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Arakawa H, Tokashiki M. The posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus promotes nose-to-nose contacts leading to prosocial reception in the sequence of mouse social interaction. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 39210622 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Efficient social interaction is essential for an adaptive life and consists of sequential processes of multisensory events with social counterparts. Social touch/contact is a unique component that promotes a sequence of social behaviours initiated by detection and approach to assess a social stimulus and subsequent touch/contact interaction to form prosocial relationships. We hypothesized that the thalamic sensory relay circuit from the posterior intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus (pIL) to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the medial amygdala (MeA) plays a key role in the social contact-mediated sequence of events. We found that neurons in the pIL along with the PVN and MeA were activated by social encounters and that pIL activity was more abundant in a direct physical encounter, whereas MeA activity was dominant in an indirect through grid encounter. Chemogenetic inhibition of pIL neurons selectively decreased the investigatory approach and sniffing of a same-sex, but not an opposite-sex, stimulus mouse in an indirect encounter situation and decreased the facial/snout contact ratio in a direct encounter setting. Furthermore, chemogenetic pIL inhibition had no impact on anxiety-like behaviours or body coordinative motor behaviours, but it impaired whisker-related and plantar touch tactile sense. We propose that the pIL circuit can relay social tactile sensations and mediate the sequence of nonsexual prosocial interactions through an investigatory approach to tactile contact and thus plays a significant role in establishing prosocial relationships in mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Edward F Domino Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Systems Physiology, University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mana Tokashiki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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2
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Singh R, Gobrogge K. Aggression Unleashed: Neural Circuits from Scent to Brain. Brain Sci 2024; 14:794. [PMID: 39199486 PMCID: PMC11352925 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14080794] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggression is a fundamental behavior with essential roles in dominance assertion, resource acquisition, and self-defense across the animal kingdom. However, dysregulation of the aggression circuitry can have severe consequences in humans, leading to economic, emotional, and societal burdens. Previous inconsistencies in aggression research have been due to limitations in techniques for studying these neurons at a high spatial resolution, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying aggression. Recent advancements in optogenetics, pharmacogenetics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and in vivo electrophysiology have provided new insights into this complex circuitry. This review aims to explore the aggression-provoking stimuli and their detection in rodents, particularly through the olfactory systems. Additionally, we will examine the core regions associated with aggression, their interactions, and their connection with the prefrontal cortex. We will also discuss the significance of top-down cognitive control systems in regulating atypical expressions of aggressive behavior. While the focus will primarily be on rodent circuitry, we will briefly touch upon the modulation of aggression in humans through the prefrontal cortex and discuss emerging therapeutic interventions that may benefit individuals with aggression disorders. This comprehensive understanding of the neural substrates of aggression will pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies and clinical interventions. This approach contrasts with the broader perspective on neural mechanisms of aggression across species, aiming for a more focused analysis of specific pathways and their implications for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea Singh
- The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Kyle Gobrogge
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
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3
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Takahashi A. Toward understanding the neural mechanisms involved in early life stress-induced aggression: A Highlight for "Maternal separation early in life induces excessive activity of the central amygdala related to abnormal aggression". J Neurochem 2024; 168:957-960. [PMID: 38413201 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress, such as childhood abuse and neglect, is one of the major risk factors for the development of antisocial behavior. In rat models, repeated maternal separation (MS) stress, in which the pups are separated from the dams for a few hours each day during the first 2-3 weeks of life, increases aggressive behavior in adult males. This Editorial highlights an article in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry that demonstrates the involvement of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in the escalation of aggressive behavior in the MS model. The authors show that MS rats exhibit higher c-Fos expression in the CeA during an aggressive encounter compared to non-isolated control rats. Unexpectedly, other amygdala subnuclei did not show differential activation between MS and control groups. Using optogenetics, they provide direct evidence that activation of CeA neurons increases intermale aggressive behavior and that bilateral CeA activation shifts behavioral patterns toward more qualitatively intense aggressive behavior than unilateral CeA activation. These findings highlight the important role of the CeA in the development of abnormal aggression and indicate that this region may be an important therapeutic target for human aggression induced by early life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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4
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Mustika D, Nishimura Y, Ueno S, Tominaga S, Shimizu T, Tajiri N, Jung CG, Hida H. Central amygdala is related to the reduction of aggressive behavior by monosodium glutamate ingestion during the period of development in an ADHD model rat. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1356189. [PMID: 38765817 PMCID: PMC11099272 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1356189] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Monosodium glutamate (MSG), an umami substance, stimulates the gut-brain axis communication via gut umami receptors and the subsequent vagus nerves. However, the brain mechanism underlying the effect of MSG ingestion during the developmental period on aggression has not yet been clarified. We first tried to establish new experimental conditions to be more appropriate for detailed analysis of the brain, and then investigated the effects of MSG ingestion on aggressive behavior during the developmental stage of an ADHD rat model. Methods Long-Evans, WKY/Izm, SHR/Izm, and SHR-SP/Ezo were individually housed from postnatal day 25 for 5 weeks. Post-weaning social isolation (PWSI) was given to escalate aggressive behavior. The resident-intruder test, that is conducted during the subjective night, was used for a detailed analysis of aggression, including the frequency, duration, and latency of anogenital sniffing, aggressive grooming, and attack behavior. Immunohistochemistry of c-Fos expression was conducted in all strains to predict potential aggression-related brain areas. Finally, the most aggressive strain, SHR/Izm, a known model of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was used to investigate the effect of MSG ingestion (60 mM solution) on aggression, followed by c-Fos immunostaining in aggression-related areas. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy was performed to verify the importance of gut-brain interactions in the effect of MSG. Results The resident intruder test revealed that SHR/Izm rats were the most aggressive among the four strains for all aggression parameters tested. SHR/Izm rats also showed the highest number of c-Fos + cells in aggression-related brain areas, including the central amygdala (CeA). MSG ingestion significantly decreased the frequency and duration of aggressive grooming and attack behavior and increased the latency of attack behavior. Furthermore, MSG administration successfully increased c-Fos positive cell number in the intermediate nucleus of the solitary tract (iNTS), a terminal of the gastrointestinal sensory afferent fiber of the vagus nerve, and modulated c-Fos positive cells in the CeA. Interestingly, vagotomy diminished the MSG effects on aggression and c-Fos expression in the iNTS and CeA. Conclusion MSG ingestion decreased PWSI-induced aggression in SHR/Izm, which was mediated by the vagus nerve related to the stimulation of iNTS and modulation of CeA activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dewi Mustika
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Yu Nishimura
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinya Ueno
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shiori Tominaga
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takeshi Shimizu
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Shokei University Junior College, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Tajiri
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Cha-Gyun Jung
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hideki Hida
- Department of Neurophysiology and Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
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5
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Mitsui K, Takahashi A. Aggression modulator: Understanding the multifaceted role of the dorsal raphe nucleus. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300213. [PMID: 38314963 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Aggressive behavior is instinctively driven behavior that helps animals to survive and reproduce and is closely related to multiple behavioral and physiological processes. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is an evolutionarily conserved midbrain structure that regulates aggressive behavior by integrating diverse brain inputs. The DRN consists predominantly of serotonergic (5-HT:5-hydroxytryptamine) neurons and decreased 5-HT activity was classically thought to increase aggression. However, recent studies challenge this 5-HT deficiency model, revealing a more complex role for the DRN 5-HT system in aggression. Furthermore, emerging evidence has shown that non-5-HT populations in the DRN and specific neural circuits contribute to the escalation of aggressive behavior. This review argues that the DRN serves as a multifaceted modulator of aggression, acting not only via 5-HT but also via other neurotransmitters and neural pathways, as well as different subsets of 5-HT neurons. In addition, we discuss the contribution of DRN neurons in the behavioral and physiological aspects implicated in aggressive behavior, such as arousal, reward, and impulsivity, to further our understanding of DRN-mediated aggression modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koshiro Mitsui
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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6
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Ohta KI, Araki C, Ujihara H, Iseki K, Suzuki S, Otabi H, Kumei H, Warita K, Kusaka T, Miki T. Maternal separation early in life induces excessive activity of the central amygdala related to abnormal aggression. J Neurochem 2023; 167:778-794. [PMID: 38037675 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have indicated that child maltreatment, such as neglect, is a risk factor of escalated aggression, potentially leading to delinquency and violent crime in the future. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which an early adverse environment may later cause violent behavior. In this study, we aimed to thoroughly examine the association between aggression against conspecific animals and the activity of amygdala subnuclei using the maternal separation (MS) model, which is a common model of early life stress. In the MS group, pups of Sprague-Dawley rats were separated from their dam during postnatal days 2-20 (twice a day, 3 h each). We only included 9-week-old male offspring for each analysis and compared the MS group with the mother-reared control group; both groups were raised by the same dam during postnatal days 2-20. The results revealed that the MS group exhibited higher aggression and excessive activity of only the central amygdala (CeA) among the amygdala subnuclei during the aggressive behavior test. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between higher aggression and CeA activation. While CeA activity is known to be involved in hunting behavior for prey, some previous studies have also indicated a relationship between CeA and intraspecific aggression. It remains unclear, however, whether excessive CeA activity directly induces intraspecific aggression. Therefore, we stimulated the CeA using optogenetics with 8-week-old rats to clarify the relationship between intraspecific aggression and CeA activity. Notably, CeA activation resulted in higher aggression, even when the opponent was a conspecific animal. In particular, bilateral CeA activation resulted in more severe displays of aggressive behavior than necessary, such as biting a surrendered opponent. These findings suggest that an adverse environment during early development intensifies aggression through excessive CeA activation, which can increase the risk of escalating to violent behavior in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-Ichi Ohta
