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García-Hernández S, Rubio ME. Role of GluA4 in the acoustic and tactile startle responses. Hear Res 2022; 414:108410. [PMID: 34915397 PMCID: PMC8776314 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The primary startle response (SR) is an innate reaction evoked by sudden and intense acoustic, tactile or visual stimuli. In rodents and humans the SR involves reflexive contractions of the face, neck and limb muscles. The acoustic startle response (ASR) pathway consists of auditory nerve fibers (AN), cochlear root neurons (CRNs) and giant neurons of the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC), which synapse on cranial and spinal motor neurons. The tactile startle response (TSR) is transmitted by primary sensory neurons to the principal sensory (Pr5) and spinal (Sp5) trigeminal nuclei. The ventral part of Pr5 projects directly to the PnC neurons. The SR requires rapid transmission of sensory information to initiate a fast motor response. Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR) are necessary to transmit auditory information to the PnC neurons and elicit the SR. AMPARs containing the glutamate AMPAR subunit 4 (GluA4) have fast kinetics, which makes them ideal candidates to transmit the SR signal. This study examined the role of GluA4 within the primary SR pathway by using GluA4 knockout (GluA4-KO) mice. Deletion of GluA4 considerably decreased the amplitude and probability of successful ASR and TSR, indicating that the presence of this subunit is critical at a common station within the startle pathway. We conclude that deletion of GluA4 affects the transmission of sensory signals from acoustic and tactile pathways to the motor component of the startle reflex. Therefore, GluA4 is required for the full response and for reliable elicitation of the startle response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía García-Hernández
- Corresponding authors. Sofía García-Hernández, María E. Rubio, Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, BST3 Building, 3501 Fifth Avenue #10016, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, ,
| | - María E. Rubio
- Corresponding authors. Sofía García-Hernández, María E. Rubio, Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, BST3 Building, 3501 Fifth Avenue #10016, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, ,
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Nelson JC, Witze E, Ma Z, Ciocco F, Frerotte A, Randlett O, Foskett JK, Granato M. Acute Regulation of Habituation Learning via Posttranslational Palmitoylation. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2729-2738.e4. [PMID: 32502414 PMCID: PMC8446937 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Habituation is an adaptive learning process that enables animals to adjust innate behaviors to changes in their environment. Despite its well-documented implications for a wide diversity of behaviors, the molecular and cellular basis of habituation learning is not well understood. Using whole-genome sequencing of zebrafish mutants isolated in an unbiased genetic screen, we identified the palmitoyltransferase Huntingtin interacting protein 14 (Hip14) as a critical regulator of habituation learning. We demonstrate that Hip14 regulates depression of sensory inputs onto an identified hindbrain neuron and provide evidence that Hip14 palmitoylates the Shaker-like K+ voltage-gated channel subunit (Kv1.1), thereby regulating Kv1.1 subcellular localization. Furthermore, we show that, like for Hip14, loss of Kv1.1 leads to habituation deficits and that Hip14 is dispensable in development and instead acts acutely to promote habituation. Combined, these results uncover a previously unappreciated role for acute posttranslational palmitoylation at defined circuit components to regulate learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Nelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eric Witze
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhongming Ma
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Francesca Ciocco
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041, USA
| | - Abigaile Frerotte
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041, USA
| | - Owen Randlett
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5310, INSERM U1217, Lyon 69008, France
| | - J Kevin Foskett
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Garner AM, Norton JN, Kinard WL, Kissling GE, Reynolds RP. Vibration-induced Behavioral Responses and Response Threshold in Female C57BL/6 Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2018; 57:447-455. [PMID: 30060780 PMCID: PMC6159678 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-17-00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Despite documented adverse effects, limits for rodent exposure to vibration in the laboratory animal facility have not been established. This study used female C57BL/6 mice to determine the frequencies of vibration at which mice were most sensitive to behavioral changes, the highest magnitude of vibration that would not cause behavioral changes, the behavioral changes that occur in response to vibration, and the extent to which mice habituate to vibration. Mice were exposed to frequencies of vibration between 20 and 190 Hz at accelerations of 0.05 to 1.0 m/s2. Behavioral responses were videorecorded and subsequently scored. Mice showed the most behavioral responses at 1.0 m/s2. At intermediate accelerations of 0.5 and 0.75 m/s2, behavioral responses were most prevalent at frequencies of 70 to 100 Hz. In contrast, at an acceleration of 0.05 m/s2, mice did not show any discernible behavioral response. Behavioral responses induced by the initiation of vibration were transient, generally lasting only 2 to 10 s. Behaviors in awake mice included abrupt freezing of motion, hunched posture, and surveying the cage environment. In mice that were asleep, responses consisted of lifting the head suddenly with or without prior shifting of body position. When exposed to multiple periods of vibration over a short time, responses seemed to decrease. In summary, mice were particularly sensitive to vibration between 70 to 100 Hz, did not respond to the slowest acceleration (0.05 m/s2), and exhibited transient responses at the initiation of vibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Garner
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - John N Norton
