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Láng T, Dimén D, Oláh S, Puska G, Dobolyi A. Medial preoptic circuits governing instinctive social behaviors. iScience 2024; 27:110296. [PMID: 39055958 PMCID: PMC11269931 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110296] [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] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The medial preoptic area (MPOA) has long been implicated in maternal and male sexual behavior. Modern neuroscience methods have begun to reveal the cellular networks responsible, while also implicating the MPOA in other social behaviors, affiliative social touch, and aggression. The social interactions rely on input from conspecifics whose most important modalities in rodents are olfaction and somatosensation. These inputs bypass the cerebral cortex to reach the MPOA to influence the social function. Hormonal inputs also directly act on MPOA neurons. In turn, the MPOA controls social responses via various projections for reward and motor output. The MPOA thus emerges as one of the major brain centers for instinctive social behavior. While key elements of MPOA circuits have been identified, a synthesis of these new data is now provided for further studies to reveal the mechanisms by which the area controls social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Láng
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Diána Dimén
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Addiction and Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Szilvia Oláh
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gina Puska
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpád Dobolyi
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Puska G, Szendi V, Dobolyi A. Lateral septum as a possible regulatory center of maternal behaviors. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105683. [PMID: 38649125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105683] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The lateral septum (LS) is involved in controlling anxiety, aggression, feeding, and other motivated behaviors. Lesion studies have also implicated the LS in various forms of caring behaviors. Recently, novel experimental tools have provided a more detailed insight into the function of the LS, including the specific role of distinct cell types and their neuronal connections in behavioral regulations, in which the LS participates. This article discusses the regulation of different types of maternal behavioral alterations using the distributions of established maternal hormones such as prolactin, estrogens, and the neuropeptide oxytocin. It also considers the distribution of neurons activated in mothers in response to pups and other maternal activities, as well as gene expressional alterations in the maternal LS. Finally, this paper proposes further research directions to keep up with the rapidly developing knowledge on maternal behavioral control in other maternal brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Puska
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vivien Szendi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpád Dobolyi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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3
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Tóth A, Keserű D, Pethő M, Détári L, Bencsik N, Dobolyi Á, Hajnik T. Sleep and local field potential effect of the D2 receptor agonist bromocriptine during the estrus cycle and postpartum period in female rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 239:173754. [PMID: 38537873 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173754] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary lactotrophs are under tonic dopaminergic inhibitory control and bromocriptine treatment blocks prolactin secretion. METHODS Sleep and local field potential were addressed for 72 h after bromocriptine treatments applied during the different stages of the estrus cycle and for 24 h in the early- and middle postpartum period characterized by spontaneously different dynamics of prolactin release in female rats. RESULTS Sleep changes showed strong dependency on the estrus cycle phase of the drug application. Strongest increase of wakefulness and reduction of slow wave sleep- and rapid eye movements sleep appeared during diestrus-proestrus and middle postpartum treatments. Stronger sleep-wake effects appeared in the dark phase in case of the estrus cycle treatments, but in the light phase in postpartum treatments. Slow wave sleep and REM sleep loss in case of estrus cycle treatments was not compensated at all and sleep loss seen in the first day post-injection was gained further later. In opposition, slow wave sleep loss in the light phase after bromocriptine injections showed compensation in the postpartum period treatments. Bromocriptine treatments resulted in a depression of local field potential delta power during slow wave sleep while an enhancement in beta and gamma power during wakefulness regardless of the treatment timing. CONCLUSIONS These results can be explained by the interplay of dopamine D2 receptor agonism, lack of prolactin release and the spontaneous homeostatic sleep drive being altered in the different stages of the estrus cycle and the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Tóth
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary.
| | - Dóra Keserű
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Máté Pethő
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - László Détári
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Norbert Bencsik
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Árpád Dobolyi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Tünde Hajnik
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
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Arakawa H, Tokashiki M, Higuchi Y, Konno T. Adolescent social isolation disrupts developmental tuning of neuropeptide circuits in the hypothalamus to amygdala regulating social and defensive behavior. Peptides 2024; 175:171178. [PMID: 38368908 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Engaging in positive social (i.e., prosocial) interactions during adolescence acts to modulate neural circuits that determine adult adaptive behavior. While accumulating evidence indicates that a strong craving for prosocial behavior contributes to sustaining neural development, the consequences of social deprivation during adolescence on social neural circuits, including those involving oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP), are poorly characterized. We evaluated adaptive behaviors in socially isolated mice, including anxiety-like, social, and defensive behaviors, along with OXT and AVP neural profiles in relevant brain regions. Social isolation from postnatal day (P-)22 to P-48 induced enhanced defensive and exploratory behaviors, in nonsocial and social contexts. Unlike OXT neurons, AVP+ cell density in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus increases with age in males. Social isolation also modulated gene expression in the medial amygdala (MeA), including the upregulation of OXT receptors in males and the downregulation of AVP1a receptors in both sexes. Socially isolated mice showed an enhanced defensive, anogenital approach toward a novel adult female during direct social interactions. Subsequent c-Fos mapping revealed diminished neural activity in restricted brain areas, including the MeA, lateral septum, and posterior intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus, in socially isolated mice. These data indicate that neural signals arising from daily social interactions invoke region-specific modification of neuropeptide expression that coordinates with altered defensiveness and neural responsivities, including OXT- and AVP-projecting regions. The present findings indicate an involvement of OXT and AVP circuits in adolescent neural and behavioral plasticity that is tuned by daily social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, MI, USA.
