1
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Molas S, Williams E, Snively L, O'Meara B, Jacobs H, Kolb M, Zhao-Shea R, Baratta M, Tapper A. Interpeduncular GABAergic neuron function controls threat processing and innate defensive adaptive learning. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4661779. [PMID: 39372946 PMCID: PMC11451651 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4661779/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
The selection of appropriate defensive behaviors in the face of potential threat is fundamental to survival. However, after repeated exposures to threatening stimuli that did not signal real danger, an animal must learn to adjust and optimize defensive behaviors. Despite extensive research on innate threat processing, little is known how individuals change their defensive behaviors when presented with recurrent threat exposures without evidence of a real risk. Insight into this process is critical as its dysregulation may contribute to neuropsychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders. Here, we used the visual looming stimulus (VLS) paradigm in mice to investigate innate threat processing and adaptive defensive learning. Repeated exposure to VLS over consecutive sessions reduced immediate freezing responses and time spent inside a sheltered area upon VLS events, leading to an increase in foraging behaviors. Fiber photometry recordings and optogenetic manipulations revealed that VLS innate adaptive defensive learning is associated with reduced recruitment of the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), a structure associated with fear and anxiety-related behaviors. Functional circuit-mapping identified a role for select IPN projections to the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus in gating defensive learning. Finally, we uncovered a subpopulation of IPN neurons that express the neuropeptide somatostatin and encode safety- and avoidance signals in response to VLS. These results identify critical behavioral signatures of innate defensive responses and a circuit that regulates the essential features of threat processing.
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2
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Gimenez-Gomez P, Le T, Zinter M, M'Angale P, Duran-Laforet V, Freels TG, Pavchinskiy R, Molas S, Schafer DP, Tapper AR, Thomson T, Martin GE. An orbitocortical-thalamic circuit suppresses binge alcohol-drinking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.03.601895. [PMID: 39005328 PMCID: PMC11245026 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.03.601895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption remains a significant global health challenge, causing millions of direct and indirect deaths annually. Intriguingly, recent work has highlighted the prefrontal cortex, a major brain area that regulates inhibitory control of behaviors, whose activity becomes dysregulated upon alcohol abuse. However, whether an endogenous mechanism exists within this brain area that limits alcohol consumption is unknown. Here we identify a discrete GABAergic neuronal ensemble in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) that is selectively recruited during binge alcohol-drinking and intoxication. Upon alcohol intoxication, this neuronal ensemble suppresses binge drinking behavior. Optogenetically silencing of this population, or its ablation, results in uncontrolled binge alcohol consumption. We find that this neuronal ensemble is specific to alcohol and is not recruited by other rewarding substances. We further show, using brain-wide analysis, that this neuronal ensemble projects widely, and that its projections specifically to the mediodorsal thalamus are responsible for regulating binge alcohol drinking. Together, these results identify a brain circuit in the mOFC that serves to protect against binge drinking by halting alcohol intake. These results provide valuable insights into the complex nature of alcohol abuse and offers potential avenues for the development of mOFC neuronal ensemble-targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Gimenez-Gomez
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - T Le
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - M Zinter
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - P M'Angale
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - V Duran-Laforet
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - T G Freels
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - R Pavchinskiy
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - S Molas
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - D P Schafer
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - A R Tapper
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - T Thomson
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - G E Martin
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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3
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Jiang HC, Park SJ, Wang IH, Bear DM, Nowlan A, Greer PL. CD20/MS4A1 is a mammalian olfactory receptor expressed in a subset of olfactory sensory neurons that mediates innate avoidance of predators. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3360. [PMID: 38637611 PMCID: PMC11026480 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47698-3] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian olfactory system detects and discriminates between millions of odorants to elicit appropriate behavioral responses. While much has been learned about how olfactory sensory neurons detect odorants and signal their presence, how specific innate, unlearned behaviors are initiated in response to ethologically relevant odors remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the 4-transmembrane protein CD20, also known as MS4A1, is expressed in a previously uncharacterized subpopulation of olfactory sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium of the murine nasal cavity and functions as a mammalian olfactory receptor that recognizes compounds produced by mouse predators. While wildtype mice avoid these predator odorants, mice genetically deleted of CD20 do not appropriately respond. Together, this work reveals a CD20-mediated odor-sensing mechanism in the mammalian olfactory system that triggers innate behaviors critical for organismal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ching Jiang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Sung Jin Park
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - I-Hao Wang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Daniel M Bear
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra Nowlan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paul L Greer
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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4
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Molas S, Freels TG, Zhao-Shea R, Lee T, Gimenez-Gomez P, Barbini M, Martin GE, Tapper AR. Dopamine control of social novelty preference is constrained by an interpeduncular-tegmentum circuit. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2891. [PMID: 38570514 PMCID: PMC10991551 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47255-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals are inherently motivated to explore social novelty cues over familiar ones, resulting in a novelty preference (NP), although the behavioral and circuit bases underlying NP are unclear. Combining calcium and neurotransmitter sensors with fiber photometry and optogenetics in mice, we find that mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurotransmission is strongly and predominantly activated by social novelty controlling bout length of interaction during NP, a response significantly reduced by familiarity. In contrast, interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) GABAergic neurons that project to the lateral dorsal tegmentum (LDTg) were inhibited by social novelty but activated during terminations with familiar social stimuli. Inhibition of this pathway during NP increased interaction and bout length with familiar social stimuli, while activation reduced interaction and bout length with novel social stimuli via decreasing DA neurotransmission. These data indicate interest towards novel social stimuli is encoded by mesolimbic DA which is dynamically regulated by an IPN→LDTg circuit to control NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Molas
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA.
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder 1480 30th St, Boulder, 80303, CO, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder 1905 Colorado Ave, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA.
| | - Timothy G Freels
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Rubing Zhao-Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Timothy Lee
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Pablo Gimenez-Gomez
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Melanie Barbini
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Gilles E Martin
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA
| | - Andrew R Tapper
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 364 Plantation St, LRB, Worcester, 01605, MA, USA.
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5
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Cook PF, Reichmuth C. An Ecological and Neural Argument for Developing Pursuit-Based Cognitive Enrichment for Sea Lions in Human Care. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:797. [PMID: 38473182 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050797] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
While general enrichment strategies for captive animals attempt to elicit variable and species-typical behaviors, approaches to cognitive enrichment have been disappointingly one-size-fits-all. In this commentary, we address the potential benefit of tailoring cognitive enrichment to the "cognitive niche" of the species, with a particular focus on a reasonably well-studied marine carnivore, the sea lion. Sea lions likely share some cognitive evolutionary pressures with primates, including complex social behavior. Their foraging ecology, however, like that of many terrestrial carnivores, is based on the rapid and behaviorally flexible pursuit of avoidant prey. Unlike terrestrial carnivores, sea lions carry out this pursuit in a truly fluid three-dimensional field, computing and executing sensorimotor transformations from any solid angle to any other. The cognitive demands of flexible prey pursuit are unlikely to be fully elicited by typical stationary puzzle box style foraging enrichment devices or screen-based interactive games. With this species, we recommend exploring more water-based movement activities generally, and complex pursuit challenges specifically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter F Cook
- Social Sciences Division, New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA
| | - Colleen Reichmuth
- Long Marine Laboratory, Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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6
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Wang Q, Wang Y, Tian Y, Li Y, Han J, Tai F, Jia R. Social environment enrichment alleviates anxiety-like behavior in mice: Involvement of the dopamine system. Behav Brain Res 2024; 456:114687. [PMID: 37778421 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114687] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Rearing environment plays a vital role in maintaining physical and mental health of both animals and humans. Plenty of studies have proved that physical environment enrichment in adolescence has protective effects on emotion, social behavior, learning and memory deficits. However, the following effects of social environment enrichment in adolescence remain largely elusive. Using the paradigm of companion rotation (CR), the present study found that social environment enrichment reduced anxiety-like behaviors of early adult male C57BL/6J mice. CR group also showed significantly higher expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the ventral tegmental area and dopamine 1 receptor mRNA in the nucleus accumbens shell than control group. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that CR from adolescence to early adulthood can suppress the level of anxiety and upregulate dopaminergic neuron activity in early adult male C57BL/6J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Wang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Yuqian Wang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Yaoyao Tian
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Jing Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Rui Jia
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Science, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China.
