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Larsen LE, Caestecker S, Stevens L, van Mierlo P, Carrette E, Boon P, Vonck K, Raedt R. Hippocampal seizures differentially modulate locus coeruleus activity and result in consistent time-locked release of noradrenaline in rat hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 189:106355. [PMID: 37977430 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small brainstem nucleus and is the sole source of noradrenaline in the neocortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Noradrenaline is a powerful neuromodulator involved in the regulation of excitability and plasticity of large-scale brain networks. In this study, we performed a detailed assessment of the activity of locus coeruleus neurons and changes in noradrenergic transmission during acute hippocampal seizures evoked with perforant path stimulation, using state-of-the-art methodology. Action potentials of LC neurons, of which some were identified by means of optogenetics, were recorded in anesthetized rats using a multichannel high-density electrophysiology probe. The seizure-induced change in firing rate differed between LC neurons: 55% of neurons decreased in firing rate during seizures, while 28% increased their firing rate. Topographic analysis of multi-unit activity over the electrophysiology probe showed a topographic clustering of neurons that were inhibited or excited during seizures. Changes in hippocampal noradrenaline transmission during seizures were assessed using a fluorescent biosensor for noradrenaline, GRABNE2m, in combination with fiber photometry, in both anesthetized and awake rats. Although our neuronal recordings indicated both inhibition and excitation of LC neurons during seizures, a consistent release of noradrenaline was observed. Concentrations of noradrenaline increased at seizure onset and decreased during or shortly after the seizure. In conclusion, this study showed consistent but heterogeneous modulation of LC neurons and a consistent time-locked release of hippocampal noradrenaline during acute hippocampal seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Emil Larsen
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Medical Image and Signal Processing, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sielke Caestecker
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Latoya Stevens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Department of Medical Oncology/Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Oncology (LMMO), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Pieter van Mierlo
- Medical Image and Signal Processing, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Evelien Carrette
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Paul Boon
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kristl Vonck
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Robrecht Raedt
- 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Patodia S, Somani A, Thom M. Review: Neuropathology findings in autonomic brain regions in SUDEP and future research directions. Auton Neurosci 2021; 235:102862. [PMID: 34411885 PMCID: PMC8455454 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autonomic dysfunction is implicated from clinical, neuroimaging and experimental studies in sudden and unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Neuropathological analysis in SUDEP series enable exploration of acquired, seizure-related cellular adaptations in autonomic and brainstem autonomic centres of relevance to dysfunction in the peri-ictal period. Alterations in SUDEP compared to control groups have been identified in the ventrolateral medulla, amygdala, hippocampus and central autonomic regions. These involve neuropeptidergic, serotonergic and adenosine systems, as well as specific regional astroglial and microglial populations, as potential neuronal modulators, orchestrating autonomic dysfunction. Future research studies need to extend to clinically and genetically characterized epilepsies, to explore if common or distinct pathways of autonomic dysfunction mediate SUDEP. The ultimate objective of SUDEP research is the identification of disease biomarkers for at risk patients, to improve post-mortem recognition and disease categorisation, but ultimately, for exposing potential treatment targets of pharmacologically modifiable and reversible cellular alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smriti Patodia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Alyma Somani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Maria Thom
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Patodia S, Tan I, Ellis M, Somani A, Scheffer IE, Sisodiya SM, Thom M. Medullary tyrosine hydroxylase catecholaminergic neuronal populations in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Brain Pathol 2020; 31:133-143. [PMID: 32852867 PMCID: PMC8018054 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is mechanistically complex and one probable cause is seizure‐related respiratory dysfunction. Medullary respiratory regulatory nuclei include the pre‐Bötzinger complex (pre‐BötC) in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM), the medullary raphé nuclei (MR) and nucleus of solitary tract in the dorsomedial medulla (DMM). The region of the VLM also contains intermingled tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catecholaminergic neurones which directly project to the pre‐BötC and regulate breathing under hypoxic conditions and our aim was to evaluate these neurones in SUDEP cases. In post‐mortem cases from three groups [SUDEP (18), epilepsy controls (8) and non‐epilepsy controls (16)] serial sections of medulla (obex + 2 to + 13 mm) were immunolabeled for TH. Three regions of interest (ROI) were outlined (VLM, DMM and MR) and TH‐immunoreactive (TH‐IR) neurones were evaluated using automated detection for overall labeling index (neurones and processes) and neuronal densities and compared between groups and relative to obex level. C‐fos immunoreactivity was also semi‐quantitatively evaluated in these regions. We found no significant difference in the density of TH‐IR neurones or labeling index between the groups in all regions. Significantly more TH‐IR neurones were present in the DMM region than VLM in non‐epilepsy cases only (P < 0.01). Regional variations in TH‐IR neurones with obex level were seen in all groups except SUDEP. We also identified occasional TH neurones in the MR region in all groups. There was significantly less c‐fos labeling in the VLM and MR in SUDEP than non‐epilepsy controls but no difference with epilepsy controls. In conclusion, in this series we found no evidence for alteration of total medullary TH‐IR neuronal numbers in SUDEP but noted some differences in their relative distribution in the medulla and c‐fos neurones compared to control groups which may be relevant to the mechanism of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smriti Patodia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 2BG, UK
