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Fischbach AK, Satpute AB, Quigley K, Kragel PA, Chen D, Bianciardi M, Wald L, Wager TD, Choi JK, Zhang J, Barrett LF, Theriault JE. Seven Tesla Evidence for Columnar and Rostral-Caudal Organization of the Human Periaqueductal Gray Response in the Absence of Threat: A Working Memory Study. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1757232024. [PMID: 38664013 PMCID: PMC11211719 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1757-23.2024] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a small midbrain structure that surrounds the cerebral aqueduct, regulates brain-body communication, and is often studied for its role in "fight-or-flight" and "freezing" responses to threat. We used ultra-high-field 7 T fMRI to resolve the PAG in humans and distinguish it from the cerebral aqueduct, examining its in vivo function during a working memory task (N = 87). Both mild and moderate cognitive demands elicited spatially similar patterns of whole-brain blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response, and moderate cognitive demand elicited widespread BOLD increases above baseline in the brainstem. Notably, these brainstem increases were not significantly greater than those in the mild demand condition, suggesting that a subthreshold brainstem BOLD increase occurred for mild cognitive demand as well. Subject-specific masks were group aligned to examine PAG response. In PAG, both mild and moderate demands elicited a well-defined response in ventrolateral PAG, a region thought to be functionally related to anticipated painful threat in humans and nonhuman animals-yet, the present task posed only the most minimal (if any) "threat," with the cognitive tasks used being approximately as challenging as remembering a phone number. These findings suggest that the PAG may play a more general role in visceromotor regulation, even in the absence of threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ajay B Satpute
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Karen Quigley
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Philip A Kragel
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Danlei Chen
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Marta Bianciardi
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129
| | - Larry Wald
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Ji-Kyung Choi
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Jiahe Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - Jordan E Theriault
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129
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González-García M, Carrillo-Franco L, Morales-Luque C, Ponce-Velasco M, Gago B, Dawid-Milner MS, López-González MV. Uncovering the neural control of laryngeal activity and subglottic pressure in anaesthetized rats: insights from mesencephalic regions. Pflugers Arch 2024:10.1007/s00424-024-02976-3. [PMID: 38856775 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-02976-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
To assess the possible interactions between the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter (dlPAG) and the different domains of the nucleus ambiguus (nA), we have examined the pattern of double-staining c-Fos/FoxP2 protein immunoreactivity (c-Fos-ir/FoxP2-ir) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) throughout the rostrocaudal extent of nA in spontaneously breathing anaesthetised male Sprague-Dawley rats during dlPAG electrical stimulation. Activation of the dlPAG elicited a selective increase in c-Fos-ir with an ipsilateral predominance in the somatas of the loose (p < 0.05) and compact formation (p < 0.01) within the nA and confirmed the expression of FoxP2 bilaterally in all the domains within the nA. A second group of experiments was made to examine the importance of the dlPAG in modulating the laryngeal response evoked after electrical or chemical (glutamate) dlPAG stimulations. Both electrical and chemical stimulations evoked a significant decrease in laryngeal resistance (subglottal pressure) (p < 0.001) accompanied with an increase in respiratory rate together with a pressor and tachycardic response. The results of our study contribute to new data on the role of the mesencephalic neuronal circuits in the control mechanisms of subglottic pressure and laryngeal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M González-García
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
- Unit of Neurophysiology of the Autonomic Nervous System (CIMES), University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain.
| | - L Carrillo-Franco
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - C Morales-Luque
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - M Ponce-Velasco
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - B Gago
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - M S Dawid-Milner
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Unit of Neurophysiology of the Autonomic Nervous System (CIMES), University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - M V López-González
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
- Unit of Neurophysiology of the Autonomic Nervous System (CIMES), University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
- IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain.
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Trevizan-Baú P, Stanić D, Furuya WI, Dhingra RR, Dutschmann M. Neuroanatomical frameworks for volitional control of breathing and orofacial behaviors. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2024; 323:104227. [PMID: 38295924 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2024.104227] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Breathing is the only vital function that can be volitionally controlled. However, a detailed understanding how volitional (cortical) motor commands can transform vital breathing activity into adaptive breathing patterns that accommodate orofacial behaviors such as swallowing, vocalization or sniffing remains to be developed. Recent neuroanatomical tract tracing studies have identified patterns and origins of descending forebrain projections that target brain nuclei involved in laryngeal adductor function which is critically involved in orofacial behavior. These nuclei include the midbrain periaqueductal gray and nuclei of the respiratory rhythm and pattern generating network in the brainstem, specifically including the pontine Kölliker-Fuse nucleus and the pre-Bötzinger complex in the medulla oblongata. This review discusses the functional implications of the forebrain-brainstem anatomical connectivity that could underlie the volitional control and coordination of orofacial behaviors with breathing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Trevizan-Baú
- The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Davor Stanić
- The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Werner I Furuya
- The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rishi R Dhingra
- The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mathias Dutschmann
- The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Zhang H, Zhu Z, Ma WX, Kong LX, Yuan PC, Bu LF, Han J, Huang ZL, Wang YQ. The contribution of periaqueductal gray in the regulation of physiological and pathological behaviors. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1380171. [PMID: 38650618 PMCID: PMC11034386 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1380171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Periaqueductal gray (PAG), an integration center for neuronal signals, is located in the midbrain and regulates multiple physiological and pathological behaviors, including pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular response, respiration, and sleep-wake behaviors. Due to the different neuroanatomical connections and functional characteristics of the four functional columns of PAG, different subregions of PAG synergistically regulate various instinctual behaviors. In the current review, we summarized the role and possible neurobiological mechanism of different subregions of PAG in the regulation of pain, defensive and aggressive behaviors, anxiety, and depression from the perspective of the up-down neuronal circuits of PAG. Furthermore, we proposed the potential clinical applications of PAG. Knowledge of these aspects will give us a better understanding of the key role of PAG in physiological and pathological behaviors and provide directions for future clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhe Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling-Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping-Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Li-Fang Bu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Han
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Purcell JB, Brand B, Browne HA, Chefetz RA, Shanahan M, Bair ZA, Baranowski KA, Davis V, Mangones P, Modell RL, Palermo CA, Robertson EC, Robinson MA, Ward L, Winternitz S, Kaufman ML, Lebois LAM. Treatment of dissociative identity disorder: leveraging neurobiology to optimize success. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:273-289. [PMID: 38357897 PMCID: PMC10950423 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2316153] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a treatable mental health condition that is associated with a range of psychobiological manifestations. However, historical controversy, modern day misunderstanding, and lack of professional education have prevented accurate treatment information from reaching most clinicians and patients. These obstacles also have slowed empirical efforts to improve treatment outcomes for people with DID. Emerging neurobiological findings in DID provide essential information that can be used to improve treatment outcomes. AREAS COVERED In this narrative review, the authors discuss symptom characteristics of DID, including dissociative self-states. Current treatment approaches are described, focusing on empirically supported psychotherapeutic interventions for DID and pharmacological agents targeting dissociative symptoms in other conditions. Neurobiological correlates of DID are reviewed, including recent research aimed at identifying a neural signature of DID. EXPERT OPINION Now is the time to move beyond historical controversy and focus on improving DID treatment availability and efficacy. Neurobiological findings could optimize treatment by reducing shame, aiding assessment, providing novel interventional brain targets and guiding novel pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions. The inclusion of those with lived experience in the design, planning and interpretation of research investigations is another powerful way to improve health outcomes for those with DID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliann B Purcell
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- b Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bethany Brand
- Department of Psychology, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA
| | - Heidi A Browne
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Division of Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | | | - Meghan Shanahan
- Division of Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Zoe A Bair
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Kim A Baranowski
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Vona Davis
- Division of Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Patricia Mangones
- Division of Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Modell
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Cori A Palermo
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Emma C Robertson
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
| | - Matthew A Robinson
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- b Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Ward
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sherry Winternitz
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- b Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Milissa L Kaufman
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- b Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- b Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Wang W, Qiu D, Mei Y, Bai X, Yuan Z, Zhang X, Xiong Z, Tang H, Zhang P, Zhang Y, Yu X, Wang Z, Ge Z, Sui B, Wang Y. Altered functional connectivity of brainstem nuclei in new daily persistent headache: Evidence from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14686. [PMID: 38516817 PMCID: PMC10958407 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14686] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The new daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a rare primary headache disorder. However, the underlying mechanisms of NDPH remain incompletely understood. This study aims to apply seed-based analysis to explore the functional connectivity (FC) of brainstem nuclei in patients with NDPH using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS The FC analysis from the region of interest (ROI) to whole brain voxels was used to investigate 29 patients with NDPH and 37 well-matched healthy controls (HCs) with 3.0 Tesla MRI. The 76 nuclei in the brainstem atlas were defined as ROIs. Furthermore, we explored the correlations between FC and patients' clinical characteristics and neuropsychological evaluations. RESULTS Patients with NDPH exhibited reduced FC in multiple brainstem nuclei compared to HCs (including right inferior medullary reticular formation, right mesencephalic reticular formation, bilateral locus coeruleus, bilateral laterodorsal tegmental nucleus-central gray of the rhombencephalon, median raphe, left medial parabrachial nucleus, periaqueductal gray, and bilateral ventral tegmental area-parabrachial pigmented nucleus complex) and increased FC in periaqueductal gray. No significant correlations were found between the FC of these brain regions and clinical characteristics or neuropsychological evaluations after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.00016). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that patients with NDPH have abnormal FC of brainstem nuclei involved in the perception and regulation of pain and emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Dong Qiu