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7
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Klenowski PM, Zhao-Shea R, Freels TG, Molas S, Zinter M, M’Angale P, Xiao C, Martinez-Núñez L, Thomson T, Tapper AR. A neuronal coping mechanism linking stress-induced anxiety to motivation for reward. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh9620. [PMID: 38055830 PMCID: PMC10699782 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Stress coping involves innate and active motivational behaviors that reduce anxiety under stressful situations. However, the neuronal bases directly linking stress, anxiety, and motivation are largely unknown. Here, we show that acute stressors activate mouse GABAergic neurons in the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). Stress-coping behavior including self-grooming and reward behavior including sucrose consumption inherently reduced IPN GABAergic neuron activity. Optogenetic silencing of IPN GABAergic neuron activation during acute stress episodes mimicked coping strategies and alleviated anxiety-like behavior. In a mouse model of stress-enhanced motivation for sucrose seeking, photoinhibition of IPN GABAergic neurons reduced stress-induced motivation for sucrose, whereas photoactivation of IPN GABAergic neurons or excitatory inputs from medial habenula potentiated sucrose seeking. Single-cell sequencing, fiber photometry, and optogenetic experiments revealed that stress-activated IPN GABAergic neurons that drive motivated sucrose seeking express somatostatin. Together, these data suggest that stress induces innate behaviors and motivates reward seeking to oppose IPN neuronal activation as an anxiolytic stress-coping mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Klenowski
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rubing Zhao-Shea
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Timothy G. Freels
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Susanna Molas
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Max Zinter
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Peter M’Angale
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Cong Xiao
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Leonora Martinez-Núñez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Travis Thomson
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Andrew R. Tapper
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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8
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Shan Q, Tian Y, Chen H, Lin X, Tian Y. Reduction in the activity of VTA/SNc dopaminergic neurons underlies aging-related decline in novelty seeking. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1224. [PMID: 38042964 PMCID: PMC10693597 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05571-x] [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: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Curiosity, or novelty seeking, is a fundamental mechanism motivating animals to explore and exploit environments to improve survival, and is also positively associated with cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being in humans. However, curiosity declines as humans age, and the decline even positively predicts the extent of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease patients. Therefore, determining the underlying mechanism, which is currently unknown, is an urgent task for the present aging society that is growing at an unprecedented rate. This study finds that seeking behaviors for both social and inanimate novelties are compromised in aged mice, suggesting that the aging-related decline in curiosity and novelty-seeking is a biological process. This study further identifies an aging-related reduction in the activity (manifesting as a reduction in spontaneous firing) of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Finally, this study establishes that this reduction in activity causally underlies the aging-related decline in novelty-seeking behaviors. This study potentially provides an interventional strategy for maintaining high curiosity in the aged population, i.e., compensating for the reduced activity of VTA/SNc dopaminergic neurons, enabling the aged population to cope more smoothly with the present growing aging society, physically, cognitively and socioeconomically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Shan
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ye Tian
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hang Chen
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoli Lin
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yao Tian
- Chern Institute of Mathematics, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China
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9
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Grizzell JA, Vanbaelinghem M, Westerman J, Saddoris MP. Voluntary alcohol consumption during distinct phases of adolescence differentially alters adult fear acquisition, extinction and renewal in male and female rats. Stress 2023; 26:2278315. [PMID: 37916300 PMCID: PMC11042498 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2278315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use during adolescence coincides with elevated risks of stress-related impairment in adults, particularly via disrupted developmental trajectories of vulnerable corticolimbic and mesolimbic systems involved in fear processing. Prior work has investigated the impact of binge-like alcohol consumption on adult fear and stress, but less is known about whether voluntarily consumed alcohol imparts differential effects based on adolescence phases and biological sex. Here, adolescent male and female Long Evans rats were granted daily access to alcohol (15%) during either early (Early-EtOH; P25-45) or late adolescence (Late-EtOH; P45-55) using a modified drinking-in-the-dark design. Upon adulthood (P75-80), rats were exposed to a three-context (ABC) fear renewal procedure. We found that male and female Early-EtOH rats showed faster acquisition of fear but less freezing during early phases of extinction and throughout fear renewal. In the extinction period specifically, Early-EtOH rats showed normal levels of freezing in the presence of fear-associated cues, but abnormally low freezing immediately after cue offset, suggesting a key disruption in contextual processing and/or novelty seeking brought by early adolescent binge consumption. While the effects of alcohol were most pronounced in the Early-EtOH rats (particularly in females), Late-EtOH rats displayed some changes in fear behavior including slower fear acquisition, faster extinction, and reduced renewal compared with controls, but primarily in males. Our results suggest that early adolescence in males and females and, to a lesser extent, late adolescence in males is a particularly vulnerable period wherein alcohol use can promote stress-related dysfunction in adulthood. Furthermore, our results provide multiple bases for future research focused on developmental correlates of alcohol mediated disruption in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alex Grizzell
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
- Dept of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Maryam Vanbaelinghem
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
| | - Jessica Westerman
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
| | - Michael P Saddoris
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
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10
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Alex Grizzell J, Vanbaelinghem M, Westerman J, Saddoris MP. Voluntary alcohol consumption during distinct phases of adolescence differentially alters adult fear acquisition, extinction and renewal in male and female rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560757. [PMID: 37873067 PMCID: PMC10592894 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use during adolescence coincides with elevated risks of stress-related impairment in adults, particularly via disrupted developmental trajectories of vulnerable corticolimbic and mesolimbic systems involved in fear processing. Prior work has investigated the impact of binge-like alcohol consumption on adult fear and stress, but less is known about whether voluntarily consumed alcohol imparts differential effects based on adolescence phases and biological sex. Here, adolescent male and female Long Evans rats were granted daily access to alcohol (15%) during either early (Early-EtOH; P25-45) or late adolescence (Late-EtOH; P45-55) using a modified drinking-in-the-dark design. Upon adulthood (P75-80), rats were exposed to a three-context (ABC) fear renewal procedure. We found that male and female Early-EtOH rats showed faster acquisition of fear but less freezing during early phases of extinction and throughout fear renewal. In the extinction period specifically, Early-EtOH rats showed normal levels of freezing in the presence of fear-associated cues, but abnormally low freezing immediately after cue offset, suggesting a key disruption in contextual processing and/or novelty seeking brought by early adolescent binge consumption. While the effects of alcohol were most pronounced in the Early-EtOH rats (particularly in females), Late-EtOH rats displayed some changes in fear behavior including slower fear acquisition, faster extinction, and reduced renewal compared with controls, but primarily in males. Our results suggest that early adolescence in males and females and, to a lesser extent, late adolescence in males is a particularly vulnerable period wherein alcohol use can promote stress-related dysfunction in adulthood. Furthermore, our results provide multiple bases for future research focused on developmental correlates of alcohol mediated disruption in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alex Grizzell
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
- Dept of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Maryam Vanbaelinghem
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
| | - Jessica Westerman
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
| | - Michael P Saddoris
- Dept Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO, 80301
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11
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Chung L, Jing M, Li Y, Tapper AR. Feed-forward Activation of Habenula Cholinergic Neurons by Local Acetylcholine. Neuroscience 2023; 529:172-182. [PMID: 37572877 PMCID: PMC10840387 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.07.030] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