| | - Mana Tokashiki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Higuchi
- Department of Systems Physiology, University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Konno
- Department of Subtropical Agro-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan; The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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5
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Cai HR, Chen SQ, Xiang XJ, Zhang XQ, Ma RZ, Zhu G, Ding SL. Comparison of the connectivity of the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus and peripeduncular nucleus in rats and mice. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1384621. [PMID: 38736977 PMCID: PMC11082296 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1384621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) and peripeduncular nucleus (PP) are two adjoining structures located medioventral to the medial geniculate nucleus. The PIL-PP region plays important roles in auditory fear conditioning and in social, maternal and sexual behaviors. Previous studies often lumped the PIL and PP into single entity, and therefore it is not known if they have common and/or different brain-wide connections. In this study, we investigate brain-wide efferent and afferent projections of the PIL and PP using reliable anterograde and retrograde tracing methods. Both PIL and PP project strongly to lateral, medial and anterior basomedial amygdaloid nuclei, posteroventral striatum (putamen and external globus pallidus), amygdalostriatal transition area, zona incerta, superior and inferior colliculi, and the ectorhinal cortex. However, the PP rather than the PIL send stronger projections to the hypothalamic regions such as preoptic area/nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, and ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus. As for the afferent projections, both PIL and PP receive multimodal information from auditory (inferior colliculus, superior olivary nucleus, nucleus of lateral lemniscus, and association auditory cortex), visual (superior colliculus and ectorhinal cortex), somatosensory (gracile and cuneate nuclei), motor (external globus pallidus), and limbic (central amygdaloid nucleus, hypothalamus, and insular cortex) structures. However, the PP rather than PIL receives strong projections from the visual related structures parabigeminal nucleus and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Additional results from Cre-dependent viral tracing in mice have also confirmed the main results in rats. Together, the findings in this study would provide new insights into the neural circuits and functional correlation of the PIL and PP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ru Cai
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Qiang Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Qin Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Run-Zhe Ma
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ge Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Song-Lin Ding
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
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Li H, Jiang T, An S, Xu M, Gou L, Ren B, Shi X, Wang X, Yan J, Yuan J, Xu X, Wu QF, Luo Q, Gong H, Bian WJ, Li A, Yu X. Single-neuron projectomes of mouse paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus oxytocin neurons reveal mutually exclusive projection patterns. Neuron 2024; 112:1081-1099.e7. [PMID: 38290516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.022] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) plays important roles in autonomic control and behavioral modulation. However, it is unknown how the projection patterns of OXT neurons align with underlying physiological functions. Here, we present the reconstructed single-neuron, whole-brain projectomes of 264 OXT neurons of the mouse paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) at submicron resolution. These neurons hierarchically clustered into two groups, with distinct morphological and transcriptional characteristics and mutually exclusive projection patterns. Cluster 1 (177 neurons) axons terminated exclusively in the median eminence (ME) and have few collaterals terminating within hypothalamic regions. By contrast, cluster 2 (87 neurons) sent wide-spread axons to multiple brain regions, but excluding ME. Dendritic arbors of OXT neurons also extended outside of the PVH, suggesting capability to sense signals and modulate target regions. These single-neuron resolution observations reveal distinct OXT subpopulations, provide comprehensive analysis of their morphology, and lay the structural foundation for better understanding the functional heterogeneity of OXT neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humingzhu Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and Peking University McGovern Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sile An
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mingrui Xu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lingfeng Gou
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Biyu Ren
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaoxue Shi
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China; Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Feng Wu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qingming Luo
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China; Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Gong
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China; Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Wen-Jie Bian
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310024, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| | - Anan Li
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China; Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Xiang Yu
- Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and Peking University McGovern Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China.