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yanliang Mei
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoyan Bai
- Tiantan Neuroimaging Center of ExcellenceChina National Clinical Research Center for Neurological DiseasesBeijingChina
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ziyu Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xue Zhang
- Tiantan Neuroimaging Center of ExcellenceChina National Clinical Research Center for Neurological DiseasesBeijingChina
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhonghua Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Hefei Tang
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yaqing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xueying Yu
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDalianLiaoningChina
| | - Zhaoli Ge
- Department of NeurologyShenzhen Second People's HospitalShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Binbin Sui
- Tiantan Neuroimaging Center of ExcellenceChina National Clinical Research Center for Neurological DiseasesBeijingChina
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
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Braun JA, Patel M, Henderson LA, Dawood T, Macefield VG. Electrical stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex modulates muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad422. [PMID: 37950875 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently showed that transcranial alternating current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates spontaneous bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, and blood pressure (Sesa-Ashton G, Wong R, McCarthy B, Datta S, Henderson LA, Dawood T, Macefield VG. Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in humans. Cereb Cortex Comm. 2022:3:2tgac017.). Stimulation was delivered between scalp electrodes placed over the nasion and electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode site F3 (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) or F4 (right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and therefore the current passed within the anatomical locations underlying the left and right ventromedial prefrontal cortices. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that stimulation of the left and right ventromedial prefrontal cortices would also modulate muscle sympathetic nerve activity, although we predicted that this would be weaker than that seen during dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation. We further tested whether stimulation of the right ventromedial prefrontal cortices would cause greater modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity, than stimulation of the left ventromedial prefrontal cortices. In 11 individuals, muscle sympathetic nerve activity was recorded via microelectrodes inserted into the right common peroneal nerve, together with continuous blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and respiration. Stimulation was achieved using transcranial alternating current stimulation, +2 to -2 mA, 0.08 Hz, 100 cycles, applied between electrodes placed over the nasion, and EEG electrode site FP1, (left ventromedial prefrontal cortices) or FP2 (right ventromedial prefrontal cortices); for comparison, stimulation was also applied over F4 (right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Stimulation of all three cortical sites caused partial entrainment of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to the sinusoidal stimulation, together with modulation of blood pressure and heart rate. We found a significant fall in mean blood pressure of ~6 mmHg (P = 0.039) during stimulation of the left ventromedial prefrontal cortices, as compared with stimulation of the right. We have shown, for the first time, that transcranial alternating current stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortices modulates muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in awake humans at rest. However, it is unclear if this modulation occurred through the same brain pathways activated during transcranial alternating current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe A Braun
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commerical Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Mariya Patel
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commerical Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Tye Dawood
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commerical Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Vaughan G Macefield
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commerical Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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Tsai SF, Kuo YM. The Role of Central Oxytocin in Autonomic Regulation. CHINESE J PHYSIOL 2024; 67:3-14. [PMID: 38780268 DOI: 10.4103/ejpi.ejpi-d-23-00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide originating from the hypothalamus and traditionally associated with peripheral functions in parturition and lactation, has emerged as a pivotal player in the central regulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This comprehensive ANS, comprising sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric components, intricately combines sympathetic and parasympathetic influences to provide unified control. The central oversight of sympathetic and parasympathetic outputs involves a network of interconnected regions spanning the neuroaxis, playing a pivotal role in the real-time regulation of visceral function, homeostasis, and adaptation to challenges. This review unveils the significant involvement of the central OXT system in modulating autonomic functions, shedding light on diverse subpopulations of OXT neurons within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and their intricate projections. The narrative progresses from the basics of central ANS regulation to a detailed discussion of the central controls of sympathetic and parasympathetic outflows. The subsequent segment focuses specifically on the central OXT system, providing a foundation for exploring the central role of OXT in ANS regulation. This review synthesizes current knowledge, paving the way for future research endeavors to unravel the full scope of autonomic control and understand multifaceted impact of OXT on physiological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Feng Tsai
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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9
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Nieves GM, Bravo M, Bath KG. Early life adversity ablates sex differences in active versus passive threat responding in mice. Stress 2023; 26:2244598. [PMID: 37624104 PMCID: PMC10529224 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2244598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) heightens the risk for anxiety disorders (which are characterized by heightened fear and avoidance behaviors), with females being twice as likely as males to develop pathology. Pavlovian fear conditioning tasks have been used to study possible mechanisms supporting endophenotypes of pathology. Identification of sex and ELA selective effects on the nature of behavioral responding in these paradigms may provide a unique window into coping strategies in response to learned fear to guide more mechanistic studies. The goals of this study were two-fold; First, to test if male and female mice employed different coping strategies in response to threat learning using different conditioning parameters (low, medium, and high intensity foot shocks). Second, to test if ELA in the form of limited bedding and nesting (LBN) altered the behavioral response of mice to conditioning. Mice received 6 tone/foot-shock pairings at one of three different foot-shock intensities (0.35 mA; 0.57 mA; 0.7 mA). Freezing, darting, and foot-shock reactivity were measured across trials. During conditioning, control-reared female mice exhibited significantly higher rates of darting behavior compared to control males at nearly all shock intensities tested. LBN rearing decreased the proportion of darting females to levels observed in males. Thus, ELA in the form of LBN significantly diminished the recruitment of active versus passive coping strategies in female mice but did not generally change male responding. Additional work will be required to understand the neural basis of these behavioral effects. Findings extending from this work have the potential to shed light on how ELA impacts trajectories of regional brain development with implications for sex-selective risk for behavioral endophenotypes associated with pathology and possibly symptom presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Manzano Nieves
- Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, and Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Marilyn Bravo
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Kevin G. Bath
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical College, New York, NY 1003
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10
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McPherson KB, Bouchet CA, Coutens B, Ingram SL. Persistent inflammation selectively activates opioid-sensitive phasic-firing neurons within the vlPAG. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:1237-1248. [PMID: 37073984 PMCID: PMC10202481 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00016.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) is a key brain area within the descending pain modulatory pathway and an important target for opioid-induced analgesia. The vlPAG contains heterogeneous neurons with respect to neurotransmitter content, receptor and channel expression, and in vivo response to noxious stimuli. This study characterizes intrinsic membrane properties of vlPAG neurons to identify neuron types that respond to inflammation and determine whether the pain-responsive neurons are inhibited by opioids. Surveying 382 neurons identified four neuron types with distinct intrinsic firing patterns: Phasic (48%), Tonic (33%), Onset (10%), and Random (9%). Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) expression was determined by the ability of a selective MOR agonist (DAMGO) to activate G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK) currents. Opioid-sensitive neurons were observed within each neuron type. Opioid sensitivity did not correlate with other intrinsic firing features, including low-threshold spiking that has been previously proposed to identify opioid-sensitive GABAergic neurons in the vlPAG of mice. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced acute inflammation (2 h) had no effect on vlPAG neuron firing patterns. However, persistent inflammation (5-7 days) selectively activated Phasic neurons through a significant reduction in their firing threshold. Opioid-sensitive neurons were strongly activated compared with the opioid-insensitive Phasic neurons. Overall, this study provides a framework to further identify neurons activated by persistent inflammation so that they may be targeted for future pain therapies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Intrinsic firing properties define four distinct vlPAG neuron populations, and a subset of each population expresses MORs coupled to GIRK channels. Persistent, but not acute, inflammation selectively activates opioid-sensitive Phasic vlPAG neurons. Although the vlPAG is known to contribute to the descending inhibition of pain, the activation of a single physiologically defined neuron type in the presence of persistent inflammation represents a mechanism by which the vlPAG participates in descending facilitation of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie B McPherson
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Courtney A Bouchet
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Basile Coutens
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Susan L Ingram
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
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11
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Li D, Cao F, Han J, Wang M, Lai C, Zhang J, Xu T, Bouakaz A, Wan M, Ren P, Zhang S. The sustainable antihypertensive and target organ damage protective effect of transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens 2023; 41:852-866. [PMID: 36883470 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to investigate the sustainable antihypertensive effects and protection against target organ damage caused by low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) stimulation and the underlying mechanism in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) model. METHODS AND RESULTS SHRs were treated with ultrasound stimulation of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (VlPAG) for 20 min every day for 2 months. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was compared among normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats, SHR control group, SHR Sham group, and SHR LIFU stimulation group. Cardiac ultrasound imaging and hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining of the heart and kidney were performed to assess target organ damage. The c-fos immunofluorescence analysis and plasma levels of angiotensin II, aldosterone, hydrocortisone, and endothelin-1 were measured to investigate the neurohumoral and organ systems involved. We found that SBP was reduced from 172 ± 4.2 mmHg to 141 ± 2.1 mmHg after 1 month of LIFU stimulation, P < 0.01. The next month of treatment can maintain the rat's blood pressure at 146 ± 4.2 mmHg at the end of the experiment. LIFU stimulation reverses left ventricular hypertrophy and improves heart and kidney function. Furthermore, LIFU stimulation enhanced the neural activity from the VLPAG to the caudal ventrolateral medulla and reduced the plasma levels of ANGII and Aldo. CONCLUSION We concluded that LIFU stimulation has a sustainable antihypertensive effect and protects against target organ damage by activating antihypertensive neural pathways from VLPAG to the caudal ventrolateral medulla and further inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity, thereby supporting a novel and noninvasive alternative therapy to treat hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Fangyuan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Mengke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Chunhao Lai
