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Daviu N, Molina P, Nadal R, Belda X, Serrano S, Armario A. Influence of footshock number and intensity on the behavioral and endocrine response to fear conditioning and cognitive fear generalization in male rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 135:111112. [PMID: 39094926 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111112] [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: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Foot-shock paradigms have provided valuable insights into the neurobiology of stress and fear conditioning. An extensive body of literature indicates that shock exposure can elicit both conditioned and unconditioned effects, although delineating between the two is a challenging task. This distinction holds crucial implications not only for the theoretical interpretation of fear conditioning, but also for properly evaluating putative preclinical models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involving shock exposure. The characteristics of shocks (intensity and number) affect the strength of learning, but how these characteristics interact to influence conditioned and unconditioned consequences of shocks are poorly known. In this study, we aimed to investigate in adult male rats the impact of varying shock number and intensity on the endocrine and behavioral response to contextual fear conditioning and fear generalization to a novel environment markedly distinct from the shock context (i.e., fear generalization). Classical biological markers of stress (i.e., ACTH, corticosterone, and prolactin) were sensitive to manipulations of shock parameters, whereas these parameters had a limited effect on contextual fear conditioning (evaluated by freezing and distance traveled). In contrast, behavior in different novel contexts (fear generalization) was specifically sensitive to shock intensity. Notably, altered behavior in novel contexts markedly improved, but not completely normalized after fear extinction, hypoactivity apparently being the result of both conditioned and unconditioned effects of foot-shock exposure. The present results will contribute to a better understanding of shock exposure as a putative animal model of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Daviu
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Molina
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Deparment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Serrano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
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2
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Soares LA, Nascimento LMM, Guimarães FS, Gazarini L, Bertoglio LJ. Dual-step pharmacological intervention for traumatic-like memories: implications from D-cycloserine and cannabidiol or clonidine in male and female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1827-1840. [PMID: 38691149 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06596-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Therapeutic approaches to mitigating traumatic memories have often faced resistance. Exploring safe reconsolidation blockers, drugs capable of reducing the emotional valence of the memory upon brief retrieval and reactivation, emerges as a promising pharmacological strategy. Towards this objective, preclinical investigations should focus on aversive memories resulting in maladaptive outcomes and consider sex-related differences to enhance their translatability. OBJECTIVES After selecting a relatively high training magnitude leading to the formation of a more intense and generalized fear memory in adult female and male rats, we investigated whether two clinically approved drugs disrupting its reconsolidation remain effective. RESULTS We found resistant reconsolidation impairment by the α2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine or cannabidiol, a major non-psychotomimetic Cannabis sativa component. However, pre-retrieval administration of D-cycloserine, a partial agonist at the glycine-binding site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, facilitated their impairing effects on reconsolidation. A similar reconsolidation blockade by clonidine or cannabidiol was achieved following exposure to a non-conditioned but generalized context after D-cycloserine administration. This suggests that sufficient memory destabilization can accompany generalized fear expression. Combining clonidine with cannabidiol without potentiating memory destabilization by D-cycloserine was ineffective. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of NMDA receptor signaling in memory destabilization and underscore the efficacy of a dual-step pharmacological intervention in attenuating traumatic-like memories, even in a context different from the original learning environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciane A Soares
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Laura M M Nascimento
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas Gazarini
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS, Brazil.
- Depto. de Farmacologia, CCB, UFSC, Campus Universitário S/N, Florianópolis, SC, 88049-900, Brazil.
