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Carboni E, Ibba M, Carboni E, Carta AR. Adolescent stress differentially modifies dopamine and norepinephrine release in the medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111055. [PMID: 38879069 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Adolescent stress (AS) has been associated with higher vulnerability to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, or drug dependence. Moreover, the alteration of brain catecholamine (CAT) transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been found to play a major role in the etiology of psychiatric disturbances. We investigated the effect of adolescent stress on CAT transmission in the mPFC of freely moving adult rats because of the importance of this area in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, and because CAT transmission is the target of a relevant group of drugs used in the therapy of depression and psychosis. We assessed basal dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) extracellular concentrations (output) by brain microdialysis in in the mPFC of adult rats that were exposed to chronic mild stress in adolescence. To ascertain the role of an altered release or reuptake, we stimulated DA and NE output by administering either different doses of amphetamine (0.5 and 1.0 mg / kg s.c.), which by a complex mechanism determines a dose dependent increase in the CAT output, or reboxetine (10 mg/kg i.p.), a selective NE reuptake inhibitor. The results showed the following: (i) basal DA output in AS rats was lower than in controls, while no difference in basal NE output was observed; (ii) amphetamine, dose dependently, stimulated DA and NE output to a greater extent in AS rats than in controls; (iii) reboxetine stimulated NE output to a greater extent in AS rats than in controls, while no difference in stimulated DA output was observed between the two groups. These results show that AS determines enduring effects on DA and NE transmission in the mPFC and might lead to the occurrence of psychiatric disorders or increase the vulnerability to drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Marcello Ibba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elena Carboni
- Unit of Paediatrics, ASST Cremona Maggiore Hospital, Cremona, Italy
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
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2
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Xie G, Qin Y, Wu N, Han X, Li J. Single-Nucleus Transcriptome Profiling from the Hippocampus of a PTSD Mouse Model and CBD-Treated Cohorts. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:519. [PMID: 38674453 PMCID: PMC11050643 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040519] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychiatric disorder after a catastrophic event; however, the efficacious treatment options remain insufficient. Increasing evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) exhibits optimal therapeutic effects for treating PTSD. To elucidate the cell-type-specific transcriptomic pathology of PTSD and the mechanisms of CBD against this disease, we conducted single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) in the hippocampus of PTSD-modeled mice and CBD-treated cohorts. We constructed a mouse model by adding electric foot shocks following exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS+S) and tested the freezing time, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive behavior. CBD was administrated before every behavioral test. The PTSD-modeled mice displayed behaviors resembling those of PTSD in all behavioral tests, and CBD treatment alleviated all of these PTSD-like behaviors (n = 8/group). Three mice with representative behavioral phenotypes were selected from each group for snRNA-seq 15 days after the SPS+S. We primarily focused on the excitatory neurons (ExNs) and inhibitory neurons (InNs), which accounted for 68.4% of the total cell annotations. A total of 88 differentially upregulated genes and 305 differentially downregulated genes were found in the PTSD mice, which were found to exhibit significant alterations in pathways and biological processes associated with fear response, synaptic communication, protein synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and oxidative stress response. A total of 63 overlapping genes in InNs were identified as key genes for CBD in the treatment of PTSD. Subsequent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the anti-PTSD effect of CBD was related to the regulation of protein synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress response, and fear response. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that CBD also enhanced retrograde endocannabinoid signaling in ExNs, which was found to be suppressed in the PTSD group. Our research may provide a potential explanation for the pathogenesis of PTSD and facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for drug development. Moreover, it may shed light on the therapeutic mechanisms of CBD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (G.X.); (Y.Q.); (N.W.); (J.L.)
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3
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Fusse EJ, Scarante FF, Vicente MA, Marrubia MM, Turcato F, Scomparin DS, Ribeiro MA, Figueiredo MJ, Brigante TAV, Guimarães FS, Campos AC. Anxiogenic doses of rapamycin prevent URB597-induced anti-stress effects in socially defeated mice. Neurosci Lett 2024; 818:137519. [PMID: 37852528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137519] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Repeated exposure to psychosocial stress modulates the endocannabinoid system, particularly anandamide (AEA) signaling in brain regions associated with emotional distress. The mTOR protein regulates various neuroplastic processes in the brain disrupted by stress, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This kinase has been implicated in multiple effects of cannabinoid drugs and the anti-stress behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs. Therefore, our hypothesis is that enhancing AEA signaling via pharmacological inhibition of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme induces an anti-stress behavioral effect through an mTOR-dependent mechanism. To test this hypothesis, male C57Bl6 mice were exposed to social defeat stress (SDS) for 7 days and received daily treatment with either vehicle or different doses of the FAAH inhibitor, URB597 (0.1; 0.3; 1 mg/Kg), alone or combined with rapamycin. The results suggested that URB597 induced an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in mice subjected to SDS (with the intermediate dose of 0.3 mg/kg being anxiolytic, and the higher tested dose of 1 mg/Kg being anxiogenic). In a second independent experiment, rapamycin treatment induced an anxiogenic-like response in control mice. However, in the presence of rapamycin, the anxiolytic dose of URB597 treatment failed to reduce stress-induced anxiety behaviors in mice. SDS exposure altered the hippocampal expression of the mTOR scaffold protein Raptor. Furthermore, the anxiogenic dose of URB597 decreased the absolute number of migrating doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus, suggesting an anti-anxiety effect independent of newly generated/immature neurons. Therefore, our results indicate that in mice exposed to repeated psychosocial stress, URB597 fails to counteract the anxiogenic-like response induced by the pharmacological dampening of mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo J Fusse
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Franciele F Scarante
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria A Vicente
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Mariana M Marrubia
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Flávia Turcato
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Davi S Scomparin
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Melissa A Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria J Figueiredo
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Tamires A V Brigante