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Tianqi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | | | - Mingxi Wan
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Pengyu Ren
- Institute of Medical Artificial Intelligence
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Sichuan Digital Economy Industry Development Research Institute, China
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12
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Ince S, Steward T, Harrison BJ, Jamieson AJ, Davey CG, Agathos JA, Moffat BA, Glarin RK, Felmingham KL. Subcortical contributions to salience network functioning during negative emotional processing. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119964. [PMID: 36822252 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Core regions of the salience network (SN), including the anterior insula (aINS) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), coordinate rapid adaptive changes in attentional and autonomic processes in response to negative emotional events. In doing so, the SN incorporates bottom-up signals from subcortical brain regions, such as the amygdala and periaqueductal gray (PAG). However, the precise influence of these subcortical regions is not well understood. Using ultra-high field 7-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging, this study investigated the bottom-up interactions of the amygdala and PAG with the SN during negative emotional salience processing. Thirty-seven healthy participants completed an emotional oddball paradigm designed to elicit a salient negative emotional response via the presentation of random, task-irrelevant negative emotional images. Negative emotional processing was associated with prominent activation in the SN, spanning the amygdala, PAG, aINS, and dACC. Consistent with previous research, analysis using dynamic causal modelling revealed an excitatory influence from the amygdala to the aINS, dACC, and PAG. In contrast, the PAG showed an inhibitory influence on amygdala, aINS and dACC activity. Our findings suggest that the amygdala may amplify the processing of negative emotional stimuli in the SN to enable upstream access to attentional resources. In comparison, the inhibitory influence of the PAG possibly reflects its involvement in modulating sympathetic-parasympathetic autonomic arousal mediated by the SN. This PAG-mediated effect may be driven by amygdala input and facilitate bottom-up processing of negative emotional stimuli. Overall, our results show that the amygdala and PAG modulate divergent functions of the SN during negative emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevil Ince
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Alec J Jamieson
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher G Davey
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - James A Agathos
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bradford A Moffat
- The Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, Department of Radiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Rebecca K Glarin
- The Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, Department of Radiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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13
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Nascimento GC, Lucas G, Leite-Panissi CRA. Emerging role of microglia and astrocyte in the affective-motivational response induced by a rat model of persistent orofacial pain. Brain Res Bull 2023; 195:86-98. [PMID: 36781112 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.02.005] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Few studies are approaching the neural basis underlying the aggregation of emotional disorders in orofacial pain despite the stress, depression, and anxiety are some of the most commonly reported risk factors. Using a persistent orofacial pain rat model induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection into the temporomandibular joint, we have investigated the plasticity astrocytes and microglia key brain regions for the affective-emotional component of pain. We measured the expression and morphologic pattern of reactivation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, astrocyte marker) and Iba-1 (microglial marker) by western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis. The results showed no alterations on motor activity during inflammatory pain, indicating an exclusive effect of nociceptive behavior on the plasticity of limbic regions. CFA-induced temporomandibular inflammation changed GFAP and Iba-1 expression in distinct regions related to emotional behavior in a time-dependent manner. A significant increase in GFAP and Iba-1 expression was observed in the central nucleus of the amygdala, hippocampus and periaqueductal grey matter from day 3 to day 10 post-CFA injection. Moreover, a positive correlation between GFAP and Iba-1 upregulation and an increased mechanical hypersensitivity was observed. Conversely, no change on GFAP and Iba-1 expression was observed in the hypothalamus and colliculus during orofacial inflammatory pain. Our data suggest an important role for glial cells in the affective-motivational dimension of orofacial pain beyond their well-explored role in the traditional nociceptive transmission circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauce Crivelaro Nascimento
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14040-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Lucas
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14040-900 SP, Brazil
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14
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Karim S, Chahal A, Khanji MY, Petersen SE, Somers V. Autonomic Cardiovascular Control in Health and Disease. Compr Physiol 2023; 13:4493-4511. [PMID: 36994768 PMCID: PMC10406398 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Autonomic neural control of the cardiovascular system is formed of complex and dynamic processes able to adjust rapidly to mitigate perturbations in hemodynamics and maintain homeostasis. Alterations in autonomic control feature in the development or progression of a multitude of diseases with wide-ranging physiological implications given the neural system's responsibility for controlling inotropy, chronotropy, lusitropy, and dromotropy. Imbalances in sympathetic and parasympathetic neural control are also implicated in the development of arrhythmia in several cardiovascular conditions sparking interest in autonomic modulation as a form of treatment. A number of measures of autonomic function have shown prognostic significance in health and in pathological states and have undergone varying degrees of refinement, yet adoption into clinical practice remains extremely limited. The focus of this contemporary narrative review is to summarize the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system and describe the merits and shortfalls of testing modalities available. © 2023 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 13:4493-4511, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Karim
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Centre, Queen Mary University London, UK
| | - Anwar Chahal
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Centre, Queen Mary University London, UK
| | - Mohammed Y. Khanji
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Centre, Queen Mary University London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Steffen E. Petersen
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Centre, Queen Mary University London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
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15
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Krohn F, Novello M, van der Giessen RS, De Zeeuw CI, Pel JJM, Bosman LWJ. The integrated brain network that controls respiration. eLife 2023; 12:83654. [PMID: 36884287 PMCID: PMC9995121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiration is a brain function on which our lives essentially depend. Control of respiration ensures that the frequency and depth of breathing adapt continuously to metabolic needs. In addition, the respiratory control network of the brain has to organize muscular synergies that integrate ventilation with posture and body movement. Finally, respiration is coupled to cardiovascular function and emotion. Here, we argue that the brain can handle this all by integrating a brainstem central pattern generator circuit in a larger network that also comprises the cerebellum. Although currently not generally recognized as a respiratory control center, the cerebellum is well known for its coordinating and modulating role in motor behavior, as well as for its role in the autonomic nervous system. In this review, we discuss the role of brain regions involved in the control of respiration, and their anatomical and functional interactions. We discuss how sensory feedback can result in adaptation of respiration, and how these mechanisms can be compromised by various neurological and psychological disorders. Finally, we demonstrate how the respiratory pattern generators are part of a larger and integrated network of respiratory brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Krohn
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Manuele Novello
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Johan J M Pel
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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16
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de Almeida LS, Cunha-Rodrigues MC, Araujo PC, de Almeida OM, Barradas PC. Effects of prenatal hypoxia-ischemia on male rat periaqueductal gray matter: Hyperalgesia, astrogliosis and nitrergic system impairment. Neurochem Int 2023; 164:105500. [PMID: 36731728 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HI) may lead to a variety of neurological consequences that may persist throughout adulthood. In the most severe cases, HI is known to increase pain sensitivity which profoundly impacts quality of life. Periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is a relevant region of the descending pain pathway and its function may be modulated by a complex network that includes nitrergic neurons and glial response, among other factors. Astrocytes, central players in pain modulation, are known to respond to HI by inducing hyperplasia, hypertrophy and increasing the number of their processes and the staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In this work we investigated the effects of prenatal HI on touch and pain sensitivity, besides the distribution of the neuronal isoform of Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) and GFAP in the PAG of young and adult male rats. At 18 days of gestation, rats had their uterine arteries clamped for 45 min (HI group). SHAM-operated animals were also generated (SHAM group). At post-natal day 30 (P30) or 90 (P90), the offspring was submitted to the behavioral tests of Von Frey and formalin or histological processing to perform immunohistochemistry for nNOS and GFAP. Although there was no significant difference between the groups concerning touch sensitivity, we observed an increase in pain sensitivity in HI P30 and HI P90. The number of nNOS + cells was reduced in HI adult animals in dlPAG and vlPAG. GFAP immunostaining was increased in HI P90 in dlPAG and dmPAG. Our results demonstrated for the first time an increase in pain sensitivity as a consequence of prenatal HI in an animal model. It reinforces the relevance of this model to mimic the effects of prenatal HI, as hyperalgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S de Almeida
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M C Cunha-Rodrigues
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - P C Araujo
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - O M de Almeida
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - P C Barradas
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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17
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Bonin EAC, Lejeune N, Szymkowicz E, Bonhomme V, Martial C, Gosseries O, Laureys S, Thibaut A. Assessment and management of pain/nociception in patients with disorders of consciousness or locked-in syndrome: A narrative review. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1112206. [PMID: 37021037 PMCID: PMC10067681 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1112206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The assessment and management of pain and nociception is very challenging in patients unable to communicate functionally such as patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) or in locked-in syndrome (LIS). In a clinical setting, the detection of signs of pain and nociception by the medical staff is therefore essential for the wellbeing and management of these patients. However, there is still a lot unknown and a lack of clear guidelines regarding the assessment, management and treatment of pain and nociception in these populations. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the current knowledge regarding this issue by covering different topics such as: the neurophysiology of pain and nociception (in healthy subjects and patients), the source and impact of nociception and pain in DoC and LIS and, finally, the assessment and treatment of pain and nociception in these populations. In this review we will also give possible research directions that could help to improve the management of this specific population of severely brain damaged patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle A. C. Bonin