While the functional and behavioral role of the medial habenula (MHb) is still emerging, recent data indicate an involvement of this nuclei in regulating mood, aversion, and addiction. Unique to the MHb is a large cluster of cholinergic neurons that project to the interpeduncular nucleus and densely express acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) suggesting that the activity of these cholinergic neurons may be regulated by ACh itself. Whether endogenous ACh from within the habenula regulates cholinergic neuron activity has not been demonstrated. Supporting a role for ACh in modulating MHb activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors increased the firing rate of MHb cholinergic neurons in mouse habenula slices, an effect blocked by AChR antagonists and mediated by ACh which was detected via expressing fluorescent ACh sensors in MHb in vivo. To test if cholinergic afferents innervate MHb cholinergic neurons, we used anterograde and retrograde viral tracing to identify cholinergic inputs. Surprisingly, tracing experiments failed to detect cholinergic inputs into the MHb, including from the septum, suggesting that MHb cholinergic neurons may release ACh within the MHb to drive cholinergic activity. To test this hypothesis, we expressed channelrhodopsin in a portion of MHb cholinergic neurons while recording from non-opsin-expressing neurons. Light pulses progressively increased activity of MHb cholinergic neurons indicating feed-forward activation driven by MHb ACh release. These data indicate MHb cholinergic neurons may utilize a unique feed-forward mechanism to synchronize and increase activity by releasing local ACh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeyup Chung
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept. of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Miao Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 100871 Beijing, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, 102206 Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 100871 Beijing, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, 102206 Beijing, China
| | - Andrew R Tapper
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept. of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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12
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Jiang HC, Park SJ, Wang IH, Bear DM, Nowlan A, Greer PL. CD20 is a mammalian odorant receptor expressed in a subset of olfactory sensory neurons that mediates innate avoidance of predators. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3290152. [PMID: 37790559 PMCID: PMC10543371 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3290152/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian olfactory system detects and discriminates between millions of odorants to elicit appropriate behavioral responses. While much has been learned about how olfactory sensory neurons detect odorants and signal their presence, how specific innate, unlearned behaviors are initiated in response to ethologically relevant odors remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the 4-transmembrane protein CD20, also known as MS4A1, is expressed in a previously uncharacterized subpopulation of olfactory sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium of the murine nasal cavity and functions as a mammalian odorant receptor that recognizes compounds produced by mouse predators. While wild-type mice avoid these predator odorants, mice genetically deleted of CD20 do not appropriately respond. Together, this work reveals a novel CD20-mediated odor-sensing mechanism in the mammalian olfactory system that triggers innate behaviors critical for organismal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ching Jiang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Sung Jin Park
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - I-Hao Wang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Daniel M Bear
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Current Affiliation: Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra Nowlan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Current affiliation: Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paul L Greer
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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13
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Jiang HC, Park SJ, Wang IH, Bear DM, Nowlan A, Greer PL. CD20 is a mammalian odorant receptor expressed in a subset of olfactory sensory neurons that mediates innate avoidance of predators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.08.552498. [PMID: 37609248 PMCID: PMC10441374 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.08.552498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian olfactory system detects and discriminates between millions of odorants to elicit appropriate behavioral responses. While much has been learned about how olfactory sensory neurons detect odorants and signal their presence, how specific innate, unlearned behaviors are initiated in response to ethologically relevant odors remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the 4-transmembrane protein CD20, also known as MS4A1, is expressed in a previously uncharacterized subpopulation of olfactory sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium of the murine nasal cavity and functions as a mammalian odorant receptor that recognizes compounds produced by mouse predators. While wild-type mice avoid these predator odorants, mice genetically deleted of CD20 do not appropriately respond. Together, this work reveals a novel CD20-mediated odor-sensing mechanism in the mammalian olfactory system that triggers innate behaviors critical for organismal survival.
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14
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Ables JL, Park K, Ibañez-Tallon I. Understanding the habenula: A major node in circuits regulating emotion and motivation. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106734. [PMID: 36933754 PMCID: PMC11081310 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, the understanding of the habenula has rapidly advanced from being an understudied brain area with the Latin name 'habena" meaning "little rein", to being considered a "major rein" in the control of key monoaminergic brain centers. This ancient brain structure is a strategic node in the information flow from fronto-limbic brain areas to brainstem nuclei. As such, it plays a crucial role in regulating emotional, motivational, and cognitive behaviors and has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and addiction. This review will summarize recent findings on the medial (MHb) and lateral (LHb) habenula, their topographical projections, cell types, and functions. Additionally, we will discuss contemporary efforts that have uncovered novel molecular pathways and synaptic mechanisms with a focus on MHb-Interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) synapses. Finally, we will explore the potential interplay between the habenula's cholinergic and non-cholinergic components in coordinating related emotional and motivational behaviors, raising the possibility that these two pathways work together to provide balanced roles in reward prediction and aversion, rather than functioning independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Ables
- Psychiatry Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kwanghoon Park
- The Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Inés Ibañez-Tallon
- The Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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15
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Cheung A, Konno K, Imamura Y, Matsui A, Abe M, Sakimura K, Sasaoka T, Uemura T, Watanabe M, Futai K. Neurexins in serotonergic neurons regulate neuronal survival, serotonin transmission, and complex mouse behaviors. eLife 2023; 12:85058. [PMID: 36695811 PMCID: PMC9876567 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) innervation throughout the brain corroborates 5-HT's modulatory role in numerous cognitive activities. Volume transmission is the major mode for 5-HT transmission but mechanisms underlying 5-HT signaling are still largely unknown. Abnormal brain 5-HT levels and function have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurexin (Nrxn) genes encode presynaptic cell adhesion molecules important for the regulation of synaptic neurotransmitter release, notably glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission. Mutations in Nrxn genes are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD. However, the role of Nrxn genes in the 5-HT system is poorly understood. Here, we generated a mouse model with all three Nrxn genes disrupted specifically in 5-HT neurons to study how Nrxns affect 5-HT transmission. Loss of Nrxns in 5-HT neurons reduced the number of serotonin neurons in the early postnatal stage, impaired 5-HT release, and decreased 5-HT release sites and serotonin transporter expression. Furthermore, 5-HT neuron-specific Nrxn knockout reduced sociability and increased depressive-like behavior. Our results highlight functional roles for Nrxns in 5-HT neurotransmission, 5-HT neuron survival, and the execution of complex behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Cheung
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of MassachusettsWorcesterUnited States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of MassachusettsWorcesterUnited States
| | - Kotaro Konno
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Yuka Imamura
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Institute for Personalized Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University DriveHersheyUnited States
| | - Aya Matsui
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Toshikuni Sasaoka
- Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Niigata UniversityNiigataJapan
| | - Takeshi Uemura
- Division of Gene Research, Research Center for Advanced Science, Shinshu UniversityNaganoJapan
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu UniversityNaganoJapan
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Kensuke Futai
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of MassachusettsWorcesterUnited States
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16