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3
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Dong X, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li Y. Fear generalization modulated by shock intensity and protein synthesis inhibitor. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06662-1. [PMID: 39105767 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06662-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Maladaptive fear responses, including sensitized threat reactions and overgeneralization, contribute to anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although stress intensity influences the generation and extent of these maladaptive fears, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVES The present study examined whether varying footshock stress intensity and inhibition of protein synthesis have differential effect on fear sensitization and generalization in mice. METHODS Mice were subjected to a classic fear conditioning protocol involving five different levels of footshock intensities. Prior to fear acquisition, the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) was administered intraperitoneally. Fear sensitization to white noise and fear generalization to tones with frequencies differing from the conditioned tone were assessed at either 2 or 4 days after fear acquisition. RESULTS The results showed that, although varying shock intensities (except the lowest) led to a similar pattern of increased freezing during auditory cues in fear acquisition, the extent of both fear sensitization and generalization increased with the intensity of the footshock in the following days. As shock intensities increased, there was a proportional rise in sensitized fear to white noise and generalized freezing to tones with frequencies progressively closer to the conditioned stimulus. Mildest shocks did not induce discriminative conditioned fear memory, whereas the most intense shocks led to pronounced fear generalization. Administration of CHX before fear acquisition did not affect sensitized fear but reduced generalization of freezing to tones dissimilar from the conditioned stimulus in the group exposed to the most intense shock. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that maladaptive fear responses elicited by varying stress intensities exhibit distinct characteristics. The effect of CHX to prevent overgeneralization without affecting discriminative fear memory points to potential therapeutic approaches for fear-related disorders, suggesting the possibility of mitigating overgeneralization while preserving necessary fear discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Dong
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yunyun Wang
- Department of Neuroendocrine Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yudan Liu
- Department of Neuroendocrine Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yonghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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4
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Sherman BE, Turk-Browne NB, Goldfarb EV. Multiple Memory Subsystems: Reconsidering Memory in the Mind and Brain. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2024; 19:103-125. [PMID: 37390333 PMCID: PMC10756937 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231179146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The multiple-memory-systems framework-that distinct types of memory are supported by distinct brain systems-has guided learning and memory research for decades. However, recent work challenges the one-to-one mapping between brain structures and memory types central to this taxonomy, with key memory-related structures supporting multiple functions across substructures. Here we integrate cross-species findings in the hippocampus, striatum, and amygdala to propose an updated framework of multiple memory subsystems (MMSS). We provide evidence for two organizational principles of the MMSS theory: First, opposing memory representations are colocated in the same brain structures; second, parallel memory representations are supported by distinct structures. We discuss why this burgeoning framework has the potential to provide a useful revision of classic theories of long-term memory, what evidence is needed to further validate the framework, and how this novel perspective on memory organization may guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth V Goldfarb
- Department of Psychology, Yale University
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University
- National Center for PTSD, West Haven, USA
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Rojas-Carvajal M, Leandro R, Brenes JC. Distinct acute stressors exert an antagonistic effect on complex grooming during novelty habituation in rats. Behav Processes 2023; 212:104931. [PMID: 37598764 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104931] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Grooming is a common readout in multiple rat models of neuropsychiatric diseases. It is usually associated with distress and negative emotionality, but also with emotional de-arousal after stress. These seemingly conflicting interpretations may result from specific grooming sequences appearing at different arousal levels and during distinct phases of the stress response. To further explore this hypothesis, we analyzed how distinct stressors affect grooming syntaxis and kinetics. To that end, we explored the independent and interacting effects of foot shocks, corticosterone (CORT), and novelty on exploratory activity, grooming, and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in an open-field test (OF). Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected either with vehicle or CORT, placed in a chamber where half of them were foot-shocked and then assessed in the OF. The next day, animals were re-exposed to the shock chamber and then tested in the OF without receiving any treatment. On day 1, foot shocks and -to a less extent CORT- increased freezing and inhibited rearing in the chamber, but only foot shocks increased distress USVs. In the OF, both treatments suppressed complex grooming, with foot-shocks also inhibiting exploration and CORT marginally reducing rearing. On day 2, foot-shocked rats showed conditioned fear when re-exposed to the chamber. When tested in the OF, foot-shocked and CORT-treated animals still showed low levels of complex grooming, with the former group also showing increased distress USVs. In this study, all different stressors inhibited complex grooming, suggesting an inverse association between these grooming subtypes and negative emotionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mijail Rojas-Carvajal
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica; Institute for Psychological Research, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Rita Leandro
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica; Institute for Psychological Research, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Juan C Brenes
- Neuroscience Research Center, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica; Institute for Psychological Research, University of Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