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Lejeune
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre Hospitalier Neurologique (CHN) William Lennox, Saint-Luc Hospital Group, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emilie Szymkowicz
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Vincent Bonhomme
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- Anesthesia and Perioperative Neuroscience Laboratory, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martial
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- Joint International Research Unit on Consciousness, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux (CIUSS), University Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Aurore Thibaut
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Aurore Thibaut,
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18
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Kecala NM, Goodman BF, Griffin MG. Dissociation as a Distinct Peritraumatic Coping Response: A Preliminary Analysis. J Trauma Dissociation 2023; 24:79-94. [PMID: 36062727 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2022.2117262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Research examining physiological responses to trauma cues in PTSD has identified a subset of "nonresponders" showing suppressed physiological reactivity. The defense cascade model posits that individuals respond to stressors by progressing through a series of defensive reactions, with nonresponders having advanced to a shutdown response. It remains unclear whether dissociation is at the end of a continuum of passive behavior, indicating full shutdown, or if it comprises a distinct response. The present study aimed to address this uncertainty, using EFA to compare a two-factor (active, passive) and three-factor (active, passive, dissociative) model of defensive responding. Eighty-nine female physical and sexual assault survivors reported their peritraumatic reactions within 1 month of their assault, which were entered into the EFA. The three-factor model was superior, suggesting dissociation is a distinct category of peritraumatic coping. Peritraumatic use of both passive and dissociative coping strategies were each significantly associated with ongoing use of passive coping and increased PTSD symptoms 1-month posttrauma; surprisingly, the use of passive peritraumatic coping strategies was a better indicator than peritraumatic dissociation. The inclusion of depression as a covariate removed the association of passive (but not dissociative) coping with PTSD symptom severity. Active coping use was not significantly associated with any outcome, suggesting that the presence of shutdown responses is more informative than the presence or absence of any active coping. These findings highlight the importance of differentiating peritraumatic coping responses and the need for increased attention to the comparatively neglected topic of passive coping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia M Kecala
- Center for Trauma Recovery, University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL), Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Brittany F Goodman
- Center for Trauma Recovery, University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL), Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael G Griffin
- Center for Trauma Recovery, University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL), Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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19
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Su Y, Huang J, Sun S, He T, Wang T, Fan M, Yu H, Yan J, Yao L, Xia Y, Zhang M, Zheng Y, Luo X, Zhang Y, Lu M, Zou M, Liu C, Chen Y. Restoring the Autonomic Balance in an Atrial Fibrillation Rat Model by Electroacupuncture at the Neiguan Point. Neuromodulation 2022:S1094-7159(22)01366-6. [PMID: 36522251 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Autonomic nervous activity imbalance plays an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF). AF can be treated by acupuncture at the Neiguan point (PC6), but the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we investigated autonomic nervous system activity in electroacupuncture (EA) at PC6 in a rat AF model. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, we established a rat AF model via tail vein injection with ACh-CaCl2 for ten consecutive days with or without EA at PC6. AF inducibility and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed by electrocardiogram. Next, we completed in vivo recording of the activity of cervical sympathetic and vagal nerves, respectively. Finally, the activities of brain regions related to autonomic nerve regulation were assessed by c-Fos immunofluorescence and multichannel recording. RESULTS EA at PC6 decreased AF inducibility and prevented changes in HRV caused by ACh-CaCl2 injection. Meanwhile, EA at PC6 reversed the increased sympathetic and decreased vagal nerve activity in AF rats. Furthermore, EA treatment downregulated increased c-Fos expression in brain regions, including paraventricular nucleus, rostral ventrolateral medulla, and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in AF, while c-Fos expression in nucleus ambiguus was upregulated with EA. CONCLUSION The protective effect of EA at PC6 on AF is associated with balance between sympathetic and vagal nerve activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Su
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Huang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengxuan Sun
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Teng He
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Taiyi Wang
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Mengyue Fan
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huanhuan Yu
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jinglan Yan
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yucen Xia
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yuanjia Zheng
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Luo
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuewen Zhang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manqi Lu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meixia Zou
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cunzhi Liu
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China; Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China.
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20
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Johnson SB, Lingg RT, Skog TD, Hinz DC, Romig-Martin SA, Viau V, Narayanan NS, Radley JJ. Activity in a prefrontal-periaqueductal gray circuit overcomes behavioral and endocrine features of the passive coping stress response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2210783119. [PMID: 36306326 PMCID: PMC9636920 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210783119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The question of how the brain links behavioral and biological features of defensive responses has remained elusive. The importance of this problem is underscored by the observation that behavioral passivity in stress coping is associated with elevations in glucocorticoid hormones, and each may carry risks for susceptibility to a host of stress-related diseases. Past work implicates the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the top-down regulation of stress-related behaviors; however, it is unknown whether such changes have the capacity to buffer against the longer-lasting biological consequences associated with aversive experiences. Using the shock probe defensive burying test in rats to naturalistically measure behavioral and endocrine features of coping, we observed that the active behavioral component of stress coping is associated with increases in activity along a circuit involving the caudal mPFC and midbrain dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG). Optogenetic manipulations of the caudal mPFC-to-dorsolateral PAG pathway bidirectionally modulated active (escape and defensive burying) behaviors, distinct from a rostral mPFC-ventrolateral PAG circuit that instead limited passive (immobility) behavior. Strikingly, under conditions that biased rats toward a passive coping response set, including exaggerated stress hormonal output and increased immobility, excitation of the caudal mPFC-dorsolateral PAG projection significantly attenuated each of these features. These results lend insight into how the brain coordinates response features to overcome passive coping and may be of importance for understanding how activated neural systems promote stress resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane B. Johnson
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Ryan T. Lingg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Timothy D. Skog
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Dalton C. Hinz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Sara A. Romig-Martin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Victor Viau
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Nandakumar S. Narayanan
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Jason J. Radley
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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21
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McPherson KB, Ingram SL. Cellular and circuit diversity determines the impact of endogenous opioids in the descending pain modulatory pathway. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:963812. [PMID: 36045708 PMCID: PMC9421147 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.963812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The descending pain modulatory pathway exerts important bidirectional control of nociceptive inputs to dampen and/or facilitate the perception of pain. The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) integrates inputs from many regions associated with the processing of nociceptive, cognitive, and affective components of pain perception, and is a key brain area for opioid action. Opioid receptors are expressed on a subset of vlPAG neurons, as well as on both GABAergic and glutamatergic presynaptic terminals that impinge on vlPAG neurons. Microinjection of opioids into the vlPAG produces analgesia and microinjection of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone blocks stimulation-mediated analgesia, highlighting the role of endogenous opioid release within this region in the modulation of nociception. Endogenous opioid effects within the vlPAG are complex and likely dependent on specific neuronal circuits activated by acute and chronic pain stimuli. This review is focused on the cellular heterogeneity within vlPAG circuits and highlights gaps in our understanding of endogenous opioid regulation of the descending pain modulatory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie B. McPherson
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy,Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Susan L. Ingram
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States,*Correspondence: Susan L. Ingram
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22
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Bortoloci JGT, Motta SC. Failure of AAV retrograde tracer transduction in hypothalamic projections to the periaqueductal gray matter. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10243. [PMID: 36061004 PMCID: PMC9433681 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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23
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Robertson RV, Crawford LS, Meylakh N, Macey PM, Macefield VG, Keay KA, Henderson LA. Regional hypothalamic, amygdala, and midbrain periaqueductal gray matter recruitment during acute pain in awake humans: A 7-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroimage 2022; 259:119408. [PMID: 35752415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have explored brain activation patterns during acute noxious stimuli. Whilst these human investigations have detailed changes in primarily cortical regions, they have generally not explored discrete changes within small brain areas that are critical in driving behavioural, autonomic, and endocrine responses to pain, such as within subregions of the hypothalamus, amygdala, and midbrain periaqueductal gray matter (PAG). Ultra-high field (7-Tesla) MRI provides enough signal-to-noise at high spatial resolutions to investigate activation patterns within these small brain regions during acute noxious stimulation in awake humans. In this study we used 7T functional MRI to concentrate on hypothalamic, amygdala, and PAG signal changes during acute noxious orofacial stimuli. Noxious heat stimuli were applied in three separate fMRI scans to three adjacent sites on the face in 16 healthy control participants (7 females). Images were processed using SPM12 and custom software, and blood oxygen level dependent signal changes within the hypothalamus, amygdala, and PAG assessed. We identified altered activity within eight unique subregions of the hypothalamus, four unique subregions of the amygdala, and a single region in the lateral PAG. Specifically, within the hypothalamus and amygdala, signal intensity largely decreased during noxious stimulation, and increased in the lateral PAG. Furthermore, we found sex-related differences in discrete regions of the hypothalamus and amygdala. This study reveals that the activity of discrete nuclei during acute noxious thermal stimulation in awake humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca V Robertson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Lewis S Crawford
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Noemi Meylakh
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Paul M Macey
- UCLA School of Nursing and Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Kevin A Keay
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 2006, Australia.