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Ford CL, McDonough AA, Horie K, Young LJ. Melanocortin agonism in a social context selectively activates nucleus accumbens in an oxytocin-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology 2024; 247:109848. [PMID: 38253222 PMCID: PMC10923148 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109848] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Social deficits are debilitating features of many psychiatric disorders, including autism. While time-intensive behavioral therapy is moderately effective, there are no pharmacological interventions for social deficits in autism. Many studies have attempted to treat social deficits using the neuropeptide oxytocin for its powerful neuromodulatory abilities and influence on social behaviors and cognition. However, clinical trials utilizing supplementation paradigms in which exogenous oxytocin is chronically administered independent of context have failed. An alternative treatment paradigm suggests pharmacologically activating the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy to enhance the efficacy of therapy by facilitating social learning. To this end, melanocortin receptor agonists like Melanotan II (MTII), which induces central oxytocin release and accelerates formation of partner preference, a form of social learning, in prairie voles, are promising pharmacological tools. To model pharmacological activation of the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy, we administered MTII prior to social interactions between male and female voles. We assessed its effect on oxytocin-dependent activity in brain regions subserving social learning using Fos expression as a proxy for neuronal activation. In non-social contexts, MTII only activated hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, a primary site of oxytocin synthesis. However, during social interactions, MTII selectively increased oxytocin-dependent activation of nucleus accumbens, a site critical for social learning. These results suggest a mechanism for the MTII-induced acceleration of partner preference formation observed in previous studies. Moreover, they are consistent with the hypothesis that pharmacologically activating the endogenous oxytocin system with a melanocortin agonist during behavioral therapy has potential to facilitate social learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles L Ford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Anna A McDonough
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Kengo Horie
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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8
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Haaf R, Brandi ML, Albantakis L, Lahnakoski JM, Henco L, Schilbach L. Peripheral oxytocin levels are linked to hypothalamic gray matter volume in autistic adults: a cross-sectional secondary data analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1380. [PMID: 38228703 PMCID: PMC10791615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50770-5] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is known to modulate social behavior and cognition and has been discussed as pathophysiological and therapeutic factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An accumulating body of evidence indicates the hypothalamus to be of particular importance with regard to the underlying neurobiology. Here we used a region of interest voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to investigate hypothalamic gray matter volume (GMV) in autistic (n = 29, age 36.03 ± 11.0) and non-autistic adults (n = 27, age 30.96 ± 11.2). Peripheral plasma OXT levels and the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) were used for correlation analyses. Results showed no differences in hypothalamic GMV in autistic compared to non-autistic adults but suggested a differential association between hypothalamic GMV and OXT levels, such that a positive association was found for the ASD group. In addition, hypothalamic GMV showed a positive association with autistic traits in the ASD group. Bearing in mind the limitations such as a relatively small sample size, a wide age range and a high rate of psychopharmacological treatment in the ASD sample, these results provide new preliminary evidence for a potentially important role of the HTH in ASD and its relationship to the OXT system, but also point towards the importance of interindividual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Haaf
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
- Graduate School, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marie-Luise Brandi
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Albantakis
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Outpatient and Day Clinic for Disorders of Social Interaction, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Juha M Lahnakoski
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lara Henco
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Leonhard Schilbach
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Outpatient and Day Clinic for Disorders of Social Interaction, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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9
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Leithead AB, Godino A, Barbier M, Harony-Nicolas H. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:112-122. [PMID: 37245781 PMCID: PMC10676449 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.016] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus (PIL) is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. METHODS We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real time during social and nonsocial interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. RESULTS We observed significantly more c-fos-positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to a social stimulus versus an object stimulus or no stimulus. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity was positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time that it took for female mice to form social habituation. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Beth Leithead
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Arthur Godino
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Marie Barbier
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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10
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Wagner S, Maroun M. A Better PIL to Swallow: A Thalamic Node in the Social Brain Network. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:97-99. [PMID: 38092468 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mouna Maroun
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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11
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Hidema S, Sato K, Mizukami H, Takahashi Y, Maejima Y, Shimomura K, Nishimori K. Oxytocin Receptor-Expressing Neurons in the Medial Preoptic Area Are Essential for Lactation, whereas Those in the Lateral Septum Are Not Critical for Maternal Behavior. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 114:517-537. [PMID: 38071956 PMCID: PMC11151981 DOI: 10.1159/000535362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In nurturing systems, the oxytocin (Oxt)-oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) system is important for parturition, and essential for lactation and parental behavior. Among the nerve nuclei that express Oxtr, the lateral septal nucleus (LS) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) are representative regions that control maternal behavior. METHODS We investigated the role of Oxtr- and Oxtr-expressing neurons, located in the LS and MPOA, in regulating maternal behavior by regulating Oxtr expression in a region-specific manner using recombinant mice and adeno-associated viruses. We quantified the prolactin (Prl) concentrations in the pituitary gland and plasma when Oxtr expression in the MPOA was reduced. RESULTS The endogenous Oxtr gene in the neurons of the LS did not seem to play an essential role in maternal behavior. Conversely, decreased Oxtr expression in the MPOA increased the frequency of pups being left outside the nest and reduced their survival rate. Deletion of Oxtr in MPOA neurons prevented elevation of Prl levels in plasma and pituitary at postpartum day 2. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Oxtr-expressing neurons in the MPOA are involved in the postpartum production of Prl. We confirmed the essential functions of Oxtr-expressing neurons and the Oxtr gene itself in the MPOA for the sustainability of maternal behavior, which involved Oxtr-dependent induction of Prl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizu Hidema
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keisuke Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Yumi Takahashi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuko Maejima
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kenju Shimomura
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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12