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Chihiro Araki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Ujihara
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Keizo Iseki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Shingo Suzuki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hikari Otabi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Haruki Kumei
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Warita
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Takashi Kusaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Takanori Miki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan
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Bai F, Huang L, Deng J, Long Z, Hao X, Chen P, Wu G, Wen H, Deng Q, Bao X, Huang J, Yang M, Li D, Ren Y, Zhang M, Xiong Y, Li H. Prelimbic area to lateral hypothalamus circuit drives social aggression. iScience 2023; 26:107718. [PMID: 37810230 PMCID: PMC10551839 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Controlling aggression is a vital skill in social species such as rodents and humans and has been associated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In this study, we showed that during aggressive behavior, the activity of GABAergic neurons in the prelimbic area (PL) of the mPFC was significantly suppressed. Specific activation of GABAergic PL neurons significantly curbed male-to-male aggression and inhibited conditioned place preference (CPP) for aggression-paired contexts, whereas specific inhibition of GABAergic PL neurons brought about the opposite effect. Moreover, GABAergic projections from PL neurons to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) orexinergic neurons mediated aggressive behavior. Finally, directly modulated LH-orexinergic neurons influence aggressive behavior. These results suggest that GABAergic PL-orexinergic LH projection is an important control circuit for intermale aggressive behavior, both of which could be targets for curbing aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhai Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jiao Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Zonghong Long
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xianglin Hao
- Department of Pathology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Penghui Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Guangyan Wu
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Huizhong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qiangting Deng
- Editorial Office of Journal of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiaohang Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Defeng Li
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Yukun Ren
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
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Jacobs JT, Maior RS, Waguespack HF, Campos-Rodriguez C, Forcelli PA, Malkova L. Pharmacological Inactivation of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Increases Affiliative Social Behavior in Rhesus Macaques. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3331-3338. [PMID: 37012054 PMCID: PMC10162455 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2090-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been implicated in a variety of social behaviors, including aggression, maternal care, mating behavior, and social interaction. Limited evidence from rodent studies suggests that activation of the BNST results in a decrease in social interaction between unfamiliar animals. The role of the BNST in social interaction in primates remains wholly unexamined. Nonhuman primates provide a valuable model for studying social behavior because of both their rich social repertoire and neural substrates of behavior with high translational relevance to humans. To test the hypothesis that the primate BNST is a critical modulator of social behavior, we performed intracerebral microinfusions of the GABAA agonist muscimol to transiently inactivate the BNST in male macaque monkeys. We measured changes in social interaction with a familiar same-sex conspecific. Inactivation of the BNST resulted in significant increase in total social contact. This effect was associated with an increase in passive contact and a significant decrease in locomotion. Other nonsocial behaviors (sitting passively alone, self-directed behaviors, and manipulation) were not impacted by BNST inactivation. As part of the "extended amygdala," the BNST is highly interconnected with the basolateral (BLA) and central (CeA) nuclei of the amygdala, both of which also play critical roles in regulating social interaction. The precise pattern of behavioral changes we observed following inactivation of the BNST partially overlaps with our prior reports in the BLA and CeA. Together, these data demonstrate that the BNST is part of a network regulating social behavior in primates.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has a well-established role in anxiety behaviors, but its role in social behavior is poorly understood. No prior studies have evaluated the impact of BNST manipulations on social behavior in primates. We found that transient pharmacological inactivation of the BNST increased social behavior in pairs of macaque monkeys. These data suggest the BNST contributes to the brain networks regulating sociability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T Jacobs
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
| | - Rafael S Maior
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Metabolism and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Hannah F Waguespack
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
| | | | - Patrick A Forcelli
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Ludise Malkova
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057
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9
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Oyaga MR, Serra I, Kurup D, Koekkoek SKE, Badura A. Delay eyeblink conditioning performance and brain-wide c-Fos expression in male and female mice. Open Biol 2023; 13:220121. [PMID: 37161289 PMCID: PMC10170203 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Delay eyeblink conditioning has been extensively used to study associative learning and the cerebellar circuits underlying this task have been largely identified. However, there is a little knowledge on how factors such as strain, sex and innate behaviour influence performance during this type of learning. In this study, we used male and female mice of C57BL/6J (B6) and B6CBAF1 strains to investigate the effect of sex, strain and locomotion in delay eyeblink conditioning. We performed a short and a long delay eyeblink conditioning paradigm and used a c-Fos immunostaining approach to explore the involvement of different brain areas in this task. We found that both B6 and B6CBAF1 females reach higher learning scores compared to males in the initial stages of learning. This sex-dependent difference was no longer present as the learning progressed. Moreover, we found a strong positive correlation between learning scores and voluntary locomotion irrespective of the training duration. c-Fos immunostainings after the short paradigm showed positive correlations between c-Fos expression and learning scores in the cerebellar cortex and brainstem, as well as previously unreported areas. By contrast, after the long paradigm, c-Fos expression was only significantly elevated in the brainstem. Taken together, we show that differences in voluntary locomotion and activity across brain areas correlate with performance in delay eyeblink conditioning across strains and sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Roa Oyaga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ines Serra
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Devika Kurup
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Aleksandra Badura
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3000 Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
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10
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Lin D, Li X, Moult E, Park P, Tang B, Shen H, Grimm JB, Falco N, Jia BZ, Baker D, Lavis LD, Cohen AE. Time-tagged ticker tapes for intracellular recordings. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:631-639. [PMID: 36593408 PMCID: PMC10192119 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Recording transcriptional histories of a cell would enable deeper understanding of cellular developmental trajectories and responses to external perturbations. Here we describe an engineered protein fiber that incorporates diverse fluorescent marks during its growth to store a ticker tape-like history. An embedded HaloTag reporter incorporates user-supplied dyes, leading to colored stripes that map the growth of each individual fiber to wall clock time. A co-expressed eGFP tag driven by a promoter of interest records a history of transcriptional activation. High-resolution multi-spectral imaging on fixed samples reads the cellular histories, and interpolation of eGFP marks relative to HaloTag timestamps provides accurate absolute timing. We demonstrate recordings of doxycycline-induced transcription in HEK cells and cFos promoter activation in cultured neurons, with a single-cell absolute accuracy of 30-40 minutes over a 12-hour recording. The protein-based ticker tape design we present here could be generalized to achieve massively parallel single-cell recordings of diverse physiological modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingchang Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Xiuyuan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric Moult
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pojeong Park
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hao Shen
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan B Grimm
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Natalie Falco
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Bill Z Jia
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David Baker
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luke D Lavis
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Adam E Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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d'Isa R, Gerlai R. Designing animal-friendly behavioral tests for neuroscience research: The importance of an ethological approach. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 16:1090248. [PMID: 36703720 PMCID: PMC9871504 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1090248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele d'Isa
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience (DNS), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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12
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Gorlova A, Svirin E, Pavlov D, Cespuglio R, Proshin A, Schroeter CA, Lesch KP, Strekalova T. Understanding the Role of Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation and Abnormal Myelination in Excessive Aggression Associated with Depression: Recent Input from Mechanistic Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:915. [PMID: 36674429 PMCID: PMC9861430 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggression and deficient cognitive control problems are widespread in psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). These abnormalities are known to contribute significantly to the accompanying functional impairment and the global burden of disease. Progress in the development of targeted treatments of excessive aggression and accompanying symptoms has been limited, and there exists a major unmet need to develop more efficacious treatments for depressed patients. Due to the complex nature and the clinical heterogeneity of MDD and the lack of precise knowledge regarding its pathophysiology, effective management is challenging. Nonetheless, the aetiology and pathophysiology of MDD has been the subject of extensive research and there is a vast body of the latest literature that points to new mechanisms for this disorder. Here, we overview the key mechanisms, which include neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, insulin receptor signalling and abnormal myelination. We discuss the hypotheses that have been proposed to unify these processes, as many of these pathways are integrated for the neurobiology of MDD. We also describe the current translational approaches in modelling depression, including the recent advances in stress models of MDD, and emerging novel therapies, including novel approaches to management of excessive aggression, such as anti-diabetic drugs, antioxidant treatment and herbal compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gorlova
