. [PMID: 24879992 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 04/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of the cholinergic system in learning, memory and attention has long been recognized, although its neurobiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent evidence identifies the endogenous cholinergic signaling via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as key players in determining the morphological and functional maturation of the glutamatergic system. Here, we review the available experimental and clinical evidence of nAChRs contribution to the establishment of the glutamatergic system, and therefore to cognitive function. We provide some clues of the putative underlying molecular mechanisms and discuss recent human studies that associate genetic variability of the genes encoding nAChR subunits with cognitive disorders. Finally, we discuss the new avenues to therapeutically targeting nAChRs in persons with cognitive dysfunction for which the α7-nAChR subunit is an important etiological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Molas
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona E-08003, Spain; University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona E-08003, Spain
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona E-08003, Spain; University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona E-08003, Spain.
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41
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Oz M, Al Kury L, Keun-Hang SY, Mahgoub M, Galadari S. Cellular approaches to the interaction between cannabinoid receptor ligands and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 731:100-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Stewart AM, Braubach O, Spitsbergen J, Gerlai R, Kalueff AV. Zebrafish models for translational neuroscience research: from tank to bedside. Trends Neurosci 2014; 37:264-78. [PMID: 24726051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2014.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 450] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is emerging as a new important species for studying mechanisms of brain function and dysfunction. Focusing on selected central nervous system (CNS) disorders (brain cancer, epilepsy, and anxiety) and using them as examples, we discuss the value of zebrafish models in translational neuroscience. We further evaluate the contribution of zebrafish to neuroimaging, circuit level, and drug discovery research. Outlining the role of zebrafish in modeling a wide range of human brain disorders, we also summarize recent applications and existing challenges in this field. Finally, we emphasize the potential of zebrafish models in behavioral phenomics and high-throughput genetic/small molecule screening, which is critical for CNS drug discovery and identifying novel candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute and the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Oliver Braubach
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seoul, 136791, Republic of Korea
| | - Jan Spitsbergen
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Nash Hall 220 Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, N Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute and the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
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