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Milbocker KA, Smith IF, Klintsova AY. Maintaining a Dynamic Brain: A Review of Empirical Findings Describing the Roles of Exercise, Learning, and Environmental Enrichment in Neuroplasticity from 2017-2023. Brain Plast 2024; 9:75-95. [PMID: 38993580 PMCID: PMC11234674 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-230151] [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] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain plasticity, also termed neuroplasticity, refers to the brain's life-long ability to reorganize itself in response to various changes in the environment, experiences, and learning. The brain is a dynamic organ capable of responding to stimulating or depriving environments, activities, and circumstances from changes in gene expression, release of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, to cellular reorganization and reprogrammed functional connectivity. The rate of neuroplastic alteration varies across the lifespan, creating further challenges for understanding and manipulating these processes to benefit motor control, learning, memory, and neural remodeling after injury. Neuroplasticity-related research spans several decades, and hundreds of reviews have been written and published since its inception. Here we present an overview of the empirical papers published between 2017 and 2023 that address the unique effects of exercise, plasticity-stimulating activities, and the depriving effect of social isolation on brain plasticity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian F. Smith
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, University of Delaware, Newark, USA
| | - Anna Y. Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, University of Delaware, Newark, USA
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Chen Y, Zhou X, Chu B, Xie Q, Liu Z, Luo D, Zhang J. Restraint Stress, Foot Shock and Corticosterone Differentially Alter Autophagy in the Rat Hippocampus, Basolateral Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:492-506. [PMID: 37955816 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04048-x] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved lysosomal degradation process that has recently been found to be associated with stress-related psychological diseases. However, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the effects of various stress patterns on autophagy in different brain regions. This discrepancy may arise from differences in autophagy flux across nuclei, the type of stress experienced, and the timing of autophagy assessment after stress exposure. In this study, we assessed autophagy flux in the rat hippocampus (HPC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and basal lateral amygdala (BLA) by quantifying protein levels of p-ULK1, LC3-I, LC3-II, and p62 via Western blot analysis at 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min following various stress paradigms: restraint stress, foot shock, single corticosterone injection, and chronic corticosterone treatment. We found that: (1) hippocampal autophagy decreased within 1 h of restraint stress, foot shock, and corticosterone injection, except for a transient increase at 30 min after restraint stress; (2) autophagy increased 1 h after restraint stress and corticosterone injection but decreased 1 h after foot shock in mPFC; (3) In BLA, autophagy increased 1 h after foot shock and corticosterone injection but decreased 1 h after restraint stress; (4) Chronic corticosterone increased autophagy in mPFC and BLA but had no effects in HPC. These findings suggest that stress regulates autophagy in a brain region- and stressor-specific manner within 1 h after stress exposure, which may contribute to the development of stress-related psychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Chen
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaotao Zhou
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
- Clinical Research Institute, Nanhua University Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Boling Chu
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qunqun Xie
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenkun Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Luo
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jichuan Zhang
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, # 727 Jinmingnanlu Street, Kunming, 650550, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
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Borsini A, Giacobbe J, Mandal G, Boldrini M. Acute and long-term effects of adolescence stress exposure on rodent adult hippocampal neurogenesis, cognition, and behaviour. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4124-4137. [PMID: 37612364 PMCID: PMC10827658 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02229-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence represents a critical period for brain and behavioural health and characterised by the onset of mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders. In rodents, neurogenesis is very active during adolescence, when is particularly vulnerable to stress. Whether stress-related neurogenesis changes influence adolescence onset of psychiatric symptoms remains largely unknown. A systematic review was conducted on studies investigating changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions, and behaviour, occurring after adolescence stress exposure in mice both acutely (at post-natal days 21-65) and in adulthood. A total of 37 studies were identified in the literature. Seven studies showed reduced hippocampal cell proliferation, and out of those two reported increased depressive-like behaviours, in adolescent rodents exposed to stress. Three studies reported a reduction in the number of new-born neurons, which however were not associated with changes in cognition or behaviour. Sixteen studies showed acutely reduced hippocampal neuroplasticity, including pre- and post-synaptic plasticity markers, dendritic spine length and density, and long-term potentiation after stress exposure. Cognitive impairments and depressive-like behaviours were reported by 11 of the 16 studies. Among studies who looked at adolescence stress exposure effects into adulthood, seven showed that the negative effects of stress observed during adolescence on either cell proliferation or hippocampal neuroplasticity, cognitive deficits and depressive-like behaviour, had variable impact in adulthood. Treating adolescent mice with antidepressants, glutamate receptor inhibitors, glucocorticoid antagonists, or healthy diet enriched in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A, prevented or reversed those detrimental changes. Future research should investigate the translational value of these preclinical findings. Developing novel tools for measuring hippocampal neurogenesis in live humans, would allow assessing neurogenic changes following stress exposure, investigating relationships with psychiatric symptom onset, and identifying effects of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Borsini
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Juliette Giacobbe
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gargi Mandal
