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Magdalena K, Agnieszka N, Agata K, Joanna S, Agnieszka P, Dziedzicka-Wasylewska M, Ryszard B, Adam H, Andrzej B, Agata FG. Unraveling psilocybin's therapeutic potential: behavioral and neuroplasticity insights in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar male rat models of treatment-resistant depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06644-3. [PMID: 38963553 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Our study aimed to unravel the unknown mechanisms behind the exceptional efficacy of Psilocybin (PSI) in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Focusing on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with a TRD phenotype and Wistar (WIS) rats as a normative comparison, we investigated behavioral and neuroplasticity-related responses to PSI, striving to shed light on the distinctive features of its antidepressant effects. OBJECTIVES We set out to assess the behavioral impact of acute and prolonged PSI administration on WKY and WIS rats, employing Novel Object Recognition (NORT), Social Interaction (SI), and Forced Swimming Test (FST). Our secondary objectives involved exploring strain-specific alterations in neuroplasticity-related parameters, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc). METHODS Conducting post-acute and extended assessments after a single PSI administration, we applied behavioral tests and biochemical analyses to measure serum BDNF levels and neuroplasticity-related parameters in the prefrontal cortex. Statistical analyses were deployed to discern significant differences between the rat strains and assess the impact of PSI on behavioral and biochemical outcomes. RESULTS Our findings uncovered significant behavioral disparities between WKY and WIS rats, indicating passive behavior and social withdrawal in the former. PSI demonstrated pronounced pro-social and antidepressant effects in both strains, each with its distinctive temporal trajectory. Notably, we identified strain-specific variations in BDNF-related signaling and observed the modulation of Arc expression in WKY rats. CONCLUSIONS Our study delineated mood-related behavioral nuances between WKY and WIS rat strains, underscoring the antidepressant and pro-social properties of PSI in both groups. The distinct temporal patterns of observed changes and the identified strain-specific neuroplasticity alterations provide valuable insights into the TRD phenotype and the mechanisms underpinning the efficacy of PSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolasa Magdalena
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Nikiforuk Agnieszka
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience & Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Korlatowicz Agata
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Solich Joanna
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Potasiewicz Agnieszka
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience & Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Bugno Ryszard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Hogendorf Adam
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bojarski Andrzej
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Faron-Górecka Agata
- Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
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Szalanczy AM, Fitzpatrick M, Beeson A, Bui T, Dyson C, Eller S, Landry J, Scott C, Grzybowski M, Klotz J, Geurts AM, Weiner JL, Redei EE, Solberg Woods LC. Chronic stress from adolescence to adulthood increases adiposity and anxiety in rats with decreased expression of Krtcap3. Front Genet 2024; 14:1247232. [PMID: 38323241 PMCID: PMC10844407 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1247232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously identified Keratinocyte-associated protein 3, Krtcap3, as a novel adiposity gene, but subsequently found that its impact on adiposity may depend on environmental stress. To more thoroughly understand the connection between Krtcap3, adiposity, and stress, we exposed wild-type (WT) and Krtcap3 knock-out (KO) rats to chronic stress then measured adiposity and behavioral outcomes. We found that KO rats displayed lower basal stress than WT rats under control conditions and exhibited metabolic and behavioral responses to chronic stress exposure. Specifically, stress-exposed KO rats gained more weight, consumed more food when socially isolated, and displayed more anxiety-like behaviors relative to control KO rats. Meanwhile, there were minimal differences between control and stressed WT rats. At study conclusion stress-exposed KO rats had increased corticosterone (CORT) relative to control KO rats with no differences between WT rats. In addition, KO rats, independent of prior stress exposure, had an increased CORT response to removal of their cage-mate (psychosocial stress), which was only seen in WT rats when exposed to chronic stress. Finally, we found differences in expression of the glucocorticoid receptor, Nr3c1, in the pituitary and colon between control and stress-exposed KO rats that were not present in WT rats. These data support that Krtcap3 expression affects stress response, potentially via interactions with Nr3c1, with downstream effects on adiposity and behavior. Future work is necessary to more thoroughly understand the role of Krtcap3 in the stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria M. Szalanczy
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mackenzie Fitzpatrick
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Angela Beeson
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Trangdai Bui
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Christina Dyson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Seth Eller
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Julia Landry
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Christina Scott
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Michael Grzybowski
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jason Klotz
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Aron M. Geurts
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jeff L. Weiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Eva E. Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Leah C. Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
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Olivera-Pasilio V, Dabrowska J. Fear-Conditioning to Unpredictable Threats Reveals Sex and Strain Differences in Rat Fear-Potentiated Startle (FPS). Neuroscience 2023; 530:108-132. [PMID: 37640137 PMCID: PMC10726736 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.08.030] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Fear-potentiated startle (FPS) has been widely used to study fear processing in humans and rodents. Human studies showed higher startle amplitudes and exaggerated fear reactivity to unpredictable vs. predictable threats in individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although human FPS studies use both sexes, a surprisingly limited number of rodent FPS studies use females. Here we investigate the effects of signal-threat contingency, signal-threat order and threat predictability on FPS in both sexes. We use a classic fear-conditioning protocol (100% contingency of cue and shock pairings, with forward conditioning such that the cue co-terminates with the shock) and compare it to modified fear-conditioning protocols (70% contingency; backward conditioning; or cue and shock un-paired). Although there are no sex differences in the startle amplitudes when corrected for body weight, females consistently demonstrate higher shock reactivity during fear-conditioning. Both sexes and strains demonstrate comparable levels of cued, non-cued, and contextual fear in the classic FPS and FPS following fear-conditioning with 70% contingency or backward order (cue co-starts with shock). However, in the classic FPS, Sprague-Dawley females show reduced proportion between cued fear and cue-elicited vigilant state than males. Lastly, a prominent sex difference is uncovered following unpredictable fear-conditioning (cue and shock un-paired), with Wistar, but not Sprague-Dawley, females showing significantly higher startle overall during the FPS recall, regardless of trial type, and higher contextual fear than males. This striking sex difference in processing unpredictable threats in rodent FPS might help to understand the mechanisms underlying higher incidence of PTSD in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Olivera-Pasilio
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, The Chicago Medical School, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joanna Dabrowska
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, The Chicago Medical School, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, USA.