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24
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Beaver JN, Weber BL, Ford MT, Anello AE, Kassis SK, Gilman TL. Uncovering Functional Contributions of PMAT ( Slc29a4) to Monoamine Clearance Using Pharmacobehavioral Tools. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121874. [PMID: 35741002 PMCID: PMC9220966 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT, Slc29a4) transports monoamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, faster than more studied monoamine transporters, e.g., dopamine transporter (DAT), or serotonin transporter (SERT), but with ~400–600-fold less affinity. A considerable challenge in understanding PMAT’s monoamine clearance contributions is that no current drugs selectively inhibit PMAT. To advance knowledge about PMAT’s monoamine uptake role, and to circumvent this present challenge, we investigated how drugs that selectively block DAT/SERT influence behavioral readouts in PMAT wildtype, heterozygote, and knockout mice of both sexes. Drugs typically used as antidepressants (escitalopram, bupropion) were administered acutely for readouts in tail suspension and locomotor tests. Drugs with psychostimulant properties (cocaine, D-amphetamine) were administered repeatedly to assess initial locomotor responses plus psychostimulant-induced locomotor sensitization. Though we hypothesized that PMAT-deficient mice would exhibit augmented responses to antidepressant and psychostimulant drugs due to constitutively attenuated monoamine uptake, we instead observed sex-selective responses to antidepressant drugs in opposing directions, and subtle sex-specific reductions in psychostimulant-induced locomotor sensitization. These results suggest that PMAT functions differently across sexes, and support hypotheses that PMAT’s monoamine clearance contribution emerges when frontline transporters (e.g., DAT, SERT) are absent, saturated, and/or blocked. Thus, known human polymorphisms that reduce PMAT function could be worth investigating as contributors to varied antidepressant and psychostimulant responses.
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25
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How to minimize job insecurity: The role of proactive and reactive coping over time. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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26
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The PV2 cluster of parvalbumin neurons in the murine periaqueductal gray: connections and gene expression. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2049-2072. [PMID: 35486186 PMCID: PMC9232479 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02491-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The PV2 (Celio 1990), a cluster of parvalbumin-positive neurons located in the ventromedial region of the distal periaqueductal gray (PAG) has not been previously described as its own entity, leading us to study its extent, connections, and gene expression. It is an oval, bilateral, elongated cluster composed of approximately 475 parvalbumin-expressing neurons in a single mouse hemisphere. In its anterior portion it impinges upon the paratrochlear nucleus (Par4) and in its distal portion it is harbored in the posterodorsal raphe nucleus (PDR). It is known to receive inputs from the orbitofrontal cortex and from the parvafox nucleus in the ventrolateral hypothalamus. Using anterograde tracing methods in parvalbumin-Cre mice, the main projections of the PV2 cluster innervate the supraoculomotor periaqueductal gray (Su3) of the PAG, the parvafox nucleus of the lateral hypothalamus, the gemini nuclei of the posterior hypothalamus, the septal regions, and the diagonal band in the forebrain, as well as various nuclei within the reticular formation in the midbrain and brainstem. Within the brainstem, projections were discrete, but involved areas implicated in autonomic control. The PV2 cluster expressed various peptides and receptors, including the receptor for Adcyap1, a peptide secreted by one of its main afferences, namely, the parvafox nucleus. The expression of GAD1 and GAD2 in the region of the PV2, the presence of Vgat-1 in a subpopulation of PV2-neurons as well as the coexistence of GAD67 immunoreactivity with parvalbumin in terminal endings indicates the inhibitory nature of a subpopulation of PV2-neurons. The PV2 cluster may be part of a feedback controlling the activity of the hypothalamic parvafox and the Su3 nuclei in the periaqueductal gray.
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27
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Lee MT, Peng WH, Kan HW, Wu CC, Wang DW, Ho YC. Neurobiology of Depression: Chronic Stress Alters the Glutamatergic System in the Brain-Focusing on AMPA Receptor. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051005. [PMID: 35625742 PMCID: PMC9138646 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder affecting the mood and mental well-being. Its pathophysiology remains elusive due to the complexity and heterogeneity of this disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Chronic stress is frequently cited as the one of the risk factors for MDD. To date, the conventional monoaminergic theory (serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine dysregulation) has received the most attention in the treatment of MDD, and all available classes of antidepressants target these monoaminergic systems. However, the contributions of other neurotransmitter systems in MDD have been widely reported. Emerging preclinical and clinical findings reveal that maladaptive glutamatergic neurotransmission might underlie the pathophysiology of MDD, thus revealing its critical role in the neurobiology of MDD and as the therapeutic target. Aiming beyond the monoaminergic hypothesis, studies of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the stress-induced impairment of AMPA (a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid)-glutamatergic neurotransmission in the brain could provide novel insights for the development of a new generation of antidepressants without the detrimental side effects. Here, the authors reviewed the recent literature focusing on the role of AMPA-glutamatergic neurotransmission in stress-induced maladaptive responses in emotional and mood-associated brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and periaqueductal gray.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tatt Lee
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Wei-Hao Peng
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan; (W.-H.P.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Hung-Wei Kan
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan; (W.-H.P.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Cheng-Chun Wu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (D.-W.W.)
| | - Deng-Wu Wang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (D.-W.W.)
- Department of Psychiatry, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Ho
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (D.-W.W.)
- Correspondence:
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28
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Sesa-Ashton G, Wong R, McCarthy B, Datta S, Henderson LA, Dawood T, Macefield VG. Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in humans. Cereb Cortex Commun 2022; 3:tgac017. [PMID: 35559424 PMCID: PMC9086585 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgac017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) controls the diameter of arterioles in skeletalmuscle, contributing importantly to the beat-to-beat regulation of blood pressure (BP). Although brain imaging studies have shown that bursts of MSNA originate in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, other subcortical and cortical structures-including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)-contribute. Hypothesis We tested the hypothesis that MSNA and BP could be modulated by stimulating the dlPFC. Method dlPFC. In 22 individuals MSNA was recorded via microelectrodes inserted into the common peroneal nerve, together with continuous BP, electrocardiographic, and respiration.Stimulation of the right (n=22) or left dlPFC (n=10) was achieved using transcranial alternating current (tcACS; +2 to -2mA, 0.08 Hz,100 cycles), applied between the nasion and electrodes over the F3 or F4 EEG sites on the scalp. Results Sinusoidal stimulation of either dlPFC caused cyclicmodulation of MSNA, BP and heart rate, and a significant increase in BP. Conclusion We have shown, for the first time, that tcACS of the dlPFC in awake humans causes partial entrainment of MSNA, heart rate and BP, arguing for an important role of this higher-level cortical area in the control of cardiovascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Sesa-Ashton
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Rebecca Wong
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Brendan McCarthy
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sudipta Datta
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Tye Dawood
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Vaughan G Macefield
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Human Autonomic Neurophysiology, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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29
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O'Callaghan E, McBryde F, Patel N, Paton J. Examination of the periaqueductal gray as a site for controlling arterial pressure in the conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat. Auton Neurosci 2022; 240:102984. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2022.102984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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30
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Effects of Exercise Training on the Autonomic Nervous System with a Focus on Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidants Effects. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020350. [PMID: 35204231 PMCID: PMC8868289 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies show that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has an important impact on health in general. In response to environmental demands, homeostatic processes are often compromised, therefore determining an increase in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS)’s functions and a decrease in the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)’s functions. In modern societies, chronic stress associated with an unhealthy lifestyle contributes to ANS dysfunction. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the ANS network, its connections to the HPA axis and its stress responses and give an overview of the critical implications of ANS in health and disease—focused specifically on the immune system, cardiovascular, oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA), the SNS and more recently the PNS have been identified as regulating the immune system. The HPA axis and PNS have anti-inflammatory effects and the SNS has been shown to have both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. The positive impact of physical exercise (PE) is well known and has been studied by many researchers, but its negative impact has been less studied. Depending on the type, duration and individual characteristics of the person doing the exercise (age, gender, disease status, etc.), PE can be considered a physiological stressor. The negative impact of PE seems to be connected with the oxidative stress induced by effort.
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31
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Peng WH, Kan HW, Ho YC. Periaqueductal gray is required for controlling chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 593:28-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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32
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Distinct networks of periaqueductal gray columns in pain and threat processing. Neuroimage 2022; 250:118936. [PMID: 35093518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.118936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Noxious events that can cause physical damage to the body are perceived as threats. In the brainstem, the periaqueductal gray (PAG) ensures survival by generating an appropriate response to these threats. Hence, the experience of pain is coupled with threat signaling and interfaces in the dl/l and vlPAG columns. In this study, we triangulate the functional circuits of the dl/l and vlPAG by using static and time-varying functional connectivity (FC) in multiple fMRI scans in healthy participants (n=37, 21 female). The dl/l and vlPAG were activated during cue, heat, and rating periods when the cue signaled a high threat of experiencing heat pain and the incoming intensity of heat pain was low; responses were significantly lower after low threat cues. The two regions responded similarly to the cued conditions but showed prominent distinctions in the extent of FC with other brain regions. Thus, both static and time-varying FC showed significant differences in the functional circuits of dl/l and vlPAG in rest and task scans. The dl/lPAG consistently synchronized with the salience network, suggesting a role in threat detection, while the vlPAG exhibited more widespread synchronization and frequently connected with memory/language and sensory regions. Hence, these two PAG regions process heat pain when stronger pain is expected or when it is uncertain, and preferentially synchronize with distinct brain circuits in a reproducible manner. The dl/lPAG seems more directly involved in salience detection, while the vlPAG seems engaged in contextualizing threats.