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Valtcheva S, Issa HA, Bair-Marshall CJ, Martin KA, Jung K, Zhang Y, Kwon HB, Froemke RC. Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries. Nature 2023; 621:788-795. [PMID: 37730989 PMCID: PMC10639004 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06540-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is important for maternal physiology and childcare, including parturition and milk ejection during nursing1-6. Suckling triggers the release of oxytocin, but other sensory cues-specifically, infant cries-can increase the levels of oxytocin in new human mothers7, which indicates that cries can activate hypothalamic oxytocin neurons. Here we describe a neural circuit that routes auditory information about infant vocalizations to mouse oxytocin neurons. We performed in vivo electrophysiological recordings and photometry from identified oxytocin neurons in awake maternal mice that were presented with pup calls. We found that oxytocin neurons responded to pup vocalizations, but not to pure tones, through input from the posterior intralaminar thalamus, and that repetitive thalamic stimulation induced lasting disinhibition of oxytocin neurons. This circuit gates central oxytocin release and maternal behaviour in response to calls, providing a mechanism for the integration of sensory cues from the offspring in maternal endocrine networks to ensure modulation of brain state for efficient parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Valtcheva
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Habon A Issa
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chloe J Bair-Marshall
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen A Martin
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kanghoon Jung
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yiyao Zhang
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyung-Bae Kwon
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Wilson KM, Arquilla AM, Saltzman W. The parental umwelt: Effects of parenthood on sensory processing in rodents. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13237. [PMID: 36792373 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13237] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
An animal's umwelt, comprising its perception of the sensory environment, which is inherently subjective, can change across the lifespan in accordance with major life events. In mammals, the onset of motherhood, in particular, is associated with a neural and sensory plasticity that alters a mother's detection and use of sensory information such as infant-related sensory stimuli. Although the literature surrounding mammalian mothers is well established, very few studies have addressed the effects of parenthood on sensory plasticity in mammalian fathers. In this review, we summarize the major findings on the effects of parenthood on behavioural and neural responses to sensory stimuli from pups in rodent mothers, with a focus on the olfactory, auditory, and somatosensory systems, as well as multisensory integration. We also review the available literature on sensory plasticity in rodent fathers. Finally, we discuss the importance of sensory plasticity for effective parental care, hormonal modulation of plasticity, and an exploration of temporal, ecological, and life-history considerations of sensory plasticity associated with parenthood. The changes in processing and/or perception of sensory stimuli associated with the onset of parental care may have both transient and long-lasting effects on parental behaviour and cognition in both mothers and fathers; as such, several promising areas of study, such as on the molecular/genetic, neurochemical, and experiential underpinnings of parenthood-related sensory plasticity, as well as determinants of interspecific variation, remain potential avenues for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerianne M Wilson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - April M Arquilla
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Saltzman
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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14
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Lim KY, Hong W. Neural mechanisms of comforting: Prosocial touch and stress buffering. Horm Behav 2023; 153:105391. [PMID: 37301130 PMCID: PMC10853048 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Comforting is a crucial form of prosocial behavior that is important for maintaining social unity and improving the physical and emotional well-being of social species. It is often expressed through affiliative social touch toward someone in distress, providing relief for their distressed state. In the face of increasing global distress, these actions are paramount to the continued improvement of individual welfare and the collective good. Understanding the neural mechanisms responsible for promoting actions focused on benefitting others is particularly important and timely. Here, we review prosocial comforting behavior, emphasizing synthesizing recent studies carried out using rodent models. We discuss its underlying behavioral expression and motivations, and then explore both the neurobiology of prosocial comforting in a helper animal and the neurobiology of stress relief following social touch in a recipient as part of a feedback loop interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Y Lim
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Weizhe Hong
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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15
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A B L, A G, M B, H HN. Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538114. [PMID: 37163009 PMCID: PMC10168253 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Background The posterior intralaminar (PIL) complex of the thalamus is a multimodal nucleus that has been implicated in maternal behaviors and conspecific social behaviors in male and female rodents. Glutamatergic neurons are a major component of the PIL; however, their specific activity and role during social interactions has not yet been assessed. Methods We used immunohistochemistry for the immediate early gene c-fos as a proxy for neuronal activity in the PIL of mice exposed to a novel social stimulus, a novel object stimulus, or no stimulus. We then used fiber photometry to record neural activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL in real-time during social and non-social interactions. Finally, we used inhibitory DREADDs in glutamatergic PIL neurons and tested social preference and social habituation-dishabituation. Results We observed significantly more c-fos -positive cells in the PIL of mice exposed to social versus object or no stimuli. Neural activity of PIL glutamatergic neurons was increased when male and female mice were engaged in social interaction with a same-sex juvenile or opposite-sex adult, but not a toy mouse. Neural activity positively correlated with social investigation bout length and negatively correlated with chronological order of bouts. Social preference was unaffected by inhibition; however, inhibiting activity of glutamatergic neurons in the PIL delayed the time it took female mice to form social habituation. Conclusions Together these findings suggest that glutamatergic PIL neurons respond to social stimuli in both male and female mice and may regulate perceptual encoding of social information to facilitate recognition of social stimuli.
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16
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Lima SQ. Social behavior: Closing the gap for close encounters. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1279-R1281. [PMID: 36413973 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social touch can launch a cascade of emotions with enormous impact on the development and maintenance of emotional, cognitive and social functioning. A recent study identifies a novel pathway that facilitates physical contact via its direct impact on brain circuits controlling social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Q Lima
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. de Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
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17
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A thalamo-preoptic pathway promotes social grooming in rodents. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4593-4606.e8. [PMID: 36113471 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Social touch is an essential component of communication. Little is known about the underlying pathways and mechanisms. Here, we discovered a novel neuronal pathway from the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) to the medial preoptic area (MPOA) involved in the control of social grooming. We found that the neurons in the PIL and MPOA were naturally activated by physical contact between female rats and also by the chemogenetic stimulation of PIL neurons. The activity-dependent tagging of PIL neurons was performed in rats experiencing physical social contact. The chemogenetic activation of these neurons increased social grooming between familiar rats, as did the selective activation of the PIL-MPOA pathway. Neurons projecting from the PIL to the MPOA express the neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2), and the central infusion of its receptor antagonist diminished social grooming. Finally, we showed a similarity in the anatomical organization of the PIL and the distribution of the PTH2 receptor in the MPOA between the rat and human brain. We propose that the discovered neuronal pathway facilitates physical contact with conspecifics.