| | - Ian Tan
- Department of Clinical and Experimental epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 2BG, UK
| | - Matthew Ellis
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alyma Somani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 2BG, UK
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 2BG, UK.,Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Bucks, SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Maria Thom
- Department of Clinical and Experimental epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 2BG, UK.,School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Bhandare AM, Kapoor K, Farnham MM, Pilowsky PM. Microglia PACAP and glutamate: Friends or foes in seizure-induced autonomic dysfunction and SUDEP? Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2016; 226:39-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Gaykema RPA, Goehler LE. Ascending caudal medullary catecholamine pathways drive sickness-induced deficits in exploratory behavior: brain substrates for fatigue? Brain Behav Immun 2011; 25:443-60. [PMID: 21075199 PMCID: PMC3039108 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2010.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Revised: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune challenges can lead to marked behavioral changes, including fatigue, reduced social interest, anorexia, and somnolence, but the precise neuronal mechanisms that underlie sickness behavior remain elusive. Part of the neurocircuitry influencing behavior associated with illness likely includes viscerosensory nuclei located in the caudal brainstem, based on findings that inactivation of the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) can prevent social withdrawal. These brainstem nuclei contribute multiple neuronal projections that target different components of autonomic and stress-related neurocircuitry. In particular, catecholaminergic neurons in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and DVC target the hypothalamus and drive neuroendocrine responses to immune challenge, but their particular role in sickness behavior is not known. To test whether this catecholamine pathway also mediates sickness behavior, we compared effects of DVC inactivation with targeted lesion of the catecholamine pathway on exploratory behavior, which provides an index of motivation and fatigue, and associated patterns of brain activation assessed by immunohistochemical detection of c-Fos protein. LPS treatment dramatically reduced exploratory behavior, and produced a pattern of increased c-Fos expression in brain regions associated with stress and autonomic adjustments paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), central amygdala (CEA), whereas activation was reduced in regions involved in exploratory behavior (hippocampus, dorsal striatum, ventral tuberomammillary nucleus, and ventral tegmental area). Both DVC inactivation and catecholamine lesion prevented reductions in exploratory behavior and completely blocked the inhibitory LPS effects on c-Fos expression in the behavior-associated regions. In contrast, LPS-induced activation in the CEA and BST was inhibited by DVC inactivation but not by catecholamine lesion. The findings support the idea that parallel pathways from immune-sensory caudal brainstem sources target distinct populations of forebrain neurons that likely mediate different aspects of sickness. The caudal medullary catecholaminergic projections to the hypothalamus may significantly contribute to brain mechanisms that induce behavioral "fatigue" in the context of physiological stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald P A Gaykema
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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Gaykema RPA, Daniels TE, Shapiro NJ, Thacker GC, Park SM, Goehler LE. Immune challenge and satiety-related activation of both distinct and overlapping neuronal populations in the brainstem indicate parallel pathways for viscerosensory signaling. Brain Res 2009; 1294:61-79. [PMID: 19646973 PMCID: PMC2748103 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.07.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2009] [Revised: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/22/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Caudal brainstem viscerosensory nuclei convey information about the body's internal state to forebrain regions implicated in feeding behavior and responses to immune challenge, and may modulate ingestive behavior following immune activation. Illness-induced appetite loss might be attributed to accentuated "satiety" pathways, activation of a distinct "danger channel" separate from satiety pathways, or both. To evaluate neural substrates that could mediate the effects of illness on ingestive behavior, we analyzed the pattern and phenotypes of medullary neurons responsive to consumption of a preferred food, sweetened milk, and to intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide challenge that reduced sweetened milk intake. Brainstem sections were stained for c-Fos, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) immunoreactivity. Sweetened milk intake activated many neurons throughout the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), including A2 noradrenergic neurons in the caudal half of the NTS. LPS challenge activated a similar population of neurons in the NTS, in addition to rostral C2 adrenergic and mid-level A2 noradrenergic neurons in the NTS, many C1 and A1 neurons in the ventrolateral medulla, and in GLP-1 neurons in the dorsal medullary reticular nucleus. Increased numbers of activated GLP-1 neurons in the NTS were only associated with sweetened milk ingestion. Evidence for parallel processing was reflected in the parabrachial nucleus, where sweetened milk intake resulted in activation of the inner external lateral, ventrolateral and central medial portions, whereas LPS challenge induced c-Fos expression in the outer external lateral portions. Thus, signals generated in response to potentially dangerous physiological conditions seem to be propagated via specific populations of catecholaminergic neurons in the NTS and VLM, and likely include a pathway through the external lateral PBN. The data indicate that immune challenge engages multiple ascending neural pathways including both a distinct catecholaminergic "danger" pathway, and a possibly multimodal pathway derived from the NTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald P A Gaykema