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33
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Mungoven TJ, Marciszewski KK, Macefield VG, Macey PM, Henderson LA, Meylakh N. Alterations in pain processing circuitries in episodic migraine. J Headache Pain 2022; 23:9. [PMID: 35033014 PMCID: PMC8903545 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-021-01381-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The precise underlying mechanisms of migraine remain unknown. Although we have previously shown acute orofacial pain evoked changes within the brainstem of individuals with migraine, we do not know if these brainstem alterations are driven by changes in higher cortical regions. The aim of this investigation is to extend our previous investigation to determine if higher brain centers display altered activation patterns and connectivity in migraineurs during acute orofacial noxious stimuli. Methods Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 29 healthy controls and 25 migraineurs during the interictal and immediately (within 24-h) prior to migraine phases. We assessed activation of higher cortical areas during noxious orofacial heat stimulation using a thermode device and assessed whole scan and pain-related changes in connectivity. Results Despite similar overall pain intensity ratings between all three groups, migraineurs in the group immediately prior to migraine displayed greater activation of the ipsilateral nucleus accumbens, the contralateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and two clusters in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Reduced whole scan dlPFC [Z + 44] connectivity with cortical/subcortical and brainstem regions involved in pain modulation such as the putamen and primary motor cortex was demonstrated in migraineurs. Pain-related changes in connectivity of the dlPFC and the hypothalamus immediately prior to migraine was also found to be reduced with brainstem pain modulatory areas such as the rostral ventromedial medulla and dorsolateral pons. Conclusions These data reveal that the modulation of brainstem pain modulatory areas by higher cortical regions may be aberrant during pain and these alterations in this descending pain modulatory pathway manifests exclusively prior to the development of a migraine attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffani J Mungoven
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Kasia K Marciszewski
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | | | - Paul M Macey
- UCLA School of Nursing and Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Noemi Meylakh
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
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34
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Rijpma MG, Yang WFZ, Toller G, Battistella G, Sokolov AA, Sturm VE, Seeley WW, Kramer JH, Miller BL, Rankin KP. Influence of periaqueductal gray on other salience network nodes predicts social sensitivity. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:1694-1709. [PMID: 34981605 PMCID: PMC8886662 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic connectivity of the salience network (SN) plays an important role in social behavior, however the directional influence that individual nodes have on each other has not yet been fully determined. In this study, we used spectral dynamic causal modeling to characterize the effective connectivity patterns in the SN for 44 healthy older adults and for 44 patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) who have focal SN dysfunction. We examined the relationship of SN effective connections with individuals' socioemotional sensitivity, using the revised self‐monitoring scale, an informant‐facing questionnaire that assesses sensitivity to expressive behavior. Overall, average SN effective connectivity for bvFTD patients differs from healthy older adults in cortical, hypothalamic, and thalamic nodes. For the majority of healthy individuals, strong periaqueductal gray (PAG) output to right cortical (p < .01) and thalamic nodes (p < .05), but not PAG output to other central pattern generators contributed to sensitivity to socioemotional cues. This effect did not exist for the majority of bvFTD patients; PAG output toward other SN nodes was weak, and this lack of output negatively influenced socioemotional sensitivity. Instead, input to the left vAI from other SN nodes supported patients' sensitivity to others' socioemotional behavior (p < .05), though less effectively. The key role of PAG output to cortical and thalamic nodes for socioemotional sensitivity suggests that its core functions, that is, generating autonomic changes in the body, and moreover representing the internal state of the body, is necessary for optimal social responsiveness, and its breakdown is central to bvFTD patients' social behavior deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe G Rijpma
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Winson F Z Yang
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Gianina Toller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Giovanni Battistella
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Arseny A Sokolov
- Département des Neurosciences Cliniques, Neuroscape@NeuroTech Platform, Service de Neuropsychologie et de Neuroréhabilitation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Virginia E Sturm
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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35
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Beutler S, Mertens YL, Ladner L, Schellong J, Croy I, Daniels JK. Trauma-related dissociation and the autonomic nervous system: a systematic literature review of psychophysiological correlates of dissociative experiencing in PTSD patients. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2132599. [PMID: 36340007 PMCID: PMC9635467 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2022.2132599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurophysiological models link dissociation (e.g. feeling detached during or after a traumatic event) to hypoarousal. It is currently assumed that the initial passive reaction to a threat may coincide with a blunted autonomic response, which constitutes the dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objective: Within this systematic review we summarize research which evaluates autonomic nervous system activation (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure) and dissociation in PTSD patients to discern the validity of current neurophysiological models of trauma-related hypoarousal. Method: Of 553 screened articles, 28 studies (N = 1300 subjects) investigating the physiological response to stress provocation or trauma-related interventions were included in the final analysis. Results: No clear trend exists across all measured physiological markers in trauma-related dissociation. Extracted results are inconsistent, in part due to high heterogeneity in experimental methodology. Conclusion: The current review is unable to provide robust evidence that peri- and post-traumatic dissociation are associated with hypoarousal, questioning the validity of distinct psychophysiological profiles in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Beutler
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Yoki L Mertens
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Liliana Ladner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Julia Schellong
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Judith K Daniels
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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36
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Dent E, Davinson N, Wilkie S. The impact of gastrointestinal conditions on psychosocial factors associated with the biopsychosocial model of health: A scoping review. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2021; 14:626-644. [PMID: 34866337 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The increase in the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is an emerging global health concern. Studies of the impact on the lives of individuals living with GI conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) typically focus on biological elements, such as symptomology and treatment efficacy. Comparatively fewer studies have explored the psychological and social aspects of GI conditions, which could provide key information needed to better understand the impact of GI conditions on people and their lived experiences. In this review, existing literature concerning the psychosocial factors and well-being outcomes associated with GI conditions was reviewed using a scoping methodology. Sixty-eight studies were selected for inclusion. Of these studies, the well-being outcomes most frequently addressed, for both IBS and IBD, were quality of life and health-related quality of life, and the most frequently addressed psychosocial factors were social support and coping. These outcomes are largely consistent with those identified for other medical conditions explored using the biopsychosocial model of health, with some exploration of the lived experiences of those with a GI condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dent
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | - Nicola Davinson
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | - Stephanie Wilkie
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
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37
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Nakamura K, Morrison SF. Central sympathetic network for thermoregulatory responses to psychological stress. Auton Neurosci 2021; 237:102918. [PMID: 34823147 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, many types of psychological stressors elicit a variety of sympathoexcitatory responses paralleling the classic fight-or-flight response to a threat to survival, including increased body temperature via brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and cutaneous vasoconstriction, and increased skeletal muscle blood flow via tachycardia and visceral vasoconstriction. Although these responses are usually supportive for stress coping, aberrant sympathetic responses to stress can lead to clinical issues in psychosomatic medicine. Sympathetic stress responses are mediated mostly by sympathetic premotor drives from the rostral medullary raphe region (rMR) and partly by those from the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Hypothalamomedullary descending pathways from the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) to the rMR and RVLM mediate important, stress-driven sympathoexcitatory transmission to the premotor neurons to drive the thermal and cardiovascular responses. The DMH also likely sends an excitatory input to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus to stimulate stress hormone release. Neurons in the DMH receive a stress-related excitation from the dorsal peduncular cortex and dorsal tenia tecta (DP/DTT) in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. By connecting the corticolimbic emotion circuit to the central sympathetic and somatic motor systems, the DP/DTT → DMH pathway plays as the primary mediator of the psychosomatic signaling that drives a variety of sympathetic and behavioral stress responses. These brain regions together with other stress-related regions constitute a central neural network for physiological stress responses. This network model is relevant to understanding the central mechanisms by which stress and emotions affect autonomic regulations of homeostasis and to developing new therapeutic strategies for various stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Shaun F Morrison
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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38
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Brainstem Mechanisms of Pain Modulation: A within-Subjects 7T fMRI Study of Placebo Analgesic and Nocebo Hyperalgesic Responses. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9794-9806. [PMID: 34697093 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0806-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain perception can be powerfully influenced by an individual's expectations and beliefs. Although the cortical circuitry responsible for pain modulation has been thoroughly investigated, the brainstem pathways involved in the modulatory phenomena of placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia remain to be directly addressed. This study used ultra-high-field 7 tesla functional MRI (fMRI) to accurately resolve differences in brainstem circuitry present during the generation of placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia in healthy human participants (N = 25, 12 male). Over 2 successive days, through blinded application of altered thermal stimuli, participants were deceptively conditioned to believe that two inert creams labeled lidocaine (placebo) and capsaicin (nocebo) were acting to modulate their pain relative to a third Vaseline (control) cream. In a subsequent test phase, fMRI image sets were collected while participants were given identical noxious stimuli to all three cream sites. Pain intensity ratings were collected and placebo and nocebo responses determined. Brainstem-specific fMRI analysis revealed altered activity in key pain modulatory nuclei, including a disparate recruitment of the periaqueductal gray (PAG)-rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) pathway when both greater placebo and nocebo effects were observed. Additionally, we found that placebo and nocebo responses differentially activated the parabrachial nucleus but overlapped in engagement of the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus. These data reveal that placebo and nocebo effects are generated through differential engagement of the PAG-RVM pathway, which in concert with other brainstem sites likely influences the experience of pain by modulating activity at the level of the dorsal horn.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding endogenous pain modulatory mechanisms would support development of effective clinical treatment strategies for both acute and chronic pain. Specific brainstem nuclei have long been known to play a central role in nociceptive modulation; however, because of the small size and complex organization of the nuclei, previous neuroimaging efforts have been limited in directly identifying how these subcortical networks interact during the development of antinociceptive and pro-nociceptive effects. We used ultra-high-field fMRI to resolve brainstem structures and measure signal change during placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia. We define overlapping and disparate brainstem circuitry responsible for altering pain perception. These findings extend our understanding of the detailed organization and function of discrete brainstem nuclei involved in pain processing and modulation.