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maura Boldrini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Lin L, Zhang J, Dai X, Xiao N, Ye Q, Chen X. A Moderate Duration of Stress Promotes Behavioral Adaptation and Spatial Memory in Young C57BL/6J Mice. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081081. [PMID: 36009144 PMCID: PMC9405600 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081081] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress may serve multiple roles in cerebral functioning, ranging from a highly appropriate behavioral adaptation to a critical risk factor for susceptibility to mood disorder and cognitive impairment. It is well known that E/I (excitation/inhibition) balance is essential for maintaining brain homeostasis. However, it remains largely unknown how GABAergic and Glutamatergic neurons respond to different stressful stimuli and whether the GABAergic-Glutamatergic neuron balance is related to the transition between adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. Here, we subjected 3-month-old mice to chronic mild stress (CMS) for a period of one, two, and four weeks, respectively. The results showed that the two-week CMS procedure produced adaptive effects on behaviors and cognitive performance, with a higher number of GABAergic neuron and VGluT1-positive neurons, increasing the expressions of p-GluN2B, Reelin, and syn-PSD-95 protein in the hippocampus. In contrast, the prolonged behavioral challenge (4 week) imposes a passive coping behavioral strategy and cognitive impairment, decreased the number of GABAergic neuron, hyperactivity of VGluT1-positive neuron, increased the ratio of p-GluN2B, and decreased the expression of Reelin, syn-PSD-95 in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that a moderate duration of stress probably promotes behavioral adaptation and spatial memory by maintaining a GABAergic-Glutamatergic neuron balance and promoting the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanyan Lin
- Department of Geriatrics, Fujian Provincial Hospital, 134 Dongjie Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Xiaoman Dai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Nai’an Xiao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Qinyong Ye
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-591-8333-3995; Fax: +86-591-8337-0393
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Dong Y, Wang X, Zhou Y, Zheng Q, Chen Z, Zhang H, Sun Z, Xu G, Hu G. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis imbalance and inflammation contribute to sex differences in separation- and restraint-induced depression. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104741. [PMID: 32165183 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Whether social contact contributes to the underlying mechanisms of depression and the observed sex differences is unclear. In this study, we subjected young male and female mice to separation- and restraint-induced stress for 4 weeks and assessed behaviors, neurotransmitter levels, hormones, and inflammatory cytokines. Results showed that, compared with controls, male mice exposed to stress displayed significant decreases in body weight and sucrose preference after 1 week. In the fourth week, they exhibited a higher degree of anxiety (open field test) and depressive-like behavior (forced swim test). Moreover, the males showed significant decreases in monoamine neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and dopamine in striatum, and an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in serum. In contrast, females showed persistent loss of weight during stress and displayed significant decreases in sucrose preference after stress. Importantly, the females but not males showed activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, with significantly higher levels adrenocorticotropic hormone. Additionally, mRNA level of c-fos and AVP showed there was significant interaction between stress and sex. Finally, we conclude that an imbalance of the HPA axis and inflammation might be important contributors to sex differences in separation/restraint-induced depressive behavior and that changes might be mediated by c-fos and AVP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfeng Dong
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xuyang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qiaomu Zheng
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhiling Sun
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guihua Xu
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Liu N, Wang Y, An AY, Banker C, Qian YH, O'Donnell JM. Single housing-induced effects on cognitive impairment and depression-like behavior in male and female mice involve neuroplasticity-related signaling. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 52:2694-2704. [PMID: 31471985 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Single-housed stress elicits a range of social isolation-related behavioral and neurobiological abnormalities. To investigate single housing-induced behavioral changes and sex differences on stress outcomes, we examined single-housed stress-induced learning and memory impairment, depression-like behaviors, neuroplasticity abnormalities and underlying mechanism. The results showed that male and female mice socially isolated for 8 weeks had significantly decreased memory acquisition, as demonstrated in the learning curve of the Morris water maze task. Memory consolidation and retrieval were also decreased in both the single-housed male and female mice. These findings were corroborated further by the two classical animal models, Y-maze and novel object recognition tests, as demonstrated by reduced spontaneous alternation and recognition index in both sexes of single-housed mice. Subsequent studies suggested that single-housed male mice exhibited increased immobility time in both the forced swim and tail suspension tests, while the female mice only exhibited increased immobility time in the tail suspension test. Moreover, single-housed stress significantly decreased the apical and basal branch points, dendritic length, and spine density in the CA1 of hippocampal neurons in both male and female mice. These effects were consistent with decreased neuroplasticity and neuroprotective-related molecules such as synaptophysin, PSD95, PKA, pCREB and BDNF expression. These findings suggest that loss of neuronal remodeling and neuroprotective mechanisms due to single housing are involved in behavioral changes in both male and female mice. The results provide further evidence that neuroplasticity-related signaling plays a crucial role in isolation-induced effects on neuropsychiatric behavioral deficits in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Department of Traditional Medical Orthopedics, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Yulu Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.,College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Aerin Y An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Banker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Yi-Hua Qian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - James M O'Donnell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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