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Molas S, Zhao-Shea R, Freels TG, Tapper AR. Viral Tracing Confirms Paranigral Ventral Tegmental Area Dopaminergic Inputs to the Interpeduncular Nucleus Where Dopamine Release Encodes Motivated Exploration. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0282-22.2022. [PMID: 36599671 PMCID: PMC9840383 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0282-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are engaged by rewarding stimuli and encode reward prediction error to update goal-directed learning. However, recent data indicate that VTA DAergic neurons are functionally heterogeneous with emerging roles in aversive signaling, salience, and novelty, based in part on anatomic location and projection, highlighting a need to functionally characterize the repertoire of VTA DAergic efferents in motivated behavior. Previous work identifying a mesointerpeduncular circuit consisting of VTA DAergic neurons projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), a midbrain area implicated in aversion, anxiety-like behavior, and familiarity, has recently come into question. To verify the existence of this circuit, we combined presynaptic targeted and retrograde viral tracing in the dopamine transporter-Cre mouse line. Consistent with previous reports, synaptic tracing revealed that axon terminals from the VTA innervate the caudal IPN; whereas, retrograde tracing revealed DAergic VTA neurons, predominantly in the paranigral region, project to the nucleus accumbens shell, as well as the IPN. To test whether functional DAergic neurotransmission exists in the IPN, we expressed the genetically encoded DA sensor, dLight 1.2, in the IPN of C57BL/6J mice and measured IPN DA signals in vivo during social and anxiety-like behavior using fiber photometry. We observed an increase in IPN DA signal during social investigation of a novel but not familiar conspecific and during exploration of the anxiogenic open arms of the elevated plus maze. Together, these data confirm VTA DAergic neuron projections to the IPN and implicate this circuit in encoding motivated exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Molas
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Rubing Zhao-Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Timothy G Freels
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Andrew R Tapper
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
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17
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Chao OY, Nikolaus S, Yang YM, Huston JP. Neuronal circuitry for recognition memory of object and place in rodent models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104855. [PMID: 36089106 PMCID: PMC10542956 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Rats and mice are used for studying neuronal circuits underlying recognition memory due to their ability to spontaneously remember the occurrence of an object, its place and an association of the object and place in a particular environment. A joint employment of lesions, pharmacological interventions, optogenetics and chemogenetics is constantly expanding our knowledge of the neural basis for recognition memory of object, place, and their association. In this review, we summarize current studies on recognition memory in rodents with a focus on the novel object preference, novel location preference and object-in-place paradigms. The evidence suggests that the medial prefrontal cortex- and hippocampus-connected circuits contribute to recognition memory for object and place. Under certain conditions, the striatum, medial septum, amygdala, locus coeruleus and cerebellum are also involved. We propose that the neuronal circuitry for recognition memory of object and place is hierarchically connected and constructed by different cortical (perirhinal, entorhinal and retrosplenial cortices), thalamic (nucleus reuniens, mediodorsal and anterior thalamic nuclei) and primeval (hypothalamus and interpeduncular nucleus) modules interacting with the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Y Chao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
| | - Susanne Nikolaus
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Joseph P Huston
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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18
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Sylwestrak EL, Jo Y, Vesuna S, Wang X, Holcomb B, Tien RH, Kim DK, Fenno L, Ramakrishnan C, Allen WE, Chen R, Shenoy KV, Sussillo D, Deisseroth K. Cell-type-specific population dynamics of diverse reward computations. Cell 2022; 185:3568-3587.e27. [PMID: 36113428 PMCID: PMC10387374 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Computational analysis of cellular activity has developed largely independently of modern transcriptomic cell typology, but integrating these approaches may be essential for full insight into cellular-level mechanisms underlying brain function and dysfunction. Applying this approach to the habenula (a structure with diverse, intermingled molecular, anatomical, and computational features), we identified encoding of reward-predictive cues and reward outcomes in distinct genetically defined neural populations, including TH+ cells and Tac1+ cells. Data from genetically targeted recordings were used to train an optimized nonlinear dynamical systems model and revealed activity dynamics consistent with a line attractor. High-density, cell-type-specific electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic perturbation provided supporting evidence for this model. Reverse-engineering predicted how Tac1+ cells might integrate reward history, which was complemented by in vivo experimentation. This integrated approach describes a process by which data-driven computational models of population activity can generate and frame actionable hypotheses for cell-type-specific investigation in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Sylwestrak
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - YoungJu Jo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sam Vesuna
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Blake Holcomb
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Rebecca H Tien
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Doo Kyung Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lief Fenno
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charu Ramakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - William E Allen
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94303, USA
| | - Ritchie Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Krishna V Shenoy
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94303, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David Sussillo
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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19
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van de Haar LL, Riga D, Boer JE, Garritsen O, Adolfs Y, Sieburgh TE, van Dijk RE, Watanabe K, van Kronenburg NCH, Broekhoven MH, Posthuma D, Meye FJ, Basak O, Pasterkamp RJ. Molecular signatures and cellular diversity during mouse habenula development. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111029. [PMID: 35793630 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111029] [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: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The habenula plays a key role in various motivated and pathological behaviors and is composed of molecularly distinct neuron subtypes. Despite progress in identifying mature habenula neuron subtypes, how these subtypes develop and organize into functional brain circuits remains largely unknown. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptional profiling of mouse habenular neurons at critical developmental stages, instructed by detailed three-dimensional anatomical data. Our data reveal cellular and molecular trajectories during embryonic and postnatal development, leading to different habenular subtypes. Further, based on this analysis, our work establishes the distinctive functional properties and projection target of a subtype of Cartpt+ habenula neurons. Finally, we show how comparison of single-cell transcriptional profiles and GWAS data links specific developing habenular subtypes to psychiatric disease. Together, our study begins to dissect the mechanisms underlying habenula neuron subtype-specific development and creates a framework for further interrogation of habenular development in normal and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke L van de Haar
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Danai Riga
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Juliska E Boer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Oxana Garritsen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Youri Adolfs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas E Sieburgh
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Roland E van Dijk
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kyoko Watanabe
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicky C H van Kronenburg
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mark H Broekhoven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Danielle Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J Meye
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Onur Basak
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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20
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Smedegaard CV. Novelty Knows No Boundaries: Why a Proper Investigation of Novelty Effects Within SHRI Should Begin by Addressing the Scientific Plurality of the Field. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:741478. [PMID: 35719207 PMCID: PMC9198635 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.741478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on psychological novelty effects within the fields of Social Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction (together: SHRI) so far has failed to gather the momentum it deserves. With the aid of exemplary descriptions of how psychological novelty is currently approached and researched across (certain main regions of) the larger scientific landscape, I argue that the treatment of novelty effects within the multidisciplinary SHRI reflects larger circumstances of fragmentation and heterogeneity in novelty research in general. I further propose that while the concept of novelty may currently function as a Boundary Object between the contributing domains of SHRI, a properly integrated, interdisciplinary concept of novelty is needed in order to capture and investigate the scope and scale of novelty effects within research on social human-robot interaction. Building on research on the New Ontological Category Hypothesis and related studies, I argue that the novelty of social robots can be understood as radical to the extent that their comprehension requires revisions of traditional core categories of being. In order to investigate the sui generis effects of such novelty, which should not be narrowly understood as mere “noise” in the data, it is paramount that the field of SHRI begin by working out a shared, integrative framework of psychological novelty and novelty effects.