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Redei EE, Udell ME, Solberg Woods LC, Chen H. The Wistar Kyoto Rat: A Model of Depression Traits. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1884-1905. [PMID: 36453495 PMCID: PMC10514523 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221129120902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate about the value of animal research in psychiatry with valid lines of reasoning stating the limits of individual animal models compared to human psychiatric illnesses. Human depression is not a homogenous disorder; therefore, one cannot expect a single animal model to reflect depression heterogeneity. This limited review presents arguments that the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats show intrinsic depression traits. The phenotypes of WKY do not completely mirror those of human depression but clearly indicate characteristics that are common with it. WKYs present despair- like behavior, passive coping with stress, comorbid anxiety, and enhanced drug use compared to other routinely used inbred or outbred strains of rats. The commonly used tests identifying these phenotypes reflect exploratory, escape-oriented, and withdrawal-like behaviors. The WKYs consistently choose withdrawal or avoidance in novel environments and freezing behaviors in response to a challenge in these tests. The physiological response to a stressful environment is exaggerated in WKYs. Selective breeding generated two WKY substrains that are nearly isogenic but show clear behavioral differences, including that of depression-like behavior. WKY and its substrains may share characteristics of subgroups of depressed individuals with social withdrawal, low energy, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and specific cognitive dysfunction. The genomes of the WKY and WKY substrains contain variations that impact the function of many genes identified in recent human genetic studies of depression. Thus, these strains of rats share characteristics of human depression at both phenotypic and genetic levels, making them a model of depression traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva E. Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mallory E. Udell
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Leah C. Solberg Woods
- Section on Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Questionable Research Practices, Low Statistical Power, and Other Obstacles to Replicability: Why Preclinical Neuroscience Research Would Benefit from Registered Reports. eNeuro 2022; 9:9/4/ENEURO.0017-22.2022. [PMID: 35922130 PMCID: PMC9351632 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0017-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Replicability, the degree to which a previous scientific finding can be repeated in a distinct set of data, has been considered an integral component of institutionalized scientific practice since its inception several hundred years ago. In the past decade, large-scale replication studies have demonstrated that replicability is far from favorable, across multiple scientific fields. Here, I evaluate this literature and describe contributing factors including the prevalence of questionable research practices (QRPs), misunderstanding of p-values, and low statistical power. I subsequently discuss how these issues manifest specifically in preclinical neuroscience research. I conclude that these problems are multifaceted and difficult to solve, relying on the actions of early and late career researchers, funding sources, academic publishers, and others. I assert that any viable solution to the problem of substandard replicability must include changing academic incentives, with adoption of registered reports being the most immediately impactful and pragmatic strategy. For animal research in particular, comprehensive reporting guidelines that document potential sources of sensitivity for experimental outcomes is an essential addition.
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Jenz ST, Goodyear CD, TSgt Graves PR, Goldstein S, Shia MR, Redei EE. Blood and affective markers of stress in Elite Airmen during a preparatory training course: A pilot study. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100323. [PMID: 33912629 PMCID: PMC8066699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In highly stressful environments, individuals with diverging stress-reactivity can perform differently. Identification of blood markers of stress-reactivity is of major significance to help human performance during stress. Candidate transcripts were identified between stressed and non-stressed strains of rats’ blood and brain, and overlapping significant differentially expressed genes were selected. Serum levels of human orthologues of these proteins, in lieu of blood RNA, in addition to classic stress and general clinical markers, were measured in 33 Battlefield Airmen undergoing a 52 day long preparatory training course before their course of initial entry (COIE). Blood samples and factors of affective state, negative valence “Threat” and positive valence “Challenge”, were obtained five times across different days of training which included either routine physical exercise or prolonged and intense physical and mental training. During training, levels of chloride (Cl), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), creatinine kinase (CK), and total carbon dioxide (TCO2) differed between airmen who subsequently graduated from their COIE and those who did not. Time dependent changes of serum TCO2 and neuropeptide Y (NPY), as well as the affective factor Challenge differed by future graduation status throughout the training. Serum levels of parvin beta (PARVB) correlated with the affective factor Threat, while those of NPY, testosterone, coactosin like F-actin binding protein 1 (COTL1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated with factor Challenge during the extended, intensive periods of training, consistently. These pilot data suggest that the identified panel of blood markers can measure stress responsiveness, which has the potential to advance individualized stress-management strategies. Levels of novel and classical serum markers signal stress severity in men. Biomarker levels reflect stress reactivity of Battlefield Airmen in training. Affective measures correlate with serum biomarkers after extended stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Jenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - C D Goodyear
- lnfoscitex Corporation, 4027 Colonel Glenn Highway, Suite 210, Dayton, OH, 45431, USA
| | - P R TSgt Graves
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, 2510 Fifth Street, Wright Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - S Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - M R Shia
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, 2977 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - E E Redei
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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