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39
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Rawn KP, Keller PS. Exposure to intimate partner aggression during childhood is associated with blunted skin conductance recovery following stress in early adulthood. Psychophysiology 2021; 59:e13968. [PMID: 34762295 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study examines skin conductance level (SCL) trajectories and childhood exposure to intimate partner aggression (IPA) committed between parents in a sample of college students. Although IPA among parents does not directly involve children, children frequently see or are exposed to IPA first-hand when it occurs. This exposure to IPA increases risks for psychopathology and emotional or behavioral difficulties for children or adolescents later in life. However, research has not yet examined the stress response patterns of individuals exposed to IPA, nor how reactivity to stress may be altered based on this exposure. Participants included 161 college students who completed questionnaires assessing demographics, mental health, and exposure to IPA, and also reported on family functioning and parental drinking habits. Additionally, participants completed a three-minute mirror tracing task followed by a three-minute recovery period while SCL was monitored. Multilevel modeling was used to assess whether frequency or level of exposure to IPA was related to trajectories of SCL. Neither variable was related to SCL trajectories during the mirror-tracing task. However, both frequency and level of exposure were related to SCL trajectories during the recovery period, such that for participants reporting higher levels of either IPA exposure variable, SCL trajectories during recovery declined less rapidly and did not decline to as low of a level compared to participants reporting lower levels of IPA exposure. This blunted SCL recovery may be due to wear and tear from repeated innervation, or a calibrating of the SCL response to adapt to a volatile home environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle P Rawn
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Peggy S Keller
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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40
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A hypothalamomedullary network for physiological responses to environmental stresses. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 23:35-52. [PMID: 34728833 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Various environmental stressors, such as extreme temperatures (hot and cold), pathogens, predators and insufficient food, can threaten life. Remarkable progress has recently been made in understanding the central circuit mechanisms of physiological responses to such stressors. A hypothalamomedullary neural pathway from the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) to the rostral medullary raphe region (rMR) regulates sympathetic outflows to effector organs for homeostasis. Thermal and infection stress inputs to the preoptic area dynamically alter the DMH → rMR transmission to elicit thermoregulatory, febrile and cardiovascular responses. Psychological stress signalling from a ventromedial prefrontal cortical area to the DMH drives sympathetic and behavioural responses for stress coping, representing a psychosomatic connection from the corticolimbic emotion circuit to the autonomic and somatic motor systems. Under starvation stress, medullary reticular neurons activated by hunger signalling from the hypothalamus suppress thermogenic drive from the rMR for energy saving and prime mastication to promote food intake. This Perspective presents a combined neural network for environmental stress responses, providing insights into the central circuit mechanism for the integrative regulation of systemic organs.
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41
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Rahman SS, Mulvihill K, Wood CM, Quah SKL, Horst NK, Clarke HF, Cockcroft GJ, Santangelo AM, Roberts AC. Differential Contribution of Anterior and Posterior Midcingulate Subregions to Distal and Proximal Threat Reactivity in Marmosets. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4765-4780. [PMID: 34076234 PMCID: PMC8408452 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The midcingulate cortex (MCC) is associated with cognition and emotion regulation. Structural and correlational functional evidence suggests that rather than being homogenous, the MCC may have dissociable functions that can be mapped onto distinct subregions. In this study, we use the marmoset monkey to causally investigate the contributions of two proposed subregions of the MCC: the anterior and posterior midcingulate cortices (aMCC and pMCC) to behavioral and cardiovascular correlates of threat processing relevant to anxiety disorders. Transient inactivation of the aMCC decreased anxiety-like responses to a postencounter distal threat, namely an unfamiliar human intruder, while inactivation of the pMCC showed a mild but opposing effect. Furthermore, although inactivation of neither MCC subregions had any effect on basal cardiovascular activity, aMCC inactivation blunted the expression of both cardiovascular and behavioral conditioned responses to a predictable proximal threat (a rubber snake) during the extinction in a Pavlovian conditioning task, with pMCC inactivation having again an opposing effect, but primarily on the behavioral response. These findings suggest that the MCC is indeed functionally heterogeneous with regards to its role in threat processing, with aMCC providing a marked facilitative contribution to the expression of the emotional response to both proximal and distal threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sufia S Rahman
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Kevin Mulvihill
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Christian M Wood
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Shaun K L Quah
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Nicole K Horst
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Hannah F Clarke
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Gemma J Cockcroft
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Andrea M Santangelo
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Angela C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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42
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Kerkenberg N, Wachsmuth L, Zhang M, Schettler C, Ponimaskin E, Faber C, Baune BT, Zhang W, Hohoff C. Brain microstructural changes in mice persist in adulthood and are modulated by the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:5951-5967. [PMID: 34355442 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
For a long time, mice have been classified as adults with completely mature brains at 8 weeks of age, but recent research suggests that developmental brain changes occur for up to 6 months. In particular, adolescence coincides with dramatic changes of neuronal structure and function in the brain that influence the connectivity between areas like hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Neuronal development and plasticity are regulated in part by the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7, which modulates structural connectivity between hippocampus and mPFC. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether developmental changes take place in hippocampus and mPFC microstructure even after 8 weeks of age and whether deficiency of ZDHHC7 impacts such age-dependent alterations. Altogether, 46 mice at 11, 14 or 17 weeks of age with a genetic Zdhhc7 knockout (KO) or wild type (WT) were analysed with neuroimaging and diffusion tensor-based fibre tractography. The hippocampus and mPFC regions were compared regarding fibre metrics, supplemented by volumetric and immunohistological analyses of the hippocampus. In WT animals, we identified age-dependent changes in hippocampal fibre lengths that followed a U-shaped pattern, whereas in mPFC, changes were linear. In Zdhhc7-deficient animals, the fibre statistics were reduced in both regions, whereas the hippocampus volume and the intensities of myelin and neurofilament were higher in 11-week-old KO mice compared to WTs. Our results confirmed ongoing changes of microstructure in mice up to 17 weeks old and demonstrate that deleting the Zdhhc7 gene impairs fibre development, suggesting that palmitoylation is important in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kerkenberg
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lydia Wachsmuth
- Clinic of Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Evgeni Ponimaskin
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cornelius Faber
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Clinic of Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christa Hohoff
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Mills EP, Keay KA, Henderson LA. Brainstem Pain-Modulation Circuitry and Its Plasticity in Neuropathic Pain: Insights From Human Brain Imaging Investigations. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2021; 2:705345. [PMID: 35295481 PMCID: PMC8915745 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.705345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute pain serves as a protective mechanism that alerts us to potential tissue damage and drives a behavioural response that removes us from danger. The neural circuitry critical for mounting this behavioural response is situated within the brainstem and is also crucial for producing analgesic and hyperalgesic responses. In particular, the periaqueductal grey, rostral ventromedial medulla, locus coeruleus and subnucleus reticularis dorsalis are important structures that directly or indirectly modulate nociceptive transmission at the primary nociceptive synapse. Substantial evidence from experimental animal studies suggests that plasticity within this system contributes to the initiation and/or maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain, and may even predispose individuals to developing chronic pain. Indeed, overwhelming evidence indicates that plasticity within this circuitry favours pro-nociception at the primary synapse in neuropathic pain conditions, a process that ultimately contributes to a hyperalgesic state. Although experimental animal investigations have been crucial in our understanding of the anatomy and function of the brainstem pain-modulation circuitry, it is vital to understand this system in acute and chronic pain states in humans so that more effective treatments can be developed. Recent functional MRI studies have identified a key role of this system during various analgesic and hyperalgesic responses including placebo analgesia, offset analgesia, attentional analgesia, conditioned pain modulation, central sensitisation and temporal summation. Moreover, recent MRI investigations have begun to explore brainstem pain-modulation circuitry plasticity in chronic neuropathic pain conditions and have identified altered grey matter volumes and functioning throughout the circuitry. Considering the findings from animal investigations, it is likely that these changes reflect a shift towards pro-nociception that ultimately contributes to the maintenance of neuropathic pain. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the human brain imaging investigations that have improved our understanding of the pain-modulation system in acute pain states and in neuropathic conditions. Our interpretation of the findings from these studies is often guided by the existing body of experimental animal literature, in addition to evidence from psychophysical investigations. Overall, understanding the plasticity of this system in human neuropathic pain conditions alongside the existing experimental animal literature will ultimately improve treatment options.