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alline C Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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Oddi S, Fiorenza MT, Maccarrone M. Endocannabinoid signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis: A mechanistic and integrated perspective. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101239. [PMID: 37385352 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Dentate gyrus of the hippocampus continuously gives rise to new neurons, namely, adult-born granule cells, which contribute to conferring plasticity to the mature brain throughout life. Within this neurogenic region, the fate and behavior of neural stem cells (NSCs) and their progeny result from a complex balance and integration of a variety of cell-autonomous and cell-to-cell-interaction signals and underlying pathways. Among these structurally and functionally diverse signals, there are endocannabinoids (eCBs), the main brain retrograde messengers. These pleiotropic bioactive lipids can directly and/or indirectly influence adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) by modulating, both positively and negatively, multiple molecular and cellular processes in the hippocampal niche, depending on the cell type or stage of differentiation. Firstly, eCBs act directly as cell-intrinsic factors, cell-autonomously produced by NSCs following their stimulation. Secondly, in many, if not all, niche-associated cells, including some local neuronal and nonneuronal elements, the eCB system indirectly modulates the neurogenesis, linking neuronal and glial activity to regulating distinct stages of AHN. Herein, we discuss the crosstalk of the eCB system with other neurogenesis-relevant signal pathways and speculate how the hippocampus-dependent neurobehavioral effects elicited by (endo)cannabinergic medications are interpretable in light of the key regulatory role that eCBs play on AHN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Oddi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via R. Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy; European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa Fiorenza
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, Division of Neuroscience and "Daniel Bovet" Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Sardi 70, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio Snc, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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Lookfong NA, Raup-Konsavage WM, Silberman Y. Potential Utility of Cannabidiol in Stress-Related Disorders. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 8:230-240. [PMID: 36409719 PMCID: PMC10061337 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of anxiety and stress responses; however, the eCB system can be disrupted following traumatic stressors. Additionally, traumatic or chronic stressors that occur during adulthood or early life can cause long-lasting disturbances in the eCB system. These alterations interfere with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and may be involved in lifelong increased fear and anxiety behaviors as well as increased risk for development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: This review focuses on the implications of trauma and significant stressors on eCB functionality and neural pathways, both in adolescence and into adulthood, as well as the current state of testing for CBD efficacy in treating pediatric and adult patients suffering from stress-induced eCB dysregulation. Articles were searched via Pubmed and included studies examining eCB modulation of stress-related disorders in both clinical settings and preclinical models. Conclusion: Given the potential for lifelong alterations in eCB signaling that can mediate stress responsiveness, consideration of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical agents that impact eCB targets may improve clinical outcomes in stress-related disorders. However, caution may be warranted in utilization of medicinal cannabinoid products that contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol due to pronounced euphorigenic effects and potential to exacerbate stress-related behaviors. Other cannabinoid products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have shown promise in reducing stress-related behaviors in pre-clinical models. Overall, pre-clinical evidence supports CBD as a potential treatment for stress or anxiety disorders resulting from previously stressful events, particularly by reducing fearful behavior and promoting extinction of contextual fear memories, which are hallmarks of PTSD. However, very limited clinical research has been conducted examining the potential effectiveness of CBD in this regard and should be examined further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. Lookfong
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Yuval Silberman
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Zhao F, Guan S, Fu Y, Wang K, Liu Z, Ng TB. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide attenuates emotional injury of offspring elicited by prenatal chronic stress in rats via regulation of gut microbiota. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 143:112087. [PMID: 34474339 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress during pregnancy is not only detrimental to a woman's own physical and mental health, but can also cause changes in the intrauterine environment and even have an impact on later growth and development, this study was designed to understand the changes of gut microbiota in the maternal and offspring caused by prenatal chronic stress, and to explore the regulatory effect of LBP on gut microbiota, and then to improve the emotional damage caused by prenatal chronic stress in the offspring. A rat model of prenatal chronic stress was made and used LBP to intervene by gavage. Fresh feces of offspring were collected, the concentration of microbial metabolites were tested by ELISA. Illumina MiSeqPE300 sequencing technology was used to determine the sequence of 16S rRNA V3-V4 of microorganisms. On the PND 42, the emotional function of offspring were tested by open-field test (OFT), sucrose preference test (SPT) and tail of suspend test (TST). Results indicated that stress factors increased the plasma corticosterone level of rats during pregnancy and they appeared depressive behaviors. The body weight of offspring during prenatal chronic stress was lower than the control group, and the plasma corticosterone level was increased. Prenatal chronic stress had a significant impact on emotional performance of the offspring on OFT, SPT and TST. Alpha diversity of gut microbiota and microbiota composition in offspring of prenatal chronic stress was attenuated and some relationships existed between these parameters. LBP treatment reduced offspring's plasma corticosterone level and improved their body weight, changed the emotional function, increased the diversity of gut microbiota. Collectively, these findings disclose that prenatal chronic stress not only causes emotional injury on the offspring, but also changes the gut microbiota of the mother and offspring; LBP may regulate the intestinal flora of the mother, then reducing the influence of stress factors on the emotional injury of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia, China
| | - Suzhen Guan
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia, China
| | - Youjuan Fu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia, China.
| | - Tzi Bun Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Gawliński D, Gawlińska K, Smaga I. Maternal High-Fat Diet Modulates Cnr1 Gene Expression in Male Rat Offspring. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082885. [PMID: 34445045 PMCID: PMC8402185 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, strong evidence has emerged that exposure to a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) provokes changes in the structure, function, and development of the offspring’s brain and may induce several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric illnesses. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation on depressive-like behavior and Cnr1 gene expression (encoding the CB1 receptor) in brain structures of rat offspring and to investigate the epigenetic mechanism involved in this gene expression. We found that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation induced a depressive-like phenotype at postnatal days (PNDs) 28 and 63. We found that a maternal HFD decreased the Cnr1 mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex with the increased levels of miR-212-5p and methylation of CpG islands at the Cnr1 promoter and reduced the level of Cnr1 gene expression in the dorsal striatum with an increased level of miR-154-3p in adolescent male offspring. A contrasting effect of a maternal HFD was observed in the hippocampus, where upregulation of Cnr1 gene expression was accompanied by a decrease of miR-154-3p (at PNDs 28 and 63) and miR-212-5p (at PND 63) expression and methylation of CpG islands at the Cnr1 promoter in male offspring. In summary, we showed that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation triggered several epigenetic mechanisms in the brains of rat offspring, which may be related to long-lasting alterations in the next generation and produce behavioral changes in offspring, including a depressive-like phenotype.