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21
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Vitale EM, Smith AS. Neurobiology of Loneliness, Isolation, and Loss: Integrating Human and Animal Perspectives. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:846315. [PMID: 35464141 PMCID: PMC9029604 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.846315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In social species such as humans, non-human primates, and even many rodent species, social interaction and the maintenance of social bonds are necessary for mental and physical health and wellbeing. In humans, perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not only characterized by physical isolation from peers or loved ones, but also involves negative perceptions about social interactions and connectedness that reinforce the feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a complex behavioral state, it is no surprise that loneliness and isolation are associated with dysfunction within the ventral striatum and the limbic system - brain regions that regulate motivation and stress responsiveness, respectively. Accompanying these neural changes are physiological symptoms such as increased plasma and urinary cortisol levels and an increase in stress responsivity. Although studies using animal models are not perfectly analogous to the uniquely human state of loneliness, studies on the effects of social isolation in animals have observed similar physiological symptoms such as increased corticosterone, the rodent analog to human cortisol, and also display altered motivation, increased stress responsiveness, and dysregulation of the mesocortical dopamine and limbic systems. This review will discuss behavioral and neuropsychological components of loneliness in humans, social isolation in rodent models, and the neurochemical regulators of these behavioral phenotypes with a neuroanatomical focus on the corticostriatal and limbic systems. We will also discuss social loss as a unique form of social isolation, and the consequences of bond disruption on stress-related behavior and neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika M. Vitale
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Adam S. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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22
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Klenowski PM, Zhao-Shea R, Freels TG, Molas S, Tapper AR. Dynamic activity of interpeduncular nucleus GABAergic neurons controls expression of nicotine withdrawal in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:641-651. [PMID: 34326477 PMCID: PMC8782840 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A critical brain area implicated in nicotine dependence is the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) located in the ventral midbrain and consisting primarily of GABAergic neurons. Previous studies indicate that IPN GABAergic neurons contribute to expression of somatic symptoms of nicotine withdrawal; however, whether IPN neurons are dynamically regulated during withdrawal in vivo and how this may contribute to both somatic and affective withdrawal behavior is unknown. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we expressed GCaMP in IPN GABAergic neurons and used in vivo fiber photometry to record changes in fluorescence, as a proxy for neuronal activity, in male mice during nicotine withdrawal. Mecamylamine-precipitated withdrawal significantly increased activity of IPN GABAergic neurons in nicotine-dependent, but not nicotine-naive mice. Analysis of GCaMP signals time-locked with somatic symptoms including grooming and scratching revealed reduced IPN GABAergic activity during these behaviors, specifically in mice undergoing withdrawal. In the elevated plus maze, used to measure anxiety-like behavior, an affective withdrawal symptom, IPN GABAergic neuron activity was increased during open-arm versus closed-arm exploration in nicotine-withdrawn, but not non-withdrawn mice. Optogenetic silencing IPN GABAergic neurons during withdrawal significantly reduced withdrawal-induced increases in somatic behavior and increased open-arm exploration. Together, our data indicate that IPN GABAergic neurons are dynamically regulated during nicotine withdrawal, leading to increased anxiety-like symptoms and somatic behavior, which inherently decrease IPN GABAergic neuron activity as a withdrawal-coping mechanism. These results provide a neuronal basis underlying the role of the IPN in the expression of somatic and affective behaviors of nicotine withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Klenowski
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Rubing Zhao-Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Timothy G Freels
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Susanna Molas
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Andrew R Tapper
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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23
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Wills L, Ables JL, Braunscheidel KM, Caligiuri SPB, Elayouby KS, Fillinger C, Ishikawa M, Moen JK, Kenny PJ. Neurobiological Mechanisms of Nicotine Reward and Aversion. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:271-310. [PMID: 35017179 PMCID: PMC11060337 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) regulate the rewarding actions of nicotine contained in tobacco that establish and maintain the smoking habit. nAChRs also regulate the aversive properties of nicotine, sensitivity to which decreases tobacco use and protects against tobacco use disorder. These opposing behavioral actions of nicotine reflect nAChR expression in brain reward and aversion circuits. nAChRs containing α4 and β2 subunits are responsible for the high-affinity nicotine binding sites in the brain and are densely expressed by reward-relevant neurons, most notably dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area. High-affinity nAChRs can incorporate additional subunits, including β3, α6, or α5 subunits, with the resulting nAChR subtypes playing discrete and dissociable roles in the stimulatory actions of nicotine on brain dopamine transmission. nAChRs in brain dopamine circuits also participate in aversive reactions to nicotine and the negative affective state experienced during nicotine withdrawal. nAChRs containing α3 and β4 subunits are responsible for the low-affinity nicotine binding sites in the brain and are enriched in brain sites involved in aversion, including the medial habenula, interpeduncular nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract, brain sites in which α5 nAChR subunits are also expressed. These aversion-related brain sites regulate nicotine avoidance behaviors, and genetic variation that modifies the function of nAChRs in these sites increases vulnerability to tobacco dependence and smoking-related diseases. Here, we review the molecular, cellular, and circuit-level mechanisms through which nicotine elicits reward and aversion and the adaptations in these processes that drive the development of nicotine dependence. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Tobacco use disorder in the form of habitual cigarette smoking or regular use of other tobacco-related products is a major cause of death and disease worldwide. This article reviews the actions of nicotine in the brain that contribute to tobacco use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Wills
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Jessica L Ables
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Kevin M Braunscheidel
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Stephanie P B Caligiuri
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Karim S Elayouby
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Clementine Fillinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Masago Ishikawa
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Janna K Moen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York
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24
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Mocellin P, Mikulovic S. The Role of the Medial Septum-Associated Networks in Controlling Locomotion and Motivation to Move. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:699798. [PMID: 34366795 PMCID: PMC8340000 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.699798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Medial Septum and diagonal Band of Broca (MSDB) was initially studied for its role in locomotion. However, the last several decades were focussed on its intriguing function in theta rhythm generation. Early studies relied on electrical stimulation, lesions and pharmacological manipulation, and reported an inconclusive picture regarding the role of the MSDB circuits. Recent studies using more specific methodologies have started to elucidate the differential role of the MSDB's specific cell populations in controlling both theta rhythm and behaviour. In particular, a novel theory is emerging showing that different MSDB's cell populations project to different brain regions and control distinct aspects of behaviour. While the majority of these behaviours involve movement, increasing evidence suggests that MSDB-related networks govern the motivational aspect of actions, rather than locomotion per se. Here, we review the literature that links MSDB, theta activity, and locomotion and propose open questions, future directions, and methods that could be employed to elucidate the diverse roles of the MSDB-associated networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Mocellin
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sanja Mikulovic
- Research Group Cognition and Emotion, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
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25
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Genetically Targeted Connectivity Tracing Excludes Dopaminergic Inputs to the Interpeduncular Nucleus from the Ventral Tegmentum and Substantia Nigra. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0127-21.2021. [PMID: 34088738 PMCID: PMC8223495 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0127-21.2021] [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: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The “habenulopeduncular system” consists of the medial habenula (MHb) and its principal target of innervation, the interpeduncular nucleus (IP). Neurons in the ventral MHb (MHbV) express acetylcholine along with glutamate, and both the MHb and IP are rich in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Much of the work on this system has focused on nicotinic mechanisms and their clinical implications for nicotine use, particularly because the IP expresses the α5 nicotinic receptor subunit, encoded by the CHRNA5 gene, which is genetically linked to smoking risk. A working model has emerged in which nicotine use may be determined by the balance of reinforcement mediated in part by nicotine effects on dopamine reward pathways, and an aversive “brake” on nicotine consumption encoded in the MHb-IP pathway. However, recent work has proposed that the IP also receives direct dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA). If correct, this would significantly impact the prevailing model of IP function. Here, we have used Chrna5Cre mice to perform rabies virus-mediated retrograde tracing of global inputs to the IP. We have also used Cre-dependent adeno-associated virus (AAV) anterograde tracing using Slc6a3Cre (DATCre) mice to map VTA dopaminergic efferents, and we have examined tract-tracing data using other transgenic models for dopaminergic neurons available in a public database. Consistent with the existing literature using non-genetic tracing methods, none of these experiments show a significant anatomic connection from the VTA or substantia nigra (SN) to the IP, and thus do not support a model of direct dopaminergic input to the habenulopeduncular system.