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Grace E Kissling
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Randall P Reynolds
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina;,
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Sato T, Shapiro MG, Tsao DY. Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Causes Widespread Cortical Activation via an Indirect Auditory Mechanism. Neuron 2018; 98:1031-1041.e5. [PMID: 29804920 PMCID: PMC8127805 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound has received widespread attention as an emerging technology for targeted, non-invasive neuromodulation based on its ability to evoke electrophysiological and motor responses in animals. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal pattern of ultrasound-induced brain activity that could drive these responses. Here, we address this question by combining focused ultrasound with wide-field optical imaging of calcium signals in transgenic mice. Surprisingly, we find cortical activity patterns consistent with indirect activation of auditory pathways rather than direct neuromodulation at the ultrasound focus. Ultrasound-induced activity is similar to that evoked by audible sound. Furthermore, both ultrasound and audible sound elicit motor responses consistent with a startle reflex, with both responses reduced by chemical deafening. These findings reveal an indirect auditory mechanism for ultrasound-induced cortical activity and movement requiring careful consideration in future development of ultrasonic neuromodulation as a tool in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokazu Sato
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Doris Y Tsao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Lauer AM, Behrens D, Klump G. Acoustic startle modification as a tool for evaluating auditory function of the mouse: Progress, pitfalls, and potential. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 77:194-208. [PMID: 28327385 PMCID: PMC5446932 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic startle response (ASR) modification procedures, especially prepulse inhibition (PPI), are increasingly used as behavioral measures of auditory processing and sensorimotor gating in rodents due to their perceived ease of implementation and short testing times. In practice, ASR and PPI procedures are extremely variable across animals, experimental setups, and studies, and the interpretation of results is subject to numerous caveats and confounding influences. We review considerations for modification of the ASR using acoustic stimuli, and we compare the sensitivity of PPI procedures to more traditional operant psychoacoustic techniques. We also discuss non-auditory variables that must be considered. We conclude that ASR and PPI measures cannot substitute for traditional operant techniques due to their low sensitivity. Additionally, a substantial amount of pilot testing must be performed to properly optimize an ASR modification experiment, negating any time benefit over operant conditioning. Nevertheless, there are some circumstances where ASR measures may be the only option for assessing auditory behavior, such as when testing mouse strains with early-onset hearing loss or learning impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University, 515 Traylor Building, 720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Derik Behrens
- Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Animal Physiology & Behavior Group, Department for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl Von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl Von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Georg Klump
- Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Animal Physiology & Behavior Group, Department for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl Von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl Von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
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Ćosić K, Popović S, Kukolja D, Dropuljić B, Ivanec D, Tonković M. Multimodal analysis of startle type responses. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2016; 129:186-202. [PMID: 26826902 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE This article presents a multimodal analysis of startle type responses using a variety of physiological, facial, and speech features. These multimodal components of the startle type response reflect complex brain-body reactions to a sudden and intense stimulus. Additionally, the proposed multimodal evaluation of reflexive and emotional reactions associated with the startle eliciting stimuli and underlying neural networks and pathways could be applied in diagnostics of different psychiatric and neurological diseases. Different startle type stimuli can be compared in the strength of their elicitation of startle responses, i.e. their potential to activate stress-related neural pathways, underlying biomarkers and corresponding behavioral reactions. METHODS An innovative method for measuring startle type responses using multimodal stimuli and multimodal feature analysis has been introduced. Individual's multimodal reflexive and emotional expressions during startle type elicitation have been assessed by corresponding physiological, speech and facial features on ten female students of psychology. Different startle eliciting stimuli like noise and airblast probes, as well as a variety of visual and auditory stimuli of different valence and arousal levels, based on International Affective Picture System (IAPS) images and/or sounds from International Affective Digitized Sounds (IADS) database, have been designed and tested. Combined together into more complex startle type stimuli, such composite stimuli can potentiate the evoked response of underlying neural networks, and corresponding neurotransmitters and neuromodulators as well; this is referred to as increased power of response elicitation. The intensity and magnitude of multimodal responses to selected startle type stimuli have been analyzed using effect sizes and medians of dominant multimodal features, i.e. skin conductance, eye blink, head movement, speech fundamental frequency and energy. The significance of the observed effects and comparisons between paradigms were evaluated using one-tailed t-tests and ANOVA methods, respectively. Skin conductance response habituation was analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc multiple comparison tests with the Dunn-Šidák correction. RESULTS The results revealed specific physiological, facial and vocal reflexive and emotional responses on selected five stimuli paradigms which included: (1) acoustic startle probes, (2) airblasts, (3) IAPS images, (4) IADS sounds, and (5) image-sound-airblast composite stimuli. Overall, composite and airblast paradigms resulted in the largest responses across all analyzed features, followed by sound and acoustic startle paradigms, while paradigm using images consistently elicited the smallest responses. In this context, power of response elicitation of the selected stimuli paradigms can be described according to the aggregated magnitude of the participants' multimodal responses. We also observed a habituation effect only in skin conductance response to acoustic startle, airblast and sound paradigms. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a system for paradigm design and stimuli generation, as well as real-time multimodal signal processing and feature calculation. Experimental paradigms for monitoring individual responses to stressful startle type stimuli were designed in order to compare the response elicitation power across various stimuli. The developed system, applied paradigms and obtained results might be useful in further research for evaluation of individuals' multimodal responses when they are faced with a variety of aversive emotional distractors and stressful situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krešimir Ćosić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Siniša Popović
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Davor Kukolja
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branimir Dropuljić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Unska 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dragutin Ivanec
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ivana Lučića 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirjana Tonković
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ivana Lučića 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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7
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Ponce FP, Vogel EH, Wagner AR. The incremental stimulus intensity effect in the habituation of the eyeblink response in humans. LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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α2δ3 is essential for normal structure and function of auditory nerve synapses and is a novel candidate for auditory processing disorders. J Neurosci 2014; 34:434-45. [PMID: 24403143 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3085-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The auxiliary subunit α2δ3 modulates the expression and function of voltage-gated calcium channels. Here we show that α2δ3 mRNA is expressed in spiral ganglion neurons and auditory brainstem nuclei and that the protein is required for normal acoustic responses. Genetic deletion of α2δ3 led to impaired auditory processing, with reduced acoustic startle and distorted auditory brainstem responses. α2δ3(-/-) mice learned to discriminate pure tones, but they failed to discriminate temporally structured amplitude-modulated tones. Light and electron microscopy analyses revealed reduced levels of presynaptic Ca(2+) channels and smaller auditory nerve fiber terminals contacting cochlear nucleus bushy cells. Juxtacellular in vivo recordings of sound-evoked activity in α2δ3(-/-) mice demonstrated impaired transmission at these synapses. Together, our results identify a novel role for the α2δ3 auxiliary subunit in the structure and function of specific synapses in the mammalian auditory pathway and in auditory processing disorders.
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Pilz PKD, Arnold SW, Rischawy AT, Plappert CF. Longterm-habituation of the startle response in mice is stimulus modality, but not context specific. Front Integr Neurosci 2014; 7:103. [PMID: 24409126 PMCID: PMC3885814 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2013.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In mice, the specificity of longterm-habituation (LTH) of startle was tested in two experiments. In two strains of mice (C57Bl/6 and C3H) there was pronounced LTH over 10 days of acoustic stimulation in two different contexts of startle measurement. (We found LTH to be greater after stimulation with 14 kHz sine stimuli compared to noise or tactile stimuli). A change of context showed LTH to be independent of context, i.e., startle LTH in mice is a non-associative learning process. In the second experiment, 9 days of acoustic or tactile stimulation were given to C57B/6 mice. Both stimulus modalities produced LTH. When on the 10th day stimuli of the other modality were given, in both cases the long term habituated group showed no lower startle amplitude than a non-stimulated control group. This indicates LTH is stimulus-modality specific. Altogether, our results show that in mice—very similar to rats—LTH of startle is stimulus modality, but not context specific. In addition we found two indications that the LTH action site is on the sensory branch of the startle circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K D Pilz
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stephan W Arnold
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anja T Rischawy
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Claudia F Plappert
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
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10
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Wolman M, Granato M. Behavioral genetics in larval zebrafish: learning from the young. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 72:366-72. [PMID: 22328273 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the genetic code that determines how the vertebrate nervous system assembles into neural circuits that ultimately control behavior is a fascinating and challenging question in modern neurobiology. Because of the complexity of this problem, successful strategies require a simple yet focused experimental approach without limiting the scope of the discovery. Unbiased, large-scale forward genetic screens in invertebrate organisms have yielded great insight into the genetic regulation of neural circuit assembly and function. For many reasons, this highly successful approach has been difficult to recapitulate in the behavioral neuroscience field's classic vertebrate model organisms-rodents. Here, we discuss how larval zebrafish provide a promising model system to which we can apply the design of invertebrate behavior-based screens to reveal the genetic mechanisms critical for neural circuit assembly and function in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Wolman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058, USA