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Ferraro A, Wig P, Boscarino J, Reich CG. Sex differences in endocannabinoid modulation of rat CA1 dendritic neurotransmission. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100283. [PMID: 33344734 PMCID: PMC7739177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoid sex differences are present in the rat hippocampus. Specifically, at perisomatic GABAergic synapses, tonic anandamide (AEA) and estrogenic-AEA signaling are active in females but not males. Furthermore, in males, hippocampal eCB function varies along the CA1 pyramidal somatodendritic axis. Constitutive CB1 and tonic 2-AG activity are present at perisomatic GABAergic synapses and lacking at dendritic GABAergic synapses. It is unknown if these eCB somatodendritic differences occur at female GABAergic synapses. Moreover, it is unclear whether eCB sex differences occur at hippocampal glutamatergic synapses. In vitro, field potential (fEPSP) recordings were performed to assess eCB sex differences at rat CA3-CA1 dendritic synapses. At female GABAergic synapses, we observed: 1) constitutive CB1 function, 2) tonic AEA, 3) tonic 2-AG and 3) estrogen (ERα)-driven 2-AG activity. In contrast, only constitutive CB1 and tonic 2-AG activity was observed in males. Sex differences in eCB/CB1 signaling at dendritic synapses appear to shift the basal excitatory/inhibitory balance towards excitation in females and towards inhibition in males. Chronic Mild Stress (CMS) exposure (21 days) in female rats reverses CB1constitutive function and impairs both tonic and ERα-driven eCB signaling. Endocannabinoid sex differences under both normal and stress conditions may contribute to sexual disparities in stress-related neurobehavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Ferraro
- Program in Psychology, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ, 07430, USA
| | - Philip Wig
- Program in Psychology, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ, 07430, USA
| | - Joseph Boscarino
- Program in Psychology, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ, 07430, USA
| | - Christian G Reich
- Program in Psychology, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ, 07430, USA
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Khan AR, Geiger L, Wiborg O, Czéh B. Stress-Induced Morphological, Cellular and Molecular Changes in the Brain-Lessons Learned from the Chronic Mild Stress Model of Depression. Cells 2020; 9:cells9041026. [PMID: 32326205 PMCID: PMC7226496 DOI: 10.3390/cells9041026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe illness imposing an increasing social and economic burden worldwide. Numerous rodent models have been developed to investigate the pathophysiology of MDD. One of the best characterized and most widely used models is the chronic mild stress (CMS) model which was developed more than 30 years ago by Paul Willner. More than 2000 published studies used this model, mainly to assess novel compounds with potential antidepressant efficacy. Most of these studies examined the behavioral consequences of stress and concomitant drug intervention. Much fewer studies focused on the CMS-induced neurobiological changes. However, the stress-induced cellular and molecular changes are important as they may serve as potential translational biomarkers and increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of MDD. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the structural and molecular alterations in the brain that have been described using the CMS model. We discuss the latest neuroimaging and postmortem histopathological data as well as molecular changes including recent findings on microRNA levels. Different chronic stress paradigms occasionally deliver dissimilar findings, but the available experimental data provide convincing evidence that the CMS model has a high translational value. Future studies examining the neurobiological changes in the CMS model in combination with clinically effective antidepressant drug intervention will likely deliver further valuable information on the pathophysiology of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Raza Khan
- Centre of Biomedical Research, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) Campus, Lucknow-226017, U.P, India;
| | - Lili Geiger
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ove Wiborg
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark;
| | - Boldizsár Czéh
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Bassir Nia A, Bender R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Endocannabinoid System Alterations in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of Developmental and Accumulative Effects of Trauma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3. [PMID: 31660473 PMCID: PMC6816276 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019864096] [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] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of the endocannabinoid system in stress-related psychiatric symptoms has
been investigated in many animal and human studies. Although most of these
studies consistently report long-lasting effects of prolonged stress and trauma
on the endocannabinoid system, the nature and direction of these changes are
controversial. We reviewed the available preclinical and clinical studies
investigating the endocannabinoid system alterations long after chronic stress
and trauma. We propose that the effects of prolonged stress or trauma on the
endocannabinoid system are different based on the developmental age of subjects
at the time of experiencing the trauma and its repetitiveness and accumulative
effects. The current literature consistently demonstrates decreased levels of
endocannabinoid ligands and receptors if the trauma occurs in childhood, whereas
decreased levels of endocannabinoid ligands and increased levels of cannabinoid
receptors are reported when trauma has happened in adulthood. It is important to
note that these changes are region-specific in the brain and also there are
important sex differences, which are beyond the scope of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricci Bender
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Selective Activation of Cholecystokinin-Expressing GABA (CCK-GABA) Neurons Enhances Memory and Cognition. eNeuro 2019; 6:eN-NWR-0360-18. [PMID: 30834305 PMCID: PMC6397954 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0360-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholecystokinin-expressing GABAergic (CCK-GABA) neurons are perisomatic inhibitory cells that have been argued to regulate emotion and sculpt the network oscillations associated with cognition. However, no study has selectively manipulated CCK-GABA neuron activity during behavior in freely-moving animals. To explore the behavioral effects of activating CCK-GABA neurons on emotion and cognition, we utilized a novel intersectional genetic mouse model coupled with a chemogenetic approach. Specifically, we generated triple transgenic CCK-Cre;Dlx5/6-Flpe;RC::FL-hM3Dq (CCK-GABA/hM3Dq) mice that expressed the synthetic excitatory hM3Dq receptor in CCK-GABA neurons. Results showed that clozapine-N-oxide (CNO)-mediated activation of CCK-GABA neurons did not alter open field (OF) or tail suspension (TS) performance and only slightly increased anxiety in the elevated plus maze (EPM). Although CNO treatment had only modestly affected emotional behavior, it significantly enhanced multiple cognitive and memory behaviors including social recognition, contextual fear conditioning, contextual discrimination, object recognition, and problem-solving in the puzzle box. Collectively, these findings suggest that systemic activation of CCK-GABA neurons minimally affects emotion but significantly enhances cognition and memory. Our results imply that CCK-GABA neurons are more functionally diverse than originally expected and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cognitive/memory disorders.