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Normal Physiology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Cognitive Dysfunctions, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 125315 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeniy Svirin
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Normal Physiology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Cognitive Dysfunctions, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 125315 Moscow, Russia
- Neuroplast BV, 6222 NK Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dmitrii Pavlov
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Raymond Cespuglio
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Normal Physiology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL), 69500 Bron, France
| | - Andrey Proshin
- P.K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, 125315 Moscow, Russia
| | - Careen A. Schroeter
- Preventive and Environmental Medicine, Kastanienhof Clinic, 50858 Köln-Junkersdorf, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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13
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Jabarin R, Dagash W, Netser S, Singh S, Paul BK, Barkai E, Wagner S. Modulation of social investigation by anterior hypothalamic nucleus rhythmic neural activity. iScience 2022; 26:105921. [PMID: 36685037 PMCID: PMC9852926 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interactions involve both approach and avoidance toward specific individuals. Currently, the brain regions subserving these behaviors are not fully recognized. The anterior hypothalamic nucleus (AHN) is a poorly defined brain area, and recent studies have yielded contradicting conclusions regarding its behavioral role. Here we explored the role of AHN neuronal activity in regulating approach and avoidance actions during social interactions. Using electrophysiological recordings from behaving mice, we revealed that theta rhythmicity in the AHN is enhanced during affiliative interactions, but decreases during aversive ones. Moreover, the spiking activity of AHN neurons increased during the investigation of social stimuli, as compared to objects, and was modulated by theta rhythmicity. Finally, AHN optogenetic stimulation during social interactions augmented the approach toward stimuli associated with the stimulation. These results suggest the role for AHN neural activity in regulating approach behavior during social interactions, and for theta rhythmicity in mediating the valence of social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renad Jabarin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Wael Dagash
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Shai Netser
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Shelly Singh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Blesson K. Paul
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Edi Barkai
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBRC), University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel,Corresponding author
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14
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Navarro-Moreno C, Barneo-Muñoz M, Ibáñez-Gual MV, Lanuza E, Agustín-Pavón C, Sánchez-Catalán MJ, Martínez-García F. Becoming a mother shifts the activity of the social and motivation brain networks in mice. iScience 2022; 25:104525. [PMID: 35754727 PMCID: PMC9218376 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy hormones increase motivated pup-directed behaviors. We here analyze hormone-induced changes in brain activity, by comparing cFos-immunoreactivity in the sociosexual (SBN) and motivation brain networks (including medial preoptic area, MPO) of virgin versus late-pregnant pup-naïve female mice exposed to pups or buttons (control). Pups activate more the SBN than buttons in both late-pregnant and virgin females. By contrast, pregnancy increases pup-elicited activity in the motivation circuitry (e.g. accumbens core) but reduces button-induced activity and, consequently, button investigation. Principal components analysis supports the identity of the social and motivation brain circuits, placing the periaqueductal gray between both systems. Linear discriminant analysis of cFos-immunoreactivity in the socio-motivational brain network predicts the kind of female and stimulus better than the activity of the MPO alone; this suggests that the neuroendocrinological basis of social (e.g. maternal) behaviors conforms to a neural network model, rather than to distinct hierarchical linear pathways for different behaviors. Pups activate the sociosexual brain network of females more than nonsocial objects Pregnancy boosts motivation for pups and reduces incentive salience of buttons During pregnancy, specific circuits govern decision of caring or attacking pups The socio-motivational brain works as a network rather than a labelled-line circuit
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinta Navarro-Moreno
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UJI. Predepartamental Unit of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló. Campus Riu Sec. Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana 12071, Spain
| | - Manuela Barneo-Muñoz
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UJI. Predepartamental Unit of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló. Campus Riu Sec. Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana 12071, Spain
| | - María Victoria Ibáñez-Gual
- Department of Mathematics, IMAC, School of Technology and Experimental Sciences (ESTCE), Universitat Jaume I de Castelló. Campus Riu Sec. Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana 12071, Spain
| | - Enrique Lanuza
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UV. Department of Cell and Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de València. C. Doctor Moliner 50, Burjassot 46100, Spain
| | - Carmen Agustín-Pavón
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UV. Department of Cell and Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de València. C. Doctor Moliner 50, Burjassot 46100, Spain
| | - María José Sánchez-Catalán
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UJI. Predepartamental Unit of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló. Campus Riu Sec. Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana 12071, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-García
- Joint Research Unit on Functional Neuroanatomy (NeuroFun) - UJI. Predepartamental Unit of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló. Campus Riu Sec. Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana 12071, Spain
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15
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Haller J. Aggression, Aggression-Related Psychopathologies and Their Models. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:936105. [PMID: 35860723 PMCID: PMC9289268 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.936105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural mechanisms of aggression and violence are often studied in the laboratory by means of animal models. A multitude of such models were developed over the last decades, which, however, were rarely if ever compared systematically from a psychopathological perspective. By overviewing the main models, I show here that the classical ones exploited the natural tendency of animals to defend their territory, to fight for social rank, to defend themselves from imminent dangers and to defend their pups. All these forms of aggression are functional and adaptive; consequently, not necessarily appropriate for modeling non-natural states, e.g., aggression-related psychopathologies. A number of more psychopathology-oriented models were also developed over the last two decades, which were based on the etiological factors of aggression-related mental disorders. When animals were exposed to such factors, their aggressiveness suffered durable changes, which were deviant in the meaning that they broke the evolutionarily conserved rules that minimize the dangers associated with aggression. Changes in aggression were associated with a series of dysfunctions that affected other domains of functioning, like with aggression-related disorders where aggression is just one of the symptoms. The comparative overview of such models suggests that while the approach still suffers from a series of deficits, they hold the important potential of extending our knowledge on aggression control over the pathological domain of this behavior.
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16
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Flanigan ME, Kash TL. Coordination of social behaviors by the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:2404-2420. [PMID: 33006806 PMCID: PMC9906816 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a sexually dimorphic, neuropeptide-rich node of the extended amygdala that has been implicated in responses to stress, drugs of abuse, and natural rewards. Its function is dysregulated in neuropsychiatric disorders that are characterized by stress- or drug-induced alterations in mood, arousal, motivation, and social behavior. However, compared to the BNST's role in mood, arousal, and motivation, its role in social behavior has remained relatively understudied. Moreover, the precise cell types and circuits underlying the BNST's role in social behavior have only recently begun to be explored using modern neuroscience techniques. Here, we systematically review the existing literature investigating the neurobiological substrates within the BNST that contribute to the coordination of various sex-dependent and sex-independent social behavioral repertoires, focusing largely on pharmacological and circuit-based behavioral studies in rodents. We suggest that the BNST coordinates social behavior by promoting appropriate assessment of social contexts to select relevant behavioral outputs and that disruption of socially relevant BNST systems by stress and drugs of abuse may be an important factor in the development of social dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E. Flanigan
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Thomas L. Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC,Correspondence: Thomas L. Kash, John R. Andrews Distinguished Professor, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA, , (919) 843-7867
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17
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Awathale SN, Waghade AM, Kawade HM, Jadhav G, Choudhary AG, Sagarkar S, Sakharkar AJ, Subhedar NK, Kokare DM. Neuroplastic Changes in the Superior Colliculus and Hippocampus in Self-rewarding Paradigm: Importance of Visual Cues. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:890-915. [PMID: 34797522 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02597-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Coincident excitation via different sensory modalities encoding objects of positive salience is known to facilitate learning and memory. With a view to dissect the contribution of visual cues in inducing adaptive neural changes, we monitored the lever press activity of a rat conditioned to self-administer sweet food pellets in the presence/absence of light cues. Application of light cues facilitated learning and consolidation of long-term memory. The superior colliculus (SC) of rats trained on light cue showed increased neuronal activity, dendritic branching, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA expression. Concomitantly, the hippocampus showed augmented neurogenesis as well as BDNF protein and mRNA expression. While intra-SC administration of U0126 (inhibitor of ERK 1/2 and long-term memory) impaired memory formation, lidocaine (local anaesthetic) hindered memory recall. The light cue-dependent sweet food pellet self-administration was coupled with increased efflux of dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). In conditioned rats, pharmacological inhibition of glutamatergic signalling in dentate gyrus (DG) reduced lever press activity, as well as DA and DOPAC secretion in the AcbSh. We suggest that the neuroplastic changes in the SC and hippocampus might represent memory engrams sculpted by visual cues encoding reward information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay N Awathale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, 440 033, India
| | - Akash M Waghade
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, 440 033, India
| | - Harish M Kawade
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, 440 033, India
| | - Gouri Jadhav
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411 007, India
| | - Amit G Choudhary
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India
| | - Sneha Sagarkar
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411 007, India
| | - Amul J Sakharkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411 007, India
| | - Nishikant K Subhedar
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008, India
| | - Dadasaheb M Kokare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, 440 033, India.