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18
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Rigney N, de Vries GJ, Petrulis A, Young LJ. Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior: From Neural Circuits to Clinical Opportunities. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6648172. [PMID: 35863332 PMCID: PMC9337272 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and vasopressin are peptide hormones secreted from the pituitary that are well known for their peripheral endocrine effects on childbirth/nursing and blood pressure/urine concentration, respectively. However, both peptides are also released in the brain, where they modulate several aspects of social behaviors. Oxytocin promotes maternal nurturing and bonding, enhances social reward, and increases the salience of social stimuli. Vasopressin modulates social communication, social investigation, territorial behavior, and aggression, predominantly in males. Both peptides facilitate social memory and pair bonding behaviors in monogamous species. Here we review the latest research delineating the neural circuitry of the brain oxytocin and vasopressin systems and summarize recent investigations into the circuit-based mechanisms modulating social behaviors. We highlight research using modern molecular genetic technologies to map, monitor activity of, or manipulate neuropeptide circuits. Species diversity in oxytocin and vasopressin effects on social behaviors are also discussed. We conclude with a discussion of the translational implications of oxytocin and vasopressin for improving social functioning in disorders with social impairments, such as autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Rigney
- Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA
| | - Geert J de Vries
- Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA
| | - Aras Petrulis
- Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Correspondence: Larry J. Young, PhD, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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19
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Anneser L, Gemmer A, Eilers T, Alcantara IC, Loos AY, Ryu S, Schuman EM. The neuropeptide Pth2 modulates social behavior and anxiety in zebrafish. iScience 2022; 25:103868. [PMID: 35243231 PMCID: PMC8861652 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavior is context-dependent and often modulated by an animal's internal state. In particular, different social contexts can alter anxiety levels and modulate social behavior. The vertebrate-specific neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (pth2) is regulated by the presence of conspecifics in zebrafish. As its cognate receptor, the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (pth2r), is widely expressed across the brain, we tested fish lacking the functional Pth2 peptide in several anxiety-related and social behavior paradigms. Here, we show that the propensity to react to sudden stimuli with an escape response was increased in pth2 -/- zebrafish, consistent with an elevated anxiety level. While overall social preference for conspecifics was maintained in pth2 -/- fish until the early juvenile stage, we found that both social preference and shoaling were altered later in development. The data presented suggest that the neuropeptide Pth2 modulates several conserved behaviors and may thus enable the animal to react appropriately in different social contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Anneser
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Anja Gemmer
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Tim Eilers
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Ivan C. Alcantara
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Anett-Yvonn Loos
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute & College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Erin M. Schuman
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
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20
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Cherepanov SM, Gerasimenko M, Yuhi T, Shabalova A, Zhu H, Yokoyama S, Salmina AB, Munesue SI, Harashima A, Yamamoto Y, Higashida H. An improved sample extraction method reveals that plasma receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) modulates circulating free oxytocin in mice. Peptides 2021; 146:170649. [PMID: 34543678 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) binds oxytocin (OT) and transports it from the blood to the brain. As RAGE's OT-binding capacity was lost in RAGE knockout (KO) mice, we predicted that circulating concentrations of unbound (free) OT should be elevated compared to wild-type (WT) mice. However, this hypothesis has not yet been investigated. Unfortunately, the evaluation of the dynamics of circulating free and bound plasma OT is unclear in immunoassays, in part because of interference from plasma proteins. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) is considered the gold standard method for overcoming this issue, but is more challenging to implement; thus, commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are more commonly used. Here, we developed a pre-treatment method to remove the interference-causing components from plasma before performing ELISA. The acetonitrile protein precipitation (PPT) approach was reliable, with fewer steps needed to measure free OT concentrations than by solid-phase extraction of plasma samples. PPT-extracted plasma samples yielded higher concentrations of OT in RAGE KO mice than in WT mice using ELISA. After peripheral OT injection, free OT plasma levels spiked immediately then rapidly declined in WT mice, but remained high in KO mice. These results suggest that plasma samples with PPT pre-treatment appear to be superior and that circulating soluble RAGE can most likely serve as a buffer for plasma OT, which indicates a novel physiological function of RAGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav M Cherepanov
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Maria Gerasimenko
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Teruko Yuhi
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Anna Shabalova
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Alla B Salmina
- Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, and Department of Biochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasentsky, Krasnoyarsk, 660022, Russia
| | - Shei-Ichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
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21
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Wei F, Li W, Ma B, Deng X, Zhang L, Zhao L, Zheng T, Jing Y. Experiences affect social behaviors via altering neuronal morphology and oxytocin system. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 129:105247. [PMID: 33940517 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Life experiences, such as maternal deprivation (MD) and environment enrichment (EE), affect social behaviors in the adult. But, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we determined whether neonatal MD induces social deficits, whether postweaning EE restores the deficits, and their effects on neuron morphology and oxytocin (OT)-oxytocin receptor (OTR) system. We found that MD induced repetitive behavior and deficits in novel object recognition and sociability, and EE alleviated these deficits. MD decreased oxytocinergic neurons in the magnocellular hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (mPVH), which was parallel to the increased OTR levels and dendritic branches of projection neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). EE increased the OTR levels in the prelimbic cortex (PL) and the oxytocinergic neurons in the parvocellular PVH (vPVH), which were parallel to the increased dendritic branches of small pyramidal neurons in the PL and synaptic connections marked with synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 in the BLA and PL. Together, the results suggest that postweaning EE alleviates the social impairments induced by neonatal MD and OT-OTR system are experience-dependent and associated with social behaviors and neuron morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmei Wei
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China; Department of Physiology and Psychology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Wenhao Li
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Bo Ma
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Xiao Deng
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Lang Zhang
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Tingjuan Zheng
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China
| | - Yuhong Jing
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730000, PR China.
