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Minshall BL, Skipper RA, Riddle CA, Wasylyshyn CF, Claflin DI, Quinn JJ. Sex differences in acute early life stress-enhanced fear learning in adult rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22511. [PMID: 38837722 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22511] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present with a spectrum of debilitating anxiety symptoms resulting from exposure to trauma. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD compared to men; however, the reason for this vulnerability remains unknown. We conducted four experiments where we first demonstrated a female vulnerability to stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) with a moderate, acute early life stress (aELS) exposure (4 footshocks in a single session), compared to a more intense aELS exposure (15 footshocks in a single session) where males and females demonstrated comparable SEFL. Next, we demonstrated that this female vulnerability does not result from differences in footshock reactivity or contextual fear conditioning during the aELS exposure. Finally, using gonadectomy or sham surgeries in adult male and female rats, we showed that circulating levels of gonadal steroid hormones at the time of adult fear conditioning do not explain the female vulnerability to SEFL. Additional research is needed to determine whether this vulnerability can be explained by organizational effects of gonadal steroid hormones or differences in sex chromosome gene expression. Doing so is critical for a better understanding of increased female vulnerability to certain psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna L Minshall
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachel A Skipper
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Collin A Riddle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine F Wasylyshyn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Dragana I Claflin
- Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer J Quinn
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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2
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Pearson-Leary J, Abramenko AP, Estela-Pro V, Feindt-Scott E, Yan J, Vigderman A, Luz S, Bangasser D, Ross R, Kubin L, Bhatnagar S. Differential recruitment of brain circuits during fear extinction in non-stressed compared to stress resilient animals. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2125. [PMID: 38267506 PMCID: PMC10808124 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50830-w] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctional fear responses in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be partly explained by an inability to effectively extinguish fear responses elicited by trauma-related cues. However, only a subset of individuals exposed to traumatic stress develop PTSD. Therefore, studying fear extinction deficits in animal models of individual differences could help identify neural substrates underlying vulnerability or resilience to the effects of stress. We used a rat model of social defeat in which rats segregate into passively and actively coping rats. In previous work, we showed that passively coping rats exhibit disruptions in social interaction whereas actively coping rats do not display behaviors differently from controls, indicating their resilience. Here, adult male rats exposed to 7 days of social defeat were tested for fear extinction, retention of extinction, and persistence of retention using contextual fear and ethologically-relevant fear tests. Passively coping rats exhibited elevated freezing in response to the previously extinguished context. Analyses of cFos expressing cells across select brain regions showed high correlations within dorsal hippocampal subregions, while passively coping rats had high correlations between the dorsal hippocampus CA1 and the central and basolateral subregions of the amygdala. Importantly, although control and actively coping rats showed similar levels of behavioral extinction, there was little similarity between activated structures, suggesting stress resilience in response to chronic social defeat involves an adaptive differential recruitment of brain circuits to successfully extinguish fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiah Pearson-Leary
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Valerie Estela-Pro
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Feindt-Scott
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason Yan
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Abigail Vigderman
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Debra Bangasser
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Richard Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leszek Kubin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Stress Neurobiology Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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3
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Wang L, Wang R, Song M, Lu W, Li N, Gao Y, Huang F, Liu B, Chen H, An C, Wang X. Association between peripheral orexin A/B levels and depression with childhood trauma. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:592-597. [PMID: 37385389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orexin dysfunction has previously been demonstrated to be associated with depression. However, no studies reported the different effects of orexin A/B on depression with and without childhood trauma (CT). In this study,we assessed the correlation between expression of orexin A/B and depression severity in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and healthy controls. METHODS A total of 97 MDD patients and 51 healthy controls were recruited in this study. According to the total scores of childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), the MDD patients were further divided into two subgroups, MDD with CT and MDD without CT. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), and plasma orexin A and orexin B concentrations were measured in all participants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Orexin B plasma levels were significantly higher in MDD patients with CT and without CT than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), whereas there was no statistical difference between the two depression groups. After adjusting age and BMI for covariates, the LASSO regression revealed significant association between the plasma orexin B levels and the total scores of HAMD (β = 3.348), CTQ (β = 2.005). There was no difference in plasma orexin A levels among three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Although peripheral orexin B levels are associated with the depression, rather than orexin A, CT appear to play a role in the association between orexin B levels and depression. China Clinical Trial Registration Center (Registration No.: ChiCTR2000039692).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Mei Song
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Wenting Lu
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Na Li
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Fanfan Huang
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Bufan Liu
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
| | - Cuixia An
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China.
| | - Xueyi Wang
- Mental Health Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hebei technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang 050031, China.