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Beaver JN, Weber BL, Ford MT, Anello AE, Ruffin KM, Kassis SK, Gilman TL. Generalization of contextual fear is sex-specifically affected by high salt intake. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286221. [PMID: 37440571 PMCID: PMC10343085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A hallmark symptom of many anxiety disorders, and multiple neuropsychiatric disorders more broadly, is generalization of fearful responses to non-fearful stimuli. Anxiety disorders are often comorbid with cardiovascular diseases. One established, and modifiable, risk factor for cardiovascular diseases is salt intake. Yet, investigations into how excess salt consumption affects anxiety-relevant behaviors remains little explored. Moreover, no studies have yet assessed how high salt intake influences generalization of fear. Here, we used adult C57BL/6J mice of both sexes to evaluate the influence of two or six weeks of high salt consumption (4.0% NaCl), compared to controls (0.4% NaCl), on contextual fear acquisition, expression, and generalization. Further, we measured osmotic and physiological stress by quantifying serum osmolality and corticosterone levels, respectively. Consuming excess salt did not influence contextual fear acquisition nor discrimination between the context used for training and a novel, neutral context when training occurred 48 prior to testing. However, when a four week delay between training and testing was employed to induce natural fear generalization processes, we found that high salt intake selectively increases contextual fear generalization in females, but the same diet reduces contextual fear generalization in males. These sex-specific effects were independent of any changes in serum osmolality nor corticosterone levels, suggesting the behavioral shifts are a consequence of more subtle, neurophysiologic changes. This is the first evidence of salt consumption influencing contextual fear generalization, and adds information about sex-specific effects of salt that are largely missing from current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin N. Beaver
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Brady L. Weber
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Matthew T. Ford
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Anna E. Anello
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kaden M. Ruffin
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sarah K. Kassis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
| | - T. Lee Gilman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
- Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
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7
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On making (and turning adaptive to) maladaptive aversive memories in laboratory rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105101. [PMID: 36804263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and avoidance tasks usually elicit adaptive aversive memories. Traumatic memories are more intense, generalized, inflexible, and resistant to attenuation via extinction- and reconsolidation-based strategies. Inducing and assessing these dysfunctional, maladaptive features in the laboratory are crucial to interrogating posttraumatic stress disorder's neurobiology and exploring innovative treatments. Here we analyze over 350 studies addressing this question in adult rats and mice. There is a growing interest in modeling several qualitative and quantitative memory changes by exposing already stressed animals to freezing- and avoidance-related tests or using a relatively high aversive training magnitude. Other options combine aversive/fearful tasks with post-acquisition or post-retrieval administration of one or more drugs provoking neurochemical or epigenetic alterations reported in the trauma aftermath. It is potentially instructive to integrate these procedures and incorporate the measurement of autonomic and endocrine parameters. Factors to consider when defining the organismic and procedural variables, partially neglected aspects (sex-dependent differences and recent vs. remote data comparison) and suggestions for future research (identifying reliable individual risk and treatment-response predictors) are discussed.
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Iglesias LP, Fernandes HB, de Miranda AS, Perez MM, Faccioli LH, Sorgi CA, Bertoglio LJ, Aguiar DC, Wotjak CT, Moreira FA. TRPV1 modulation of contextual fear memory depends on stimulus intensity and endocannabinoid signalling in the dorsal hippocampus. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109314. [PMID: 36336070 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channels have been implicated in the modulation of aversive responses. The endocannabinoid anandamide acts as an endogenous TRPV1 agonist, exerting opposite functions at TRPV1 and type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R). Here we tested the hypothesis that hippocampal TRPV1 modulates contextual fear memory retrieval and investigated the influence of the aversive stimulus intensity as well as the role of endocannabinoid signaling. Male C57BL/6J mice were tested for contextual fear memory after low-, moderate-, or high-intensity shock protocols. The selective TRPV1 blockers SB366791 (1-10 nmol) and 6-I-NC (2 nmol) were infused via intra-dorsal hippocampus before the retrieval test session. The local levels of endocannabinoids and Arc and Zif268 mRNAs, involved in synaptic plasticity and memory, were quantified. First, both TRPV1 blockers reduced memory retrieval in animals exposed to moderate or high (but not low) intensity training protocols. In the second series of results, the magnitude of the freezing responses positively correlated with the hippocampal anandamide levels; TRPV1 and CB1R were found co-localized in this brain region; and the CB1R antagonist, AM251, prevented the effects of SB366791. Thus, endocannabinoid signaling possibly mediates the effects of TRPV1 blockers. Finally, inhibition of memory retrieval by TRPV1 blockers increased Arc and Zif268 mRNAs and impaired fear memory reinstatement. In conclusion, the modulation of fear memories by dorsal hippocampal TRPV1 channels may depend on the aversive stimulus intensity and occur via anandamide/CB1 signaling. Moreover, TRPV1 blockers promote Arc and Zif268 transcription, with subsequent attenuation of aversive memory reinstatement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia P Iglesias
- Graduate School in Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Heliana B Fernandes
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Aline S de Miranda
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Malena M Perez
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucia H Faccioli
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Sorgi
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Daniele C Aguiar
- Graduate School in Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Central Nervous System Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach Riß, Germany
| | - Fabrício A Moreira