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26
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DeGroot SR, Zhao-Shea R, Chung L, Klenowski PM, Sun F, Molas S, Gardner PD, Li Y, Tapper AR. Midbrain Dopamine Controls Anxiety-like Behavior by Engaging Unique Interpeduncular Nucleus Microcircuitry. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:855-866. [PMID: 32800629 PMCID: PMC8043246 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dopamine (DA) is hypothesized to modulate anxiety-like behavior, although the precise role of DA in anxiety behaviors and the complete anxiety network in the brain have yet to be elucidated. Recent data indicate that dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervate the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), but how the IPN responds to DA and what role this circuit plays in anxiety-like behavior are unknown. METHODS We expressed a genetically encoded G protein-coupled receptor activation-based DA sensor in mouse midbrain to detect DA in IPN slices using fluorescence imaging combined with pharmacology. Next, we selectively inhibited or activated VTA→IPN DAergic inputs via optogenetics during anxiety-like behavior. We used a biophysical approach to characterize DA effects on neural IPN circuits. Site-directed pharmacology was used to test if DA receptors in the IPN can regulate anxiety-like behavior. RESULTS DA was detected in mouse IPN slices. Silencing/activating VTA→IPN DAergic inputs oppositely modulated anxiety-like behavior. Two neuronal populations in the ventral IPN (vIPN) responded to DA via D1 receptors (D1Rs). vIPN neurons were controlled by a small population of D1R neurons in the caudal IPN that directly respond to VTA DAergic terminal stimulation and innervate the vIPN. IPN infusion of a D1R agonist and antagonist bidirectionally controlled anxiety-like behavior. CONCLUSIONS VTA DA engages D1R-expressing neurons in the caudal IPN that innervate vIPN, thereby amplifying the VTA DA signal to modulate anxiety-like behavior. These data identify a DAergic circuit that mediates anxiety-like behavior through unique IPN microcircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R. DeGroot
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Rubing Zhao-Shea
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Leeyup Chung
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Paul M. Klenowski
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Fangmiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, 100871 Beijing, China,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Susanna Molas
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Paul D. Gardner
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, 100871 Beijing, China,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 100871 Beijing, China,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Andrew R. Tapper
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Dept, of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA,Lead Contact, Correspondence to:
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27
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Calipari ES. Dopamine Release in the Midbrain Promotes Anxiety. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:815-817. [PMID: 33153526 PMCID: PMC7687288 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin S. Calipari
- Departments of Pharmacology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Corresponding Author Erin S. Calipari, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Department for Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 865F Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232, Phone: 615-343-5792,
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28
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Midbrain circuits of novelty processing. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 176:107323. [PMID: 33053429 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Novelty triggers an increase in orienting behavior that is critical to evaluate the potential salience of unknown events. As novelty becomes familiar upon repeated encounters, this increase in response rapidly habituates as a form of behavioral adaptation underlying goal-directed behaviors. Many neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders are associated with abnormal responses to novelty and/or familiarity, although the neuronal circuits and cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying these natural behaviors in the healthy brain are largely unknown, as is the maladaptive processes that occur to induce impairment of novelty signaling in diseased brains. In rodents, the development of cutting-edge tools that allow for measurements of real time activity dynamics in selectively identified neuronal ensembles by gene expression signatures is beginning to provide advances in understanding the neural bases of the novelty response. Accumulating evidence indicate that midbrain circuits, the majority of which linked to dopamine transmission, promote exploratory assessments and guide approach/avoidance behaviors to different types of novelty via specific projection sites. The present review article focuses on midbrain circuit analysis relevant to novelty processing and habituation with familiarity.
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29
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Bevan RJ, Williams PA, Waters CT, Thirgood R, Mui A, Seto S, Good M, Morgan JE, Votruba M, Erchova I. OPA1 deficiency accelerates hippocampal synaptic remodelling and age-related deficits in learning and memory. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa101. [PMID: 33094281 PMCID: PMC7566495 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A healthy mitochondrial network is essential for the maintenance of neuronal synaptic integrity. Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases including dementia. OPA1 is the master regulator of mitochondrial fusion and fission and is likely to play an important role during neurodegenerative events. To explore this, we quantified hippocampal dendritic and synaptic integrity and the learning and memory performance of aged Opa1 haploinsufficient mice carrying the Opa1Q285X mutation (B6; C3-Opa1Q285STOP ; Opa1+/- ). We demonstrate that heterozygous loss of Opa1 results in premature age-related loss of spines in hippocampal pyramidal CA1 neurons and a reduction in synaptic density in the hippocampus. This loss is associated with subtle memory deficits in both spatial novelty and object recognition. We hypothesize that metabolic failure to maintain normal neuronal activity at the level of a single spine leads to premature age-related memory deficits. These results highlight the importance of mitochondrial homeostasis for maintenance of neuronal function during ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Bevan
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Pete A Williams
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Polhemsgatan 50, 112 82 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline T Waters
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Rebecca Thirgood
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Amanda Mui
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Sharon Seto
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Mark Good
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - James E Morgan
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Marcela Votruba
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Irina Erchova
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
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30
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Hashikawa Y, Hashikawa K, Rossi MA, Basiri ML, Liu Y, Johnston NL, Ahmad OR, Stuber GD. Transcriptional and Spatial Resolution of Cell Types in the Mammalian Habenula. Neuron 2020; 106:743-758.e5. [PMID: 32272058 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The habenula complex is appreciated as a critical regulator of motivated and pathological behavioral states via its output to midbrain nuclei. Despite this, transcriptional definition of cell populations that comprise both the medial habenular (MHb) and lateral habenular (LHb) subregions in mammals remain undefined. To resolve this, we performed single-cell transcriptional profiling and highly multiplexed in situ hybridization experiments of the mouse habenula complex in naive mice and those exposed to an acute aversive stimulus. Transcriptionally distinct neuronal cell types identified within the MHb and LHb, were spatially defined, differentially engaged by aversive stimuli, and had distinct electrophysiological properties. Cell types identified in mice also displayed a high degree of transcriptional similarity to those previously described in zebrafish, highlighting the well-conserved nature of habenular cell types across the phylum. These data identify key molecular targets within habenular cell types and provide a critical resource for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Hashikawa
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Koichi Hashikawa
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mark A Rossi
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marcus L Basiri
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuejia Liu
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nathan L Johnston
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Omar R Ahmad
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Garret D Stuber
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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31
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Wu C, Zhen Z, Huang L, Huang T, Liu J. COMT-Polymorphisms Modulated Functional Profile of the Fusiform Face Area Contributes to Face-Specific Recognition Ability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2134. [PMID: 32034175 PMCID: PMC7005682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58747-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that face-specific recognition ability (FRA) is heritable; however, the neural basis of this heritability is unclear. Candidate gene studies have suggested that the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 polymorphism is related to face perception. Here, using a partial least squares (PLS) method, we examined the multivariate association between 12 genotypes of 4 COMT polymorphisms (rs6269-rs4633-rs4818-rs4680) and multimodal MRI phenotypes in the human fusiform face area (FFA), which selectively responds to face stimuli, in 338 Han Chinese adults (mean age 20.45 years; 135 males). The MRI phenotypes included gray matter volume (GMV), resting-state fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and face-selective blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses (FS). We found that the first COMT-variant component (PLS1) was positively associated with the FS but negatively associated with the fALFF in the FFA. Moreover, participants with the COMT heterozygous-HEA-haplotype showed higher PLS1 FFA-MRI scores, which were positively associated with the FRA in an old/new face recognition task, than those with the COMT homozygous HEA haplotype and HEA non-carriers, suggesting that individuals with an appropriate (intermediate) level of dopamine activity in the FFA might have better FRA. In summary, our study provides empirical evidence for the genetic and neural basis for the heritability of face recognition and informs the formation of neural module functional specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- School of Nursing, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zonglei Zhen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Lijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Taicheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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32
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Integrated miRNA-/mRNA-Seq of the Habenulo-Interpeduncular Circuit During Acute Nicotine Withdrawal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:813. [PMID: 31965003 PMCID: PMC6972841 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57907-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of mortality in the world. The limited number of smoking cessation aids currently available are minimally effective, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic interventions. We describe a genome-wide approach to identify potential candidates for such interventions. Next-generation sequencing was performed using RNA isolated from the habenulo-interpeduncular circuit of male mice withdrawn from chronic nicotine treatment. This circuit plays a central role in the nicotine withdrawal response. Differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs were validated using RT-qPCR. Many of the differentially expressed mRNAs are predicted targets of reciprocally expressed miRNAs. We illustrate the utility of the dataset by demonstrating that knockdown in the interpeduncular nucleus of a differentially expressed mRNA, that encoding profilin 2, is sufficient to induce anxiety-related behavior. Importantly, profilin 2 knockdown in the ventral tegmental area did not affect anxiety behavior. Our data reveal wide-spread changes in gene expression within the habenulo-interpeduncular circuit during nicotine withdrawal. This dataset should prove to be a valuable resource leading to the identification of substrates for the design of innovative smoking cessation aids.