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12
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Fang G, Wang Y. Effects of rTMS on Hippocampal Endocannabinoids and Depressive-like Behaviors in Adolescent Rats. Neurochem Res 2018; 43:1756-1765. [PMID: 29987693 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2591-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a common mental disorder in adolescents, with a prevalence rate of 5.6%. Current anti-depressive options for adolescents are limited: psychological intervention and conventional antidepressants have low efficacy, a delayed onset of action and increased possibility of suicidal risk. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as an effective and noninvasive physical therapy for adult depression has been investigated in recent years. However, whether it also produces similar effects on juvenile depression and the underlying mechanism are not clearly understood. In this study, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS) was applied to 3-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats for 21 days. Then rTMS was performed for seven consecutive days, and the anti-depressive effects were evaluated by behavioral tests including the sucrose preference test (SPT), the forced swimming test (FST), and the novelty suppressed feeding test (NSF). Expression of hippocampal cannabinoid type I receptor (CB1R), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and relative synthetase and degradative enzymes-diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) were also investigated. The behavioral parameters were also observed after the administration of the selective CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. The results showed that CMS induced a significant decrease in sucrose preference, a significant increase of immobility time in the FST, and an increased latency to feed in the NSF. In addition, reduced hippocampal CB1 receptor, 2-AG level and increased MAGL protein expression level were also observed in CMS rats. Meanwhile, rTMS treatment upregulated 2-AG level in the hippocampus and ameliorated depressive-like behaviors. The anti-depressive effect of rTMS was attenuated by AM251, a specific CB1R antagonist that was administered 30 min before the onset of rTMS by either intraperitoneal administration or hippocampal microinjection. These results indicate that rTMS can be used as an antidepressive therapy for juvenile depression at least partly mediated by increasing hippocampal 2-AG and CB1 receptor expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiang Fang
- Department of Emergency, Xi'an NO.3 hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University), Xi'an, 710018, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Manz KM, Levine WA, Seckler JC, Iskander AN, Reich CG. A novel adolescent chronic social defeat model: reverse-Resident-Intruder Paradigm (rRIP) in male rats. Stress 2018; 21:169-178. [PMID: 29307250 PMCID: PMC6137812 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1423285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is linked to the etiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder and Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. Adolescence is a critical neurobehavioral developmental period wherein the maturing nervous system is sensitive to stress-related psychosocial events. The effects of social defeat stress, an animal model of psychosocial stress, on adolescent neurobehavioral phenomena are not well explored. Using the standard Resident-Intruder-Paradigm (RIP), adolescent Long-Evans (LE, residents, n = 100) and Sprague-Dawley (SD, intruders, n = 100) rats interacted for five days to invoke chronic social stress. Tests of depressive behavior (forced-swim-test (FST)), fear conditioning, and long-term synaptic plasticity are affected in various adult rodent chronic stress models, thus we hypothesized that these phenomena would be similarly affected in adolescent rats. Serendipitously, we observed the Intruders became the dominant rats and the Residents were the defeated/submissive rats. This robust and reliable role-reversal resulted in defeated LE-Residents showing a depressive-like state (increased time spent immobile in the FST), enhanced fear conditioning in both hippocampal-dependent and hippocampal-independent fear paradigms and altered hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity, measured electrophysiologically in vitro in hippocampal slices. Importantly, SD-Intruders, SD and LE controls did not significantly differ from each other in any of these assessments. This reverse-Resident-Intruder-Paradigm (rRIP) represents a novel animal model to study the effects of stress on adolescent neurobehavioral phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Manz
- a Program in Psychology , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , NJ , USA
| | - Wendy A Levine
- a Program in Psychology , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , NJ , USA
| | - Joshua C Seckler
- a Program in Psychology , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , NJ , USA
| | - Anthony N Iskander
- a Program in Psychology , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , NJ , USA
| | - Christian G Reich
- a Program in Psychology , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , NJ , USA
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Meyer HC, Lee FS, Gee DG. The Role of the Endocannabinoid System and Genetic Variation in Adolescent Brain Development. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:21-33. [PMID: 28685756 PMCID: PMC5719094 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
During adolescence, both rodent and human studies have revealed dynamic changes in the developmental trajectories of corticolimbic structures, which are known to contribute to the regulation of fear and anxiety-related behaviors. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system critically regulates stress responsivity and anxiety throughout the life span. Emerging evidence suggests that during adolescence, changes in eCB signaling contribute to the maturation of local and corticolimbic circuit populations of neurons, such as mediating the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission within the prefrontal cortex. This function of the eCB system facilitates efficient communication within and between brain regions and serves a central role in establishing complex and adaptive cognitive and behavioral processing. Although these peri-adolescent changes in eCB signaling promote brain development and plasticity, they also render this period a particularly sensitive one for environmental perturbations to these normative fluctuations in eCB signaling, such as stress, potentially leading to altered developmental trajectories of neural circuits governing emotional behaviors. In this review, we focus on the role of eCB signaling on the regulation of stress and anxiety-related behaviors both during and after adolescence. Moreover, we discuss the functional implications of human genetic variation in the eCB system for the risk for anxiety and consequences of stress across development and into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi C Meyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francis S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dylan G Gee
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Scarante FF, Vila-Verde C, Detoni VL, Ferreira-Junior NC, Guimarães FS, Campos AC. Cannabinoid Modulation of the Stressed Hippocampus. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:411. [PMID: 29311804 PMCID: PMC5742214 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stressful situations is one of the risk factors for the precipitation of several psychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Schizophrenia. The hippocampal formation is a forebrain structure highly associated with emotional, learning and memory processes; being particularly vulnerable to stress. Exposure to stressful stimuli leads to neuroplastic changes and imbalance between inhibitory/excitatory networks. These changes have been associated with an impaired hippocampal function. Endocannabinoids (eCB) are one of the main systems controlling both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as neuroplasticity within the hippocampus. Cannabinoids receptors are highly expressed in the hippocampus, and several lines of evidence suggest that facilitation of cannabinoid signaling within this brain region prevents stress-induced behavioral changes. Also, chronic stress modulates hippocampal CB1 receptors expression and endocannabinoid levels. Moreover, cannabinoids participate in mechanisms related to synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis. Here, we discussed the main findings supporting the involvement of hippocampal cannabinoid neurotransmission in stress-induced behavioral and neuroplastic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciele F Scarante
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Vila-Verde
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vinícius L Detoni
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilson C Ferreira-Junior
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco S Guimarães
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alline C Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), Cannabinoid Research Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Smaga I, Jastrzębska J, Zaniewska M, Bystrowska B, Gawliński D, Faron-Górecka A, Broniowska Ż, Miszkiel J, Filip M. Changes in the Brain Endocannabinoid System in Rat Models of Depression. Neurotox Res 2017; 31:421-435. [PMID: 28247204 PMCID: PMC5360820 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-017-9708-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence implicates the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in the pathophysiology of depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of changes in the eCB system, such as levels of neuromodulators, eCB synthesizing and degrading enzymes, and cannabinoid (CB) receptors, in different brain structures in animal models of depression using behavioral and biochemical analyses. Both models used, i.e., bulbectomized (OBX) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, were characterized at the behavioral level by increased immobility time. In the OBX rats, anandamide (AEA) levels were decreased in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum and increased in the nucleus accumbens, while 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels were increased in the prefrontal cortex and decreased in the nucleus accumbens with parallel changes in the expression of eCB metabolizing enzymes in several structures. It was also observed that CB1 receptor expression decreased in the hippocampus, dorsal striatum, and nucleus accumbens, and CB2 receptor expression decreased in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In WKY rats, the levels of eCBs were reduced in the prefrontal cortex (2-AG) and dorsal striatum (AEA) and increased in the prefrontal cortex (AEA) with different changes in the expression of eCB metabolizing enzymes, while the CB1 receptor density was increased in several brain regions. These findings suggest that dysregulation in the eCB system is implicated in the pathogenesis of depression, although neurochemical changes were linked to the particular brain structure and the factor inducing depression (surgical removal of the olfactory bulbs vs. genetic modulation).