- Graduate School in Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Wheelan N, Seckl JR, Yau JLW. 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 deficiency prevents PTSD-like memory in young adult mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105945. [PMID: 36183622 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the co-existence of a persistent strong memory of the traumatic experience and amnesia for the peritraumatic context. Most animal models, however, fail to account for the contextual amnesia which is considered to play a critical role in the etiology of PTSD intrusive memories. It is also unclear how aging affects PTSD-like memory. Glucocorticoids alter the formation and retention of fear-associated memory. Here, we investigated whether a deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) (an intracellular glucocorticoid generating enzyme) and aging modulates fear conditioning and PTSD-like memory in mice. We first measured memory in 6 months and 24 months old 11β-HSD1 deficient (HSD1 KO) and wildtype (WT) mice following paired tone-shock fear conditioning. Then, separate groups of mice were exposed to restraint stress immediately after unpaired tone-shock contextual fear conditioning. Compared with young controls, aged WT mice exhibited enhanced auditory cued fear memory, but contextual fear memory was not different. Contextual fear memory retention was attenuated in both young and aged HSD1 KO mice. In contrast, auditory cued fear memory was reduced 24 h after training only in aged HSD1 KO mice. When fear conditioned with stress, WT mice displayed PTSD-like memory (i.e., increased fear to tone not predictive of shock and reduced fear to 'aversive' conditioning context); this was unchanged with aging. In contrast, young HSD1 KO mice fear conditioned with stress showed normal fear memory (i.e., increased fear response to conditioning context), as observed in WT mice fear conditioned alone. While aged HSD1 KO mice fear conditioned with stress also displayed normal contextual fear memory, the fear response to the 'safe' tone remained. Thus, a deficiency of 11β-HSD1 protects against both amnesia for the conditioning context and hypermnesia for a salient tone in young adult mice but only contextual amnesia is prevented in aged mice. These results suggest that brain 11β-HSD1 generated glucocorticoids make a significant contribution to fear conditioning and PTSD-like memory. 11β-HSD1 inhibition may be useful in prevention and/or treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Wheelan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Seckl
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Joyce L W Yau
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Matisz CE, Patel M, Hong NS, McDonald RJ, Gruber AJ. Chronic gut inflammation impairs contextual control of fear. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20586. [PMID: 36446873 PMCID: PMC9709066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24901-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory diseases are highly comorbid with anxiety in humans. The extent to which chronic inflammation is responsible for this relationship remains to be determined. We therefore tested the hypothesis that prolonged, but not brief, gut inflammation is sufficient to evoke anxiety-related behaviours in mice. We used the discriminative fear to context conditioning paradigm to assess fear generalization, which is a prominent feature of anxiety disorders. Gut inflammation was induced by exposure to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in the drinking water, a well-established rodent model of ulcerative colitis evoking prolonged inflammation. Neither acute (1 × 5 day cycle) nor chronic (3 × 5 day cycles) exposure to DSS affected fear responses when tested shortly after conditioning. Mice in all groups generated more fear responses (freezing) in a chamber previously paired with mild shock, as compared to a chamber with no pairing. This suggests DSS exposure had no effect on acquisition or expression of conditioned fear. Acute and control animals showed this same contextual control of freezing when tested 9 days later. In contrast, at this remote time point, the chronically treated animals exhibited increased freezing in the unpaired chamber such that freezing was equivalent in both contexts. These animals, however, showed intact preference for the unpaired chamber when allowed to freely move between chambers. These data suggest that some mnemonic process engaged after training, such as memory consolidation, is affected by past chronic inflammation so as to generalize negative associations and engage fearful responding in inappropriate contexts, despite intact knowledge that the chambers have different affective associations sufficient for place preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. E. Matisz
- grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
| | - M. Patel
- grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
| | - N. S. Hong
- grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
| | - R. J. McDonald
- grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
| | - A. J. Gruber
- grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
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Van Assche IA, Padilla MS, Stupart OSRP, Milton AL. Refinement of the stress-enhanced fear learning model of post-traumatic stress disorder: a behavioral and molecular analysis. Lab Anim (NY) 2022; 51:293-300. [PMID: 36266512 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-022-01054-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition for which current treatments have long-term efficacy in 50% of patients. There is a clear need for better understanding of the mechanisms underlying PTSD and the development of new treatment approaches. Analog trauma procedures in animals, such as the stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) procedure, can be used to produce behavioral and neurobiological changes that have validity in modeling PTSD. However, by necessity, the modeling of PTSD in animals requires them to potentially experience pain and suffering. Consistent with the '3Rs' (reduction, refinement and replacement) of animal research, this study aimed to determine whether the SEFL procedure can be refined to reduce potential animal pain and suffering while retaining the same behavioral and neurobiological changes. Here we showed that PTSD-relevant changes could be produced in both behavior and the brain of rats that were group- rather than single-housed and that received lower-magnitude electric shocks in the 'trauma analog' session. We also varied the number of shock exposures in the trauma analog session, finding SEFL-susceptible and SEFL-resilient populations at all levels of shock exposure, but with greater levels of shock increasing the proportion of rats showing the SEFL-susceptible phenotype. These data demonstrate that the SEFL procedure can be used as an animal analog of PTSD with reduced potential pain and suffering to the animals and that variations in the procedure could be used to generate specific proportions of SEFL-susceptible and SEFL-resilient animals in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra A Van Assche
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK.,Biomedical Sciences Group: Woman and Child, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mc Stephen Padilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Amy L Milton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK.