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33
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Krivinko JM, Koppel J, Savonenko A, Sweet RA. Animal Models of Psychosis in Alzheimer Disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 28:1-19. [PMID: 31278012 PMCID: PMC6858948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Psychosis in Alzheimer Disease (AD) represents a distinct clinicopathologic variant associated with increased cognitive and functional morbidity and an accelerated disease course. To date, extant treatments offer modest benefits with significant risks. The development of new pharmacologic treatments for psychosis in AD would be facilitated by validated preclinical models with which to test candidate interventions. The current review provides a brief summary of the process of validating animal models of human disease together with a critical analysis of the challenges posed in attempting to apply those standards to AD-related behavioral models. An overview of phenotypic analogues of human cognitive and behavioral impairments, with an emphasis on those relevant to psychosis, in AD-related mouse models is provided, followed by an update on recent progress in efforts to translate findings in the pathophysiology of psychotic AD into novel models. Finally, some future directions are suggested to expand the catalogue of psychosis-relevant phenotypes that may provide a sturdier framework for model development and targets for preclinical treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh M. Krivinko
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jeremy Koppel
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, NY
| | - Alena Savonenko
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Robert A. Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA,Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
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34
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Mathis V, Kenny PJ. From controlled to compulsive drug-taking: The role of the habenula in addiction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 106:102-111. [PMID: 29936111 PMCID: PMC9871871 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Addiction is now recognized as a neurobiological and cognitive brain disorder and is generally viewed as a switch from recreational or voluntary to compulsive substance use despite aversive consequences. The habenula, composed of medial (MHb) and lateral (LHb) domains, has been implicated in regulating behavioral flexibility and anxiety-related behaviors and is considered a core component of the brain "anti-reward" system. These functions position the habenula to influence voluntary behaviors. Consistent with this view, emerging evidence points to alterations in habenula activity as important factors to contributing the loss of control over the use of drugs of abuse and the emergence of compulsive drug seeking behaviors. In this review, we will discuss the general functions of the MHb and LHb and describe how these functional properties allow this brain region to promote or suppress volitional behaviors. Then, we highlight mechanisms by which drugs of abuse may alter habenular activity, precipitating the emergence of addiction-relevant behavioral abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Mathis
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029-6574, USA.
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029-6574, USA.
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca D Burwell
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Victoria L Templer
- Department of Psychology, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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36
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Aitta-Aho T, Maksimovic M, Dahl K, Sprengel R, Korpi ER. Attenuation of Novelty-Induced Hyperactivity of Gria1-/- Mice by Cannabidiol and Hippocampal Inhibitory Chemogenetics. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:309. [PMID: 30984001 PMCID: PMC6449460 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene-targeted mice with deficient AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits (Gria1-/- mice) show robust hyperlocomotion in a novel environment, suggesting them to constitute a model for hyperactivity disorders such as mania, schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This behavioral alteration has been associated with increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus, and it can be attenuated by chronic treatment with antimanic drugs, such as lithium, valproic acid, and lamotrigine. Now we found that systemic cannabidiol strongly blunted the hyperactivity and the hippocampal c-Fos expression of the Gria1-/- mice, while not affecting the wild-type littermate controls. Acute bilateral intra-dorsal hippocampal infusion of cannabidiol partially blocked the hyperactivity of the Gria1-/- mice, but had no effect on wild-types. The activation of the inhibitory DREADD receptor hM4Gi in the dorsal hippocampus by clozapine-N-oxide robustly inhibited the hyperactivity of the Gria1-/- mice, but had no effect on the locomotion of wild-type mice. Our results show that enhanced neuronal excitability in the hippocampus is associated with pronounced novelty-induced hyperactivity of GluA1 subunit-deficient mice. When this enhanced response of hippocampal neurons to novel stimuli is specifically reduced in the hippocampus by pharmacological treatment or by chemogenetic inhibition, Gria1-/- mice recover from behavioral hyperactivity, suggesting a hippocampal dysfunction in hyperactive behaviors that can be treated with cannabidiol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teemu Aitta-Aho
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Milica Maksimovic
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristiina Dahl
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Research Group of the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research at the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Esa R Korpi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ariyasiri K, Choi TI, Kim OH, Hong TI, Gerlai R, Kim CH. Pharmacological (ethanol) and mutation (sam2 KO) induced impairment of novelty preference in zebrafish quantified using a new three-chamber social choice task. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 88:53-65. [PMID: 29958859 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Social behavior is a fundamental aspect of our own species, a feature without which our society would not function. There are numerous human brain disorders associated with abnormal social behavior, among them are the autism spectrum disorders whose causal factors include a genetic component. Environmental factors, including drugs of abuse such as alcohol, also contribute to numerous abnormalities related to social behavior. Several such disorders have been modeled using laboratory animals. Perhaps one of the newest among them is the zebrafish. However, the paucity of standardized behavioral assays specifically developed for the zebrafish have hindered progress. Here, we present a newly developed zebrafish behavioral paradigm, the three-chamber social choice task. This task, which was adapted from a murine model, assesses sociality and social novelty preference in zebrafish in three phases: habituation, phase-I to evaluate sociality, and phase-II to quantify social novelty preference. Test fish are placed in the middle chamber, while conspecifics are introduced to the flanking chambers during phase-I and II. Both male and female zebrafish displayed sociality (preference for conspecifics) during phase-I and social novelty preference (preference for unfamiliar conspecifics) during phase-II. We found the paradigm to be able to detect both environmentally (alcohol) as well as genetically (targeted knock out of sam2) induced alterations of behavioral phenotypes. Although ethanol-treated fish displayed similar levels of sociality to those of control (not alcohol exposed) male and female zebrafish, they were found to exhibit significantly impaired social novelty preference, a finding compatible with altered motivational or perhaps mnemonic processes. Moreover, we found that knock out of sam2, previously shown to lead to emotional dysregulation, also disrupted social novelty preference, while leaving sociality relatively intact. We conclude that our novel behavioral paradigm is appropriate for the modeling and quantification of social behavior deficits in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishan Ariyasiri
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Oc-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Ted Inpyo Hong
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea.