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Smaga
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688, Kraków, Poland
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Jastrzębska
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Zaniewska
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Beata Bystrowska
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Faron-Górecka
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Żaneta Broniowska
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Miszkiel
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688, Kraków, Poland.
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
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van Hecke O, Hocking LJ, Torrance N, Campbell A, Padmanabhan S, Porteous DJ, McIntosh AM, Burri AV, Tanaka H, Williams FMK, Smith BH. Chronic pain, depression and cardiovascular disease linked through a shared genetic predisposition: Analysis of a family-based cohort and twin study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170653. [PMID: 28225781 PMCID: PMC5321424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression and chronic pain are the two most important causes of disability (Global Burden of Disease Study 2013). They occur together more frequently than expected and both conditions have been shown to be co-morbid with cardiovascular disease. Although shared socio-demographic risk factors (e.g. gender, deprivation) might explain the co-morbidity of these three conditions, we hypothesised that these three long-term, highly prevalent conditions co-occur and may be due to shared familial risk, and/or genetic factors. METHODS AND FINDINGS We employed three different study designs in two independent cohorts, namely Generation Scotland and TwinsUK, having standardised, validated questionnaire data on the three traits of interest. First, we estimated the prevalence and co-occurrence of chronic pain, depression and angina among 24,024 participants of a population-based cohort of extended families (Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study), adjusting for age, gender, education, smoking status, and deprivation. Secondly, we compared the odds of co-morbidity in sibling-pairs with the odds in unrelated individuals for the three conditions in the same cohort. Lastly, examination of similar traits in a sample of female twins (TwinsUK, n = 2,902), adjusting for age and BMI, allowed independent replication of the findings and exploration of the influence of additive genetic (A) factors and shared (C) and non-shared (E) environmental factors predisposing to co-occurring chronic widespread pain (CWP) and cardiovascular disease (hypertension, angina, stroke, heart attack, elevated cholesterol, angioplasty or bypass surgery). In the Generation Scotland cohort, individuals with depression were more than twice as likely to have chronic pain as those without depression (adjusted OR 2·64 [95% CI 2·34-2·97]); those with angina were four times more likely to have chronic pain (OR 4·19 [3·64-4·82]); those with depression were twice as likely to have angina (OR 2·20 [1·90-2·54]). Similar odds were obtained when the outcomes and predictors were reversed and similar effects seen among sibling pairs; depression in one sibling predicted chronic pain in the other (OR 1·34 [1·05-1·71]), angina predicted chronic pain in the other (OR 2·19 [1·63-2·95]), and depression, angina (OR 1·98 [1·49-2·65]). Individuals with chronic pain and angina showed almost four-fold greater odds of depression compared with those manifesting neither trait (OR 3·78 [2·99-4·78]); angina showed seven-fold increased odds in the presence of chronic pain and depression (OR 7·76 [6·05-9·95]) and chronic pain nine-fold in the presence of depression and angina (OR 9·43 [6·85-12·98]). In TwinsUK, the relationship between CWP and depression has been published (R = 0.34, p<0.01). Considering the CWP-cardiovascular relationship, the most suitable model to describe the observed data was a combination of A, C and E, with a small but significant genetic predisposition, shared between the two traits (2·2% [95% CI 0·06-0·23]). CONCLUSION We found an increased co-occurrence of chronic pain, depression and cardiovascular disease in two independent cohorts (general population-based cohort, twins cohort) suggesting a shared genetic contribution. Adjustment for known environmental influences, particularly those relating to socio-economic status (Generation Scotland: age, gender, deprivation, smoking, education; Twins UK: age,BMI) did not explain the relationship observed between chronic pain, depression and cardiovascular disease. Our findings from two independent cohorts challenge the concept of traditional disease boundaries and warrant further investigation of shared biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver van Hecke
- Division of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne J. Hocking
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Torrance
- Division of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Archie Campbell
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sandosh Padmanabhan
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Porteous
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomics and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea V. Burri
- Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
- Dept of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Frances M. K. Williams
- Dept of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Blair H. Smith
- Division of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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19
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Training-Associated Emotional Arousal Shapes Endocannabinoid Modulation of Spatial Memory Retrieval in Rats. J Neurosci 2016; 35:13962-74. [PMID: 26468197 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1983-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Variations in environmental aversiveness influence emotional memory processes in rats. We have previously shown that cannabinoid effects on memory are dependent on the stress level at the time of training as well as on the aversiveness of the environmental context. Here, we investigated whether the hippocampal endocannabinoid system modulates memory retrieval depending on the training-associated arousal level. Male adult Sprague Dawley rats were trained on a water maze spatial task at two different water temperatures (19°C and 25°C) to elicit either higher or lower stress levels, respectively. Rats trained under the higher stress condition had better memory and higher corticosterone concentrations than rats trained at the lower stress condition. The cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55212-2 (10-30 ng/side), the 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) hydrolysis inhibitor JZL184 (0.1-1 μg/side), and the anandamide (AEA) hydrolysis inhibitor URB597 (10-30 ng/side) were administered bilaterally into the hippocampus 60 min before probe-trial retention testing. WIN55212-2 or JZL184, but not URB597, impaired probe-trial performances only of rats trained at the higher stressful condition. Furthermore, rats trained under higher stress levels displayed an increase in hippocampal 2-AG, but not AEA, levels at the time of retention testing and a decreased affinity of the main 2-AG-degrading enzyme for its substrate. The present findings indicate that the endocannabinoid 2-AG in the hippocampus plays a key role in the selective regulation of spatial memory retrieval of stressful experience, shedding light on the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the impact of stress effects on memory processing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Endogenous cannabinoids play a central role in the modulation of memory for emotional events. Here we demonstrate that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the hippocampus, a brain region crucially involved in the regulation of memory processes, selectively modulates spatial memory recall of stressful experiences. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is a key player in mediating the impact of stress on memory retrieval. These findings can pave the way to new potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, where a previous exposure to traumatic events could alter the response to traumatic memory recall leading to mental illness.