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Pedraza LK, Sierra RO, de Oliveira Alvares L. Systems consolidation and fear memory generalisation as a potential target for trauma-related disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:653-665. [PMID: 35001808 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2027010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory generalisation is a central hallmark in the broad range of anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Recent findings suggest that fear generalisation is closely related to hippocampal dependency during retrieval. In this review, we describe the current understanding about memory generalisation and its potential influence in fear attenuation through pharmacological and behavioural interventions. In light of systems consolidation framework, we propose that keeping memory precision could be a key step to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizeth K Pedraza
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rodrigo O Sierra
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lucas de Oliveira Alvares
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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13
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dos Santos Corrêa M, Grisanti GDV, Franciscatto IAF, Tarumoto TSA, Tiba PA, Ferreira TL, Fornari RV. Remote contextual fear retrieval engages activity from salience network regions in rats. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 18:100459. [PMID: 35601686 PMCID: PMC9118522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to retrieve contextual fear memories depends on the coordinated activation of a brain-wide circuitry. Transition from recent to remote memories seems to involve the reorganization of this circuitry, a process called systems consolidation that has been associated with time-dependent fear generalization. However, it is unknown whether emotional memories acquired under different stress levels can undergo different systems consolidation processes. Here, we explored the activation pattern and functional connectivity of key brain regions associated with contextual fear conditioning (CFC) retrieval after recent (2 days) or remote (28 days) memory tests performed in rats submitted to strong (1.0 mA footshock) or mild (0.3 mA footshock) training. We used brain tissue from Wistar rats from a previous study, where we observed that increasing training intensity promotes fear memory generalization over time, possibly due to an increase in corticosterone (CORT) levels during memory consolidation. Analysis of Fos expression across 8 regions of interest (ROIs) allowed us to identify coactivation between them at both timepoints following memory recall. Our results showed that strong CFC elicits higher Fos activation in the anterior insular and prelimbic cortices during remote retrieval, which was positively correlated with freezing along with the basolateral amygdala. Rats trained either with mild or strong CFC showed broad functional connectivity at the recent timepoint whereas only animals submitted to the strong CFC showed a widespread loss of coactivation during remote retrieval. Post-training plasma CORT levels are positively correlated with FOS expression during recent retrieval in strong CFC, but negatively correlated with FOS expression during remote retrieval in mild CFC. Our findings suggest that increasing training intensity results in differential processes of systems consolidation, possibly associated with increased post-training CORT release, and that strong CFC engages activity from the aIC, BLA and PrL - areas associated with the Salience Network in rats - during remote retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés dos Santos Corrêa
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriel David Vieira Grisanti
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiana Suemi Anglas Tarumoto
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula Ayako Tiba
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Lima Ferreira
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raquel Vecchio Fornari
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
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14
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Schwabe L, Hermans EJ, Joëls M, Roozendaal B. Mechanisms of memory under stress. Neuron 2022; 110:1450-1467. [PMID: 35316661 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that stress has a major impact on memory, driven by the concerted action of various stress mediators on the brain. Recent years, however, have seen considerable advances in our understanding of the cellular, neural network, and cognitive mechanisms through which stress alters memory. These novel insights highlight the intricate interplay of multiple stress mediators, including-beyond corticosteroids, catecholamines, and peptides-for instance, endocannabinoids, which results in time-dependent shifts in large-scale neural networks. Such stress-induced network shifts enable highly specific memories of the stressful experience in the long run at the cost of transient impairments in mnemonic flexibility during and shortly after a stressful event. Based on these recent discoveries, we provide a new integrative framework that links the cellular, systems, and cognitive mechanisms underlying acute stress effects on memory processes and points to potential targets for treating aberrant memory in stress-related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Schwabe