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Redgrave P, Vautrelle N, Reynolds J. Functional properties of the basal ganglia's re-entrant loop architecture: selection and reinforcement. Neuroscience 2011; 198:138-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Valsamis B, Schmid S. Habituation and prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in rodents. J Vis Exp 2011:e3446. [PMID: 21912367 DOI: 10.3791/3446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The acoustic startle response is a protective response, elicited by a sudden and intense acoustic stimulus. Facial and skeletal muscles are activated within a few milliseconds, leading to a whole body flinch in rodents(1). Although startle responses are reflexive responses that can be reliably elicited, they are not stereotypic. They can be modulated by emotions such as fear (fear potentiated startle) and joy (joy attenuated startle), by non-associative learning processes such as habituation and sensitization, and by other sensory stimuli through sensory gating processes (prepulse inhibition), turning startle responses into an excellent tool for assessing emotions, learning, and sensory gating, for review see( 2, 3). The primary pathway mediating startle responses is very short and well described, qualifying startle also as an excellent model for studying the underlying mechanisms for behavioural plasticity on a cellular/molecular level(3). We here describe a method for assessing short-term habituation, long-term habituation and prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle responses in rodents. Habituation describes the decrease of the startle response magnitude upon repeated presentation of the same stimulus. Habituation within a testing session is called short-term habituation (STH) and is reversible upon a period of several minutes without stimulation. Habituation between testing sessions is called long-term habituation (LTH)(4). Habituation is stimulus specific(5). Prepulse inhibition is the attenuation of a startle response by a preceding non-startling sensory stimulus(6). The interval between prepulse and startle stimulus can vary from 6 to up to 2000 ms. The prepulse can be any modality, however, acoustic prepulses are the most commonly used. Habituation is a form of non-associative learning. It can also be viewed as a form of sensory filtering, since it reduces the organisms' response to a non-threatening stimulus. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) was originally developed in human neuropsychiatric research as an operational measure for sensory gating(7). PPI deficits may represent the interface of "psychosis and cognition" as they seem to predict cognitive impairment(8-10). Both habituation and PPI are disrupted in patients suffering from schizophrenia(11), and PPI disruptions have shown to be, at least in some cases, amenable to treatment with mostly atypical antipsychotics(12, 13). However, other mental and neurodegenerative diseases are also accompanied by disruption in habituation and/or PPI, such as autism spectrum disorders (slower habituation), obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's Disease (PPI)(11, 14, 15) Dopamine induced PPI deficits are a commonly used animal model for the screening of antipsychotic drugs(16), but PPI deficits can also be induced by many other psychomimetic drugs, environmental modifications and surgical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Valsamis
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario
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13
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Lockey AJ, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP. Lipopolysaccharide reduces tactile startle response magnitude but not prepulse inhibition in rats: A dose–response examination. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2009; 93:47-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2009.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2008] [Revised: 03/29/2009] [Accepted: 04/03/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Bickel S, Lipp HP, Umbricht D. Early auditory sensory processing deficits in mouse mutants with reduced NMDA receptor function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008; 33:1680-9. [PMID: 17712349 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia include impairments at automatic, preattentive stages of sensory information processing. These deficits are evident in the prepulse inhibition- (PPI) and habituation of the auditory startle response paradigm, the paired tone paradigm in the EEG, and the peak recovery function of auditory evoked potentials (AEP). Administration of NMDA receptor antagonists reliably disrupts PPI and habituation of the startle, but not gating of AEPs in rodents. In the peak recovery paradigm, patients with schizophrenia and primates treated with NMDA receptor antagonists show reduced maximal response at long interstimulus intervals (ISI), but normal responses at short ISIs. Thus reduced NMDA receptor signalling may underlie alterations in these paradigms observed in schizophrenia. We tested the paradigms mentioned in mouse mutants with reduced expression of the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor (N = 15) and their wild-type littermates (N = 16). The NR1 mutant mice showed impaired habituation and PPI of the auditory startle response, as well as impaired gating in the paired tone paradigm. Deficits between the two gating measures did not correlate, corroborating previous evidence that these paradigms measure distinct processes. In the peak recovery paradigm, the NR1 mutants showed increased responses of the AEPs P1 and N1 at short ISIs but no difference between groups were observed at long ISIs. In conclusion, the NR1 hypomorphic mice modelled sensory and sensorimotor gating and startle habituation deficits observed in schizophrenia, but failed to model alterations in the peak recovery function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Bickel