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Morena M, Patel S, Bains JS, Hill MN. Neurobiological Interactions Between Stress and the Endocannabinoid System. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:80-102. [PMID: 26068727 PMCID: PMC4677118 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 393] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Stress affects a constellation of physiological systems in the body and evokes a rapid shift in many neurobehavioral processes. A growing body of work indicates that the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is an integral regulator of the stress response. In the current review, we discuss the evidence to date that demonstrates stress-induced regulation of eCB signaling and the consequential role changes in eCB signaling have with respect to many of the effects of stress. Across a wide array of stress paradigms, studies have generally shown that stress evokes bidirectional changes in the two eCB molecules, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), with stress exposure reducing AEA levels and increasing 2-AG levels. Additionally, in almost every brain region examined, exposure to chronic stress reliably causes a downregulation or loss of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors. With respect to the functional role of changes in eCB signaling during stress, studies have demonstrated that the decline in AEA appears to contribute to the manifestation of the stress response, including activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increases in anxiety behavior, while the increased 2-AG signaling contributes to termination and adaptation of the HPA axis, as well as potentially contributing to changes in pain perception, memory and synaptic plasticity. More so, translational studies have shown that eCB signaling in humans regulates many of the same domains and appears to be a critical component of stress regulation, and impairments in this system may be involved in the vulnerability to stress-related psychiatric conditions, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Collectively, these data create a compelling argument that eCB signaling is an important regulatory system in the brain that largely functions to buffer against many of the effects of stress and that dynamic changes in this system contribute to different aspects of the stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt-Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N4N1, Canada, Tel: +1 403 220 8466, Fax: +1 403 283 2700, E-mail:
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Acute and chronic ethanol exposure differentially regulate CB1 receptor function at glutamatergic synapses in the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuropharmacology 2015; 108:474-84. [PMID: 26707595 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) system has been suggested to play a key role in ethanol preference and intake, the acute effects of ethanol, and in the development of withdrawal symptoms following ethanol dependence. Ethanol-dependent alterations in glutamatergic signaling within the lateral/basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) are critical for the development and expression of withdrawal-induced anxiety. Notably, the eCB system significantly regulates both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activity within the BLA. Chronic ethanol exposure significantly alters eCB system expression within regions critical to the expression of emotionality and anxiety-related behavior, including the BLA. Here, we investigated specific interactions between the BLA eCB system and its functional regulation of synaptic activity during acute and chronic ethanol exposure. In tissue from ethanol naïve-rats, a prolonged acute ethanol exposure caused a dose dependent inhibition of glutamatergic synaptic activity via a presynaptic mechanism that was occluded by CB1 antagonist/inverse agonists SR141716a and AM251. Importantly, this acute ethanol inhibition was attenuated following 10 day chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE). CIE exposure also significantly down-regulated CB1-mediated presynaptic inhibition at glutamatergic afferent terminals but spared CB1-inhibition of GABAergic synapses arising from local inhibitory-interneurons. CIE also significantly elevated BLA N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA or anandamide) levels and decreased CB1 receptor protein levels. Collectively, these data suggest a dynamic regulation of the BLA eCB system by acute and chronic ethanol.
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Lee TTY, Gorzalka BB. Evidence for a Role of Adolescent Endocannabinoid Signaling in Regulating HPA Axis Stress Responsivity and Emotional Behavior Development. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 125:49-84. [PMID: 26638764 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a period characterized by many distinct physical, behavioral, and neural changes during the transition from child- to adulthood. In particular, adolescent neural changes often confer greater plasticity and flexibility, yet with this comes the potential for heightened vulnerability to external perturbations such as stress exposure or recreational drug use. There is substantial evidence to suggest that factors such as adolescent stress exposure have longer lasting and sometimes more deleterious effects on an organism than stress exposure during adulthood. Moreover, the adolescent neuroendocrine response to stress exposure is different from that of adults, suggesting that further maturation of the adolescent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is required. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a potential candidate underlying these age-dependent differences given that it is an important regulator of the adult HPA axis and neuronal development. Therefore, this review will focus on (1) the functionality of the adolescent HPA axis, (2) eCB regulation of the adult HPA axis, (3) dynamic changes in eCB signaling during the adolescent period, (4) the effects of adolescent stress exposure on the eCB system, and (5) modulation of HPA axis activity and emotional behavior by adolescent cannabinoid treatment. Collectively, the emerging picture suggests that the eCB system mediates interactions between HPA axis stress responsivity, emotionality, and maturational stage. These findings may be particularly relevant to our understanding of the development of affective disorders and the risks of adolescent cannabis consumption on emotional health and stress responsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany T-Y Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Boris B Gorzalka
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Demeestere D, Libert C, Vandenbroucke RE. Therapeutic implications of the choroid plexus-cerebrospinal fluid interface in neuropsychiatric disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 50:1-13. [PMID: 26116435 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The choroid plexus (CP) comprises an epithelial monolayer that forms an important physical, enzymatic and immunologic barrier, called the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). It is a highly vascularized organ located in the brain ventricles that is key in maintaining brain homeostasis as it produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and has other important secretory functions. Furthermore, the CP-CSF interface plays a putative role in neurogenesis and has been implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases such as the neurodevelopmental disorders schizophrenia and autism. A role for this CNS border was also implicated in sleep disturbances and chronic and/or severe stress, which are risk factors for the development of neuropsychiatric conditions. Understanding the mechanisms by which disturbance of the homeostasis at the CP-CSF interface is involved in these different chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases can give new insights into therapeutic strategies. Hence, this review discusses the different roles that have been suggested so far for the CP in these neuropsychiatric disorders, with special attention to potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Demeestere
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Claude Libert
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.