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22
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Lefevre A, Benusiglio D, Tang Y, Krabichler Q, Charlet A, Grinevich V. Oxytocinergic Feedback Circuitries: An Anatomical Basis for Neuromodulation of Social Behaviors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:688234. [PMID: 34194303 PMCID: PMC8236528 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.688234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide produced by hypothalamic neurons and is known to modulate social behavior among other functions. Several experiments have shown that OT modulates neuronal activity in many brain areas, including sensory cortices. OT neurons thus project axons to various cortical and subcortical structures and activate neuronal subpopulations to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, and in turn, increases the saliency of social stimuli. Less is known about the origin of inputs to OT neurons, but recent studies show that cells projecting to OT neurons are often located in regions where the OT receptor (OTR) is expressed. Thus, we propose the existence of reciprocal connectivity between OT neurons and extrahypothalamic OTR neurons to tune OT neuron activity depending on the behavioral context. Furthermore, the latest studies have shown that OTR-expressing neurons located in social brain regions also project to other social brain regions containing OTR-expressing neurons. We hypothesize that OTR-expressing neurons across the brain constitute a common network coordinated by OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Lefevre
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Diego Benusiglio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, Monterotondo, Italy
- Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Yan Tang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Quirin Krabichler
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and University of Strasbourg, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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23
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Abstract
Oxytocin regulates parturition, lactation, parental nurturing, and many other social behaviors in both sexes. The circuit mechanisms by which oxytocin modulates social behavior are receiving increasing attention. Here, we review recent studies on oxytocin modulation of neural circuit function and social behavior, largely enabled by new methods of monitoring and manipulating oxytocin or oxytocin receptor neurons in vivo. These studies indicate that oxytocin can enhance the salience of social stimuli and increase signal-to-noise ratios by modulating spiking and synaptic plasticity in the context of circuits and networks. We highlight oxytocin effects on social behavior in nontraditional organisms such as prairie voles and discuss opportunities to enhance the utility of these organisms for studying circuit-level modulation of social behaviors. We then discuss recent insights into oxytocin neuron activity during social interactions. We conclude by discussing some of the major questions and opportunities in the field ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute, Neuroscience Institute, and Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; .,Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.,Center for Social Neural Networks, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
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24
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Gerasimenko M, Lopatina O, Munesue S, Harashima A, Yokoyama S, Yamamoto Y, Higashida H. Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) plays a critical role in retrieval behavior of mother mice at early postpartum. Physiol Behav 2021; 235:113395. [PMID: 33757778 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a pattern recognition molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, and it plays a role in the remodeling of endothelial cells under pathological conditions. Recently, it was shown that RAGE is a binding protein for oxytocin (OT) and a transporter of OT to the brain on neurovascular endothelial cells via blood circulation. Deletion of the mouse RAGE gene, Ager (RAGE KO), induces hyperactivity in male mice. Impairment of pup care by mother RAGE KO mice after stress exposure results in the death of neonates 1-2 days after pup birth. Therefore, to understand the role of RAGE during the postpartum period, this study aims to examine parental behavior in female RAGE KO mice and ultrasonic vocalizations in pups. RAGE KO mothers without stress before delivery raised their pups and displayed hyperactivity at postpartum day (PPD) 3. KO dams showed impaired retrieval or interaction behavior after additional stress, such as body restraint stress or exposure to a novel environment, but such impaired behavior disappeared at PPD 7. Postnatal day 3 pups emitted ultrasonic vocalizations at >60 kHz as a part of the mother-pup relationship, but the number and category of calls by RAGE KO pups were significantly lower than wild-type pups. The results indicate that RAGE is important in the manifestation of normal parental behavior in dams and for receiving maternal care by mouse pups; moreover, brain OT recruited by RAGE plays a role in damping of signals of additional external stress and endogenous stress during the early postpartum period. Thus, RAGE-dependent OT may be critical for initiating and maintaining the normal mother-child relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gerasimenko
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.
| | - Olga Lopatina
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, and Department of Biochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasentsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russian Federation
| | - Seiichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, and Department of Biochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V. F. Voino-Yasentsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russian Federation.