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Erno J Hermans
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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15
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Przybyl KJ, Jenz ST, Lim PH, Ji MT, Wert SL, Luo W, Gacek SA, Schaack AK, Redei EE. Genetic stress-reactivity, sex, and conditioning intensity affect stress-enhanced fear learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 185:107523. [PMID: 34562618 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning (SEFL) model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reveals increased fear memory in animals exposed to stress prior to contextual fear conditioning (CFC), similar to the increased likelihood of developing PTSD in humans after prior stress. The present study utilized the SEFL model by exposing animals to restraint stress as the first stressor, followed by CFC using foot-shocks with 0.6 mA or 0.8 mA intensity. Adult males and females from the two nearly isogenic rat strains, the genetically more stress-reactive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) More Immobile (WMI), and the less stress-reactive WKY Less Immobile (WLI) were employed. Percent time spent freezing at acquisition and at recall differed between these strains in both prior stress and no stress conditions. The significant correlations between percent freezing at acquisition and at recall suggest that fear memory differences represent a true phenotype related to the stress-reactivity differences between the strains. This assumption is further substantiated by the lack of effect of either conditioning intensity on percent freezing in WLI males, while WMI males were affected by both intensities albeit with opposite directional changes after prior stress. Differences between the sexes in sensitivity to the two conditioning intensities became apparent by the opposite directional and inverse relationship between fear memory and the intensity of conditioning in WMI males and females. The present data also illustrate that although corticosterone (CORT) responses to prior stress are known to be necessary for SEFL, plasma CORT and percent freezing were positively correlated only in the stress less-reactive WLI strain. These differences in baseline fear acquisition, fear memory, and the percent freezing responses to the SEFL paradigm in the two genetically close inbred WMI and WLI strains provide a unique opportunity to study the genetic contribution to the variation in these phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Przybyl
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - S T Jenz
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - P H Lim
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - M T Ji
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - S L Wert
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - W Luo
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - S A Gacek
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - A K Schaack
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - E E Redei
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
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16
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Gazarini L, Stern CA, Takahashi RN, Bertoglio LJ. Interactions of Noradrenergic, Glucocorticoid and Endocannabinoid Systems Intensify and Generalize Fear Memory Traces. Neuroscience 2021; 497:118-133. [PMID: 34560200 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Systemic administration of drugs that activate the noradrenergic or glucocorticoid system potentiates aversive memory consolidation and reconsolidation. The opposite happens with the stimulation of endocannabinoid signaling under certain conditions. An unbalance of these interacting neurotransmitters can lead to the formation and maintenance of traumatic memories, whose strength and specificity attributes are often maladaptive. Here we aimed to investigate whether originally low-intensity and precise contextual fear memories would turn similar to traumatic ones in rats systemically administered with adrenaline, corticosterone, and/or the cannabinoid type-1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 during consolidation or reconsolidation. The high dose of each pharmacological agent evaluated significantly increased freezing times at test in the conditioning context one and nine days later when given alone post-acquisition or post-retrieval. Their respective low dose produced no relative changes when given separately, but co-treatment of adrenaline with corticosterone or AM251 and the three drugs combined, but not corticosterone with AM251, produced results equivalent to those mentioned initially. Neither the high nor the low dose of adrenaline, corticosterone, or AM251 altered freezing times at test in a novel, neutral context two and ten days later. In contrast, animals receiving the association of their low dose exhibited significantly higher freezing times than controls. Together, the results indicate that newly acquired and destabilized threat memory traces become more intense and generalized after a combined interference acting synergistically and mimicking that reported in patients presenting stress-related psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gazarini
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS, Brazil.