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18
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Liu XJ, Wang HJ, Wang XY, Ning YX, Gao J. GABABR1 in DRN mediated GABA to regulate 5-HT expression in multiple brain regions in male rats with high and low aggressive behavior. Neurochem Int 2021; 150:105180. [PMID: 34509561 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105180] [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: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The identity of the mechanism that controls aggressive behavior in rodents is unclear. Serotonin (5-HT) and GABA are associated with aggressive behavior in rodents. However, the regulatory relationship between these chemicals in the different brain regions of rats has not been fully defined. This study aimed to clarify the role of GABABR1 in DRN-mediated GABA to regulate 5-HT expression in multiple brain regions in male rats with high and low aggressive behavior. Rat models of highly and less aggressive behavior were established through social isolation plus resident intruder. On this basis, GABA content in the DRN and 5-HT contents in the PFC, hypothalamus, hippocampus and DRN were detected using ELISA. Co-expression of 5-HT and GB1 in the DRN was detected by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy at the tissue and subcellular levels, respectively. GB1-specific agonist baclofen and GB1-specific inhibitor CGP35348 were injected into the DRN by stereotaxic injection. Changes in 5-HT levels in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus were detected afterward. After modeling, rats with highly aggressive behavior exhibited higher aggressive behavior scores, shorter latencies of aggression, and higher total distances in the open field test than rats with less aggressive behavior. The contents of 5-HT in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats with high and low aggressive behavior (no difference between the two groups) were significantly decreased, but the change in GABA content in the DRN was the opposite. GB1 granules could be found on synaptic membranes containing 5-HT granules, which indicated that 5-HT neurons in the DRN co-expressed with GB1, which also occurred in double immunofluorescence results. At the same time, we found that the expression of GB1 in the DRN of rats with high and low aggressive behavior was significantly increased, and the expression of GB1 in the DRN of rats with low aggressive behavior was significantly higher than that in rats with high aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, the expression of 5-HT in DRN was opposite in these two groups. After microinjection of baclofen into the DRN, the 5-HT contents in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group decreased significantly. In contrast, the 5-HT contents in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group increased significantly after injection with CGP35348. The significant increase in GABA in the DRN combined with the significant increase in GB1 in the DRN further mediated the synaptic inhibition effect, which reduced the 5-HT level of 5-HT neurons in the DRN, resulting in a significant decrease in 5-HT levels in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus. Therefore, GB1-mediated GABA regulation of 5-HT levels in the PFC, hypothalamus and hippocampus is one of the mechanisms of highly and less aggressive behavior originating in the DRN. The increased GB1 level in the DRN of LA-behavior rats exhibited a greater degree of change than in the HA-group rats, which indicated that differently decreased 5-HT levels in the DRN may be the internal mechanisms of high and low aggression behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ju Liu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Juan Wang
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, People's Republic of China
| | - Yin-Xia Ning
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Gao
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Felippe RM, Oliveira GM, Barbosa RS, Esteves BD, Gonzaga BMS, Horita SIM, Garzoni LR, Beghini DG, Araújo-Jorge TC, Fragoso VMS. Experimental Social Stress: Dopaminergic Receptors, Oxidative Stress, and c-Fos Protein Are Involved in Highly Aggressive Behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:696834. [PMID: 34489642 PMCID: PMC8418094 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.696834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is defined as hostile behavior that results in psychological damage, injury and even death among individuals. When aggression presents itself in an exacerbated and constant way, it can be considered escalating or pathological. The association between social stress and the emergence of exacerbated aggressiveness is common and is suggested to be interconnected through very complex neurobiological factors. For example, alterations in the expression of the dopaminergic receptors D1 and D2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the c-Fos protein in the cortex have been observed. Our objective was to analyze which factors are involved at the neurobiological level in the highly aggressive response of Swiss Webster adult male mice in a vivarium. In this work, we investigated the relationship among dopaminergic receptors, the production of ROS and the expression of c-Fos. Mice with exacerbated aggression were identified by the model of spontaneous aggression (MSA) based on the grouping of young mice and the regrouping of the same animals in adulthood. During the regrouping, we observed different categories of behavior resulting from social stress, such as (i) highly aggressive animals, (ii) defeated animals, and (iii) harmonic groups. To evaluate the dopaminergic system and the c-Fos protein, we quantified the expression of D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors by Western blotting and fluorescence immunohistochemistry and that of the c-Fos protein by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. The possible production of ROS was also evaluated through the dihydroethidium (DHE) assay. The results showed that aggressive and subordinate mice showed a reduction in the expression of the D1 receptor, and no significant difference in the expression of the D2 receptor was observed between the groups. In addition, aggressive mice exhibited increased production of ROS and c-Fos protein. Based on our results, we suggest that exacerbated aggression is associated with social stress, dysregulation of the dopaminergic system and exacerbated ROS production, which leads to a state of cellular oxidative stress. The overexpression of c-Fos due to social stress suggests an attempt by the cell to produce antioxidant agents to reduce the toxic cellular concentration of ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata M Felippe
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel M Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Barbosa
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Betina D Esteves
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz M S Gonzaga
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Samuel I M Horita
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratory on Thymus Research, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana R Garzoni
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela G Beghini
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tânia C Araújo-Jorge
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Viviane M S Fragoso
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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20
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LeClair KB, Russo SJ. Using social rank as the lens to focus on the neural circuitry driving stress coping styles. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:167-180. [PMID: 33930622 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Social hierarchy position in humans is negatively correlated with stress-related psychiatric disease risk. Animal models have largely corroborated human studies, showing that social rank can impact stress susceptibility and is considered to be a major risk factor in the development of psychiatric illness. Differences in stress coping style is one of several factors that mediate this relationship between social rank and stress susceptibility. Coping styles encompass correlated groupings of behaviors associated with differential physiological stress responses. Here, we discuss recent insights from animal models that highlight several neural circuits that can contribute to social rank-associated differences in coping style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine B LeClair
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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21
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Korzan WJ, Summers CH. Evolution of stress responses refine mechanisms of social rank. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100328. [PMID: 33997153 PMCID: PMC8105687 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Social rank functions to facilitate coping responses to socially stressful situations and conditions. The evolution of social status appears to be inseparably connected to the evolution of stress. Stress, aggression, reward, and decision-making neurocircuitries overlap and interact to produce status-linked relationships, which are common among both male and female populations. Behavioral consequences stemming from social status and rank relationships are molded by aggressive interactions, which are inherently stressful. It seems likely that the balance of regulatory elements in pro- and anti-stress neurocircuitries results in rapid but brief stress responses that are advantageous to social dominance. These systems further produce, in coordination with reward and aggression circuitries, rapid adaptive responding during opportunities that arise to acquire food, mates, perch sites, territorial space, shelter and other resources. Rapid acquisition of resources and aggressive postures produces dominant individuals, who temporarily have distinct fitness advantages. For these reasons also, change in social status can occur rapidly. Social subordination results in slower and more chronic neural and endocrine reactions, a suite of unique defensive behaviors, and an increased propensity for anxious and depressive behavior and affect. These two behavioral phenotypes are but distinct ends of a spectrum, however, they may give us insights into the troubling mechanisms underlying the myriad of stress-related disorders to which they appear to be evolutionarily linked.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cliff H Summers
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069 USA.,Neuroscience Group, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA.,Veterans Affairs Research Service, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 USA
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22