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4
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Ziemichód W, Kurowska A, Grabowska K, Kurowska M, Biała G. Characteristics of Seltorexant-Innovative Agent Targeting Orexin System for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083575. [PMID: 37110810 PMCID: PMC10142100 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Twenty-five years have passed since the discovery of the orexin system, during which time we have learned more and more about it. A number of studies have been conducted showing the role of the orexin system in insomnia, as well as its potential use in the treatment of obesity and depression. In this review, we present the role of the orexin system in the development of depressive illness and show the characteristics of seltorexant, a potential drug for the treatment of depression. This review describes the structure and synthesis of the compound as well as its pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Pre-clinical and clinical studies are also described, including side effects. There is evidence that the use of seltorexant is considered safe, with no clear or major clinically significant side effects, which makes it a promising candidate for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Ziemichód
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Antonina Kurowska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Grabowska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Michalina Kurowska
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grażyna Biała
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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5
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Neuwirth LS, Verrengia MT, Harikinish-Murrary ZI, Orens JE, Lopez OE. Under or Absent Reporting of Light Stimuli in Testing of Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Rodents: The Need for Standardization. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:912146. [PMID: 36061362 PMCID: PMC9428565 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.912146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral neuroscience tests such as the Light/Dark Test, the Open Field Test, the Elevated Plus Maze Test, and the Three Chamber Social Interaction Test have become both essential and widely used behavioral tests for transgenic and pre-clinical models for drug screening and testing. However, as fast as the field has evolved and the contemporaneous involvement of technology, little assessment of the literature has been done to ensure that these behavioral neuroscience tests that are crucial to pre-clinical testing have well-controlled ethological motivation by the use of lighting (i.e., Lux). In the present review paper, N = 420 manuscripts were examined from 2015 to 2019 as a sample set (i.e., n = ~20–22 publications per year) and it was found that only a meager n = 50 publications (i.e., 11.9% of the publications sampled) met the criteria for proper anxiogenic and anxiolytic Lux reported. These findings illustrate a serious concern that behavioral neuroscience papers are not being vetted properly at the journal review level and are being released into the literature and public domain making it difficult to assess the quality of the science being reported. This creates a real need for standardizing the use of Lux in all publications on behavioral neuroscience techniques within the field to ensure that contributions are meaningful, avoid unnecessary duplication, and ultimately would serve to create a more efficient process within the pre-clinical screening/testing for drugs that serve as anxiolytic compounds that would prove more useful than what prior decades of work have produced. It is suggested that improving the standardization of the use and reporting of Lux in behavioral neuroscience tests and the standardization of peer-review processes overseeing the proper documentation of these methodological approaches in manuscripts could serve to advance pre-clinical testing for effective anxiolytic drugs. This report serves to highlight this concern and proposes strategies to proactively remedy them as the field moves forward for decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz S. Neuwirth
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Lorenz S. Neuwirth
| | - Michael T. Verrengia
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
| | - Zachary I. Harikinish-Murrary
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
| | - Jessica E. Orens
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
| | - Oscar E. Lopez
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
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6
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Durairaja A, Steinecke CS, Fendt M. Intracerebroventricular infusion of the selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist SB-334867 impairs cognitive flexibility in a sex-dependent manner. Behav Brain Res 2022; 424:113791. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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7
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Forte N, Boccella S, Tunisi L, Fernández-Rilo AC, Imperatore R, Iannotti FA, De Risi M, Iannotta M, Piscitelli F, Capasso R, De Girolamo P, De Leonibus E, Maione S, Di Marzo V, Cristino L. Orexin-A and endocannabinoids are involved in obesity-associated alteration of hippocampal neurogenesis, plasticity, and episodic memory in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6137. [PMID: 34675233 PMCID: PMC8531398 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain stores and distinguishes among episodic memories, i.e. memories formed during the personal experience, through a mechanism of pattern separation computed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Decision-making for food-related behaviors, such as the choice and intake of food, might be affected in obese subjects by alterations in the retrieval of episodic memories. Adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus regulates the pattern separation. Several molecular factors affect adult neurogenesis and exert a critical role in the development and plasticity of newborn neurons. Orexin-A/hypocretin-1 and downstream endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol signaling are altered in obese mice. Here, we show that excessive orexin-A/2-arachidonoylglycerol/cannabinoid receptor type-1 signaling leads to the dysfunction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and the subsequent inhibition of plasticity and impairment of pattern separation. By inhibiting orexin-A action at orexin-1 receptors we rescued both plasticity and pattern separation impairment in obese mice, thus providing a molecular and functional mechanism to explain alterations in episodic memory in obesity. The authors show that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is altered in the dentate gyrus of obese mice with subsequent inhibition of long-term potentiation and impairment of pattern separation. Inhibition of orexin-A action at orexin-1 receptors rescued both impairments in obese mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Forte
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Serena Boccella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Lea Tunisi
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Imperatore
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Maria De Risi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Iannotta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Raffaele Capasso
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Paolo De Girolamo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy.,I.R.C.S.S., Neuromed, 86077, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy. .,Heart and Lung Research Institute of Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada. .,Institute for Nutrition and Functional Foods, Centre NUTRISS, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada. .,Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, 61V0AG, Canada.