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25
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Anneser L, Alcantara IC, Gemmer A, Mirkes K, Ryu S, Schuman EM. The neuropeptide Pth2 dynamically senses others via mechanosensation. Nature 2020; 588:653-657. [PMID: 33268890 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2988-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Species that depend on membership in social groups for survival exhibit changes in neuronal gene expression and behaviour when they face restricted social interactions or isolation1-3. Here we show that, across the lifespan of zebrafish (Danio rerio), social isolation specifically decreased the level of transcription of pth2, the gene that encodes the vertebrate-specific neuropeptide Pth2. However, 30 minutes of exposure to conspecifics was sufficient to initiate a significant rescue of pth2 transcript levels in previously isolated zebrafish. Transcription of pth2 exhibited bidirectional dynamics; following the acute isolation of socially reared fish, a rapid reduction in the levels of pth2 was observed. The expression of pth2 tracked not only the presence of other fish but also the density of the group. The sensory modality that controls the expression of pth2 was neither visual nor chemosensory in origin but instead was mechanical, induced by the movements of neighbouring fish. Chemical ablation of the mechanosensitive neuromast cells within the lateral line of fish prevented the rescue of pth2 levels that was induced by the social environment. In addition, mechanical perturbation of the water at frequencies similar to the movements of the zebrafish tail was sufficient to rescue the levels of pth2 in previously isolated fish. These data indicate a previously underappreciated role for the relatively unexplored neuropeptide Pth2 in both tracking and responding to the population density of the social environment of an animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Anneser
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ivan C Alcantara
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.,Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Anja Gemmer
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Soojin Ryu
- Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.,Living Systems Institute, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Erin M Schuman
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.
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26
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Zhang Y, Liu W, Lebowitz ER, Zhang F, Hu Y, Liu Z, Yang H, Wu J, Wang Y, Silverman WK, Yang Z, Cheng W. Abnormal asymmetry of thalamic volume moderates stress from parents and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder. Neuropharmacology 2020; 180:108301. [PMID: 32910952 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) usually onsets in childhood or adolescence and is associated with brain development and chronic family stress during this period. As an information hub, the thalamus plays a crucial role in the development of emotion processing and stress regulation. Its structural and functional lateralization have been related to mental disorders. This study examined the age-dependent asymmetry of the thalamic volume in children and adolescents with SAD. We further examined the role of the thalamic asymmetry in moderating the relationships between parental alienation, which is a main source of familial stress for children and adolescents, and anxiety symptoms in this population. Fifty-three medication-free children and adolescents with SAD and 53 typical developing controls (age: 8-17) were included. Anxiety severity was measured using the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). We estimated the bilateral thalamic volume and examined diagnosis effect and age-group difference on the thalamic asymmetry. We further examined the moderation of the thalamic asymmetry on the associations between scores on the parental alienation, social phobia, and total SCARED. Compared with controls, the SAD group exhibited significantly abnormal asymmetry in thalamic volume. This asymmetry became more evident in the older age group. Furthermore, this asymmetry significantly weakened the relationships between parental attachment and total SCARED score. The asymmetry of the thalamic volume and its age-group difference provide novel evidence to support brain developmental abnormalities in children and adolescents with SAD. The findings further revealed interactions between physiological and chronic stress in children and adolescents with SAD. This article is part of the special issue on 'Stress, Addiction and Plasticity'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Psychological Health and Imaging, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Laboratory of Psychological Health and Imaging, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanshu Yang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunyi Wang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Zhi Yang
- Laboratory of Psychological Health and Imaging, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenhong Cheng
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Psychological Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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27
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Dobolyi A, Oláh S, Keller D, Kumari R, Fazekas EA, Csikós V, Renner É, Cservenák M. Secretion and Function of Pituitary Prolactin in Evolutionary Perspective. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:621. [PMID: 32612510 PMCID: PMC7308720 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamo-pituitary system developed in early vertebrates. Prolactin is an ancient vertebrate hormone released from the pituitary that exerts particularly diverse functions. The purpose of the review is to take a comparative approach in the description of prolactin, its secretion from pituitary lactotrophs, and hormonal functions. Since the reproductive and osmoregulatory roles of prolactin are best established in a variety of species, these functions are the primary subjects of discussion. Different types of prolactin and prolactin receptors developed during vertebrate evolution, which will be described in this review. The signal transduction of prolactin receptors is well conserved among vertebrates enabling us to describe the whole subphylum. Then, the review focuses on the regulation of prolactin release in mammals as we have the most knowledge on this class of vertebrates. Prolactin secretion in response to different reproductive stimuli, such as estrogen-induced release, mating, pregnancy and suckling is detailed. Reproduction in birds is different from that in mammals in several aspects. Prolactin is released during incubation in avian species whose regulation and functional significance are discussed. Little information is available on prolactin in reptiles and amphibians; therefore, they are mentioned only in specific cases to explain certain evolutionary aspects. In turn, the osmoregulatory function of prolactin is well established in fish. The different types of pituitary prolactin in fish play particularly important roles in the adaptation of eutherian species to fresh water environments. To achieve this function, prolactin is released from lactotrophs in hyposmolarity, as they are directly osmosensitive in fish. In turn, the released prolactin acts on branchial epithelia, especially ionocytes of the gill to retain salt and excrete water. This review will highlight the points where comparative data give new ideas or suggest new approaches for investigation in other taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpád Dobolyi
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Oláh
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Keller
- Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rashmi Kumari
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Emese A. Fazekas
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vivien Csikós
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Renner
- Human Brain Tissue Bank and Microdissection Laboratory, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Melinda Cservenák