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van Heukelum S, Tulva K, Geers FE, van Dulm S, Ruisch IH, Mill J, Viana JF, Beckmann CF, Buitelaar JK, Poelmans G, Glennon JC, Vogt BA, Havenith MN, França ASC. A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2321-2333.e5. [PMID: 33857429 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Controlling aggression is a crucial skill in social species like rodents and humans and has been associated with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we directly link the failed regulation of aggression in BALB/cJ mice to ACC hypofunction. We first show that ACC in BALB/cJ mice is structurally degraded: neuron density is decreased, with pervasive neuron death and reactive astroglia. Gene-set enrichment analysis suggested that this process is driven by neuronal degeneration, which then triggers toxic astrogliosis. cFos expression across ACC indicated functional consequences: during aggressive encounters, ACC was engaged in control mice, but not BALB/cJ mice. Chemogenetically activating ACC during aggressive encounters drastically suppressed pathological aggression but left species-typical aggression intact. The network effects of our chemogenetic perturbation suggest that this behavioral rescue is mediated by suppression of amygdala and hypothalamus and activation of mediodorsal thalamus. Together, these findings highlight the central role of ACC in curbing pathological aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Kerli Tulva
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Femke E Geers
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne van Dulm
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - I Hyun Ruisch
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Joana F Viana
- The Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Poelmans
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brent A Vogt
- Cingulum Neurosciences Institute, Manlius, NY, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Zero-Noise Lab, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, 60528 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
| | - Arthur S C França
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Eusebi PG, Sevane N, O'Rourke T, Pizarro M, Boeckx C, Dunner S. Gene expression profiles underlying aggressive behavior in the prefrontal cortex of cattle. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:245. [PMID: 33827428 PMCID: PMC8028707 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07505-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aggressive behavior is an ancient and conserved trait, habitual for most animals in order to eat, protect themselves, compete for mating and defend their territories. Genetic factors have been shown to play an important role in the development of aggression both in animals and humans, displaying moderate to high heritability estimates. Although such types of behaviors have been studied in different animal models, the molecular architecture of aggressiveness remains poorly understood. This study compared gene expression profiles of 16 prefrontal cortex (PFC) samples from aggressive and non-aggressive cattle breeds: Lidia, selected for agonistic responses, and Wagyu, selected for tameness. RESULTS A total of 918 up-regulated and 278 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified, representing above-chance overlap with genes previously identified in studies of aggression across species, as well as those implicated in recent human evolution. The functional interpretation of the up-regulated genes in the aggressive cohort revealed enrichment of pathways such as Alzheimer disease-presenilin, integrins and the ERK/MAPK signaling cascade, all implicated in the development of abnormal aggressive behaviors and neurophysiological disorders. Moreover, gonadotropins, are up-regulated as natural mechanisms enhancing aggression. Concomitantly, heterotrimeric G-protein pathways, associated with low reactivity mental states, and the GAD2 gene, a repressor of agonistic reactions associated with PFC activity, are down-regulated, promoting the development of the aggressive responses selected for in Lidia cattle. We also identified six upstream regulators, whose functional activity fits with the etiology of abnormal behavioral responses associated with aggression. CONCLUSIONS These transcriptional correlates of aggression, resulting, at least in part, from controlled artificial selection, can provide valuable insights into the complex architecture that underlies naturally developed agonistic behaviors. This analysis constitutes a first important step towards the identification of the genes and metabolic pathways that promote aggression in cattle and, providing a novel model species to disentangle the mechanisms underlying variability in aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina G Eusebi
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Natalia Sevane
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas O'Rourke
- Universitat de Barcelona, Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007, Barcelona, Spain.,UBICS, Carrer Martí Franqués 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Pizarro
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cedric Boeckx
- Universitat de Barcelona, Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007, Barcelona, Spain.,UBICS, Carrer Martí Franqués 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Dunner
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Lee W, Dowd HN, Nikain C, Dwortz MF, Yang ED, Curley JP. Effect of relative social rank within a social hierarchy on neural activation in response to familiar or unfamiliar social signals. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2864. [PMID: 33536481 PMCID: PMC7859216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82255-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Competent social functioning of group-living species relies on the ability of individuals to detect and utilize conspecific social cues to guide behavior. Previous studies have identified numerous brain regions involved in processing these external cues, collectively referred to as the Social Decision-Making Network. However, how the brain encodes social information with respect to an individual's social status has not been thoroughly examined. In mice, cues about an individual's identity, including social status, are conveyed through urinary proteins. In this study, we assessed the neural cFos immunoreactivity in dominant and subordinate male mice exposed to familiar and unfamiliar dominant and subordinate male urine. The posteroventral medial amygdala was the only brain region that responded exclusively to dominant compared to subordinate male urine. In all other brain regions, including the VMH, PMv, and vlPAG, activity is modulated by a combination of odor familiarity and the social status of both the urine donor and the subject receiving the cue. We show that dominant subjects exhibit robust differential activity across different types of cues compared to subordinate subjects, suggesting that individuals perceive social cues differently depending on social experience. These data inform further investigation of neurobiological mechanisms underlying social-status related brain differences and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Lee
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hollie N Dowd
- School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cyrus Nikain
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Eilene D Yang
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - James P Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
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25
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Agonistic behaviors and neuronal activation in sexually naïve female Mongolian gerbils. Behav Brain Res 2020; 395:112860. [PMID: 32798594 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112860] [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: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Agonistic interaction is important for establishing social hierarchy and determining access to limited resources. Although there are substantial studies investigating the neural mechanisms of aggressive or defensive behavior in male rodents, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms underlying agonistic behaviors in females. In the present study, we depicted patterns of agonistic behaviors in sexually naïve female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and examined the neuronal activation in the brain by Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) staining. We found that the winner-loser relationship was established rapidly. Winners displayed higher levels of aggression, environmental exploration, scent marking, and self-grooming, but less defensive behavior, in comparison to losers. Several patterns of Fos-ir expression emerged following agonistic interactions. Winners had the number of Fos-ir cells in the ventrolateral subnucleus of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) and dorsal periaqueductal grey (PAGd) more than the controls but less than the losers. Losers also had more Fos-ir cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), anterior medial (BSTam) and anteriolateral (BSTal) subnuclei of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), and the ventral subnucleus of the lateral septum (LSv), as well as less Fos-ir cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (DG), compared to the controls. In addition, the number of Fos-ir cells showed similar increases in the principal nucleus (BSTpr) and interfascicular nucleus (BSTif) of the BST and amygdala (AMYG) in both the winners and losers, compared to the controls. Together, these data illustrate the patterns of altered neuronal activation in a behavior-, social status-, and brain region-specific manner, implicating potential roles of the brain neural circuit in mediating agonistic interactions in female Mongolian gerbils.
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26
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Traumatic Stress Induces Prolonged Aggression Increase through Synaptic Potentiation in the Medial Amygdala Circuits. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0147-20.2020. [PMID: 32651265 PMCID: PMC7385664 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0147-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic stress can lead to heightened aggression which may be a symptom of psychiatric diseases such as PTSD and intermittent explosive disorder. The medial amygdala (MeA) is an evolutionarily conserved subnucleus of the amygdala that regulates attack behavior and behavioral responses to stressors. The precise contribution of the MeA in traumatic stress-induced aggression, however, requires further elucidation. In this study, we used foot shock to induce traumatic stress in mice and examine the mechanisms of prolonged aggression increase associated with it. Foot shock causes a prolonged increase in aggression that lasts at least one week. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that foot shock induces potentiation of synapses formed between the MeA and the ventromedial hypothalamus (VmH) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). This synaptic potentiation lasts at least one week. Induction of synaptic depotentiation with low-frequency photostimulation (LFPS) immediately after foot shock suppresses the prolonged aggression increase without affecting non-aggressive social behavior, anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, or fear learning. These results show that potentiation of the MeA-VmH and MeA-BNST circuits is essential for traumatic stress to cause a prolonged increase in aggression. These circuits may be potential targets for the development of therapeutic strategies to treat the aggression symptom associated with psychiatric diseases.