| | - Luigia Cristino
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
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8
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Lonstein JS, Linning-Duffy K, Tang Y, Moody A, Yan L. Impact of daytime light intensity on the central orexin (hypocretin) system of a diurnal rodent (Arvicanthis niloticus). Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4167-4181. [PMID: 33899987 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide orexin/hypocretin is implicated in sleep and arousal, energy expenditure, reward, affective state and cognition. Our previous work using diurnal Nile grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus) found that orexin mediates the effects of environmental light, particularly daytime light intensity, on affective and cognitive behaviours. The present study further investigated how daytime light intensity affects the central orexin system in male and female grass rats. Subjects were housed for 4 weeks in 12:12 hr dim light:dark (50 lux, dimLD) or in 12:12 hr bright light:dark cycle (1000 lux, brightLD). Day/night fluctuations in some orexin measures were also assessed. Despite similar hypothalamic prepro-orexin mRNA expression across all conditions, there were significantly more orexin-immunoreactive neurons, larger somata, greater optical density or higher orexin A content at night (ZT14) than during the day (ZT2), and/or in animals housed in brightLD compared to dimLD. Grass rats in brightLD also had higher cisternal CSF levels of orexin A. Furthermore, orexin receptor OX1R and OX2R proteins in the medial prefrontal cortex were higher in brightLD than dimLD males, but lower in brightLD than dimLD females. In the CA1 and dorsal raphe nucleus, females had higher OX1R than males without any significant effects of light condition, and OX2R levels were unaffected by sex or light. These results reveal that daytime light intensity alters the central orexin system of both male and female diurnal grass rats, sometimes sex-specifically, and provides insight into the mechanisms underlying how daytime light intensity impacts orexin-regulated functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S Lonstein
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Katrina Linning-Duffy
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Yuping Tang
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Anna Moody
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Lily Yan
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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9
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Durairaja A, Fendt M. Orexin deficiency modulates cognitive flexibility in a sex-dependent manner. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12707. [PMID: 33070452 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is an important executive function and refers to the ability to adapt behaviors in response to changes in the environment. Of note, many brain disorders are associated with impairments in cognitive flexibility. Several classical neurotransmitter systems including dopamine, acetylcholine and noradrenaline are shown to be important for cognitive flexibility, however, there is not much known about the role of neuropeptides. The neuropeptide orexin, which is brain-widely released by neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, is a major player in maintaining sleep/wake cycle, feeding behavior, arousal, and motivational behavior. Recent studies showed a role of orexin in attention, cognition and stress-induced attenuation of cognitive flexibility by disrupting orexin signaling locally or systemically. However, it is not known so far whether brain-wide reduction or loss of orexin affects cognitive flexibility. We investigated this question by testing male and female orexin-deficient mice in the attentional set shifting task (ASST), an established paradigm of cognitive flexibility. We found that orexin deficiency impaired the intra-dimensional shift phase of the ASST selectively in female homozygous orexin-deficient mice and improved the first reversal learning phase selectively in male homozygous orexin-deficient mice. We also found that these orexin-mediated sex-based modulations of cognitive flexibility were not correlated with trait anxiety, narcoleptic episodes, and reward consumption. Our findings highlight a sexually dimorphic role of orexin in regulating cognitive flexibility and the need for further investigations of sex-specific functions of the orexin circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Durairaja
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center of Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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10
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James MH, Fragale JE, O'Connor SL, Zimmer BA, Aston-Jones G. The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system is a target for novel therapeutics to treat cocaine use disorder with alcohol coabuse. Neuropharmacology 2020; 183:108359. [PMID: 33091458 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