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Behavior, Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800782 Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782, USA
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Cucchiaro G, Commons KG. Alpha 4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit links cholinergic to brainstem monoaminergic neurotransmission. Synapse 2003; 49:195-205. [PMID: 12774304 DOI: 10.1002/syn.10218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Agonists of nicotinic receptors containing the alpha4-subunit produce antinociception accompanied by several adverse side effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of the alpha4-subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in brainstem monoaminergic nuclei that may contribute to these effects using dual labeling immunofluorescence methods. The alpha4-subunit immunoreactivity was enriched in serotonergic (nucleus raphe magnus, pallidus, obscurus, and dorsalis) and noradrenergic (A5, locus coeruleus (LC), A7) areas associated with antinociception, where it was commonly colocalized with serotonin (5-HT) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity. However, it was also noted that alpha4 was present in all other brainstem monoaminergic nuclei examined (adrenergic C1-C3, noradrenergic A1-alpha4, dopamine A9 and A10, nucleus raphe medianus). To determine if alpha4 agonists could impact neural activity in brainstem, monoaminergic nuclei that are associated with antinociception, the expression of c-Fos in response to the systemic administration of epibatidine (2.5, 5, or 10 microg/kg) was examined. Epibatidine produced a robust (2-5-fold) increase in c-Fos expression, which was not dose dependent, in all of these areas examined except the nucleus raphe magnus. These results suggest that the alpha4 subunit is positioned to mediate the effects of acetylcholine widely across many, if not all, monoaminergic neurons in the brainstem. These observations emphasize the potential involvement of noradrenergic, as well as serotonergic mechanisms in epibatidine's analgesic effects, and they also suggest that even selective alpha4 ligand may have widespread effects on brain monoamine neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cucchiaro
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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Weinshenker D, Szot P. The role of catecholamines in seizure susceptibility: new results using genetically engineered mice. Pharmacol Ther 2002; 94:213-33. [PMID: 12113799 DOI: 10.1016/s0163-7258(02)00218-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine are abundant in the CNS, and modulate neuronal excitability via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. This review covers the history of research concerning the role of catecholamines in modulating seizure susceptibility in animal models of epilepsy. Traditionally, most work on this topic has been anatomical, pharmacological, or physiological in nature. However, the recent advances in transgenic and knockout mouse technology provide new tools to study catecholamines and their roles in seizure susceptibility. New results from genetically engineered mice with altered catecholamine signaling, as well as possibilities for future experiments, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Weinshenker
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Box 357370, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Abstract
The extended amygdala is a group of structures including the central and medial amygdaloid nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and sublenticular substantia innominata. This group of structures is thought to be important in a variety of psychiatric disorders, many of which are linked in one way or another to monoamines and their transporters. However, not much is known about the distribution of these molecules in the primate extended amygdala. Thus, we mapped the distribution of fibers immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, serotonin, dopamine transporter, and serotonin transporter in the brains of macaque monkeys. Tyrosine hydroxylase-, serotonin-, and serotonin transporter-immunoreactive fibers were found in highest concentrations in the lateral division of the central nucleus and lateral dorsal part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers were found in the highest concentration in the lateral ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Dopamine transporter-immunoreactive fibers were found in the highest concentrations in the lateral juxtacapsular and lateral dorsal capsular subnuclei of the bed nucleus and lateral capsular subnucleus of the central amygdaloid nucleus, though in much lower amounts than was present in the striatum. These results suggest prominent roles for these transmitters, particularly in the lateral dorsal bed nucleus and lateral part of the central nucleus. The relative absence of dopamine transporter in the extended amygdala suggests that this transmitter acts more through volume transmission while serotonin, which is generally accompanied by proportionate amounts of transporter, may act more like a classical neurotransmitter. In addition, the finding of heavy concentrations of dopamine- and serotonin-immunoreactive fibers in the lateral central nucleus and lateral dorsal bed nucleus lends further support to the idea of these areas as parallels in some respects to the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Freedman
- Department of Neurology, Yerkes Primate Center, 954 Gatewood Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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