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27
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Awathale SN, Dudhbhate BB, Rahangdale RR, Borkar CD, Subhedar NK, Kokare DM. Denial of food to the hungry rat: A novel paradigm for induction and evaluation of anger-like emotion. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 341:108791. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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28
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Nordman JC, Ma X, Gu Q, Potegal M, Li H, Kravitz AV, Li Z. Potentiation of Divergent Medial Amygdala Pathways Drives Experience-Dependent Aggression Escalation. J Neurosci 2020; 40:4858-4880. [PMID: 32424020 PMCID: PMC7326350 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0370-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heightened aggression can be serious concerns for the individual and society at large and are symptoms of many psychiatric illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The circuit and synaptic mechanisms underlying experience-induced aggression increase, however, are poorly understood. Here we find that prior attack experience leading to an increase in aggressive behavior, known as aggression priming, activates neurons within the posterior ventral segment of the medial amygdala (MeApv). Optogenetic stimulation of MeApv using a synaptic depression protocol suppresses aggression priming, whereas high-frequency stimulation enhances aggression, mimicking attack experience. Interrogation of the underlying neural circuitry revealed that the MeApv mediates aggression priming via synaptic connections with the ventromedial hypothalamus (VmH) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). These pathways undergo NMDAR-dependent synaptic potentiation after attack. Furthermore, we find that the MeApv-VmH synapses selectively control attack duration, whereas the MeApv-BNST synapses modulate attack frequency, both with no effect on social behavior. Synaptic potentiation of the MeApv-VmH and MeApv-BNST pathways contributes to increased aggression induced by traumatic stress, and weakening synaptic transmission at these synapses blocks the effect of traumatic stress on aggression. These results reveal a circuit and synaptic basis for aggression modulation by experience that can be potentially leveraged toward clinical interventions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Heightened aggression can have devastating social consequences and may be associated with psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The circuit and synaptic mechanisms underlying experience-induced aggression escalation, however, are poorly understood. Here we identify two aggression pathways between the posterior ventral segment of the medial amygdala and its downstream synaptic partners, the ventromedial hypothalamus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis that undergo synaptic potentiation after attack and traumatic stress to enhance aggression. Notably, weakening synaptic transmission in these circuits blocks aggression priming, naturally occurring aggression, and traumatic stress-induced aggression increase. These results illustrate a circuit and synaptic basis of aggression modulation by experience, which can be potentially targeted for clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob C Nordman
- Section on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Section on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Qinhua Gu
- Section on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Michael Potegal
- Program in Occupational Therapy, Center for Neurobehavioral Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - He Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Eating and Addiction Section, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Zheng Li
- Section on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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29
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Wang L, Talwar V, Osakada T, Kuang A, Guo Z, Yamaguchi T, Lin D. Hypothalamic Control of Conspecific Self-Defense. Cell Rep 2020; 26:1747-1758.e5. [PMID: 30759387 PMCID: PMC6431082 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.01.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Active defense against a conspecific aggressor is essential for survival. Previous studies revealed strong c-Fos expression in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) in defeated animals. Here, we examined the functional relevance and in vivo responses of the VMHvl during conspecific defense. We found that VMHvl cells expressing estrogen receptor α (Esr1) are acutely excited during active conspecific defense. Optogenetic inhibition of the cells compromised an animal’s ability to actively defend against an aggressor, whereas activating the cells elicited defense-like behaviors. Furthermore, the VMHvl is known for its role in aggression. In vivo recording and c-Fos mapping revealed differential organization of the defense and aggression-responsive cells in the VMHvl. Specifically, defense-activated cells are concentrated in the anterior part of the VMHvl, which preferentially targets the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Thus, our study identified an essential neural substrate for active conspecific defense and expanded the function of the VMHvl. Active defense against conspecific aggressors is essential for survival, but its underlying neural substrates remain largely unknown. Through a series of in vivo recordings and functional manipulations, Wang et al. demonstrate that cells expressing estrogen receptor α in a small medial hypothalamic nucleus are essential for defense against a bully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vaishali Talwar
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Takuya Osakada
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Amy Kuang
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Zhichao Guo
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Takashi Yamaguchi
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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30
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Liu ZH, Li YW, Hu W, Chen QL, Shen YJ. Mechanisms involved in tributyltin-enhanced aggressive behaviors and fear responses in male zebrafish. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 220:105408. [PMID: 31935571 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tributyltin (TBT), an aromatase inhibitor, has been found to disrupt gametogenesis and reproductive behavior in several fish species. However, whether TBT is capable of affecting other behaviors such as aggressive behavior and fear response in fish and the underlying mode(s) of action remain unclear. To study aggressive behavior, adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) males were continuously exposed to two nominal concentrations of TBT (TBT-low, 100 ng/L and TBT-high, 500 ng/L) for 28 days. To study the fear response, the fish were divided into four groups (Blank and Control, 0 ng/L TBT; TBT-low, 100 ng/L; and TBT-high, 500 ng/L). The fish were then treated with DW (Blank) or with alarm substance (AS) (Control, TBT-low and TBT-high). After exposure, the aggressive behavior of the fish was tested using the mirror test (mirror-biting frequency, approaches to the mirror and duration in approach zone).and fighting test (fish-biting frequency) The mirror-biting frequency, approaches to the mirror, duration in approach zone and fish-biting frequency of the TBT-exposed fish increased significantly compared to those of the control fish, indicating enhanced aggressive behavior. The fear response parameters tested using the novel tank dive test (onset time to the higher half, total duration in the lower half and the frequency of turning) of the TBT-exposed fish were also significantly increased after AS administration, suggesting an enhanced fear response. Further investigation revealed that TBT treatment elevated the plasma level of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and decreased the plasma level of estradiol (E2) in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, TBT up-regulated the mRNA levels of ar, c-fos and bdnf1, and suppressed the expression of btg-2 in fish. In addition, exposure to AS increased the plasma level of cortisol and down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in 5-HT synthesis (such as tph1b and pet1) in both control and TBT-treated fish. AS significantly suppressed the mRNA level of tph1b, tph2, pet1 and npy in the TBT-high group compared to the control fish. The present study demonstrates that TBT enhances aggressive behavior and fear responses in male zebrafish probably through altering plasma levels of 11-KT, E2 and cortisol and altering the expression of genes involved in the regulation of aggressive behavior (ar, c-fos, bdnf1 and btg-2) and fear responses (tph1b, tph2, pet1 and npy). The present study greatly extends our understanding of the behavioral toxicity of TBT to fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Hao Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China.
| | - Ying-Wen Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qi-Liang Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yan-Jun Shen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
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31
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Mark MD, Wollenweber P, Gesk A, Kösters K, Batzke K, Janoschka C, Maejima T, Han J, Deneris ES, Herlitze S. RGS2 drives male aggression in mice via the serotonergic system. Commun Biol 2019; 2:373. [PMID: 31633064 PMCID: PMC6789038 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0622-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggressive behavior in our modern, civilized society is often counterproductive and destructive. Identifying specific proteins involved in the disease can serve as therapeutic targets for treating aggression. Here, we found that overexpression of RGS2 in explicitly serotonergic neurons augments male aggression in control mice and rescues male aggression in Rgs2-/- mice, while anxiety is not affected. The aggressive behavior is directly correlated to the immediate early gene c-fos induction in the dorsal raphe nuclei and ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus hypothalamus, to an increase in spontaneous firing in serotonergic neurons and to a reduction in the modulatory action of Gi/o and Gq/11 coupled 5HT and adrenergic receptors in serotonergic neurons of Rgs2-expressing mice. Collectively, these findings specifically identify that RGS2 expression in serotonergic neurons is sufficient to drive male aggression in mice and as a potential therapeutic target for treating aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie D. Mark
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Patric Wollenweber
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Annika Gesk
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Katja Kösters
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Katharina Batzke
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Claudia Janoschka
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Takashi Maejima
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640 Japan
| | - Jing Han
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Evan S. Deneris
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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32
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Aggressive behavior and brain neuronal activation in sexually naïve male Mongolian gerbils. Behav Brain Res 2019; 378:112276. [PMID: 31589893 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aggressive behavior plays an important role in animal's survival and reproductive success. Although there has been growing interests in studying neural mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior using traditional laboratory animal models, little is known about mechanisms controlling naturally occurring aggression in sexually naïve animals. In the present study, we characterized aggressive behavior displayed by sexually naïve male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and examined the subsequent neuronal activation in the brain measured by Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) staining. We found that resident males initiated attacks and showed intense levels of aggression (including chase, bite, offensive sideway, lunge and on-top) towards a conspecific male intruder. Furthermore, attacks from the resident males towards the intruder produced a nonrandom distribution of bites, with the most on the rump, flank, back and tail and few on the limbs, ventrum and head. In contrast, control males that were exposed to a woodblock (control for novelty) never attacked the woodblock and showed higher levels of object/environmental investigation. Male gerbils exposed to an intruder had significantly higher levels of Fos-ir density in the medial (MeA) and anterior cortical (ACo) subnuclei of the amygdala, principal nucleus (BSTpr) and interfascicular nucleus (BSTif) of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl), and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), compared to control males. Together, our results indicate that sexually naïve, group housed male gerbils naturally display aggression towards conspecific strangers, and such aggressive behavior is associated with special patterns of neuronal activation in the brain.