An estimated 50-90% of individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) also report using alcohol. Cocaine users report coabusing alcohol to 'self-medicate' against the negative emotional side effects of the cocaine 'crash', including the onset of anxiety. Thus, pharmaceutical strategies to treat CUD would ideally reduce the motivational properties of cocaine, alcohol, and their combination, as well as reduce the onset of anxiety during drug withdrawal. The hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system offers a promising target, as orexin neurons are critically involved in activating behavioral and physiological states to respond to both positive and negative motivators. Here, we seek to describe studies demonstrating efficacy of orexin receptor antagonists in reducing cocaine, alcohol- and stress-related behaviors, but note that these studies have largely focused on each of these phenomena in isolation. For orexin-based compounds to be viable in the clinical setting, we argue that it is imperative that their efficacy be tested in animal models that account for polysubstance use patterns. To begin to examine this, we present new data showing that rats' preferred level of cocaine intake is significantly increased following chronic homecage access to alcohol. We also report that cocaine intake and motivation are reduced by a selective orexin-1 receptor antagonist when rats have a history of cocaine + alcohol, but not a limited history of cocaine alone. In light of these proof-of-principle data, we outline what we believe to be the key priorities going forward with respect to further examining the orexin system in models of polysubstance use. This article is part of the special issue on Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan H James
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer E Fragale
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Shayna L O'Connor
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Benjamin A Zimmer
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Gary Aston-Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Han Y, Yuan K, Zheng Y, Lu L. Orexin Receptor Antagonists as Emerging Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:432-448. [PMID: 31782044 PMCID: PMC7142186 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00447-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Orexins comprise two neuropeptides produced by orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and are released by extensive projections of these neurons throughout the central nervous system. Orexins bind and activate their associated G protein-coupled orexin type 1 receptors (OX1Rs) and OX2Rs and act on numerous physiological processes, such as sleep-wake regulation, feeding, reward, emotion, and motivation. Research on the development of orexin receptor antagonists has dramatically increased with the approval of suvorexant for the treatment of primary insomnia. In the present review, we discuss recent findings on the involvement of the orexin system in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and drug addiction. We discuss the actions of orexin receptor antagonists, including selective OX1R antagonists (SORA1s), selective OX2R antagonists (SORA2s), and dual OX1/2R antagonists (DORAs), in the treatment of these disorders based on both preclinical and clinical evidence. SORA2s and DORAs have more pronounced efficacy in the treatment of sleep disorders, whereas SORA1s may be promising for the treatment of anxiety and drug addiction. We also discuss potential challenges and opportunities for the application of orexin receptor antagonists to clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Han
- National Institute of Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yongbo Zheng
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lin Lu
- National Institute of Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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12
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Recent perspectives on orexin/hypocretin promotion of addiction-related behaviors. Neuropharmacology 2020; 168:108013. [PMID: 32092435 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide hypocretin/orexin plays a broad and important role in physiological functions ranging from addiction, stress, and anxiety to sleep, energy metabolism, and homeostatic regulation. A number of recent reviews addressing the importance of orexin for different addictive behaviors, especially the contribution of orexin-1-receptors (Ox1Rs) in responding for intoxicants in higher-motivation individuals and situations, and orexin-2-receptor (Ox2Rs) in stress-related aspects of addictive responding. This may parallel the importance of more lateral orexin neurons in the hypothalamus for reward and more medial for stress and arousal. However, there is clearly also some crossover, which may reflect, in part, where positive and negative conditioning (reward- and relief-seeking) are both present concurrently in established addiction, and also where orexin signaling can differ in subregions of a particular brain region. Here, we attempt to examine and synthesize some of the most recent work addressing orexin functions in addiction, including a particular role for Ox1Rs for driving responding in higher-motivation individuals and under higher levels of effort. While there are some commonalities across addictive substances addressed here (alcohol, cocaine, opiates), there are also some differences, which may relate to several factors including the speed of intoxication with a given substance. Together, recent findings have shed important insight and clues into what a more unified role of Ox1Rs might entail, and critical areas for future work. In addition, these many studies support the development of Ox1R blockers for use in humans to counteract addiction and other disorders of motivation. This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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Mohammadi S, Asadi-Shekaari M, Basiri M, Parvan M, Shabani M, Nozari M. Improvement of autistic-like behaviors in adult rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid through early suppression of NMDA receptor function. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:199-208. [PMID: 31595334 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05357-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by social deficits, repetitive/stereotypic activity, and impaired verbal and nonverbal communication and is commonly diagnosed at early stages of life. Based on the excitatory-inhibitory imbalance theory of autism, some recent animal experiments have reported amelioration in autistic-like phenotypes in adult animals following acute treatment of NMDA antagonists. However, we suggested the neonatal period as a critical period for NMDA antagonist intervention. OBJECTIVES This experiment was designed to determine the role of postnatal MK-801, an NMDA receptor blocker, in the prenatal valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. METHODS The model of autism was induced by subcutaneous administration of valproic acid (600 mg/kg) to pregnant rats at gestational day 12.5. The effects of MK-801 (0.03 mg/kg, from postnatal day 6-10) in correcting ASD-associated behaviors in male offspring were assessed by open-field, three-chambered social interaction tests. Moreover, the nociceptive threshold was measured by tail flick and hot plate. Behavioral tests were performed on PND 55-60. Nissl staining was performed to confirm the safety of 0.03 mg/kg MK-801 for the brain. RESULTS We reported that MK-801 rescued social deficits, repetitive behaviors (self-grooming), anxiety-related behavior, and the low nociceptive threshold in the VPA-treated rats. Further, histological examination showed that there were no significant differences among all the groups in terms of the neuronal survival rate. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that postnatal low-dose MK-801 improved ASD-associated behaviors in the VPA-treated rats and that early exposure to NMDA antagonist resulted in permanent changes in adult behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Mohammadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Asadi-Shekaari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Basiri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Parvan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shabani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Nozari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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Bartolomé I, Llidó A, Darbra S, Pallarès M. Early postnatal allopregnanolone levels alteration and adult behavioral disruption in rats: Implication for drug abuse. Neurobiol Stress 2019; 12:100208. [PMID: 32435661 PMCID: PMC7231993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have highlighted the role that early postnatal levels of allopregnanolone play in the development of the CNS and adult behavior. Changes in allopregnanolone levels related to stress have been observed during early postnatal periods, and perinatal stress has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. The alteration of early postnatal allopregnanolone levels in the first weeks of life has been proven to affect adult behaviors, such as anxiety-related behaviors and the processing of sensory inputs. This review focuses on the first studies about the possible relationship between the early postnatal allopregnanolone levels and the vulnerability to abuse of drugs such as alcohol in adulthood, given that (1) changes in neonatal allopregnanolone levels affect novelty exploration and novelty seeking has been linked to vulnerability to drug abuse; (2) early postnatal administration of progesterone, the main allopregnanolone precursor, affects the maturation of dopaminergic meso-striatal systems, which have been related to novelty seeking and drug abuse; and (3) alcohol consumption increases plasma and brain allopregnanolone levels in animals and humans. Manipulating neonatal allopregnanolone by administering finasteride, an inhibitor of the 5α-reductase enzyme that participates in allopregnanolone synthesis, increases alcohol consumption and decreases the locomotor stimulant effects of low alcohol doses. At a molecular level, finasteride decreases dopamine and serotonin in ventral striatum and dopamine release in nucleus accumbens. Preliminary results suggest that serotonin 5HT3 receptors could also be affected. Although an in-depth study is necessary, evidence suggests that there is a relation between early postnatal allopregnanolone and vulnerability to drug use/abuse. Early postnatal AlloP levels alteration affects brain maturation and adult behavior. Early stress interacts to AlloP influencing neuropsychiatric disorders vulnerability. Fluctuations in neonatal AlloP levels play a role in alcohol abuse vulnerability. Neonatal finasteride induces novelty-seeking profile and increases ethanol intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Bartolomé
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psicobiologia I Metodologia en Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Llidó
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psicobiologia I Metodologia en Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sònia Darbra
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psicobiologia I Metodologia en Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Pallarès
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Psicobiologia I Metodologia en Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Echeverry-Alzate V, Bühler KM, Calleja-Conde J, Huertas E, Maldonado R, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, Santiago C, Gómez-Gallego F, Santos A, Giné E, López-Moreno JA. Adult-onset hypothyroidism increases ethanol consumption. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:1187-1197. [PMID: 30470859 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5123-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Only in Europe it can be estimated that more than 20 million of people would be affected by hypothyroidism in some moment of their life. Given that ethanol consumption is so frequent, it would be reasonable to ask what the consequences of ethanol consumption in those individuals affected by hypothyroidism are. OBJECTIVES To study the interaction between hypothyroidism and ethanol consumption. METHODS We study ethanol consumption in a rat model of methyl-mercaptoimidazole-induced-adult-onset hypothyroidism and thyroid T4/T3 hormone supplementation. Also, we studied the effects of ethanol on motor activity, memory, and anxiety. RESULTS We found that hypothyroidism increased the voluntary ethanol consumption and that this was enhanced by thyroid hormone supplementation. Hypothyroidism was associated with motor hyperactivity which was prevented either by T4/T3 supplementation or ethanol. The relationship between hypothyroidism, ethanol, and anxiety was more complex. In an anxiogenic context, hypothyroidism and T4/T3 supplementation would increase immobility, an anxiety-like behavior, while in a less anxiogenic context would decrease rearing, a behavior related to anxiety. Regarding memory, acute ethanol administration did not alter episodic-like memory in hypothyroid rats. Gene expression of enzymes involved in the metabolism of ethanol, i.e., Adh1 and Aldh2, were altered by hypothyroidism and T4/T3 supplementation. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that hypothyroid patients would need personalized attention in terms of ethanol consumption. In addition, they point that it would be useful to embrace the thyroid axis in the study of ethanol addiction, including as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of alcoholism and its comorbid disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Echeverry-Alzate
- Department of Psychobiology & Behavioral Sciences Methods, School of Psychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - K M Bühler
- Department of Psychobiology & Behavioral Sciences Methods, School of Psychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Calleja-Conde
- Department of Psychobiology & Behavioral Sciences Methods, School of Psychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Huertas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes & Speech Therapy, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Maldonado
- Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Fundación IMABIS, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, 29010, Málaga, Spain
| | - C Santiago
- Department of Basic Biomedical Science, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Gómez-Gallego
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - A Santos
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Giné
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - J A López-Moreno
- Department of Psychobiology & Behavioral Sciences Methods, School of Psychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223, Madrid, Spain.
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Liu C, Xue Y, Liu MF, Wang Y, Liu ZR, Diao HL, Chen L. Orexins increase the firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons and participate in motor control in rats. J Neurochem 2018; 147:380-394. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Liu
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Yan Xue
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Mei-Fang Liu
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Zi-Ran Liu
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Hui-Ling Diao
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Physiology; Qingdao University; Qingdao China
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Nevárez N, de Lecea L. Recent advances in understanding the roles of hypocretin/orexin in arousal, affect, and motivation. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30254737 PMCID: PMC6127742 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15097.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypocretins (Hcrts) are two alternatively spliced neuropeptides (Hcrt1/Ox-A and Hcrt2/Ox-B) that are synthesized exclusively in the hypothalamus. Data collected in the 20 years since their discovery have supported the view that the Hcrts play a broad role in the control of arousal with a particularly important role in the maintenance of wakefulness and sleep-to-wake transitions. While this latter point has received an overwhelming amount of research attention, a growing literature has begun to broaden our understanding of the many diverse roles that the Hcrts play in physiology and behavior. Here, we review recent advances in the neurobiology of Hcrt in three sections. We begin by surveying findings on Hcrt function within normal sleep/wake states as well as situations of aberrant sleep (that is, narcolepsy). In the second section, we discuss research establishing a role for Hcrt in mood and affect (that is, anxiety, stress, and motivation). Finally, in the third section, we briefly discuss future directions for the field and place an emphasis on analytical modeling of Hcrt neural activity. We hope that the data discussed here provide a broad overview of recent progress in the field and make clear the diversity of roles played by these neuromodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Nevárez
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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18
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Grafe LA, Bhatnagar S. The contribution of orexins to sex differences in the stress response. Brain Res 2018; 1731:145893. [PMID: 30081036 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), however, the biological basis of these sex differences is not fully understood. Interestingly, orexins are known to be dysregulated in these disorders. This review first discusses the important role of orexins regulating the response to stress. Next, we review the evidence for sex differences in the orexin system, in which the majority of both preclinical and clinical studies have reported higher orexin system expression in females. Finally, we discuss the functional consequences of these sex differences in orexin expression. Most importantly, the preclinical literature reveals that higher orexin system activity in females contributes to exaggerated neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to stress. In sum, the available data suggests that orexins may be important in the etiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders that present differently in men and women. Thus, targeting orexins could potentially ameliorate many phenotypes of stress-related illness in a sex-specific way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Grafe
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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