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24
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Carey CE, Agrawal A, Zhang B, Conley ED, Degenhardt L, Heath AC, Li D, Lynskey MT, Martin NG, Montgomery GW, Wang T, Bierut LJ, Hariri AR, Nelson EC, Bogdan R. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) polymorphism rs604300 interacts with childhood adversity to predict cannabis dependence symptoms and amygdala habituation: Evidence from an endocannabinoid system-level analysis. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 124:860-77. [PMID: 26595473 PMCID: PMC4700831 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence for heritable variation in cannabis involvement and the discovery of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, no consistent patterns have emerged from candidate endocannabinoid (eCB) genetic association studies of cannabis involvement. Given interactions between eCB and stress systems and associations between childhood stress and cannabis involvement, it may be important to consider childhood adversity in the context of eCB-related genetic variation. We employed a system-level gene-based analysis of data from the Comorbidity and Trauma Study (N = 1,558) to examine whether genetic variation in six eCB genes (anabolism: DAGLA, DAGLB, NAPEPLD; catabolism: MGLL, FAAH; binding: CNR1; SNPs N = 65) and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) predict cannabis dependence symptoms. Significant interactions with CSA emerged for MGLL at the gene level (p = .009), and for rs604300 within MGLL (ΔR2 = .007, p < .001), the latter of which survived SNP-level Bonferroni correction and was significant in an additional sample with similar directional effects (N = 859; ΔR2 = .005, p = .026). Furthermore, in a third sample (N = 312), there was evidence that rs604300 genotype interacts with early life adversity to predict threat-related basolateral amygdala habituation, a neural phenotype linked to the eCB system and addiction (ΔR2 = .013, p = .047). Rs604300 may be related to epigenetic modulation of MGLL expression. These results are consistent with rodent models implicating 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endogenous cannabinoid metabolized by the enzyme encoded by MGLL, in the etiology of stress adaptation related to cannabis dependence, but require further replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Carey
- Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | - Louisa Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales
| | - Andrew C Heath
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Daofeng Li
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | | | | | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Laura J Bierut
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ahmad R Hariri
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University
| | - Elliot C Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
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25
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Duclot F, Kabbaj M. Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in depression and response to antidepressants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 218:21-31. [PMID: 25568448 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.107086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a devastating neuropsychiatric disorder encompassing a wide range of cognitive and emotional dysfunctions. The prevalence of MDD is expected to continue its growth to become the second leading cause of disease burden (after HIV) by 2030. Despite an extensive research effort, the exact etiology of MDD remains elusive and the diagnostics uncertain. Moreover, a marked inter-individual variability is observed in the vulnerability to develop depression, as well as in response to antidepressant treatment, for nearly 50% of patients. Although a genetic component accounts for some cases of MDD, it is now clearly established that MDD results from strong gene and environment interactions. Such interactions could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, defined as chromatin and DNA modifications that alter gene expression without changing the DNA structure itself. Some epigenetic mechanisms have recently emerged as particularly relevant molecular substrates, promoting vulnerability or resilience to the development of depressive-like symptoms. Although the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the pathophysiology of MDD remains unclear, its modulation of the efficacy of antidepressants is clearly established. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the epigenetic mechanisms regulating the expression of BDNF in humans and in animal models of depression, and discuss their role in individual differences in vulnerability to depression and response to antidepressant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Duclot
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Mohamed Kabbaj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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26
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Fitzgibbon M, Finn DP, Roche M. High Times for Painful Blues: The Endocannabinoid System in Pain-Depression Comorbidity. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 19:pyv095. [PMID: 26342110 PMCID: PMC4815466 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression and pain are two of the most debilitating disorders worldwide and have an estimated cooccurrence of up to 80%. Comorbidity of these disorders is more difficult to treat, associated with significant disability and impaired health-related quality of life than either condition alone, resulting in enormous social and economic cost. Several neural substrates have been identified as potential mediators in the association between depression and pain, including neuroanatomical reorganization, monoamine and neurotrophin depletion, dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and neuroinflammation. However, the past decade has seen mounting evidence supporting a role for the endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system in affective and nociceptive processing, and thus, alterations in this system may play a key role in reciprocal interactions between depression and pain. This review will provide an overview of the preclinical evidence supporting an interaction between depression and pain and the evidence supporting a role for the endocannabinoid system in this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology (Ms Fitzgibbon and Dr Roche), and Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Dr Finn), School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research (Ms Fitzgibbon, Dr Finn, and Dr Roche), National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
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27
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Huang Y, Thathiah A. Regulation of neuronal communication by G protein-coupled receptors. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:1607-19. [PMID: 25980603 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal communication plays an essential role in the propagation of information in the brain and requires a precisely orchestrated connectivity between neurons. Synaptic transmission is the mechanism through which neurons communicate with each other. It is a strictly regulated process which involves membrane depolarization, the cellular exocytosis machinery, neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft, and the interaction between ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and downstream effector molecules. The focus of this review is to explore the role of GPCRs and G protein-signaling in neurotransmission, to highlight the function of GPCRs, which are localized in both presynaptic and postsynaptic membrane terminals, in regulation of intrasynaptic and intersynaptic communication, and to discuss the involvement of astrocytic GPCRs in the regulation of neuronal communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhong Huang
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Human Genetics (CME) and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Amantha Thathiah
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Human Genetics (CME) and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium.
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28
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Cannabinoids & Stress: Impact of HU-210 on behavioral tests of anxiety in acutely stressed mice. Behav Brain Res 2015; 284:225-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Chronic stress impairs α1-adrenoceptor-induced endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic plasticity in the dorsal raphe nucleus. J Neurosci 2015; 34:14560-70. [PMID: 25355210 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1310-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) control the activity of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRn) serotonin (5-HT) neurons and play crucial role in the regulation of arousal and stress homoeostasis. However, the precise role of these receptors in regulating glutamate synapses of rat DRn 5-HT neurons and whether chronic stress exposure alters such regulation remain unknown. In the present study, we examined the impact of chronic restraint stress on α1-AR-mediated regulation of glutamate synapses onto DRn 5-HT neurons. We found that, in the control condition, activation of α1-ARs induced an inward current and long-term depression (LTD) of glutamate synapses of DRn 5-HT neurons. The α1-AR LTD was initiated by postsynaptic α1-ARs but mediated by a decrease in glutamate release. The presynaptic expression of the α1-AR LTD was signaled by retrograde endocannabinoids (eCBs). Importantly, we found that chronic exposure to restraint stress profoundly reduced the magnitude of α1-AR LTD but had no effect on the amplitude of α1-AR-induced inward current. Chronic restraint stress also reduced the CB1 receptor-mediated inhibition of EPSC and the eCB-mediated depolarization-induced suppression of excitation. Collectively, these results indicate that chronic restraint stress impairs the α1-AR LTD by reducing the function of presynaptic CB1 receptors and reveal a novel mechanism by which noradrenaline controls synaptic strength and plasticity in the DRn. They also provide evidence that chronic stress impairs eCB signaling in the DRn, which may contribute, at least in part, to the dysregulation of the stress homeostasis.