| | - Cristina A Stern
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo N Takahashi
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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17
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Subramaniyan M, Manivannan S, Chelur V, Tsetsenis T, Jiang E, Dani JA. Fear conditioning potentiates the hippocampal CA1 commissural pathway in vivo and increases awake phase sleep. Hippocampus 2021; 31:1154-1175. [PMID: 34418215 PMCID: PMC9290090 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus is essential for spatial learning and memory. To assess learning we used contextual fear conditioning (cFC), where animals learn to associate a place with aversive events like foot‐shocks. Candidate memory mechanisms for cFC are long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD), but there is little direct evidence of them operating in the hippocampus in vivo following cFC. Also, little is known about the behavioral state changes induced by cFC. To address these issues, we recorded local field potentials in freely behaving mice by stimulating in the left dorsal CA1 region and recording in the right dorsal CA1 region. Synaptic strength in the commissural pathway was monitored by measuring field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) before and after cFC. After cFC, the commissural pathway's synaptic strength was potentiated. Although recordings occurred during the wake phase of the light/dark cycle, the mice slept more in the post‐conditioning period than in the pre‐conditioning period. Relative to awake periods, in non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep the fEPSPs were larger in both pre‐ and post‐conditioning periods. We also found a significant negative correlation between the animal's speed and fEPSP size. Therefore, to avoid confounds in the fEFSP potentiation estimates, we controlled for speed‐related and sleep‐related fEPSP changes and still found that cFC induced long‐term potentiation, but no significant long‐term depression. Synaptic strength changes were not found in the control group that simply explored the fear‐conditioning chamber, indicating that exploration of the novel place did not produce the measurable effects caused by cFC. These results show that following cFC, the CA1 commissural pathway is potentiated, likely contributing to the functional integration of the left and right hippocampi in fear memory consolidation. In addition, the cFC paradigm produces significant changes in an animal's behavioral state, which are observable as proximal changes in sleep patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manivannan Subramaniyan
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sumithrra Manivannan
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vikas Chelur
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Theodoros Tsetsenis
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evan Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John A Dani
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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18
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Dos Santos Corrêa M, Vaz BDS, Menezes BS, Ferreira TL, Tiba PA, Fornari RV. Corticosterone differentially modulates time-dependent fear generalization following mild or moderate fear conditioning training in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 184:107487. [PMID: 34242811 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Stressful and emotionally arousing experiences create strong memories that seem to lose specificity over time. It is uncertain, however, how the stress system contributes to the phenomenon of time-dependent fear generalization. Here, we investigated whether post-training corticosterone (CORT-HBC) injections, given after different training intensities, affect contextual fear memory specificity at several time points. We trained male Wistar rats on the contextual fear conditioning (CFC) task using two footshock intensities (mild CFC, 3 footshocks of 0.3 mA, or moderate CFC, 3x 0.6 mA) and immediately after the training session we administered CORT-HBC systemically. We first tested the animals in a novel context and then in the training context at different intervals following training (2, 14, 28 or 42 days). By measuring freezing in the novel context and then contrasting freezing times shown in both contexts, we inferred contextual fear generalization for each rat, classifying them into Generalizers or Discriminators. Following mild CFC training, the glucocorticoid injection promoted an accurate contextual memory at the recent time point (2 days), and increase the contextual memory accuracy 28 days after training. In contrast, after the moderate CFC training, CORT-HBC facilitated contextual generalization at 14 days, compared to the control group that maintained contextual discrimination at this timepoint. For this training intensity, however, CORT-HBC did not have any effect on recent memory specificity. These findings indicate that treatment with CORT-HBC immediately after the encoding of mild or moderately arousing experiences may differentially modulate memory consolidation and time-dependent fear generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Dos Santos Corrêa
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Barbara Dos Santos Vaz
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Beatriz Scazufca Menezes
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Tatiana Lima Ferreira
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Paula Ayako Tiba
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Raquel Vecchio Fornari
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
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19
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de Paiva JPQ, Bueno APA, Dos Santos Corrêa M, Oliveira MGM, Ferreira TL, Fornari RV. The posterior insular cortex is necessary for the consolidation of tone fear conditioning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 179:107402. [PMID: 33581316 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The insular cortex (IC) is notably implicated in emotional and cognitive processing; however, little is known regarding to what extent its two main subregions play functionally distinct roles on memory consolidation of conditioned fear tasks. Here we verified the effects of temporary functional inactivation of the anterior (aIC) and posterior IC (pIC) on contextual and tone fear memory. Rats received post-training bilateral infusions of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol into either the aIC or pIC and were tested 48 and 72 h after the delay tone fear conditioning session to assess the background contextual (CFC) and tone (TFC) fear conditioning, respectively. Inactivation of the aIC during memory consolidation did not affect fear memory for CFC or TFC. On the other hand, post-training inactivation of the pIC impaired TFC but not CFC. Our findings indicate that the pIC is a necessary part of the neural circuitry related to the consolidation of cued-fear memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joselisa Peres Queiroz de Paiva