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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28
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Tóth A, Pethő M, Keserű D, Simon D, Hajnik T, Détári L, Dobolyi Á. Complete sleep and local field potential analysis regarding estrus cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and post-weaning periods and homeostatic sleep regulation in female rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8546. [PMID: 32444809 PMCID: PMC7244504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64881-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep and local field potential (LFP) characteristics were addressed during the reproductive cycle in female rats using long-term (60-70 days) recordings. Changes in homeostatic sleep regulation was tested by sleep deprivation (SDep). The effect of mother-pup separation on sleep was also investigated during the postpartum (PP) period. First half of the pregnancy and early PP period showed increased wakefulness (W) and higher arousal indicated by elevated beta and gamma activity. Slow wave sleep (SWS) recovery was suppressed while REM sleep replacement was complete after SDep in the PP period. Pup separation decreased maternal W during early-, but increased during middle PP while did not affect during late PP. More W, less SWS, higher light phase beta activity but lower gamma activity was seen during the post-weaning estrus cycle compared to the virgin one. Maternal sleep can be governed by the fetuses/pups needs and their presence, which elevate W of mothers. Complete REM sleep- and incomplete SWS replacement after SDep in the PP period may reflect the necessity of maternal REM sleep for the offspring while SWS increase may compete with W essential for maternal care. Maternal experience may cause sleep and LFP changes in the post-weaning estrus cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Tóth
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Máté Pethő
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Keserű
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorina Simon
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tünde Hajnik
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Détári
- In vivo Electrophysiology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Árpád Dobolyi
- MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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29
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Abstract
Love is one of our most powerful emotions, inspiring some of the greatest art, literature and conquests of human history. Although aspects of love are surely unique to our species, human romantic relationships are displays of a mating system characterized by pair bonding, likely built on ancient foundational neural mechanisms governing individual recognition, social reward, territorial behaviour and maternal nurturing. Studies in monogamous prairie voles and mice have revealed precise neural mechanisms regulating processes essential for the pair bond. Here, we discuss current viewpoints on the biology underlying pair bond formation, its maintenance and associated behaviours from neural and evolutionary perspectives.
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30
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Tanaka K, Osako Y, Takahashi K, Hidaka C, Tomita K, Yuri K. Effects of post-weaning social isolation on social behaviors and oxytocinergic activity in male and female rats. Heliyon 2019; 5:e01646. [PMID: 31193027 PMCID: PMC6513811 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01646] [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: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Post-weaning social deprivation is known to induce behavioral and neuronal alterations associated with anxiety and stress responses in adulthood. However, the effects of social deprivation on the development of sociability are poorly understood. We examined the effects of social deprivation on subsequent social behaviors and oxytocinergic activity using socially-isolated (approximately two months post-weaning) male and female rats. Main methods The behaviors were analyzed using a social preference test and a social approach test. Immunohistochemical investigations were conducted in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) to examine the effects of social isolation on oxytocinergic activity in these regions. Oxytocinergic activity was measured by quantifying the number of oxytocin neurons expressing Fos following exposure to a novel conspecific. In all of the experiments of this study, ovariectomized females were used for social stimuli. Key findings The behavioral results show that isolation-reared females, but not males, displayed impaired social preference and decreased social approach towards ovariectomized females, compared with the pair-reared group, suggesting low priority of processing social versus non-social stimuli and low motivation for contact with a stranger, respectively. The immunohistochemical results show that social isolation decreased both the number and the ratio of Fos-positive cells in oxytocin neurons in the PVN in females, but not in males, following exposure to ovariectomized females. In the SON, the Fos-positive ratio was decreased in isolation-reared females, but not in males, compared with the pair-reared group. Significance Post-weaning social isolation changed social behaviors and oxytocinergic activity in female rats, suggesting that in female rats post-weaning social experiences contribute to the development of sociability. These findings could impact the treatment of social dysfunction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenjiro Tanaka
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Yoji Osako
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Kou Takahashi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Chiharu Hidaka
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Koichi Tomita
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yuri
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
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31
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Proteomic Analysis of the Maternal Preoptic Area in Rats. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:2314-2324. [PMID: 30847857 PMCID: PMC6776485 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02755-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The behavior of female rats changes profoundly as they become mothers. The brain region that plays a central role in this regulation is the preoptic area, and lesions in this area eliminates maternal behaviors in rodents. The molecular background of the behavioral changes has not been established yet; therefore, in the present study, we applied proteomics to compare protein level changes associated with maternal care in the rat preoptic area. Using 2-dimensional fluorescence gel electrophoresis followed by identification of altered spots with mass spectrometry, 12 proteins were found to be significantly increased, and 6 proteins showed a significantly reduced level in mothers. These results show some similarities with a previous proteomics study of the maternal medial prefrontal cortex and genomics approaches applied to the preoptic area. Gene ontological analysis suggested that most altered proteins are involved in glucose metabolism and neuroplasticity. These proteins may support the maintenance of increased neuronal activity in the preoptic area, and morphological changes in preoptic neuronal circuits are known to take place in mothers. An increase in the level of alpha-crystallin B chain (Cryab) was confirmed by Western blotting. This small heat shock protein may also contribute to maintaining the increased activity of preoptic neurons by stabilizing protein structures. Common regulator and target analysis of the altered proteins suggested a role of prolactin in the molecular changes in the preoptic area. These results first identified the protein level changes in the maternal preoptic area. The altered proteins contribute to the maintenance of maternal behaviors and may also be relevant to postpartum depression, which can occur as a molecular level maladaptation to motherhood.
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