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Chiang MC, Huang AJ, Wintzer ME, Ohshima T, McHugh TJ. A role for CA3 in social recognition memory. Behav Brain Res 2018; 354:22-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Bariselli S, Contestabile A, Tzanoulinou S, Musardo S, Bellone C. SHANK3 Downregulation in the Ventral Tegmental Area Accelerates the Extinction of Contextual Associations Induced by Juvenile Non-familiar Conspecific Interaction. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:360. [PMID: 30364266 PMCID: PMC6193109 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency of the SHANK3 gene, encoding for a scaffolding protein located in the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapse, has been linked to forms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It has been shown that SHANK3 controls the maturation of social reward circuits in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Whether the impairments in associative learning observed in ASD relate to SHANK3 insufficiency restricted to the reward system is still an open question. Here, we first characterize a social-conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm based on the direct and free interaction with a juvenile and non-familiar conspecific. In both group- and single-housed C57Bl6/j late adolescence male mice, this CPP protocol promotes the formation of social-induced contextual associations that undergo extinction. Interestingly, the downregulation of Shank3 expression in the VTA altered the habituation to a non-familiar conspecific during conditioning and accelerated the extinction of social-induced conditioned responses. Thus, inspired by the literature on drugs of abuse-induced contextual learning, we propose that acquisition and extinction of CPP might be used as behavioral assays to assess social-induced contextual association and “social-seeking” dysfunctions in animal models of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Bariselli
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Contestabile
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stamatina Tzanoulinou
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Musardo
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camilla Bellone
- Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), Geneva, Switzerland
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Chen Y, Barsegyan A, Nadif Kasri N, Roozendaal B. Basolateral amygdala noradrenergic activity is required for enhancement of object recognition memory by histone deacetylase inhibition in the anterior insular cortex. Neuropharmacology 2018; 141:32-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Liang B, Zhang L, Barbera G, Fang W, Zhang J, Chen X, Chen R, Li Y, Lin DT. Distinct and Dynamic ON and OFF Neural Ensembles in the Prefrontal Cortex Code Social Exploration. Neuron 2018; 100:700-714.e9. [PMID: 30269987 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is important for social behavior, but the mechanisms by which mPFC neurons code real-time social exploration remain largely unknown. Here we utilized miniScopes to record calcium activities from hundreds of excitatory neurons in the mPFC while mice freely explored restrained social targets in the absence or presence of the psychedelic drug phencyclidine (PCP). We identified distinct and dynamic ON and OFF neural ensembles that displayed opposing activities to code real-time behavioral information. We further illustrated that ON and OFF ensembles tuned to social exploration carried information of salience and novelty for social targets. Finally, we showed that dysfunctions in these ensembles were associated with abnormal social exploration elicited by PCP. Our findings underscore the importance of mPFC ON and OFF neural ensembles for proper exploratory behavior, including social exploration, and pave the way for future studies elucidating neural circuit dysfunctions in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liang
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Giovanni Barbera
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Wenting Fang
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 100 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yun Li
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
| | - Da-Ting Lin
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Role of VTA dopamine neurons and neuroligin 3 in sociability traits related to nonfamiliar conspecific interaction. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3173. [PMID: 30093665 PMCID: PMC6085391 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05382-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical habituation and aberrant exploration of novel stimuli have been related to the severity of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but the underlying neuronal circuits are unknown. Here we show that chemogenetic inhibition of dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) attenuates exploration toward nonfamiliar conspecifics and interferes with the reinforcing properties of nonfamiliar conspecific interaction in mice. Exploration of nonfamiliar stimuli is associated with the insertion of GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors at excitatory synapses on VTA DA neurons. These synaptic adaptations persist upon repeated exposure to social stimuli and sustain conspecific interaction. Global or VTA DA neuron-specific loss of the ASD-associated synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin 3 alters the behavioral response toward nonfamiliar conspecifics and the reinforcing properties of conspecific interaction. These behavioral deficits are accompanied by an aberrant expression of AMPA receptors and an occlusion of synaptic plasticity. Altogether, these findings link impaired exploration of nonfamiliar conspecifics to VTA DA neuron dysfunction in mice. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder have alteration in social and novelty behaviors. Here, Bellone and colleagues show that chemogenetic inhibition of mouse dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area can blunt exploration towards unfamiliar conspecifics, and that these behavioral deficits are recapitulated in mice lacking neuroligin3 gene product.
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Wolfman SL, Gill DF, Bogdanic F, Long K, Al-Hasani R, McCall JG, Bruchas MR, McGehee DS. Nicotine aversion is mediated by GABAergic interpeduncular nucleus inputs to laterodorsal tegmentum. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2710. [PMID: 30006624 PMCID: PMC6045623 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04654-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine use can lead to dependence through complex processes that are regulated by both its rewarding and aversive effects. Recent studies show that aversive nicotine doses activate excitatory inputs to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) from the medial habenula (MHb), but the downstream targets of the IPN that mediate aversion are unknown. Here we show that IPN projections to the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDTg) are GABAergic using optogenetics in tissue slices from mouse brain. Selective stimulation of these IPN axon terminals in LDTg in vivo elicits avoidance behavior, suggesting that these projections contribute to aversion. Nicotine modulates these synapses in a concentration-dependent manner, with strong enhancement only seen at higher concentrations that elicit aversive responses in behavioral tests. Optogenetic inhibition of the IPN-LDTg connection blocks nicotine conditioned place aversion, suggesting that the IPN-LDTg connection is a critical part of the circuitry that mediates the aversive effects of nicotine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Wolfman
- Committee on Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Daniel F Gill
- Committee on Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Fili Bogdanic
- Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Katie Long
- Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ream Al-Hasani
- St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Center for Clinical Pharmacology and Division of Basic Research of the Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jordan G McCall
- St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Center for Clinical Pharmacology and Division of Basic Research of the Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Daniel S McGehee
- Committee on Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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Templer VL, Wise TB, Dayaw KIT, Dayaw JNT. Nonsocially housed rats (Ratus norvegicus) seek social interactions and social novelty more than socially housed counterparts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 132:240-252. [PMID: 29683686 DOI: 10.1037/com0000112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sociability is the act or quality of social interaction and can be quantified by determining the number and duration of interactions with conspecifics. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which sustained social contact, as achieved by constant social living conditions, influenced social behavior. Beginning in juvenility, 19 male Long-Evans rats were housed in enriched environments, with half living socially in a large group and half living individually. After several months in these housing conditions, rats were tested on a sociality test and a social novelty preference test. Nonsocially housed rats exhibited more social behavior than socially housed rats. In the sociality test, nonsocially housed rats engaged with an unfamiliar rat more than socially housed rats. Similarly, in the social novelty test, nonsocially housed rats visited a novel stranger more than the now-familiar rat (from the sociality test) as compared with the socially housed rats. It is unlikely that general anxiety factors can account for between-groups social effects, as there were no group differences in behavior on the elevated zero maze and open field test. Furthermore, socially and nonsocially housed rats were matched in spontaneous object exploration and novelty preference in a novel object recognition test, eliminating the possibility that general exploratory behavior or novelty preference accounted for group differences in the sociability tasks. These results suggest that lack of social interaction in nonsocially housed rats may be more powerful for social motivation than the consistent opportunity for social contact afforded by social living conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Watanabe Y, Sugano E, Tabata K, Ozaki T, Saito T, Tamai M, Tomita H. Kinetic profiles of photocurrents in cells expressing two types of channelrhodopsin genes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 496:814-819. [PMID: 29395082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.01.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-activated cation-selective ion channel, has been widely used as a tool in optogenetic research. ChR2 is specifically sensitive to wavelengths less than 550 nm. One of the methods to expand the sensitivity of a channelrhodopsin to a wider range of wavelengths is to express another channelrhodopsin in the cells by the transduction of an additional gene. Here, we report the characteristic features of cells expressing two types of channelrhodopsins, each having different wavelength sensitivities. In HEK293 cells stably expressing ChR2, photocurrents were elicited at stimuli of 400-550 nm, and the wavelength sensitivity range was expanded by the additional transduction of the modified Volvox channelrhodopsin-1 (mVChR1) gene, which has broad wavelength sensitivities, ranging from 400 to 600 nm. However, the photocurrent at 550 nm was lower than that of the mVChR1-expressing cell; moreover, the turning-on and turning-off constants were delayed, and the deactivation rates were decreased. Meanwhile, the response to lower light intensity was improved by the additional gene. Thus, the transduction of an additional gene is a useful method to improve the light and wavelength sensitivities, as well as photocurrent kinetic profiles, of channelrhodopsins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshito Watanabe
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan.
| | - Eriko Sugano
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan; Soft-Path Engineering Research Center (SPERC), Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, Morioka, 020-8551, Japan.
| | - Kitako Tabata
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan.
| | - Taku Ozaki
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan; Soft-Path Engineering Research Center (SPERC), Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, Morioka, 020-8551, Japan.
| | - Takehiko Saito
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan.
| | - Makoto Tamai
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Tomita
- Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience, Graduate Course in Biological Sciences, Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8551, Japan; Soft-Path Engineering Research Center (SPERC), Iwate University Division of Science and Engineering, Morioka, 020-8551, Japan; Clinical Research, Innovation and Education Center, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan.
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