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Konar A, Rastogi M, Bhambri A. Brain region specific methylation and Sirt1 binding changes in MAOA promoter is associated with sexual dimorphism in early life stress induced aggressive behavior. Neurochem Int 2019; 129:104510. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.104510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Rodriguez‐Barreto D, Rey O, Uren‐Webster TM, Castaldo G, Consuegra S, Garcia de Leaniz C. Transcriptomic response to aquaculture intensification in Nile tilapia. Evol Appl 2019; 12:1757-1771. [PMID: 31548855 PMCID: PMC6752142 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet future global demand for fish protein, more fish will need to be farmed using fewer resources, and this will require the selection of nonaggressive individuals that perform well at high densities. Yet, the genetic changes underlying loss of aggression and adaptation to crowding during aquaculture intensification are largely unknown. We examined the transcriptomic response to aggression and crowding in Nile tilapia, one of the oldest and most widespread farmed fish, whose social structure shifts from social hierarchies to shoaling with increasing density. A mirror test was used to quantify aggression and skin darkening (a proxy for stress) of fish reared at low and high densities, and gene expression in the hypothalamus was analysed among the most and least aggressive fish at each density. Fish reared at high density were darker, had larger brains, were less active and less aggressive than those reared at low density and had differentially expressed genes consistent with a reactive stress-coping style and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis. Differences in gene expression among aggressive fish were accounted for by density and the interaction between density and aggression levels, whereas for nonaggressive fish differences in gene expression were associated with individual variation in skin brightness and social stress. Thus, the response to crowding in Nile tilapia is context dependent and involves different neuroendocrine pathways, depending on social status. Knowledge of genes associated with the response to crowding may pave the way for more efficient fish domestication, based on the selection of nonaggressive individuals with increasing tolerance to chronic stress necessary for aquaculture intensification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Rey
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
- Université de Perpignan Via DomitiaPerpignanFrance
| | - Tamsyn M. Uren‐Webster
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Giovanni Castaldo
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Sonia Consuegra
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
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Covington HE, Newman EL, Leonard MZ, Miczek KA. Translational models of adaptive and excessive fighting: an emerging role for neural circuits in pathological aggression. F1000Res 2019; 8:F1000 Faculty Rev-963. [PMID: 31281636 PMCID: PMC6593325 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.18883.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is a phylogenetically stable behavior, and attacks on conspecifics are observed in most animal species. In this review, we discuss translational models as they relate to pathological forms of offensive aggression and the brain mechanisms that underlie these behaviors. Quantifiable escalations in attack or the development of an atypical sequence of attacks and threats is useful for characterizing abnormal variations in aggression across species. Aggression that serves as a reinforcer can be excessive, and certain schedules of reinforcement that allow aggression rewards also allow for examining brain and behavior during the anticipation of a fight. Ethological attempts to capture and measure offensive aggression point to two prominent hypotheses for the neural basis of violence. First, pathological aggression may be due to an exaggeration of activity in subcortical circuits that mediate adaptive aggressive behaviors as they are triggered by environmental or endogenous cues at vulnerable time points. Indeed, repeated fighting experiences occur with plasticity in brain areas once considered hardwired. Alternatively, a separate "violence network" may converge on aggression circuitry that disinhibits pathological aggression (for example, via disrupted cortical inhibition). Advancing animal models that capture the motivation to commit pathological aggression remains important to fully distinguish the neural architecture of violence as it differs from adaptive competition among conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert E. Covington
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, 530 Boston Ave, 02155, MA, USA
| | - Emily L. Newman
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, 530 Boston Ave, 02155, MA, USA
| | - Michael Z. Leonard
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, 530 Boston Ave, 02155, MA, USA
| | - Klaus A. Miczek
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, 530 Boston Ave, 02155, MA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston, 136 Harrison Ave, 02111, MA, USA
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Silva C, McNaughton N. Are periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe the foundation of appetitive and aversive control? A comprehensive review. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 177:33-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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García-Díaz C, Sánchez-Catalán MJ, Castro-Salazar E, García-Avilés A, Albert-Gascó H, Sánchez-Sarasúa de la Bárcena S, Sánchez-Pérez AM, Gundlach AL, Olucha-Bordonau FE. Nucleus incertus ablation disrupted conspecific recognition and modified immediate early gene expression patterns in 'social brain' circuits of rats. Behav Brain Res 2018; 356:332-347. [PMID: 30195021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Social interaction involves neural activity in prefrontal cortex, septum, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Notably, these areas all receive projections from the nucleus incertus (NI) in the pontine tegmentum. Therefore, we investigated the effect of excitotoxic lesions of NI neurons in adult male, Wistar rats on performance in a social discrimination test, and associated changes in immediate-early gene protein levels. NI was lesioned with quinolinic acid, and after recovery, rats underwent two trials in the 3-chamber test. In the first trial, NI-lesioned and sham-lesioned rats spent longer exploring a conspecific than an inanimate object. By contrast, in the second trial, NI-lesioned rats visited the familiar and novel conspecific chambers equally, whereas sham-lesioned rats spent longer engaging with the novel rat. Quantification of Fos- and Egr-1-immunoreactivity (IR) levels in brain areas implicated in social behaviour, revealed that social encounter and NI lesion produced complex, differential changes. For example, Egr-1-IR was broadly decreased in several amygdala nuclei in NI-lesioned rats relative to sham, but Fos-IR levels were unaltered. In hippocampus, NI-lesioned rats displayed decreased Fos-IR in CA2 and CA3, while Egr-1-IR was increased in the polymorphic dentate gyrus, CA1, CA2 and subiculum of NI-lesioned rats, relative to sham. Social encounter-related Egr-1-IR was also decreased in septum and anterior and lateral hypothalamus of NI-lesioned rats. Overall, these data suggest NI networks can modulate the activity of sensory, emotional and executive brain areas involved in social recognition, with a likely involvement of neuronal Egr-1 activation in amygdala, septum and hypothalamus, and Erg-1 inhibition in hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - A L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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The Neural Mechanisms of Sexually Dimorphic Aggressive Behaviors. Trends Genet 2018; 34:755-776. [PMID: 30173869 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is a fundamental social behavior that is essential for competing for resources and protecting oneself and families in both males and females. As a result of natural selection, aggression is often displayed differentially between the sexes, typically at a higher level in males than females. Here, we highlight the behavioral differences between male and female aggression in rodents. We further outline the aggression circuits in males and females, and compare their differences at each circuit node. Lastly, we summarize our current understanding regarding the generation of sexually dimorphic aggression circuits during development and their maintenance during adulthood. In both cases, gonadal steroid hormones appear to play crucial roles in differentiating the circuits by impacting on the survival, morphology, and intrinsic properties of relevant cells. Many other factors, such as environment and experience, may also contribute to sex differences in aggression and remain to be investigated in future studies.
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Macrì S, Zoratto F, Chiarotti F, Laviola G. Can laboratory animals violate behavioural norms? Towards a preclinical model of conduct disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 91:102-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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40
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Dai X, Zhou LY, Cao JX, Zhang YQ, Yang FP, Wang AQ, Wei WH, Yang SM. Effect of Group Density on the Physiology and Aggressive Behavior of Male Brandt's Voles ( Lasiopodomys brandtii). Zool Stud 2018; 57:e35. [PMID: 31966275 PMCID: PMC6517712 DOI: 10.6620/zs.2018.57-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Xin Dai, Ling-Yu Zhou, Jie-Xia Cao, Yan-Qi Zhang, Feng-Ping Yang, Ai-Qin Wang, Wan-Hong Wei, and Sheng-Mei Yang (2018) Population density is well known to influence animal physiology and behavior. How population density affects the aggressive behavior of the Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is, however, little known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group density on physiologic responses and aggressive behavior of male Brandt's voles and their potential underlying neuro-mechanism. The results show that increasing group density led to elevated serum corticosterone levels and increased spleen weight; it also induced more male-male aggressive behavior. By contrast, it had a negative effect on body growth and the weight of testis and epididymis. Aging also increased male-male aggressive behavior. Higher density reduced mRNA levels of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (5HT1A), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B (5HT1B) in the amygdala and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Our results demonstrate that higher population density can intensify stress reactions and male-male aggressive behavior in Brandt's voles at the price of inhibiting body growth and reproduction. Serotonergic systems in the amygdala and the DRN may take part in the control of aggressive behavior among male voles. Our results provide novel insights into the neuro-mechanism underlying the influence of population density on aggressive behavior in Brandt's vole, and imply that aggressive behavior may play an important role in the population fluctuation of the animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Dai
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Ling-Yu Zhou
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Jie-Xia Cao
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Qi Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Feng-Ping Yang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Ai-Qin Wang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Wan-Hong Wei
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
| | - Sheng-Mei Yang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou
University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China
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41
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Nishigaki R, Yokoyama Y, Shimizu Y, Marumoto R, Misumi S, Ueda Y, Ishida A, Shibuya Y, Hida H. Monosodium glutamate ingestion during the development period reduces aggression mediated by the vagus nerve in a rat model of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Brain Res 2018; 1690:40-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Haller J. The Role of the Lateral Hypothalamus in Violent Intraspecific Aggression-The Glucocorticoid Deficit Hypothesis. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:26. [PMID: 29937719 PMCID: PMC6002688 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This review argues for a central role of the lateral hypothalamus in those deviant forms of aggression, which result from chronic glucocorticoid deficiency. Currently, this nucleus is considered a key region of the mechanisms that control predatory aggression. However, recent findings demonstrate that it is strongly activated by aggression in subjects with a chronically downregulated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis; moreover, this activation is causally involved in the emergence of violent aggression. The review has two parts. In the first part, we review human findings demonstrating that under certain conditions, strong stressors downregulate the HPA-axis on the long run, and that the resulting glucocorticoid deficiency is associated with violent aggression including aggressive delinquency and aggression-related psychopathologies. The second part addresses neural mechanisms in animals. We show that the experimental downregulation of HPA-axis function elicits violent aggression in rodents, and the activation of the brain circuitry that originally subserves predatory aggression accompanies this change. The lateral hypothalamus is not only an integral part of this circuitry, but can elicit deviant and violent forms of aggression. Finally, we formulate a hypothesis on the pathway that connects unfavorable social conditions to violent aggression via the neural circuitry that includes the lateral hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- József Haller