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30
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Schmidt MJ, Mirnics K. Neurodevelopment, GABA system dysfunction, and schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:190-206. [PMID: 24759129 PMCID: PMC4262918 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The origins of schizophrenia have eluded clinicians and researchers since Kraepelin and Bleuler began documenting their findings. However, large clinical research efforts in recent decades have identified numerous genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia. The combined data strongly support the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and underscore the importance of the common converging effects of diverse insults. In this review, we discuss the evidence that genetic and environmental risk factors that predispose to schizophrenia disrupt the development and normal functioning of the GABAergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Karoly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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31
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Crowe MS, Nass SR, Gabella KM, Kinsey SG. The endocannabinoid system modulates stress, emotionality, and inflammation. Brain Behav Immun 2014; 42:1-5. [PMID: 24953427 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological and behavioral effects of stress are well characterized. Endocannabinoids are produced on demand and function to attenuate many of the physiological effects of the stress response. The endocannabinoid system is made up of cannabinoid receptors, the fatty acid signaling molecules that bind to and activate these receptors, and the enzymes that synthesize and catabolize these endocannabinoid signaling molecules. Cannabinoid research has recently grown substantially, due in no small part to the development of genetic research models as well as highly selective pharmaceutical tools. The purpose of this minireview is to discuss a subset of the many parallels between cannabinoid and behavioral neuroimmunology research, with specific discussion of interactions between the endocannabinoid system and psychological stress, emotionality, and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S Crowe
- West Virginia University, Department of Psychology, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Sara R Nass
- West Virginia University, Department of Psychology, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kristin M Gabella
- West Virginia University, Department of Psychology, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Steven G Kinsey
- West Virginia University, Department of Psychology, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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32
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Qiao H, An SC, Ren W, Ma XM. Progressive alterations of hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses in an animal model of depression. Behav Brain Res 2014; 275:191-200. [PMID: 25192638 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is the most prevalent psychiatric condition, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder are largely unknown, although multiple hypotheses have been proposed. The aim of this study was to characterize the progressive alteration of neuronal plasticity in the male rat hippocampus during depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), an established animal model of depression. The data in the hippocampus were collected on days 7, 14 and 21 after the onset of three-week CUMS. When analyzed on day 21, three-week CUMS induced typically depressive-like behaviors, impaired LTP induction, and decreased basal synaptic transmission at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses recorded in vivo, which was accompanied by decreased density of dendritic spines in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons. The levels of both Kalirin-7 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus were decreased at the same time. On day 14 (middle phase), some depressive-like behaviors were observed, which was accompanied by depressed basal synaptic transmission and enhanced LTP induction at the CA3-CA1 synapses. However, BDNF expression was decreased without alteration of Kalirin7 expression in comparison with no-stress control. Depressed basal synaptic transmission occurred in the middle phase of CUMS may contribute to decreased expression of BDNF. On day 7, depressive-like behaviors were not observed, and LTP induction, spine density, Kalirin-7 and BDNF expression were not altered by CUMS in comparison with no-stress control. These results showed that the functional changes at CA3-CA1synapses occurred earlier than the structural alteration during three-week CUMS as a strategy of neural adaptation, and rats required three weeks to develop depressive-like behaviors during CUMS. Our results suggest an important role of Kalirin-7 in CUMS-mediated alterations in spine density, synaptic function and overall depressive-like behaviors on day 21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Qiao
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710062, PR China
| | - Shu-Cheng An
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710062, PR China.
| | - Wei Ren
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710062, PR China
| | - Xin-Ming Ma
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710062, PR China; University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Neuroscience, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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33
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Smaga I, Bystrowska B, Gawliński D, Pomierny B, Stankowicz P, Filip M. Antidepressants and changes in concentration of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in rat brain structures. Neurotox Res 2014; 26:190-206. [PMID: 24652522 PMCID: PMC4067538 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-014-9465-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has recently been implicated in both the pathogenesis of depression and the action of antidepressants. Here, we investigated the effect of acutely or chronically administering antidepressants [imipramine (IMI) (15 mg/kg), escitalopram (ESC) (10 mg/kg), and tianeptine (10 mg/kg)] on the levels of both eCBs [anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)] and N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) [palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA)] in various rat brain regions. We also examined the ability of the acute and chronic administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (a mucolytic drug; 100 mg/kg) or URB597 (a fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor; 0.3 mg/kg), which have both elicited antidepressant activity in preclinical studies, to affect eCB and NAE levels. Next, we determined whether the observed effects are stable 10 days after the chronic administration of these drugs was halted. We report that the chronic administration of all investigated drugs increased AEA levels in the hippocampus and also increased both AEA and 2-AG levels in the dorsal striatum. NAE levels in limbic regions also increased after treatment with IMI (PEA/OEA), ESC (PEA), and NAC (PEA/OEA). Removing chronic ESC treatment for 10 days affected eCB and NAE levels in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, dorsal striatum, and cerebellum, while a similar tianeptine-free period enhanced accumbal NAE levels. All other drugs maintained their effects after the 10-day washout period. Therefore, the eCB system appears to play a significant role in the mechanism of action of clinically effective and potential antidepressants and may serve as a target for drug design and discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Smaga
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicum, Jagiellonian University, 9, Medyczna Street, 30-688, Kraków, Poland,
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Stress modulation of hippocampal activity – Spotlight on the dentate gyrus. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2014; 112:53-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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35
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Cannabinoid receptor activation prevents the effects of chronic mild stress on emotional learning and LTP in a rat model of depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:919-33. [PMID: 24141570 PMCID: PMC3924526 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Most psychiatric disorders are characterized by emotional memory or learning disturbances. Chronic mild stress (CMS) is a common animal model for stress-induced depression. Here we examined whether 3 days of treatment using the CB1/2 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 could ameliorate the effects of CMS on emotional learning (ie, conditioned avoidance and extinction), long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal-accumbens pathway, and depression-like symptoms (ie, coping with stress behavior, anhedonia, and weight changes). We also examined whether the ameliorating effects of WIN55,212-2 on behavior and physiology after CMS are mediated by CB1 and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Rats were exposed to CMS or handled on days 1-21. The agonist WIN55,212-2 or vehicle were administered on days 19-21 (IP; 0.5 mg/kg) and behavioral and electrophysiological measures were taken on days 23 and 28. The CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (IP; 0.3 mg/kg) or the GR antagonist RU-38486 (IP; 10 mg/kg) were co-administered with WIN55,212-2. Our results show that CMS significantly modified physiological and behavioral reactions, as observed by the impairment in avoidance extinction and LTP in the hippocampal-accumbens pathway, and the alterations in depression-like symptoms, such as coping with stress behavior, weight gain, and sucrose consumption. The most significant effect observed in this study was that 3 days of WIN55,212-2 administration prevented the CMS-induced alterations in emotional memory (ie, extinction) and plasticity. This effect was mediated by CB1 receptors as the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 prevented the ameliorating effects of WIN55,212-2 on extinction and LTP. The GR antagonist RU-38486 also prevented the CMS-induced alterations in extinction and plasticity, and when co-administered with WIN55,212-2, the preventive effects after CMS were maintained. The findings suggest that enhancing cannabinoid signaling could represent a novel approach to the treatment of cognitive deficits that accompany stress-related depression.
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