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil; Imaging Research Center, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A P A Bueno
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - M Dos Santos Corrêa
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - M G M Oliveira
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - T L Ferreira
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - R V Fornari
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition (CMCC), Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
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20
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Norepinephrine and glucocorticoid effects on the brain mechanisms underlying memory accuracy and generalization. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 108:103537. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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21
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Roozendaal B, Mirone G. Opposite effects of noradrenergic and glucocorticoid activation on accuracy of an episodic-like memory. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 114:104588. [PMID: 32085987 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Stressful and emotionally arousing experiences activate hormonal systems that create strong memories. It remains unclear, however, how this strengthening affects the quality of such memories. In the present study, we examined whether the noradrenergic and glucocorticoid hormonal systems affect accuracy of episodic-like memory. We trained male Sprague-Dawley rats on an episodic-like association task, termed inhibitory avoidance discrimination task, in which they explored two different contexts, but shock was given only in the latter context. Forty-eight hours later, retention latencies were tested in the two training contexts as well as in a novel context. The noradrenergic stimulant yohimbine, administered systemically immediately after the training session, enhanced both accuracy and strength of the memory, as shown by long latencies specific to the shock context. By contrast, the glucocorticoid corticosterone induced a generalized strengthening of memory and enhanced latencies in both the shock and non-shock training contexts. Retention latencies in the novel context were not significantly affected. These findings indicate that the noradrenergic and glucocorticoid systems, while both strengthening memory of the shock experience per se, produce opposite effects on accuracy of the shock-context association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud university medical center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Gabriele Mirone
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud university medical center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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22
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Ponce-Lina R, Serafín N, Carranza M, Arámburo C, Prado-Alcalá RA, Luna M, Quirarte GL. Differential Phosphorylation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Hippocampal Subregions Induced by Contextual Fear Conditioning Training. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:12. [PMID: 32116592 PMCID: PMC7031480 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aversive events induce the release of glucocorticoid stress hormones that facilitate long-term memory consolidation, an effect that depends on the activation of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). GRs are distributed widely in the hippocampus. The dorsal region of the hippocampus has been related to cognitive functions and the ventral region to stress and emotion. GR acts as a transcription factor which after hormone binding becomes phosphorylated, affecting its cellular distribution and transcriptional activity. Two functionally well-described GR phosphorylation sites are serine 232 (pSer232), which enhances gene expression, and serine 246 (pSer246), having the opposite effect. Since gene expression is one of the plastic mechanisms needed for memory consolidation, we investigated if an aversive learning task would induce GR phosphorylation in the dorsal (DH) and the ventral (VH) hippocampus. We trained rats in contextual fear conditioning (CFC) using different foot-shock intensities (0.0, 0.5, or 1.5 mA). One subgroup of animals trained with each intensity was sacrificed 15 min after training and blood was collected to quantify corticosterone (CORT) levels in serum. Another subgroup was sacrificed 1 h after training and brains were collected to evaluate the immunoreactivity (IR) to GR, pSer232 and pSer246 by SDS-PAGE/Western blot in DH and VH, and by immunohistochemistry in dorsal and ventral CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) hippocampal regions. The conditioned freezing response increased in animals trained with 0.5 and 1.5 mA during training and extinction sessions. The degree of retention and CORT levels were directly related to the intensity of the foot-shock. Although total GR-IR remained unaffected after conditioning, we observed a significant increase of pSer246-IR in the dorsal region of CA1 and in both dorsal and ventral DG. The only region in which pSer232-IR was significantly elevated was ventral CA3. Our results indicate that fear conditioning training is related to GR phosphorylation in specific subregions of the hippocampus, suggesting that its transcriptional activity for gene expression is favored in ventral CA3, whereas its repressor activity for gene-silencing is increased in dorsal CA1 and in both dorsal and ventral DG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Ponce-Lina
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Norma Serafín
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Martha Carranza
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Carlos Arámburo
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Roberto A Prado-Alcalá
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Maricela Luna
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Gina L Quirarte
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
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