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Behavioural Sciences and Law Enforcement, National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary
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43
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Meriaux C, Hohnen R, Schipper S, Zare A, Jahanshahi A, Birder LA, Temel Y, van Koeveringe GA. Neuronal Activation in the Periaqueductal Gray Matter Upon Electrical Stimulation of the Bladder. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:133. [PMID: 29867366 PMCID: PMC5968116 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Reflexes, that involve the spinobulbospinal pathway control both storage and voiding of urine. The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), a pontine structure is part of the micturition pathway. Alteration in this pathway could lead to micturition disorders and urinary incontinence, such as the overactive bladder symptom complex (OABS). Although different therapeutic options exist for the management of OABS, these are either not effective in all patients. Part of the pathology of OABS is faulty sensory signaling about the filling status of the urinary bladder, which results in aberrant efferent signaling leading to overt detrusor contractions and the sensation of urgency and frequent voiding. In order to identify novel targets for therapy (i.e., structures in the central nervous system) and explore novel treatment modalities such as neuromodulation, we aimed at investigating which areas in the central nervous system are functionally activated upon sensory afferent stimulation of the bladder. Hence, we designed a robust protocol with multiple readout parameters including immunohistological and behavioral parameters during electrical stimulation of the rat urinary bladder. Bladder stimulation induced by electrical stimulation, below the voiding threshold, influences neural activity in: (1) the caudal ventrolateral PAG, close to the aqueduct; (2) the pontine micturition center and locus coeruleus; and (3) the superficial layers of the dorsal horn, sacral parasympathetic nucleus and central canal region of the spinal cord. In stimulated animals, a higher voiding frequency was observed but was not accompanied by increase in anxiety level and locomotor deficits. Taken together, this work establishes a critical role for the vlPAG in the processing of sensory information from the urinary bladder and urges future studies to investigate the potential of neuromodulatory approaches for urological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Meriaux
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Céline Meriaux
| | - Ramona Hohnen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Sandra Schipper
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands,Department of Urology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Aryo Zare
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ali Jahanshahi
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands,Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Lori A. Birder
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Yasin Temel
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands,Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Gommert A. van Koeveringe
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht, Netherlands,Department of Urology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Task Division within the Prefrontal Cortex: Distinct Neuron Populations Selectively Control Different Aspects of Aggressive Behavior via the Hypothalamus. J Neurosci 2018; 38:4065-4075. [PMID: 29487128 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3234-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
An important question in behavioral neurobiology is how particular neuron populations and pathways mediate the overall roles of brain structures. Here we investigated this issue by studying the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an established locus of inhibitory control of aggression. We established in male rats that dominantly distinct mPFC neuron populations project to and produce dense fiber networks with glutamate release sites in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH; i.e., two executory centers of species-specific and violent bites, respectively). Optogenetic stimulation of mPFC terminals in MBH distinctively increased bite counts in resident/intruder conflicts, whereas the stimulation of similar terminals in LH specifically resulted in violent bites. No other behaviors were affected by stimulations. These findings show that the mPFC controls aggressiveness by behaviorally dedicated neuron populations and pathways, the roles of which may be opposite to those observed in experiments where the role of the whole mPFC (or of its major parts) has been investigated. Overall, our findings suggest that the mPFC organizes into working units that fulfill specific aspects of its wide-ranging roles.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Aggression control is associated with many cognitive and emotional aspects processed by the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, how the prefrontal cortex influences quantitative and qualitative aspects of aggressive behavior remains unclear. We demonstrated that dominantly distinct PFC neuron populations project to the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and the lateral hypothalamus (LH; i.e., two executory centers of species-specific and violent bites, respectively). Stimulation of mPFC fibers in MBH distinctively increased bite counts during fighting, whereas stimulation of similar terminals in LH specifically resulted in violent bites. Overall, our results suggest a direct prefrontal control over the hypothalamus, which is involved in the modulation of quantitative and qualitative aspects of aggressive behavior through distinct prefrontohypothalamic projections.
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Abstract
Two major types of aggression, proactive and reactive, are associated with contrasting expression, eliciting factors, neural pathways, development, and function. The distinction is useful for understanding the nature and evolution of human aggression. Compared with many primates, humans have a high propensity for proactive aggression, a trait shared with chimpanzees but not bonobos. By contrast, humans have a low propensity for reactive aggression compared with chimpanzees, and in this respect humans are more bonobo-like. The bimodal classification of human aggression helps solve two important puzzles. First, a long-standing debate about the significance of aggression in human nature is misconceived, because both positions are partly correct. The Hobbes-Huxley position rightly recognizes the high potential for proactive violence, while the Rousseau-Kropotkin position correctly notes the low frequency of reactive aggression. Second, the occurrence of two major types of human aggression solves the execution paradox, concerned with the hypothesized effects of capital punishment on self-domestication in the Pleistocene. The puzzle is that the propensity for aggressive behavior was supposedly reduced as a result of being selected against by capital punishment, but capital punishment is itself an aggressive behavior. Since the aggression used by executioners is proactive, the execution paradox is solved to the extent that the aggressive behavior of which victims were accused was frequently reactive, as has been reported. Both types of killing are important in humans, although proactive killing appears to be typically more frequent in war. The biology of proactive aggression is less well known and merits increased attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Wrangham
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
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46
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Abstract
Chicken agonistic behavior, a type of social behavior related to threatening and fighting, is among the most serious problems in the poultry industry. However, due to luck of effective models for investigating the brain mechanisms of the behavior, no effective measures have been taken. This study, therefore, aimed to select the behavioral tests available for monitoring chicken agonistic behavior. Two behavioral tests, resident-intruder (R-I) test and social interaction (SI) test, were performed for 10 minutes in 10 pairs of male layer chicks at 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 days of age, and total agonistic frequencies (TAF: Sum of the frequencies of agonistic displays like pecking, biting, kicking, threatening, and leaping) and latency (the period of time from the beginning of the behavioral test to the occurrence of the first agonistic behavior) were measured as indices of agonistic behavior. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in TAF and latency between aggressors and opponents in both the behavioral tests. In the R-I test, the TAF of aggressors significantly increased from 8 to 20 days of age, and the latency significantly decreased from 8 to 24 days of age. In the SI test, however, the TAF of aggressors significantly increased and the latency significantly decreased only from 16 to 20 days of age. When the criterion of high agonistic behavior was defined as the TAF, where aggressors showed more than 30 times of TAF and the opponents did less than one-third TAF of aggressors, the aggression establishment rate (AER), which is equal to the number of aggressors showing high agonistic behavior per total behavioral trials, was significantly higher in the R-I test than in the SI test. These results suggest that the R-I test, rather than the SI test, is an effective tool for monitoring agonistic behavior of layer chicks.
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Haller J. The role of central and medial amygdala in normal and abnormal aggression: A review of classical approaches. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 85:34-43. [PMID: 28918358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of the amygdala in aggression is supported by overwhelming evidence. Frequently, however, the amygdala is studied as a whole, despite its complex internal organization. To reveal the role of various subdivisions, here we review the involvement of the central and medial amygdala in male rivalry aggression, maternal aggression, predatory aggression, and models of abnormal aggression where violent behavior is associated with increased or decreased arousal. We conclude that: (1) rivalry aggression is controlled by the medial amygdala; (2) predatory aggression is controlled by the central amygdala; (3) hypoarousal-associated violent aggression recruits both nuclei, (4) a specific upregulation of the medial amygdala was observed in hyperarousal-driven aggression. These patterns of amygdala activation were used to build four alternative models of the aggression circuitry, each being specific to particular forms of aggression. The separate study of the roles of amygdala subdivisions may not only improve our understanding of aggressive behavior, but also the differential control of aggression and violent behaviors of various types, including those associated with various psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozsef Haller
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary.
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48
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Studies into abnormal aggression in humans and rodents: Methodological and translational aspects. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 76:77-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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49
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Animal models of excessive aggression: implications for human aggression and violence. Curr Opin Psychol 2017; 19:81-87. [PMID: 29279228 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Escalated interpersonal aggression and violence are common symptoms of multiple psychiatric disorders and represent a significant global health issue. Current therapeutic strategies are limited due to a lack of understanding about the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the 'vicious' shift of normal adaptive aggression into violence, and the environmental triggers that cause it. Development of novel animal models that validly capture the salient features of human violent actions combined with newly emerging technologies for mapping, measuring, and manipulating neuronal activity in the brain significantly advance our understanding of the etiology, neuromolecular mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions of excessive aggressive behaviors in humans.
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50
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de Boer SF, Buwalda B, Koolhaas JM. Untangling the neurobiology of coping styles in rodents: Towards neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in disease susceptibility. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 74:401-422. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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