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44
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Peinkhofer C, Martial C, Cassol H, Laureys S, Kondziella D. The evolutionary origin of near-death experiences: a systematic investigation. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab132. [PMID: 34240053 PMCID: PMC8260963 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Near-death experiences are known from all parts of the world, various times and
numerous cultural backgrounds. This universality suggests that near-death
experiences may have a biological origin and purpose. Adhering to a
preregistered protocol, we investigate the hypothesis that thanatosis, aka
death-feigning, a last-resort defense mechanism in animals, is the evolutionary
origin of near-death experiences. We first show that thanatosis is a highly
preserved survival strategy occurring at all major nodes in a cladogram ranging
from insects to humans. We then show that humans under attack by animal, human
and ‘modern’ predators can experience both thanatosis and
near-death experiences, and we further show that the phenomenology and the
effects of the two overlap. In summary, we build a line of evidence suggesting
that thanatosis is the evolutionary foundation of near-death experiences and
that their shared biological purpose is the benefit of survival. We propose that
the acquisition of language enabled humans to transform these events from
relatively stereotyped death-feigning under predatory attacks into the rich
perceptions that form near-death experiences and extend to non-predatory
situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Peinkhofer
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Martial
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Helena Cassol
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Daniel Kondziella
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
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45
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Weis CN, Bennett KP, Huggins AA, Parisi EA, Gorka SM, Larson C. A 7-Tesla MRI Study of the Periaqueductal Grey: Resting State and Task Activation Under Threat. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 17:187-197. [PMID: 34244809 PMCID: PMC8847906 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The periaqueductal grey (PAG) is a region of the midbrain implicated in a variety of behaviors including defensive responses to threat. Despite the wealth of knowledge pertaining to the differential functional roles of the PAG columns in nonhuman and human research, the basic functional connectivity of the PAG at rest has not been well characterized. Therefore, the current study utilized 7-Tesla MRI to characterize PAG functional connectivity at rest and task activation under uncertain threat. A sample of 53 neurologically healthy undergraduate participants (Mage=22.2, SDage=3.62) underwent structural and resting state functional MRI scans. Supporting previous work, voxel-wise analyses showed the PAG is functionally connected to emotion regulation and fear networks. Comparison of functional connectivity of PAG columns did not reveal any significant differences. Thirty-five participants from the same sample also completed an uncertain threat task with blocks of 3 conditions-No shock, Predictable shock, and Unpredictable shock. There were no robust activity differences within the PAG columns or the whole PAG across conditions, though there was differential activity at the voxel level in the PAG and in other regions theoretically relevant to uncertain threat. Results of this study elucidate PAG connectivity at rest and activation in response to uncertain threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carissa N Weis
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Ashley A Huggins
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Parisi
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Stephanie M Gorka
- The Ohio State University, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christine Larson
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Yu W, Caira CM, Del R Rivera Sanchez N, Moseley GA, Kash TL. Corticotropin-releasing factor neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis exhibit sex-specific pain encoding in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12500. [PMID: 34127705 PMCID: PMC8203647 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91672-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) plays an emerging role in pain regulation. Pharmacological studies have found that inhibiting corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling in the BNST can selectively mitigate the sensory and affective-motivational components of pain. However, mechanistic insight on the source of CRF that drives BNST responses to these harmful experiences remains unknown. In the present study, we used a series of genetic approaches to show that CRF in the BNST is engaged in the processing and modulation of pain. We conducted cell-type specific in vivo calcium imaging in CRF-Cre mice and found robust and synchronized recruitment of BNSTCRF neurons during acute exposures to noxious heat. Distinct patterns of recruitment were observed by sex, as the magnitude and timing of heat responsive activity in BNSTCRF neurons differed for male and female mice. We then used a viral approach in Floxed-CRF mice to selectively reduce CRF expression in the BNST and found it decreased nociceptive sensitivity for both sexes and increased paw attending for females. Together, these findings reveal that CRF in the BNST influences multiple facets of the pain experience to impact the sex-specific expression of pain-related behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waylin Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, CB 7178 Thurston Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Christina M Caira
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, CB 7178 Thurston Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Natalia Del R Rivera Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, CB 7178 Thurston Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Garrett A Moseley
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, CB 7178 Thurston Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, CB 7178 Thurston Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Kerkenberg N, Hohoff C, Zhang M, Lang I, Schettler C, Ponimaskin E, Wachsmuth L, Faber C, Baune BT, Zhang W. Acute stress reveals different impacts in male and female Zdhhc7-deficient mice. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1613-1626. [PMID: 33880616 PMCID: PMC8096773 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02275-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Numerous processes of neuronal development and synaptic plasticity in the brain rely on the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7, as it palmitoylates various synaptic and extrasynaptic proteins such as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors. In addition, ZDHHC7 palmitoylates sex steroid hormone receptors and is, therefore, indirectly linked to mental disorders that often occur because of or in conjunction with stress. In this work, we investigated how ZDHHC7 affects stress responses in mice. For this purpose, genetically modified mice with a knockout of the Zdhhc7 gene (KO) and wild-type (WT) littermates of both sexes were exposed to acute stressors or control conditions and examined with regard to their behavior, brain microstructure, gene expression, and synaptic plasticity. While no behavioral effects of acute stress were found, we did find that acute stress caused reduced mRNA levels of Esr1 and Esr2 coding for estrogen receptor α and β in the medial prefrontal cortex of male WT and KO mice. Strikingly, after acute stress only male KO mice showed reduced mean fiber lengths of the medioventral hippocampus. Furthermore, Zdhhc7-deficiency impaired synaptic plasticity in mice of both sexes, while acute stress improved it in females, but not in male mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZDHHC7 plays a modulatory role in the brain that leads to sex-specific stress responses, possibly due to estrogen receptor-mediated signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kerkenberg
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Christa Hohoff
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ilona Lang
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Evgeni Ponimaskin
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lydia Wachsmuth
- Clinic of Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Cornelius Faber
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Clinic of Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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Kuwaki T. Orexin (hypocretin) participates in central autonomic regulation during fight-or-flight response. Peptides 2021; 139:170530. [PMID: 33741478 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Our daily life does not only involve a calm resting state but is rather full of perturbations that induce active states such as moving, eating, and communicating. During such active conditions, cardiorespiratory regulation should be adjusted according to bodily demand, which differs from that during the resting state, by modulating or resetting the operating point. To explore neural mechanisms in the state-dependent adjustment of central autonomic regulation, my research group has recently focused on the fight-or-flight response because the stressor induces not only cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes but also autonomic changes. In this brief review, I will summarize our discovery using orexin knockout mice and orexin neuron-ablated mice for the possible contribution of orexin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide, to the state-dependent adjustment of the central autonomic regulation. In addition, I will introduce some recent discovery using optogenetic manipulation of the orexin and related systems. The diversity of synaptic control of the cardiovascular and respiratory neurons appears necessary for animals to adapt themselves to ever-changing life circumstances and behavioral states. The orexin system is likely to function as one of the essential modulators for coordinating the circuits controlling autonomic functions and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Kuwaki
- Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan.
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The self in context: brain systems linking mental and physical health. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:309-322. [PMID: 33790441 PMCID: PMC8447265 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00446-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that mental health and physical health are linked by neural systems that jointly regulate somatic physiology and high-level cognition. Key systems include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the related default-mode network. These systems help to construct models of the 'self-in-context', compressing information across time and sensory modalities into conceptions of the underlying causes of experience. Self-in-context models endow events with personal meaning and allow predictive control over behaviour and peripheral physiology, including autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune function. They guide learning from experience and the formation of narratives about the self and one's world. Disorders of mental and physical health, especially those with high co-occurrence and convergent alterations in the functionality of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the default-mode network, could benefit from interventions focused on understanding and shaping mindsets and beliefs about the self, illness and treatment.
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Ross AJ, Roule AL, Deveney CM, Towbin KE, Brotman MA, Leibenluft E, Tseng WL. A preliminary study on functional activation and connectivity during frustration in youths with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2021; 23:263-273. [PMID: 32790927 PMCID: PMC8074834 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Frustration is associated with impaired attention, heightened arousal, and greater unhappiness in youths with bipolar disorder (BD) vs healthy volunteers (HV). Little is known about functional activation and connectivity in the brain of BD youths in response to frustration. This exploratory study compared BD youths and HV on attentional abilities, self-reported affect, and functional activation and connectivity during a frustrating attention task. METHODS Twenty BD (Mage = 15.86) and 20 HV (Mage = 15.55) youths completed an fMRI paradigm that differentiated neural responses during processing of frustrating feedback from neural responses during attention orienting following frustrating feedback. We examined group differences in (a) functional connectivity using amygdala, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and striatum as seeds and (b) whole-brain and regions of interest (amygdala, IFG, striatum) activation. We explored task performance (accuracy, reaction time), self-reported frustration and unhappiness, and correlations between these variables and irritability, depressive, and manic symptoms. RESULTS Bipolar disorder youths, relative to HV, exhibited positive IFG-ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) connectivity yet failed to show negative striatum-insula connectivity during feedback processing. Irritability symptoms were positively associated with striatum-insula connectivity during feedback processing. Moreover, BD vs HV youths showed positive IFG-parahippocampal gyrus (PHG)/periaqueductal gray (PAG) connectivity and negative amygdala-cerebellum connectivity during attention orienting following frustration. BD was not associated with atypical activation patterns. CONCLUSIONS Positive IFG-vmPFC connectivity and striatum-insula decoupling in BD during feedback processing may mediate heightened sensitivity to reward-relevant stimuli. Elevated IFG-PAG/PHG connectivity in BD following frustration may suggest greater recruitment of attention network to regulate arousal and maintain goal-directed behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Ross
- Emotion and Development Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra L Roule
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Kenneth E Towbin
- Emotion and Development Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Melissa A Brotman
- Emotion and Development Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ellen Leibenluft
- Emotion and Development Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wan-Ling Tseng
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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