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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15
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Simons-Weidenmaier NS, Weber M, Plappert CF, Pilz PKD, Schmid S. Synaptic depression and short-term habituation are located in the sensory part of the mammalian startle pathway. BMC Neurosci 2006; 7:38. [PMID: 16684348 PMCID: PMC1479352 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-7-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2005] [Accepted: 05/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Short-term habituation of the startle response represents an elementary form of learning in mammals. The underlying mechanism is located within the primary startle pathway, presumably at sensory synapses on giant neurons in the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC). Short trains of action potentials in sensory afferent fibers induce depression of synaptic responses in PnC giant neurons, a phenomenon that has been proposed to be the cellular correlate for short-term habituation. We address here the question whether both this synaptic depression and the short-term habituation of the startle response are localized at the presynaptic terminals of sensory afferents. If this is confirmed, it would imply that these processes take place prior to multimodal signal integration, rather than occurring at postsynaptic sites on PnC giant neurons that directly drive motor neurons. Results Patch-clamp recordings in vitro were combined with behavioral experiments; synaptic depression was specific for the input pathway stimulated and did not affect signals elicited by other sensory afferents. Concordant with this, short-term habituation of the acoustic startle response in behavioral experiments did not influence tactile startle response amplitudes and vice versa. Further electrophysiological analysis showed that the passive properties of the postsynaptic neuron were unchanged but revealed some alterations in short-term plasticity during depression. Moreover, depression was induced only by trains of presynaptic action potentials and not by single pulses. There was no evidence for transmitter receptor desensitization. In summary, the data indicates that the synaptic depression mechanism is located presynaptically. Conclusion Our electrophysiological and behavioral data strongly indicate that synaptic depression in the PnC as well as short-term habituation are located in the sensory part of the startle pathway, namely at the axon terminals of sensory afferents in the PnC. Our results further corroborate the link between synaptic depression and short-term habituation of the startle response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine S Simons-Weidenmaier
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maruschka Weber
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Physiologisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 9, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia F Plappert
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter KD Pilz
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Plappert CF, Schachner M, Pilz PKD. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM-/-) null mice show impaired sensitization of the startle response. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2006; 5:46-52. [PMID: 16436188 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2005.00132.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays important roles in development of the nervous system and in synaptic plasticity and memory formation in the adult. The present study sought to further investigate the role of NCAM in learning by testing habituation and footshock sensitization learning of the startle response (SR) in NCAM null mutant (NCAM-/-) and wildtype littermate (NCAM+/+) mice. Whereas habituation is a form of non-associative learning, footshock sensitization is induced by rapid contextual fear conditioning. Habituation was tested by repetitive presentation of acoustic and tactile startle stimuli. Although NCAM-/- mice showed differences in sensitivity in both stimulus modalities, habituation learning was intact in NCAM-/- mice, suggesting that NCAM does not play a role in the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in the startle pathway. Footshock sensitization was elicited by presentation of electric footshocks between two series of acoustic stimuli. In contrast to habituation, footshock sensitization learning was attenuated in NCAM-/- mice: the acoustic SR increase after the footshocks was lower in the mutant than in wildtype mice, indicating that NCAM plays an important role in the relevant brain areas, such as amygdala and/or the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Plappert
- Universität Tübingen, Zoologisches Institut, Tübingen, Germany.
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Plappert CF, Pilz PKD. Long-term habituation of the startle response in mice evoked by acoustic and tactile stimuli. Behav Brain Res 2005; 162:307-10. [PMID: 15970224 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2005] [Revised: 03/22/2005] [Accepted: 03/24/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The present study shows that repetitive presentation of tactile and acoustic stimuli evoke long-term habituation (LTH) of the startle response in C57BL/6J mice. This was indicated by a decrease in response strength over several days. For the LTH of the acoustic startle response two controls were included: first, developing hearing loss during the time of testing did not account for the startle decrease--only 7 days of acoustic stimulation but not 7 days of adaptation led to a decrease in the startle. Second, repetitive presentation of loud acoustic startle stimuli did not raise the auditory threshold, which might otherwise have accounted for the startle decrease: prepulse inhibition (used here as a hearing test) was identical after both 7 days of acoustic startle stimulation and 7 days without stimulation. This proves that LTH to tactile and acoustic stimuli is present and fully functional in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia F Plappert
- Tierphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Fakultaet fuer Biologie, Universitaet Tuebingen.
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